How to Pick the Best Rug Material

What materials are carpets made of? There are a lot of possibilities actually! From wool to silk, there’s a very wide range of options.

If you’re wondering which of them is best, however, that depends. There isn’t a single rug material that’s best for everyone. 

The ideal choice from the many types of carpet material depends on a variety of factors and your own needs. Your requirements may range from concerns about comfort to preferences of design or even budget constraints.

Want to learn more? Well then, read on! We’ll share some of the most popular and top-rated rug materials, as well as tips to help you make an informed decision on the best rug material for your home.

1. Wool

Easily one of the best and most popular rug materials, wool offers a lot of benefits. It has good insulation, is naturally resistant to wear and tear, is flame-resistant and stain-resistant, and takes dyes quite well.

Its overall durability is probably one of its most famous features. This makes it ideal for high-traffic areas, which is why so many living room rugs (which have to withstand wear and tear) are woollen.

Despite what some expect from a material described as highly durable, it can still be wonderfully comfortable. In fact, hand-woven wool rugs are among the softest, most luxurious rugs you can own.

So is there any reason you should think twice before buying one? Well, first off, wool rugs need more maintenance than others to keep looking their best. 

You’ll have to add regular vacuuming to your schedule for these beauties. You’ll also have to book a professional cleaning session every now and then, aside from following your rug’s care instructions to the letter. 

As an added point, these rugs are undeniably expensive to purchase too. This is both a drawback and an advantage, as the best rugs can have good asset resale value as antiques.

Even so, this gives you an idea that these rugs are only advised if you aren’t on a tight budget. Between purchase and maintenance costs, they can run up a pretty penny.

2. Cotton

Cotton is another natural material that’s very popular. Rugs made with it are soft and breathable, so they tend to be comfy. 

As such, cotton rugs are often used for living rooms and bedrooms – rooms where  you likely spend a lot of time and can appreciate the rug’s softness. 

To make them even more appealing, they’re far more affordable than two of the other main choices for “comfy rugs”, wool and silk. Yet they can look just as good when made by skilled rug makers!

They’re also easy to clean and maintain, so they’re a good choice for people who can’t afford to spend too much time or resources on rug maintenance. They’re also machine-washable, which is good if you have spill-monsters like kids or pets.

So, what’s the catch? There are several: they fade quickly, they stain easily, and they’re just not as durable as materials like wool. In fact, a cared-for wool rug can last up to 10 times longer than a cared-for cotton one!

3. Jute

Jute is a non-toxic natural fiber derived from plants. Rugs with this material tend not to trap allergens, which makes them suitable for people with allergies.

What’s more, it’s an excellent choice if you live an eco-friendly life. It’s renewable and biodegradable while still being fairly strong and durable, so you won’t even need to replace it often.

Its durability is one of the reasons jute is often used for medium-traffic or even outdoor areas. Lately, we’ve also seen more and more people putting it in dining rooms and kitchens. 

The organic look of jute rugs is often used to add a natural or rustic touch to spaces. Their earthy, neutral shades also make them easy to pair with other hues.

Looks-wise, they’re best for adding a relaxed, calm note to areas. They’re also good options when you want to add texture to a room, thanks to their often-chunky weaves.

But what about the drawbacks? Well, they have a slightly rough texture that those with sensitive skin won’t like. They’re probably not good choices if you want a nursery rug for your baby to crawl on, for instance.

And while maintenance for them is fairly simple (just a vacuum and occasional shake), many of them do shed. It often looks like dust, but very fine jute fibres often break off from the rugs over time.

Finally, they’re not great with moisture. Jute rugs can get mildew very quickly, so we actually wouldn’t recommend that you put them in any place where they’ll be exposed to moisture regularly – despite some people now putting them in kitchens.

4. Polyester

Now we come to the synthetics! Polyester is a synthetic rug material that is soft, durable, and easy to clean. As you may imagine, it’s a rug material we often see used in homes with kids and pets, or places like playrooms. 

