Rug Options and Where I go for Rugs

I must admit I am kind-of a rug snob. I blame it on my design background and working in a high-end design store. I worked for a design firm for 18 years. I was the store buyer and manager for about 8 of those years. Part of my job was to go to markets and meet with the vendors and manufacturers of the products we were buying. I got to see the process of a sofa made from start to finish, starting with the fabric design process and manufacturing. I also got to see how rugs are made. And since I bought for a high-end store I wouldn’t even look at machine made rugs or synthetic materials.

Now my eyes are little more open to ALL rugs and price points since I am not in that design store. I have helped clients select rugs that are machine made and they are turned out so pretty! Hand Knotted Rugs are gorgeous and are meant to last a lifetime- but some of us don’t want to keep rugs a lifetime. We want affordable rugs we don’t feel bad if we want to change them after a couple years- that is why machine rugs are ok in my book!

One of the biggest pieces of advice I can offer about rugs is to GET THE RIGHT SIZE! You want your rug to be the piece that connects your furniture together. Always have the front of the sofa legs ON the rug and at least the the front of the chairs or settee that you have grouped in the room. I typically start with a rug when designing the room. Then I pick pillows, sofa everything from that. You can find my rug sizing tips HERE.

I am sharing my favorite rugs I have come across lately! What I think of OUR rugs. Tips for cleaning Jute Rugs and a couple of rugs we are deciding on!

Jute Rug / Natural Fiber Rug Options-(Keep reading for my Jute Rug Cleaning Tips)

#1- Jute Rug with a backing- HERE- Handcrafted of 100% natural braided jute with a chunky basketweave texture, features a cotton backing that eliminates shedding and prevents slipping like a built-in rug pad. Available in standard and floor runner sizes

#2- Jute Rug with border HERE– Tightly Woven for minimal shedding

#3- Jute- Inspired FLOR Tiles HERE. I think this is a great way to go for a high-traffic area or with pets. They come in 1’x1′ tiles that you can easily remove when you need to clean one or replace it. 

#4- Jute Rug HERE– made with 100% hand loom made product using a mixture of two different textures of natural jute yarn. This is softer jute rug. I have a friend who has two of these and loves them. Others have said that they have had issues with them shedding. I think it just really depends on the batch you get!

#5- Jute Rug HERE– This is our rug! It has been soft for kids to play on and yet very durable. We only have issues with it shedding on black pants- what you will see with any jute rug. Overall we loved it I would buy it again!

#6- Jute Rug HERE– I included this Jute Rug because it is a bleached jute that is tightly woven. Not a lot of loose fibers, but not on the super soft side either. 

Affordable Black Rug Options-

#1- HERE 5×7 $121 ///  #2- HERE 5×7 $299  ///  #3- HERE 7×10 $500 /// #4-HERE 5×7 $165 /// #5- HERE 5×10 $180 /// #6- HERE 5×7 $412

Affordable Outdoor Rug Options-

#1- HERE 5×8 $249 /// #2- HERE 5×7 $59 ///#3- HERE 5×7 $59 /// #4-HERE 5×8 $149 /// #5- HERE 5×8 $309/// #6- HERE 5×7 $125

Affordable Colorful Rugs- 

#1- HERE 7×10 $578 // #2- HERE 5×8 $1000 (this is one we have)/ #3- HERE 5×8 $799 ///#4- HERE 8×10 $1300// #5- HERE 5×7 $84  /// #6- HERE 5×7 $185

#1- HERE /// #2- HERE /// #3-HERE   I have this one! Layered with THIS one ///#4- HERE  /// #5- HERE  /// #6- HERE /// #7- HERE 

Review on the rugs we have-

I personally have really liked this rug. It does not shed- only if you wear black you will notice loose fibers on your clothes. But other than that it is great for the price too! Finn did get sick on it and I cleaned it with vinegar and water. It still smelled so I used baking soda on the top. It absorbed the smell but it left a yellow stain, totally bleaching it out and gave it a chemical burn. Even using too much water on a jute could do that as well. I received A LOT of tips from all of you on how to clean it- which I should have asked BEORE I went to town with the baking soda. Also any kind of vomit has the risk of creating a permeant damage from the acid

Jute Rug Cleaning Tips

Avoid–

Hydrogen Peroxide- that is a big NO also- it will take out the color as well, it is a type of bleach. And a lot of water- this could also discolor the jute

Try-

Before you clean it is best to test on a small area that is hidden these were the tips that came from Professional Carpet Cleaners and tips I got over and over-

Club Soda

Capture Capet & Rug Dry Cleaner

Clean with a Green Machine (but clean the entire rug)

Enzyme Cleaner

Help picking a new rug!

After the cleaning and the bleaching of the rug we are in the market for a new rug. Kevin wants a completely different rug and I am ok with that. Below is what we have it narrowed down to! Please give us your thoughts! (we will put this one in our unfinished basement).

#1- THIS $299 5×7 Retro cream and gold ///#2- THIS Vintage inspired blue- /// #3-  THIS white and black /// #4- THIS Worn Green

We have had THIS rug for about two years. While I love the look of it we haven’t loved that little crumbs or Lego pieces fall into the cracks. It just takes a little more time to vacuum. This rug would be great in a bedroom and actually after writing this I think we will move it to our bedroom!

I think we will put it in here! We have really liked THIS jute rug in with the diamond pattern, it is soft also and doesn’t shed. (We could put this rug upstairs).

I love the look of this rug- it has gotten darker from wear. I recently cleaned it with THIS carpet cleaner and it made a big difference. I would get a carpet cleaner with a lighter rug. You can find this exact rug HERE and HERE is a similar black.

** I recommend a rug pad under every rug. You can find them HERE or you can go to your local carpet store and have them cut one to size- that is the best place to get a really thick rug pad.

Hope that helps you in your search for the perfect rug!

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