The pros and cons of a jute rug.

17 juni 2022

Jute rugs. What are they? Why are they so popular? Jute rugs are a hot topic in the interior design community, but are they actually worth the investment?

We offer a small collection of jute rugs to choose from. Keep reading to find out what exactly jute rugs are and the truth behind these popular rugs.

Think coastal living and casual beach house style, with rugs so classic they’ll even work in the city. For an earthy, boho vibe, try a rug made of natural fibers such as jute. Natural jute rugs are a stylish and economically friendly option for a practical flooring solution in your home. These rugs are surprisingly soft and strong, and look great with a variety of decor styles. We also carry a selection of rugs in natural fiber blends that include cotton and wool.

What is jute?

Jute is a type of grass most commonly found in the Asian subcontinent. Jute, also known as Golden fiber, is a central woody part of the plant stalk. Once the plant stem is cut down, an interesting process takes part to craft it into a fiber. The stems are put deliberately in running water (slow motion) for a few weeks. This practice makes “stripping” of the jute fibers easier as it softens the gummy. These split fibers are then further processed to transform them into a jute yarn.

Jute is a shiny, vegetable fiber and is spun into coarse strands, strong threads to create the thick bobbles that add texture to the rug. Jute rugs are hand woven with plant fibers in a soft pile, a rug pad is recommended for added durability and to prevent shifting.

What does jute rugs feel like?

You should definitely not expect it to feel like a shaggy rug. Still, it doesn’t give a sense like many other natural fiber rugs including sisal, seagrass, hennep, … Jute feels soothing for your feet, more like a comforting massage, but you won’t enjoy taking a nap on it! Simple! But, it is possible to get more softness from a jute rug when you choose for a blend of 20% cotton with 80% jute. So now you can soothe your eco-friendly nature with added serenity.

What good a jute rug can offer.

For a naturalist, here comes the biggest gain of jute rugs. It is biodegradable, and a natural fiber used in transporting vegetables. When it comes into contact with water or other elements, it starts to break down and decompose. So, it decays back in the soil, leaving no waste behind. Also, its crop doesn’t need any pesticides or fertilizers. It means having a jute rug overall prevents our environment from chemicals.

Though it is a natural fiber, jute rugs are pretty soft. You can let your kids and pets play on it without irritating their soft skin. Also, unlike other natural fibers like sisal, jute won’t scratch the hardwood floor.

Jute rugs ask very low maintenance because of its earthy texture, it hides the dirt on its surface. You can do simple shaking or vacuuming in order to clean your jute rug. For vacuuming, you should remove the beater bar suction or a brush attachment can do the job as well. Vacuuming it from different directions for multiple times will be enough to remove the dirt. However, it is said that frequent vacuuming or cleaning can prolong the lifespan of a jute floor.

Being a natural fiber carpet, it can be coupled with almost any theme you want. Its neutral tone complements a huge variety of patterns, themes or decor.

Setbacks of jute rugs.

As it comes from a plant, it is pretty good absorbent. It means, not only jute rugs gets wet very easily, it stains and becomes moldy, it even worsens its shape too. Thus, you would need to protect it from humidity and water. It implies that you can’t use jute as a bathroom mat, or shouldn’t place it anywhere near water. Jute rugs are not weather resistant and don’t go outside. Going further, you, unfortunately, won’t be able to steam clean it.

Jute rugs need protection from direct sunlight too, as jute can fade its color, especially if it is dyed, on exposure to the sun.

On comparing it with other natural fibers, it relatively breaks down earlier. Being less durable, it isn’t a good option to use a jute rug for high traffic areas. That is why we blend our jute rugs with cotton. The cotton increases the durability and helps them not to break down or wear out.

Are jute rugs handmade?

Making jute yarn is usually an all-natural process, usually done by hand. But, not all jute fibers are mad by hand. Now that jute rugs have become popular, there is more push to make jute faster and cheaper. This means jute is being made by machine too. However, if you adore the originality of hand knotted rugs, Vantyghem and Creative designs by Michèle just got you there. Each rug of our collection depicts the art of skills of craftsmen.

Should I buy a jute rug?

Of course, you should and don’t think twice about this! Jute rugs are the most versatile and beautiful rugs, and you don’t have to crash your bank when buying these rugs. Not only do they have immense benefits, but also look extremely gorgeous placed anywhere.