Lustrous and luxurious in look and feel, silk and sari silk are ideal options for a fine, sumptuous material underfoot. With their subtle sheen and extremely soft hand, these fibers are best suited for low-traffic areas, like bedrooms, due to their delicate composition.

Silk is a natural fiber harvested from the cocoons of either cultivated or wild silkworms. It requires great skill to weave silk rugs, and they are often true investment pieces. Sari silk, or recycled strips of fabric from traditional silk saris, is a vibrant and shimmery fabric with a beautiful textile story.

Why Choose Silk: Silk rugs are often the softest you will find and have an elegant finish. Silk is relatively durable and can last a lifetime with proper care. Natural luster and shine show through in the finished rug. Silk takes dye very well, which allows for beautiful color variation.

Other Considerations: Footprints and furniture marks show easily. Silk is not as stain-resistant as other fibers, so care needs to be taken around the rug.

Manufactured to mimic the look and feel of silk - viscose, rayon, and tencel are generated from the cellulose found in plant-based materials, such as wood pulp or bamboo. Processed through chemical processing and then spun into strands, these are luxurious fiber that often leave a lustrous sheen.

When fine fibers like viscose, rayon, sari silk, and silk are blended together with a durable material like wool, they are sturdier and more fortified for a longer-lasting addition to homes. These materials are great for low traffic areas like bedrooms or formal living rooms, but not great for high-traffic areas or those that need cleaning – like entries or dining rooms.

Why Choose Viscose/Rayon: These materials add luster and shimmer to designs, and are soft to the touch. A natural luster and shine through in the finished rug. These materials are easy to dye. “Faux Silk” can be highly reflective, and the colors change constantly with light, yielding a uniquely dynamic look.

Other Considerations: These materials may be easily flattened by heavy furniture, and are harder to clean than wool or cotton.

Generally used in flat-woven constructions, cotton is soft and easy to care for. More affordable than wool and known for its eco-friendly construction, cotton takes dye very well which makes for unique and bold-colored rugs.

Typically having a more relaxed or casual look, cotton rugs are hypoallergenic as well as a great kid- and pet-friendly option.

Mostly used for power-loomed constructions, these manmade fibers imitate the look and feel of natural materials like wool and silk. They are strong, durable, and inherently stain-resistant materials that are easy to clean and care for—lending the perfect option to kid- and pet-friendly homes or heavily trafficked rooms.

Not all synthetic rugs can be used outdoors, but polyester, recycled PET (recycled plastic bottles woven into a soft and durable fiber), and polypropylene fibers are often treated to be weather-resistant for outdoor use. Compared to other materials like wool and silk, synthetic rugs are a fraction of the price and are ideal for bringing stylish and budget-friendly looks to homes.

Natural or plant-based fiber rugs ground spaces with organic and versatile texture. Jute, sisal, hemp, and sea grass rugs are durable and strong, perfect for layering with other textiles, and are sourced from renewable materials.

While many natural fibers are coarse and sometimes rough to the touch, jute is the softest plant-based fiber and often has a naturally soft hand. These rugs are a great accent in mid- to high-traffic areas, but should not be placed in spaces with a high moisture content.