Rug materials and construction techniques
How your rug is made isn’t just about looks, rugs have different materials and construction methods that make them suited to different environments. Whether you’re after the soft plush feel of wool or the stylish practicality of a flatwoven rug, our range of rugs at daals has something for every home and every room.
Choosing your rug material
The material a rug is made from will affect how it feels underfoot, how well it handles daily traffic and even the temperature of your room. That’s why we have created a simple guide explaining each of our material's benefits so that you can find your ideal match.
Jute
A breathable and resilient natural fibre, jute has a textured natural feel and is sustainable. It’s on trend for adding warmth and texture to your spaces. The durable properties of jute make it suitable for moderate to high traffic areas.
Wool
A soft natural material. Wool has hypoallergenic properties, as well as flexible fibres that offer cosy comfort underfoot and bounce back from bending. Its temperature regulating properties help to keep your room cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
New Zealand Wool
The softest of the natural rug materials, New Zealand wool offers cosy comfort underfoot and is a more luxurious option to normal wool. Similar to wool, it has hypoallergenic and temperature regulating properties, as well as flexible fibres that bounce back from bending.
PET
Made from recycled plastic bottles, PET is an eco-friendly option that looks and feels similar to wool. It’s durable and water-resistant, suiting it to outdoors and high-traffic areas in your home. PET is easy to clean, so is a great option for households with pets and children.
Polyester
A durable synthetic option, polyester is a cheaper alternative to wool if you’re looking for something that’s soft and cosy underfoot. It’s easy to maintain and is good for rooms with moderate foot traffic.
Hemp
Hemp is one of the strongest and most durable natural fibres, this makes it great for busy homes and high traffic areas. It has an inherently firm and textured feel. It’s also breathable and doesn’t attract dust, dirt or debris, so is good for asthma and allergy sufferers.
Not sure how to care for your material? See our rug cleaning guide.
Why do rugs affect room temperature?
Your room will feel warmer with a rug as it acts as a barrier that prevents cold air from rising through the floor and its insulating properties trap heat in the space.
Natural materials = more breathable (so they will retain less heat)
Synthetic fibres = more insulating (so they will trap more heat)
But it's not just about material type, pile also affects room temperature...
High-pile = room feels warmer (long fibres trap more heat)
Heavy pile = room feels warmer (fibres are closer together so trap more heat)
Construction techniques explained
Our rugs are handmade by local artisans in India using traditional weaving techniques, making each piece bespoke which sets them apart from their machine-made counterparts. With different pile heights and textures, each technique brings a unique and interesting construction that has its own benefits for different spaces in your home.
Handwoven
Much like the name suggests, handwoven rugs are woven on looms by hand. Vertical threads (warp) are set up on a loom and horizontal threads (weft) are interlaced with them, then the edges are finished and any loose threads trimmed.
There are two different types of handwoven rugs:
- Flatweave - have no pile.
-
Textured - same construction as flatweave, except texture is created by using different thicknesses of yarn or additional techniques during the weaving process.
Key features:
- No pile - easier to maintain as dirt doesn't embed deep into the fibres and makes them suitable for high traffic areas as they won't show tread marks.
- Lightweight - more breathable than high pile rugs.
Hand Braided
Hand braided rugs are handmade by plaiting yarns into a cord, and then stitching this cord together to form the shape of the rug.
Key features:
- Artisan, rustic aesthetic.
- Durable - suited to high-traffic areas.
- Thick - great at absorbing sound, bringing a calming feel to your space.
- Requires more care and attention to clean.
Hand Tufted
Hand tufted rugs don't use a loom, instead a tufting gun is used which loops the yarn through the backing of the rug. Additional foundation layers and protective backing are applied, then finally the loops are sheared to create the luscious pile.
Key features:
- More affordable - construction process isn't as labour intensive.
- Thick pile - soft plush texture that is warm and cosy underfoot, as well as being great at absorbing sound.
- Ideal choice if you want a luxurious looking and soft feeling rug.
- Better suited to low-traffic areas like bedrooms or offices.
-
Requires more care and attention to clean.
Hand-Knotted
Hand-knotted rugs are meticulously crafted by hand. Vertical threads (warp) are tied to a loom and then horizontal threads (weft) are individually hand knotted to them. They're then cut and tied again to secure the knots and form the pile of the rug.
Key features:
- Premium look and feel - statement piece designed to last for generations.
- Hand-knotting process showcases artisanal skill and allows for more unique and intricate designs.
- Extremely durable and suited to high traffic areas due to the tight knotted construction.
- Luscious pile - luxurious feel underfoot and helps absorb sound in your room for a more calming environment.
- More expensive - the construction process takes months because of the skill and time involved.
- Requires special care and attention to maintain its quality.
What do pile height and pile weight mean?
The terms pile height and pile weight are used a lot when talking about rugs, but what do they actually mean?
Pile height = the length of the individual material fibres of a rug from the backing to the end of the strand.
Pile weight = the number of grams per square metre of yarn there is on the rug’s surface (gsm). The larger the number the denser the pile.
You should consider construction method alongside pile height and weight to work out the overall durability of the rug you’re purchasing.
FAQs about our materials and construction techniques
Q: What type of rug is best for a house with pets?
A: As much as we love our furry friends they can sometimes cause chaos - claws pulling material, fur getting everywhere and leaving you little surprises around the house!
Pet parents should choose a rug that is:
- Flatweave as they don’t have a pile, making them more durable.
- Synthetic as they are more stain resistant and easier to clean.
- Patterned as this will help to hide dirt and stains.
Flatweave + synthetic + pattern = ultimate rug for pet households
Q: What should I look out for when getting a rug for a house with kids and high traffic?
A: The top things to look out for if you have a home with kids or high foot-traffic are:
- Low-pile or flatweave rugs as they are less likely to trap dirt and will be easier to vacuum.
- Patterned or darker coloured rugs will be better at hiding stains and dirt.
- Always use a rug pad as it helps reduce wear and tear, as well as keeping the rug in place when kids are playing or lots of people are walking over it.
- Synthetic materials, like polyester, have good stain resistance and durability, as well as being cheaper than natural materials.
- Wool is also another great option as it’s naturally stain resistant and resilient (the fibres will bounce back), while offering a softer and warmer feel, although it will need more careful cleaning.
- Indoor/outdoor synthetic rugs are great for playrooms because they’re easy to clean and made with weather and stain-resistant materials.
Q: What material should I choose if comfort is my main priority?
A: You should choose a wool rug if comfort is your priority. It’s naturally soft and offers a plush feel underfoot.
So whether you want a super soft rug for your bedroom that your feet can sink into or a robust and stylish flatweave rug for the high footfall in your living room. At daals we have materials and construction methods to suit each room in your home.
Shop All Rugs
