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The flagship shopping guide, carefully curated and vetted by strategists. Click here to learn about our methodology and here to find all our best guides.
The flagship shopping guide, carefully curated and vetted by strategists. Click here to learn about our methodology and here to find all our best guides.
Sisal and jute rugs are the white T-shirts of the design world. With their neutral tones and natural fibers, they complement almost any decor, are extremely durable, and pair beautifully with other rugs. Interior designers love them because they’re so versatile. “Lay them over a large rug or under a smaller one to add depth, warmth, and texture,” says designer Leanne Ford. “Mix them with antiques and neutrals or with jewel tones and lots of patterns,” says designer Lauren Ashley Allan. “Whatever you choose, it’s an easy way to add imperfection to a room,” adds Devin Shaffer, principal designer at Decorilla.
Another great thing: They’re affordable compared to most other types of rugs, including wool, cotton, or silk. Many of the top options on this list cost less than $600 for an 8 x 10-foot rug, and you don’t have to spend more to get a beautiful rug. As for placement, they can really be used anywhere. “Mix them between main rooms or secondary rooms like bedrooms,” says Allen, “or try adding a few pops of color or subtle accents.” To help you choose the right natural fiber rug for your home, I broke down the differences between sisal, jute, and abaca rugs, tested a few myself, and talked to Schaeffer, Ford, Allen, and 15 other decor experts about their favorite options. Keep reading to learn about the 14 best sisal, jute, and abaca rugs, plus tips for using them in your space. NOTE: All prices are based on the smallest size offered, typically 2′ x 2′ or 2′ x 3′.
Updated August 2, 2024: Added Ernesta Angstrom rugs, updated prices and checked stock for all items.
When choosing rugs made from other natural fibers, like sisal, jute, and abaca, the experts we spoke to advise considering the space in which they’ll be used—for aesthetic reasons, of course, but also because certain fibers may be better suited to certain areas. “In general, sisal rugs, which are made from agave fibers, are more durable than jute rugs, making them suitable for high-traffic areas of the home,” says prop maker Kat Dash. Allan agrees, saying sisal rugs are the most durable of their kind and are woven more tightly than other rugs, which is why she likes to use them on stairs as underlay. Seagrass is another equally hardy option, known for its nonporous nature and resistance to stains.
On the other hand, rugs made from jute (from the stem of the jute plant) or abaca (from the abaca plant) tend to be softer to the touch and “more comfortable to walk on barefoot, so it’s a compromise,” says Dash. Meanwhile, interior designer Allison Thicke notes that she likes the “thick but smooth” feel of jute. Because jute rugs are softer to the touch, they’re more flexible than sisal, but they’re less durable and harder to clean. That’s why the experts I spoke to say jute rugs are better suited for lower-traffic areas like bedrooms rather than hallways and living rooms. Allan prefers jute rugs for their lighter overall color, texture, and sheen, but she advises always asking for samples to make sure your choice won’t be too harsh.
If you want a “thicker, more textured surface,” Allen recommends abaca, a rug with thicker fibers and a slightly shinier finish. Like jute rugs, abaca rugs are soft to the touch but not as durable as sisal, making them better suited for medium- to low-traffic areas of the home. If you like the look of these rugs but are concerned about their feel (even after trying on samples), consider choosing a rug with a softer material blend, like cotton or wool.
No matter which fiber you choose, rugs come in a variety of styles and colors. Sure, you can choose a plain weave or hand-knotted rug, but some have tassels, while others have checkered or more traditional patterns. As mentioned above, sisal tends to have a tighter weave, while jute and abaca are a bit coarser. The way the edges are finished also matters. Denver-based interior designer Jess Knauf says a bound edge (where the yarn is wrapped around the edge of the rug) has a smoother look, while a natural edge or fringe “looks great in a more rustic design.” Knauf personally avoids binding edges (sewing a strip of binding, usually cotton fabric, to the edge), as it “shows dust more and stains more easily, especially in high-traffic areas.”
Another benefit of natural fiber rugs is their customizability. Since many rugs are flat-woven, they come in a variety of preset sizes, but some even allow for additional customization, allowing you to choose features such as size and embellishments.
While sisal, jute, and other natural fiber rugs may look similar, sisal rugs have a tighter weave and a more sophisticated look. The Crate and Barrel sisal rug has the finest, tightest weave of all the rugs I tested, and I really like the neat look. It also feels pretty durable, making it ideal for areas like hallways and living rooms. While sisal is definitely the scratchiest of the bunch, it’s not too bad to walk on, but I wouldn’t want to lie on it.
