Natural carpets like sisal are becoming increasingly popular.
NATASHA BRNSMEAD Is associate editor and has renovated her own Edwardian home.
IMAGE: KERSAINT COBB
Natural carpets are becoming an increasingly popular choice thanks not only to their good looks, but also due to the fact that they are free from potentially harmful chemicals and are kinder to the planet than many synthetic types of flooring.
Natural carpet can be made from several different materials found in nature and the term is basically applied to types of carpet that do not contain any manmade products, such as nylon or polypropylene.
In this article we take a look at the various options that will be available to you should you decide to take the all-natural route when it comes to finding flooring for your home, explaining the pros and cons of each.
WHAT TYPES OF NATURAL CARPET ARE THERE?
There are many different types of carpet available, all offering different benefits. Some will be more suitable for certain rooms of the house than others, and prices can vary quite widely between the different materials available.
“Carpets are not just made from synthetic fibres or wool — jute, sisal, seagrass and coir all make sustainable, allergy-friendly and hardwearing floor coverings,” explains Homebuilding & Renovating’s editor-in-chief Claire Lloyd.
“We’ve seen an increase in popularity for natural carpets in recent years, because homeowners are looking to make more sustainable choices,” says Alex Heslop, trend expert at Flooring Superstore. “As well as having a lower carbon footprint, natural carpets add a premium and calming feel to your living space and as a natural fibre, can even improve air quality, acting as a natural filter by trapping allergens and removing them from the air you’re breathing.”
If you want to take a green approach to your flooring, what options will you be faced with?
In general, the main types of natural carpet are:
● Jute
● Coir
● Sisal
● Wool
● Seagrass
JUTE FLOORING
As one of the cheapest types of natural carpet, jute is very popular. Jute is woven from the fibres of plants from the Corchorus genus. It is made by soaking the plant in water and stripping its stalks to make individual fibres. “Jute is the softest of the natural floor coverings, giving acomfortable feel underfoot,” says Alex Heslop.
“Jute’s softness suits sitting rooms and bedrooms and it is a great base for layering rugs on top,” agrees Lorna Haigh, creative director at Alternative Flooring.
Jute’s softness comes from the fact that it is made from plant stalks as opposed to the leaves. However, on the downside, it tends not to be best suited to areas of high traffic, such as hallways and stairs — it is better in bedrooms and snugs. “It is less hardwearing and more absorbent than some other natural carpets,” explains Sarah Jenkinson, product manager at Kingsmead.
COIR FLOORING
SOFT AND AFFORDABLE Kersaint Cobb’s Medium Boucle jute (above) costs around £30–£35/m2.
Coir is a really hardwearing, tough material that is ideal for high-traffic areas of the home such as hallways, boot rooms and even porches. It tends not to be used as frequently in spaces where softness underfoot is ahigh priority, such as for living rooms or in bedrooms. “Coir is suitable for those who are seeking a rougher, more casual effect,” explains Sarah Jenkinson.
Coir is made using fibres from coconut husks and tends to be a rich nutty shade of beige. Although it is often used for doormats, coir is also very suitable for general flooring and looks great in rustic, country-style homes — plus it is brilliant at absorbing sound, so it works well in open-plan areas.
HIGH-TRAFFIC OPTION This coir carpet (below) from Kersaint Cobb, starts at around £21/m2.
SISAL FLOORING
Sisal is an incredibly popular choice for those after a natural carpet. It comes from a tropical agave plant (called, unsurprisingly, Sisal). Plant fibres are twisted together to form a beautiful textured finish in easy-to-live-with golden, neutral shades.
Being so strong and durable, sisal carpet is perfect for hightraffic areas, such as the hallway, landing and stairs.
“Sisal is the most popular natural fibre option for medium domestic carpets because it’s so versatile,” says Lorna Haigh of Alternative Flooring. “Super hardwearing, it is available in an array of weaves and natural shades. As sisal is expertly woven in different strand shades it often has a darker fleck in the carpet. Dark flecks hide a multitude of sins, especially tracked dirt in hallways and on stairs, so it is ideal in high-traffic spaces in the home. Sisal can be woven into many types of weaves in varying thicknesses.”
Another benefit of sisal is that it feels soft underfoot and really suits contemporary interiors as well as more classic schemes. “Sisal features smooth fibres offering a crisp and defined touch to any space,” says Alex Heslop.
Sisal is also often mixed with other materials, such as wool. Woosie, from Alternative Flooring is one of these. “Woosie is a wool sisal mixing the best qualities of two natural fibres that are firm favourites in interiors,” explains Lorna Haigh. “The woollen yarn gives the soft feel while the hardwearing sisal adds rustic texture and lustrous shades. Sisal in its raw form is very white but dyes well.”
WOOL FLOORING
“Wool is the most popular natural carpet and it’s easy to see why as it gives a textured luxurious look that is soft underfoot and hardwearing —making it a great option for almost any room,” says Alex Heslop. “It is also the ideal material for experimenting with interesting textures to add that little something extra to your space, with so many different finishes to choose from including looped, herringbone and berber.”
“Wool floor coverings are ideal for living rooms as they are hardwearing and soft underfoot,” says Sarah Jenkinson. “As a natural fibre, wool is also breathable and it will be warm in the winter but remain cool in the summer.”
“Wool is a wonder fibre: natural, renewable, easily cleaned and it retains its shape and bounce,” says Lorna Haigh. “An insulator and naturally flame retardant, it is a super textile for floors which lasts, too. Deep pile luxurious wool carpets are indulgent for bedrooms and upstairs, but may not perform well in an area with heavy footfall.”
“A wool carpet is a wonderful choice for a living room because wool has a textured design adding depth and subtle visual interest to the floor — always a great look for any stylish living room,”
says Alexandra Hindle from Cormar Carpets. “With sustainability at the forefront in 2023, using products that are less harmful to the environment is always a great idea. Carpets crafted from natural, renewable materials, such as wool, are a perfect choice. Wool is a fabulous fibre, natural, renewable, high quality and luxurious underfoot.”
A TOUCH OF LUXURY The Windermere Honeycomb loop pile carpet from Flooring Superstore is made from 100% wool. £26.49/m2.
Sisal Herringbone Hockley carpet, from Alternative Flooring, is suitably hardwearing for use on stairs. £58.45/m2.
SEAGRASS FLOORING
Seagrass is a really beautiful flooring choice with a breezy, organic finish that is often woven into chunky patterns. As its name suggests, seagrass grows in the shallows of the sea and, as such, has good water resistance —making it ideal for rooms where spills are likely to occur or water might come in on wet shoes. Anyone after hallway flooring or agood choice for boot rooms or utility rooms should seriously consider seagrass.
Despite its many benefits, seagrass is not suitable for every room as it tends not to be as hardwearing as some other natural flooring materials. “Seagrass can be used in the lounge, bedroom and dining room but not on stairs,” advises Lorna Haigh.