Rugs come in many different fibers, and there are many options if you want to consider materials for rugs. A rug’s fibers can play an important role in how the rug looks, how long a rug will last and how stain resistant it is.
Rugs are widely available in both natural and synthetic fibers. Generally speaking natural fibers, especially wool, are a better choice, as they last longer and are better quality. Synthetic fibers have the advantage of being easily affordable and now offer a wide range of choices.
When you consider what kind of material you want for your rug, there are a few things you will need to take into account:
Consider Rug Placement
Where will you be placing the rug? Will the rug be placed in an entry, or will it be placed in a corner of the living room? Will it be placed on a wall? Where you place your rug will determine how much use it is going to get. Placing a very expensive wool or silk rug in the entry might not be a good idea.
Determine Rug Use
What kind of use will your rug be subjected to? Is it a heavy traffic area? Are pets and children going to be using it? If it’s going to be in for rough use, consider a synthetic fiber. If your rug will be placed in an area that gets subjected to moisture, you might want to look into a mildew resistant synthetic material such as acrylic.
Decide on the Look and Feel
What kind of a look are you striving for? What kind of a texture do you need? This should determine how and where you want to use your rug. Although synthetic fibers, especially nylon, do offer a lot of variety in color and texture, the look and feel of a natural fiber rug will be different. Even within natural fibers, a sisal rug would offer a very different look from a silk rug.
Select Rug Quality
And very importantly, what kind of quality are you looking for? Do you want the rug to retain its value over a period of time? If so, you might be better off with a wool or silk rug. If high quality and a long life is not a consideration, you could buy rugs in less costly natural fibers such as cotton or jute, or go for synthetic fibers.
