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7 Eco Friendly Area Rugs: Sustainable Materials to Consider

eco friendly area rugs for living room

Imagine being surrounded by trash and hazardous smoke strangling your breath so severely. How would you respond? Choose a spot in nature’s lap that is clean and makes you feel alive, of course. Unfortunately, we are moving very quickly toward that awful scenario based on what we see happening in the world, but we still have time to make this place lovely. Incorporating nature into our daily life is a surefire way to make it happen. Yep, it is that simple to get out of that scary situation.

Nature has unintentionally been damaged because we have been using manufactured things for a long time. A straightforward method to inculcate nature into your everyday lives is to decorate your homes with eco-friendly items, especially rugs, which will enhance the space’s beauty and offer you the peacefulness that comes from nature. A new global study commissioned by WWF and conducted by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) reveals a staggering 71% increase in the popularity of searches for sustainable goods over the last five years, with continued growth during the covid-19 pandemic.

If you are wondering which eco friendly area rugs will look best with your home’s decor, we at Arcedior have covered you with a list of the top materials to consider.

Wool Area Rugs

Wool area rugs are an excellent choice for a durable yet soft rug. These are made by hand shearing the high-bred sheep. They are vibrant and come in various styles and shapes, giving you many options. Hand-knotted and hand-tufted wool rugs are ideal for soft yet robust eco friendly area rugs.

These rugs enhance the space’s beauty while being flame and stain resistant, making them perfect for use in the kitchen, dining areas, and bathroom. Wool, however, quickly absorbs spills and any dirt that comes into contact with it, so it is crucial to keep it clean. Vacuum cleaners and regular shaking can be used to cleanse it. 

Rectangular wool area rugs in living roomSource: Rug Society
Famosa Wool Area Rugs

Get the hand-knotted Famosa in a gray color with a beautiful random brush pattern. These Persian-style eco friendly area rugs will make your place more charming.

Features

  • These are soft yet durable
  • Flame and stain resistant
  • It is ideal for placing in the kitchen, dining area, and bathrooms

Jute Area Rugs

If you are looking for a rug that won’t need to be updated with the changing seasons, your search is over because jute area rugs are all seasoned and durable. The jute plant, which produces these rugs, is recognized as the golden fiber because of its pale beige tint. 

These carpets are perfect for use in hallways, dining areas, and entryways because of their rich texture, inherent resilience, and low cost. In addition, they contribute to the organic atmosphere of rustic-style home decor because of their longevity and beige color. These eco friendly area rugs may be cleaned quickly and easily with a low-suction vacuum, mild soap, and water.

black and green jute area rugs in living roomSource: Gan Rugs
Rustic Chic Geo Jute Area Rugs

Add the Rustic Chic Geo area rug to your place for a more vibrant look. This flexible and soft jute area rug has multi-colored patterns to give your area a unique look.

Features

  • These are all-seasoned rugs
  • These are durable
  • They have rich-texture and inherent resilience

Cotton Area Rugs

Cotton area rugs are the most cost-effective solution for decorating your home with area rugs. They are manufactured from the fluffy, white cotton plant, which has a soft texture. Its natural material allows easy airflow, making the rugs airy and preventing heat buildup. 

These eco friendly area rugs are excellent to use if there is a lot of noise around you since the densely woven cotton produces an acoustic barrier and effectively absorbs sound. In addition, these carpets have high tensile strength, which prevents them from wearing and tearing out quickly. Moreover, these can be washed in a machine and do not retain stains or spills.

COTTON AREA RUGS FOR KIDSSource: Oyoy
Adventure Cotton Area Rugs for Kids

Go for the Adventure rug with an excellent pattern of adventurous roads in black color on a white colored background to give your home a playful touch. 

