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Jute rugs: why interior designers love them and where to buy the best ones
“I can remember vividly when seagrass matting hit the design world, some time in the spring of 1982 – we could not get enough of it,” says Philip Hooper, joint managing director of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler. “It was an understated and chic alternative to carpet that provided a perfect background for antique rugs and dhurries,” he says of how they used it back then. Having witnessed the evolution of natural fibre rugs and carpets, Philip continues “I still look at matting as my first choice when thinking about flooring. I enjoy the idea of using a relatively modestly priced matting in the grandest of spaces and, providing it is balanced out with a fabulous rug, it will always look classic and never contrived.”
Many contemporary designers completely agree, and we see natural flooring and jute or seagrass rugs in nearly every project that crosses the pages of House & Garden. “I love the natural, warm and grounding texture which jute, seagrass, sisal and rush bring to a room,” says Katharine Paravicini, who has used plenty in her projects and her own house. “They always go with everything, working just as well in more pared-back rooms as they do with lots of colour and pattern,” she continues, adding that, like Philip, “I particularly love using them mixed up with antiques and they can also look great layered with another patterned rug on top.”
“I’ve used a jute rug in every room in the house from dining room and living rooms to bedrooms,” says Laura Stephens, who has her own collaboration of jute rugs with charming graphic, colourful borders with Bombay Sprout. The use of them in bedrooms is more divisive, given that natural fibre rugs aren't the softest underfoot. Katharine, however, agrees with Laura. “I personally love them in bedrooms, though I probably wouldn’t use them in a bathroom as they can be marked by water.” Water stains aside, Laura adds that another benefit of these rugs is they “are super durable and hardy. In terms of cleaning them I simply let any mud or debris dry and hoover them afterwards”.
“I think the beauty of jute, sisal, seagrass, rush matting is a perfect combination of texture and colour,” says Stella Weatherall, and Jessica Summer, an interior designer known for her more minimal aesthetic agrees. “It works perfectly with my approach of using texture instead of contrasting colours to bring interest to the space, in order to create a timeless look and bring more cohesion and balance. I don’t normally want the floor covering to 'shout out', but rather give interest and beauty in a quiet way.”
Another consideration when it comes to natural flooring is in the name: they're natural. “I even love the idea that it comes from nature,” says Jessica, who also highlights their sustainable qualities. “I think there is something grounding and comforting to have that underfoot inside.” Katharine agrees and adds that “a big bonus for me is that is they are non toxic and seagrass and rush smell amazing!” Ben Pentreath summed it up a long time ago in his dos and don'ts of decorating: “Seagrass is brilliant for floors: it's cheap and beautiful, and it smells delicious.”
So if you’ve been struggling to decide what rug to put down in your living room, dining room or bedroom, if you’re tearing your hair out trying to decide whether you should opt for a patterned flat weave rug or a chunky wool rug, never fear: the humble jute rug works in every space and can be layered with an antique rug to maximise decorative opportunities. Now all that remains is to choose the right one.
What is the difference between sisal, coir and jute?
Should you be looking to invest in one of the market’s best jute rugs, you might have encountered a number of different names for these charming natural fibre rugs. These fibres might look rather similar, but they do behave differently, so you need to check which material suits your household’s needs best.
- Jute is derived from the Corchorus plant, a tall flowering plant that grows best in humid climates. It’s flexible, soft and feels better on your bare feet than sisal will. Jute fibre rugs are a better choice for rooms where you may want to sit on the floor or walk around barefoot, such as in a bedroom or living room. However, be warned that heavy furniture will leave irreversible indents in the rug if placed on it for long periods of time.
- Sisal comes from African plants like pineapple and agave, which lends it a coarser feel and stiffer texture than jute, seagrass and other alternatives. This also makes them more durable, better suited to heavy traffic areas and the straight fibres tend to be easier to clean. Sisal rugs tends to be less expensive than jute, but come in a smaller colour range.