The fact that it’s non-absorbent, stain-resistent, machine-washable, and fast-drying make it popular with those who want strong, low-maintenance rugs. To add to that, it’s very affordable, making it one of the top choices for the budget-conscious.

What about looks? Well, polyester rugs dye exceedingly well, which means they come in a wide range of colours and patterns. 

They do tend to sit flatter and flatten faster than wool ones, but given the massive difference in cost, it’s a tradeoff many buyers will take. 

This being said, be aware that polyester still doesn’t last as long as premium rug materials like wool. Its stain-resistance comes with a caveat too: it’s only resistant to water stains and not oil ones. 

Finally, bear in mind that polyester can be prone to yellowing over time. This is more of a concern if your chosen rug has very light colours or a lot of white.

5. Acrylic

Another synthetic material, acrylic is a cheaper, also durable alternative to wool. It looks and feels much like the genuine article and is hugely popular for a number of reasons.

First, acrylic is inexpensive. Even the more expensive variants of it cost much less than wool, which is great when you have a budget but want a rug with the properties woollen rugs have.

This is also why we recommend it to clients who want a bespoke rug at a budget. It helps keep costs in check even as you invest in something that looks and feels unique and premium.

It’s soft too and can be made to imitate wool’s fluffiness and overall texture. Its durability is such that it can hold up to heavy traffic, which makes it great for general use – you can use it just about anywhere!

Fade-resistance also makes it a good choice for areas with a lot of sun. Like polyester, it’s also fairly easy to maintain with soap and water. 

And because it’s hypoallergenic, it can be an option if anyone in your family has a sensitivity to wool.

But like any other rug material, it has its weaknesses. For one thing, acrylic rugs still flatten faster than wool, with the fibres getting crushed more easily than woollen ones.

Its plastic nature also means it still wears down under abrasion. Combined with crushing, this can make acrylic rugs look fairly flat if not cared for properly.

Finally, acrylic is still the less eco-friendly option. It’s made with petroleum products, after all.

Rugmaker_Blog-Piece_Nylon Rug 16. Nylon

Nylon is among the strongest synthetic materials. It’s especially known for resilience or resistance to crushing. 

Add to this a high resistance to stains plus easy soap-and-water maintenance, and you have a rug material ideal for use in homes with kids and pets. 

From this, you may gather that nylon is much like its synthetic siblings, acrylic and polyester. There are a few differences, though. 

Chief among these is cost. Nylon being generally strongest, it also costs the most, all other things being equal. 

Another noteworthy difference, however, is that nylon is less soft than the other two synthetics we mentioned. Polyester and acrylics have improved to the point where they can virtually match the softness of materials like cotton, but not nylon. 

As such, it’s not ideal if you want a very soft, comfortable rug. It’s better used when your main concern is durability and you want to get that without splurging on a wool rug.

7. Silk

Finally, we come to silk. This is a luxurious material that’s known for its softness and elegant sheen.

Just one look at silk tells you this is a material that you choose only if you can afford it. It adds sophistication, elegance, and perhaps even opulence to a space.

Despite that, it can also be fairly long-lasting when cared for, as opposed to artificial silk options. In fact, you can still find 17th-century genuine silk rugs at auction houses today!

With that said, silk is still an undeniably delicate material. It takes care to preserve its glossy, unique texture.

For example, it may be stain-resistant, but this still assumes that the owner cleans up spills immediately for safety. It may also show footprints after some time and often requires professional cleaning to avoid damage.

As such, use silk rugs in places with low traffic, like bedrooms. Try to keep them away from direct sunlight as well, or they may fade. 

These are rugs to choose only if you want a truly high-quality, high-end look and feel – and are willing to pay the price of luxury both in terms of up-front costs and general upkeep.

What rug material is right for you? 

From what we’ve shown you above, you can now see that different rug materials will suit different people. The perfect material may change based on your budget, which room of the house you want to put the rug, what textures you want, and more!

If you still need more help figuring out the perfect rug material for your needs, though, don’t be afraid to contact us. We can help you identify it and even create a rug just for you in that material.

So, reach out to us and we can chat about what you require. We’ll even give you more decor tips along the way!