Two experts I spoke with also gravitated toward sisal rugs for their looks and durability. Interior designer Tara Smith loves it for its textured loop weave, which is “a cut above standard sisal rugs” and is durable “but sophisticated enough to be used in any high-traffic area of ​​the home.” Interior designer Becky Shea especially likes it in layers, calling it “perfect as a base rug in a living room or family room, or paired with a kilim or antique Turkish rug to add a pop of color to the space.” It comes in four different colors, including the linen shown here, which I like best because it’s softer and grayer than other beige options. Sizes range from 6 x 9 feet for $499 to 10 x 14 feet for $999.
If you’re looking for a custom size, Pottery Barn’s signature sisal rugs are a great option, available in 15 lengths and widths from 2 feet to 16 feet. They have a larger, looser, more textured weave, which I think gives them a more casual look than the Crate and Barrel sisal rug, and they may have a rougher feel. Three interior designers I interviewed, including design historian Alessandra Wood, Jessica Schuster of Jessica Schuster Design, and Shea, love using this type of rug. “If you’re on a budget, this is a good option,” says Schuster. “They’re great quality, and you can have them custom-made in a very short time.” Prices range from $39 for the smallest size (2 feet x 2 feet) to $2,549 for the largest (16 feet x 16 feet). It’s available in eight colors, including darker shades like mocha, bronze, and gunmetal.
While most of the rugs on this list come in multiple sizes, only the Ernesta (and the Sisal rugs below) let you pick your size down to the inch. Senior Strategy Editor Winnie Yang needed very specific measurements for her restaurant, so she chose the Ernesta. She also said it was “competitively priced and great quality” compared to other custom rugs I considered. As for its look and feel, “I love the texture and feel underfoot, and it’s stood up to all kinds of wear and tear under our dining room table, including two kids, a large dog, and the occasional cat chasing each other.” Sisal rugs aren’t easy to care for, but Yang says a chocolate milk stain was easy to clean with Nature’s Miracle, and the stain smelled “totally normal” afterward. Delivery was quick, too, at just over three weeks from ordering.
Sisal rugs also come in patterns that go beyond traditional basket weave. Denver-based interior designer Jess Knauf prefers sisal to jute and abaca because it’s more durable and stain-resistant. She told me that some of the “beautiful finish” rugs from Ballard Designs are her favorites. She recently installed the brand’s Dori in her living room, a rug with an unexpected fishtail jacquard weave (it actually has a little jute mixed in, depending on the size). “I love that it has a banded edge, which gives it a more sophisticated look,” she says. “I chose a natural color that would highlight the other fabrics in the room. It’s held up beautifully.” Knauf also appreciates the rug’s nonslip rubber backing, which keeps it in place so she doesn’t have to use an underlay. The rug is available in 14 sizes, ranging from 2ft x 3ft to 12ft x 18ft.
Material: Seagrass | Style: Patchwork, solid color | Customization options: six sizes with sew-on extra patches
For a more casual, tropical look, check out this seagrass rug from Rush House, which suddenly seems to be everywhere. It’s been featured in several Architectural Digest home tours, in the homes of stylish people like Daphne Javitch and Julie O’Rourke, and at the Stissing House restaurant in the Hudson Valley. It’s popular for its versatility and affordability; it would look equally striking in a rustic Southern home or a midcentury modern Los Angeles apartment. (The style has been popular since the 1970s and is also known as seagrass rugs.) I first spotted it in the home of my friend Sunny Kang, who sought it out after seeing it in a magazine because she “liked the price, especially for such a large rug.” She also appreciates how customizable it is for any space. She bought two pieces and hung them in her dining room, sewing them together herself out of hemp rope. It’s also easy to maintain: “We drop a lot of food on it and you don’t even notice,” she says. She just vacuums it. The rug feels more like grass and straw than sisal, with a looser, more open weave. For added comfort and durability, Rush House recommends pairing the rug with this underlay, which you can also purchase on the store’s website. The rug comes in six sizes, as well as a single rug that can be expanded by sewing the entire rug or squares together using the twine and sewing kit mentioned above. As for price, the largest rug, measuring 9 feet by 12 feet, costs $425, making it the least expensive rug of its size on this list.
Compared to sisal and seagrass rugs, jute rugs are softer to the touch and have a coarser weave. This jute rug from IKEA is recommended by two of our experts, Tammy Price and Dash of Fragments Identity in Los Angeles, for its affordable price. Dash chose it because “it’s very versatile and will fit in any corner of the house,” she says. “I usually use this rug as a layer and then layer it with a smaller rug that has an interesting pattern. In fact, I have this in my living room with an antique Persian rug on top.” The rug comes in three sizes; the smaller one is 4 feet 4 inches long and 6 feet 5 inches wide and costs $70.
Material: Jute | Styles: Thick, Solid, Fringed, Nine Colors | Customizability: Many Shapes and Sizes
This durable jute rug with tasseled ends was recommended by interior designer Jamie Drake of Manhattan-based Drake/Anderson, who appreciates the minimalist style of “the most natural, simple jute rug.” Alexis Swerdloff, deputy editor in chief of New York magazine, also loved the rug so much that she bought one for her own home. It looks much more expensive than it is, thanks to its hand-woven design and the varied shades of undyed natural fibers. The rug measures 2 feet by 3 feet and starts at $70.
