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What to do if you want a natural fiber rug but have a small budget?

By
Home Builder with The Flooring Girl

Last week, I wrote an article comparing sisal and jute rugs.  These are both natural fiber area rugs, and they do look kind of similar, but they definitely do have different properties.

 

To make a long story short, jutes are much softer.  You can easily put your feet on them and feel comforted.  Sisal, on the other hand, is much more coarse. Because of that, they are more durable, so they are perfect for entryways, hallways, steps and other high traffic areas.

 

But, sisals are not soft at all.  In fact they are hard and the fibers feel scratchy, so they are not a good option if you want a soft, comfy area rug.  They are not a good option to rest your feet on if you're barefoot or wearing socks.  They aren't a good surface to play or crawl on if you have young ones or pets.

 

Instead, choose jute over sisal if you want comfy.

 

Both sisal and jute are super stylish, especially if you're looking for neutral decor (and often they are a great option if you're staging a home).

 

Check out above linked post to see the difference in looks between jute and sisal.

 

Jute rugs are generally less expensive than sisal, and both are less expensive than wool.

 

These carpets are sustainable and biodegradable.  They are made from natural plan fibers.  Sisal is from agave leaves and jute is from the stalks of jute plants.

 

I had fun writing this article as I learned more about the 2 different plants and how they are harvested. They are from 2 different part of the world grown in 2 distinct climates.  You may enjoy watching the quick videos to see more.

 

I also created a section on seagrass as well.

 

So, if you have an interest in these stylish and rapidly growing rugs, check out the details in my article.

Comments (4)

Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Debbie. The last carpeting I had was wool. Thanks for the explanation on these variations. I have become a wood floor fan in the last few years. Enjoy your day!

Mar 11, 2019 04:20 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

What you do is weave your own.

Go get some hemp plants (the male kind, NOT female), shred the fiber out of the long stalks, weave them into rope, and weave your own rug!

That's the market in Otavalo, Ecuador, where I lived in 1975-1977.

Years ago I wrote a blog about this market place:

https://jaysfreeenterpriseblog.blogspot.com/search?q=marketplace

Photo taken with my expensive Kodak Instamatic camera!

Mar 11, 2019 05:30 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Lots of sales this time of year and online resources...good to know the materials that work best !

Mar 11, 2019 06:26 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Debbie- thanks for explaining about Jute and Sisal rugs. I wish I'd had this information when we purchased a rug to place under our breakfast table when we were in VA. I loved it but any water spilled on it would leave a stain. 

Mar 11, 2019 06:57 PM