Features

  • Cost-effective rugs
  • They have high-tensile strength
  • They are machine-washable 

Sisal Area Rugs 

Natural Green Cotton Bordered Sisal Area RugsSource: The Rug House
Sustainable Sisal Area Rugs

Sisal area rugs, created from a natural plant called sisal, are the most fashionable and eco friendly area rugs to use in your home. Because they are tough and maintain excellent condition even after heavy use, these carpets are perfect for placing in high-traffic areas like entryways and restrooms. 

Moreover, these rugs are incredibly versatile and will match any interior design. Due to its exceptional absorbency, it also serves as a natural humidifier and keeps the room fresh on hot, sunny days. Regular vacuuming is all you need to do to keep it stained-free.

Features

  • Most sustainable rugs
  • These have exceptional absorbency
  • These act as a natural humidifier

Seagrass Area Rugs

Seagrass Area Rugs with BorderSource: nuLOOM
Eco-friendly Seagrass Area Rugs

Seagrass, a natural fiber from flowering plants grown under water, is used to make seagrass area rugs. This fiber is woven to create a rich, organic texture that compliments traditional and modern home decor trends. In addition, it is considered the best material to use in heavy-traffic areas because of its toughness.

Additionally, the seagrass is non-absorbent and is perfect for placement in bathrooms and kitchens because it lacks pores that could trap dirt and spills. These rugs are also comfortable to stroll on when you want to unwind and your feet are tired. Since they are nonporous, dirt does not readily adhere to them, but frequent vacuuming with solid suction is necessary to keep them in good condition.

Features

  • It has a rich and organic texture
  • Ideal for high-traffic areas
  • Dirt doesn’t readily adhere

Bamboo Area Rugs

Nothing beats the distinctive bamboo area rugs if you want to feel the softness of woody grass under your feet. If properly maintained, they add beauty to your home and last a very long time. However, as they could soon fade, arranging them where little sunshine is best.

Also, these rugs are resistant to insects and irritants, keeping all moths and allergens at bay. However, the kitchen is a rough spot for these rugs because they are readily discolored. You should shake the rug sometimes and vacuum it in different directions to keep it clean.

bamboo area rugs gray coloredSource: this and that
Turkey Tail Bamboo Area Rugs

Turkey Tail is a contemporary-style gray-colored rug. It has the wonderful shape of a flower that is made of three big petals in different shades. This hand-tufted rug will embellish your house with its unique style.

Features

  • These are durable
  • Insect and irritants resistant
  • Ideal for placing in living areas

Silk Area Rugs

Area rugs made of silk represent richness, coziness, and softness that bring out the elegant beauty of an unwelcoming place. These carpets cost more than other area rugs because they are made from silkworm cocoons which is a labor-intensive and time-consuming procedure. These rugs have a distinctive appearance due to their natural, lustrous finishing. 

The best ones are hand-knotted silk rugs. The higher the number of knots, the more qualitative they are. With adequate care, these rugs can last for decades due to their high tensile strength. Since they are delicate to handle, placing them in locations with little activity and out of direct sunlight is best to prevent fraying. Regular vacuuming and dust removal with a gentle broom is required to keep it spotless.

Multicolored silk area rugs in a rectangular shapeSource: Carpets CC
Dubai Growing Multicolored Silk Area Rugs

A great addition to your space would be the area rug Dubai Growing which has a multicolored pattern of straight lines to give your eyes the illusion of a prism. This colorful area rug will go well with modern-style home decor.

Features

  • These have natural, lustrous finishing
  • High-tensile strength
  • Ideal for low-traffic areas

Conclusion

On a concluding note, eco friendly area rugs offer several advantages over artificial rugs made of polyester, nylon, and polypropylene. In addition to being environmentally harmful, synthetic rugs are inferior in quality to natural materials like silk, wool, jute, cotton, bamboo, sisal, and seagrass. Here, at Arcedior, we have rugs made of natural materials especially handcrafted by local artisans. Choose a silk area rug to lend a touch of luxury to your room, and choose a cotton rug for a breathable atmosphere on hot, muggy days. Make intelligent material decisions for your carpets, and let them reflect your excellent decor sense.