Our three experts—Schuster, Dash, and Seyie Putsure of Seyie Design in Los Angeles—recommended Serena & Lily, which carries jute rugs as well as other natural-fiber rugs. Dash recommends this bordered rug, which she says “feels a little stiff,” but its natural weave balances it out “without making it feel stuffy.” She adds that it will bring a “simple, understated vibe” to any room. The rug measures 2 feet by 3 feet and starts at $88.
Interior designer Christiana Lemieux, who has her own collection of patterned rugs, makes this simple (yet fun) rug from Lulu & Georgia a great choice for her clients. Designed by Jake Arnold, this hand-knotted rug was her top pick. “I love the luxury of this rug,” she says. “It’s almost solid, but it has a subtle geometric pattern woven into it that adds an extra layer of design.” “It’s heavy and feels great to step on,” she says. Lemieux praises its “neutral, natural color and texture,” which she says are “perfect for casual or coastal California design,” adding that the natural rug “brings warmth, texture, and a natural element to any space.” Its weave pattern is similar to the Rush House Seagrass Rug, so if you love the look but prefer a softer feel, this jute rug is a good choice.
If you find pure jute rugs a little scratchy, you might want to consider a softer material, like a wool blend. Allan loves this rug. She says that because it’s handwoven and contains 50 percent wool, it feels softer when you step on it. “The checkerboard pattern on this rug is so beautiful,” she says. “It’s warm and sophisticated, but still beautifully imperfect.” Allan suggests placing this thick rug in a living room, by a fireplace, or even a dining room if you want to add a “delicate, textured backdrop” to the space.
This is another jute and wool flat rug that’s ideal for high-traffic areas thanks to its high jute-to-wool ratio (77 percent jute, 23 percent wool). Strategy author Emma Wartzman purchased the white patterned rug for an open area near the front door between the living room and kitchen entryway, and she says it still looks great a year later. “I wanted something to define the space but also be durable enough to withstand the inevitable foot traffic and shoe wear,” she says. “I vacuum it about once a week, and I’m honestly surprised the white part hasn’t gotten dirty, although I was worried about it at first.” Wartzman says the fabric is “very soft and feels durable—not dainty.” The white color is sold out, but the black is still available.
Material: Jute | Style: Thick, available in four colors | Customizable: Size, shape, rug color, border color, material and width
Interior designer Elaine Griffin swears by natural fiber rugs from Sisal Rugs Direct, which she likes for its “variety and customization options” and because the rugs are “very reasonably priced.” I chose Sisal Rugs Direct because I needed very precise measurements for a landing. I could enter the measurements I needed—down to the inch—and choose the rug color (there were four options), shape, edging material, color, and width. It was cheaper than another competitor I was considering, and arrived in exactly four weeks. I’ve had it for two years now, and it’s still soft to the touch and holding up well, especially considering it’s in an area where my family travels frequently.
Jute, sisal, and abaca rugs are versatile and durable, but they can be difficult to clean because water and other liquids can damage them. If you like the look of a rug but want something a little easier to maintain, check out this washable rug from Ruggable’s Re-Jute collection, which is woven from recycled polyester, virgin polyester, and plastic water bottles. Product designer Anastasia White took this Italian-style palazzo rug and used it in her kitchen. She loves the “super flat weave” that feels just like the real jute rug in her dining room, only smoother, making it “super easy to clean” and softening the “dull white of the kitchen.”
Like our other experts, designer Aerin Lauder said she chose a natural-fiber rug to “create an immediate neutral look that’s functional yet elegant.” Her favorite is an abaca rug from Williams Sonoma (she also designed the Aerin collection for the brand, but this rug isn’t from that brand). “I think the tone and texture would be perfect for any space,” Lauder says. “This rug feels natural, comfortable, and casual.” The smallest size is 3 feet by 10 feet and costs $895.
• Lauren Ashley Allan, Interior Designer • Kat Dash, Prop Master • Jamie Drake, Drake/Anderson • Leanne Ford, Interior Designer • Elaine Griffin, Interior Designer • Jess Knauf, Interior Designer • Aerin Lauder, Designer • Christian Lemieux, Founder, Lemieux et Cie • Tammy Price, Fragments Identity • Seyie Putsure, Seyie Design • Jesse Schuster, Principal, Jessica Schuster Design • Devin Shaffer, Lead Sales Designer, Decorilla • Becky Shea, Interior Designer • Tara Smith, Interior Designer • Allison Thicke, Interior Designer • Emma Wartzman, Writer, Strategist • Anastasia White, Production Designer • Alessandra Wood, Design Historian • Winnie Yang, Senior Editor, Strategist
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