We often find that people ask us the question, why should I choose a woollen rug over a synthetic one? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the extensive choice of rug styles, fabrics, and colours available, and so in today’s blog post, we want to simplify everything. We’re just going to discuss why, at Bazaar Velvet, we will always recommend a woollen rug over a synthetic one.
As you may already be aware, all of our rugs are made using Himalayan wool, because the material is particularly rich in lanolin, giving our rugs a silky, luxurious finish. However, just because we only use natural fibres in our rugs, it doesn’t mean to say we don’t understand and/or have experience of dealing with synthetic rugs. So, first and foremost, what exactly are natural and synthetic fibres?
Natural fibres are fibres that, surprisingly enough, come from natural organic sources – either plants or animals. As well as wool, other examples include hemp, bamboo, or silk. Not only are these fibres of a high-quality, they are an eco-friendly material (they are produced entirely naturally and will, in time, degrade entirely naturally).
Synthetic rugs, therefore, are the polar opposite; the fibres are man-made, and thus do not come from plants or animals. They are manufactured by machinery in a factory, using artificial fibres. Examples of such fibres include nylon, acrylic, polypropylene, and polyester. The main benefit of a synthetic rug is the strength and durability of the material. They can be made water-resistant and suitable for outdoor use, as well as treated to be stain and fade resistant. To achieve the desired colours, synthetic rugs are dyed using various chemicals, include chrome and aniline. These chemicals can be harmful to individuals with certain allergies or chemical sensitivities, so we always recommend avoiding synthetic rugs if someone in your home could suffer an adverse reaction from the new rug. Some people take the stance that if rugs are made using recycled materials, then they must be eco-friendly as well. As much as we commend recycling, we refute this argument and believe that a synthetic rug can never be termed ‘eco-friendly’, not least because of the man-made chemicals used throughout the construction process.
Although synthetic rugs can be specially designed to be stain resistant, wool is actually a far better material at resisting stains than its synthetic counterparts. Wool does not allow liquids to soak into the rug, unlike artificial fibres which are more prone to absorbing moisture and colours. As well as this, wool lasts a great deal longer than synthetic material. Why exactly this is remains a mystery to many within the rug/carpet industry, although it is widely believed that the chemical treatments added during the making process affect the longevity of the product.
However, because of these two factors, wool rugs are much dearer than synthetic rugs. You pay for quality, and so it is worth deciding upon a budget prior to searching for a new addition to your home. Yet don’t base your decision upon cost alone; you may pay less in the short term for a synthetic rug, but you will redeem your investment over time if you chose to buy a wool rug. Bear in mind how much foot traffic the rug will receive and where it will be placed; don’t choose luxury, designer rugs for your hallway, for example. If you’re still unsure as to which material to choose, please free to come to our shop on New Kings Road to browse our collections. We guarantee you’ll be seeing the advantages of a woollen rug over a synthetic in no time at all.