- Coir is made from coconut husks, which means it is not the softest of materials. It can feel quite rough underfoot, so it’s recommended for use in hotels or other commercial spaces, rather than residential ones. However, it is considered the most unassailable of the natural fibre rugs, so if you have a large and busy household, it might be a good pick for you.
- Seagrass rugs are made from, as expected, seagrass, which is grass harvested near the sea. They only come in one colour, which is a dark green hue that fades to a brown over time. Seagrass is the cheapest of the natural fibre rugs and so has long been a popular choice for large scale fitted carpet, stair runners and other high traffic areas where the rug may eventually need replacing. The only room a seagrass rug is not suited to is a bathroom as the humidity can cause mould and mildew to grow.
- Rush matting tends to be a very high-quality, hand-crafted product in its truest form. Made from bulrushes harvested and dries in summer, it has a plaited design and a coarse texture. It's a centuries-old technique and has beautiful colour variations and a wonderful scent. Look to Rush Matters for the best English examples.
- Abaca is made from a tree trunk that has similar qualities to the banana tree. It is soft underfoot, not as durable as sisal and has a slight pearlescent sheen to it. The fibre is thick, meaning the rugs are often chunky with heavy weaves.
- Hemp is made from the Cannabis sativa plant and is used prolifically in textiles, biodegradable plastic, paper, food and more. Hemp is slightly more durable than jute but feels rougher on bare feet.
Natural fibre rugs to buy
Where's the best place to buy jute rugs?
Depending on your budget, you have a lot of options here. Most of the best furniture shops on the high street, like John Lewis and La Redoute have great selections of simple jute rugs. If you have an oddly shaped room, you might need a custom made rug. We'd head to Natural Rug Store, where you can select your rug material (choose from coir, jute, seagrass, sisal, wool and sisool, a mix of sisal and wool), border material and colour, alongside your required dimensions. Jessica's go-tos include “Tim Page and Peter Page, who have a great selection, as well as Crucial Trading for the rubber backed ones for stairs and landing”. Stella also favours Peter Page, as well as Pelican House and this IKEA design, while Laura advocates for Nordic Knots and Etsy, as well as being an IKEA fan. Seagrass Story and Hadeda are another two to look at, on Katharine's advice.
If none of the natural fibre options are quite right, head to our gallery on the best rugs to buy, which includes all types of wool rugs, patterned rugs, silk rugs and more.
Michael Sinclair1/10In Rita Konig's London house, a graphic take on a jute rug adds texture to the living room. It is from Patterson Flynn's ‘Abaca’ range.
Mark Anthony Fox2/10A bespoke water-reed rug from Tim Page Carpets completes the textured scheme of this dining space in a former vicarage by Anna Haines.
Paul Massey3/10In the bedroom of a Victorian house in London, Laura Stephens added the ‘Pearl’ jute rug design from her collaboration with Bombay Sprout.
Paul Massey4/10A Robert Kime rug (under the ottoman) and another under the dining table are layered over a natural rug in Andrew O'Hagan's house. With a lot of colour in the room, the jute underfoot helps bring a sense of calm. The border of the rug chimes with the floorboards underneath.
Dean Hearne5/10In a room layered with colour, India Holmes chose a jute rug with a bright pink thread running through it to bring more to the space.
Mark Anthony Fox6/10Vibrant cushions and curtains brighten furniture in muted hues arranged round an antique table from Gordon Watson on Suffolk rush matting in Thomas Dane's Gloucestershire house.
Chris Horwood7/10Decorating legend Nina Campbell has used natural flooring to ground the rest of the elements in the living room of her London house.
Chris Horwood8/10Having layered her Chelsea flat with art and antiques, Sally Wilkinson chose a large, simple jute rug underfoot as a base.
Michael Sinclair9/10A very simple jute rug is updated with a pink border in Nina Litchfield's botanical living room.
Paul Massey10/10Proving that a natural fibre rug works as well in a grand room with antiques and fine art as it does somewhere more casual, Henri Fitzwilliam Lay has added one to the formal living room of this country house.