Frequently Asked Questions?

What are eco friendly area rugs?

Eco friendly area rugs are made with the help of natural fiber through manual techniques like hand tufting and hand knotting. These rugs do not harm nature in any way. The materials used in these rugs are mainly silk, wool, jute, sisal, bamboo, cotton, and seagrass. These rugs are non-toxic and adorn homes to bring out their exquisite beauty.

What are the most sustainable materials for eco friendly area rugs?

The most sustainable materials for eco friendly area rugs include wool, jute, cotton, and silk.
Wool area rugs: These are made from the quality wool of high-bred sheepskin. These rugs come in a variety of vibrant colors and styles. Wool area rugs are also highly durable and soft to the touch. These can be cleaned with a low-suction vacuum.
Jute area rugs: These are made from jute plants, called golden fiber. This fiber has a shade of beige color that gives it a unique, organic look to place inside the room. It has a smooth and rich texture. It is cost-effective, which makes it a preferred choice among other area rugs.
Cotton area rugs: Due to their soft texture and breathable nature, they are widely used in the summer. They are also easy to wash in a machine and by hand. The easy airflow inside does not allow for heat-building, making the environment relaxed and comfortable. They have high tensile strength and do not wear and tear out easily.
Silk area rugs: These rugs are quite expensive and made from the cocoon of silkworms. Their natural sheen gives a luxurious look to the place they are kept. The hand-knotted silk rugs are an excellent choice when considering any area rug. The higher the number of counts, the better the quality.

What is the most durable material for an area rug?

The most durable material for an area rug is wool. Wool area rugs are the strongest and most durable. These are made from high-quality wool that is hand sheared. These are soft yet strong. However, wool efficiently traps the dirt and spills that come in its contact, so it is ideal for cleaning it at frequent intervals. Cleaning these rugs with a low-suction vacuum and regular shaking will complete the work.

What are two environmentally friendly materials used for area rugs? 

The two environmentally friendly materials used for area rugs are jute and sisal.
Jute area rugs: These rugs are made from a plant called a jute plant. Due to its natural light beige color, this plant is also known as the golden fiber. It has a soft texture which makes the feet feel relaxed. Its beige color gives an organic look to rustic-style home decor.
Sisal area rugs: These are the most fashionable and made from the natural plant called sisal. It is incredibly versatile and suits any home decor. Along with this, these rugs have exceptional absorbing capacity, making them an excellent choice to place in kitchens and bathrooms. It also acts as a natural humidifier.

Are eco friendly area rugs more expensive than traditional rugs? 

Yes, eco friendly area rugs are more expensive than traditional rugs. This is because it takes time to produce high-quality rugs from natural fiber, which leads to more cost. For example, making silk area rugs from the raw silk obtained from the cocoon of silkworms is quite a complex task. After that, the hand-knotting technique is time-consuming and labor-intensive, making silk area rugs quite expensive. However, investing in eco friendly area rugs is brilliant as they do not wear and tear out easily when placed inside your room.

Are natural fiber area rugs more environmentally friendly than synthetic rugs?

Yes, natural fiber area rugs are more environmentally friendly than synthetic rugs. The rugs made from wild plants and animals like cotton, jute, silk, wool, sisal, seagrass, and bamboo do not produce any hazardous chemical elements. In contrast, synthetic rugs prepared from nylon, polypropylene, and polyester negatively affect the environment by releasing toxic fumes during manufacturing.

image sources

  • Famosa: Rug Society
  • RUSTIC-CHIC-GEO-RUG_: Gan Rugs
  • Adventure-Rug-Offwhite: Oyoy
  • Sisal-area-rug: The Rug House
  • Seagrass-area-rug: nuLOOM
  • Bamboo-area-rug: this and that
  • Dubai-Growing: Carpets CC
  • Rugs: RAYTENT
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