However, that is far from the truth.

Rug pads offer many benefits that make them well worth buying. In fact, once you buy one rug pad, we believe you’ll never purchase a rug without one again. Here are three life-changing reasons why you should consider buying a pad to go with your next area rug.

1. Rug Pads Boost Safety

When rugs are placed on slick floors like hardwood or tile, they tend to move. This means you, or someone else in your home, could potentially fall and get hurt. Imagine the type of injury this could cause with area rugs at the top or foot of a set of stairs—one slip of the rug could result in a potentially fatal accident.

Rug pads solve this issue. They’re designed to stick to the floor and the rug, keeping the rug stationary and your family safe. While there are some area rugs in your home where slippage isn’t as much of a concern—area rugs in low-traffic areas come to mind—rugs in high-traffic areas are accident-prone and should always have a rug pad.

Speaking of stairs, curious about how to install a runner on your stairs? Here are five essential DIY tips for your staircase makeover.

2. Rug Pads Protect Your Floor AND Rug

When you step on any rug, the fibers are compressed between your feet and the floor, diminishing the integrity of the area rug. Fortunately for rug pad owners, the pad serves as a barrier between the carpet and your hardwood or tile floor. This barrier also lessens the amount of pressure on the carpet fibers and prolongs the life of the rug. This key benefit of rug pads offers protection for both your rug and your flooring, keeping them both in great condition for a longer amount of time.

Pictured above: Seagrass area rug in Seashell with a pale ash, narrow cotton border.

Some rugs are very durable and stylish, but not very comfortable. You’ll be walking, standing, and maybe even laying on your area rug, so you need a comfortable rug option for your home. However, some of the comfy rug options don’t look great in your home.

But thanks to rug pads, you can have the best of both worlds.

Rug pads can be used to add extra comfort. As an extra layer of cushioning, they feel great underneath your feet. Added padding underfoot also helps relieve your back when standing on a rug for longer periods of time. The added comfort doesn’t stop there, either. Rug pads also help absorb noise, creating a more peaceful and relaxing home that is easy on the ears.

Make Your Rug Safer with a Rug Pad

Rug pads offer many benefits, including added safety, protection, and comfort. If you want to extend the life of your area rugs, avoid potential accidents, and enjoy more comfort around your home, purchasing a rug pad is a must. Rug pads are even available for outdoor area rugs to ensure the outside of your home is just as safe and comfortable as the inside.

To get a high quality rug pad for your indoor and outdoor rugs, shop our selection of rug pads today. We will even cut them to your exact specifications, ensuring the pad doesn’t peek out from under your beautiful area rug.

So, you need to choose items that are durable, safe, and easy to clean. This is especially true for area rugs; your floors are ground-zero for lots of paw traffic, collecting hair, and accidents. Plus, rugs are an essential styling focal point; rugs really tie the room together. 

On your hunt for the perfect pet-friendly, you’ve stumbled across jute rugs as an option. Jute rugs are an incredibly popular rug style for several reasons. They combine style and softness with strength plus they’re affordable and versatile. 

But can jute rugs stand up to the rigors of life with pets? Will your cat scratch and ruin your jute rug? Can you wash jute rugs if your puppy has an accident? 

If you’re considering a jute rug for your pet-loving home, have no fear. Below you’ll find the answers to all of your jute rug pet questions.

Answers to Common Questions About Jute Rugs and Pets

Can You Wash Jute Rugs?

More than likely, this is the first question you have about jute rugs and they’re durability for pets. Pets have accidents—it’s a fact of life. That means you need a rug that is easy to clean and durable. The good news is that jute rugs are easy to clean. 

Here’s what you need to know, however: Moisture needs to be avoided when cleaning jute rugs. Instead of heading to the washer or reaching for the hose, jute rugs require that you use a dry carpet cleaning solution. Spot cleaners can also be used, but only when blotting, vacuuming, and other dry cleaning methods aren’t doing the trick. 

For a quick an easy guide to cleaning, check out our How to Clean Jute Rugs page.

Do Cats Scratch Jute Rugs?

The simple answer to this question? It’s possible, but not typical. Scratching is a natural part of feline nature, and plays an essential role in maintaining their health. Luckily for homeowners, cats usually prefer to scratch vertical surfaces. Since rugs lay flat on a horizontal surface, jute area rugs are typically safe from cat scratches. 

That being said, it’s still possible that a claw may make its way into your rug during stretching time. To protect your jute rug from cat scratches, we recommend spraying the rug with an air freshener like Febreeze or something similar as cats typically avoid items that smell like citrus or menthol.

Are Jute Rugs Non-Toxic and Safe for Pets?

When shopping for area rugs, many options are made from synthetic materials and are treated with chemicals to prevent fires, reduce stains, and more. As a result, pet owners are understandably concerned about exposing those area rugs to their pets. Where do jute rugs stand? 

Pictured Above: Jute Mahal runner rug in Birch with a Moon Rock Gray Narrow Cotton border. 

Jute rugs are made with natural fibers harvested directly from the jute plant. The fibers are then hand-woven to create the finished product. This process is 100% toxin-free, allowing you to rest easy knowing your pets can lounge on your jute rug with no negative consequences. No dyes are used on the jute fibers. 

Do Jute Rugs Shed?

You’ve likely heard that jute rugs have the potential to shed. And since your pets already shed enough, the last thing you want is a rug that only adds to the amount of hair and fibers you need to vacuum. In addition, since pets love to chew and eat most things in their path, including stray rug fibers, you want to avoid a rug that sheds. 

Pictured above: Jute Basketweave area rug in Clay with an Extra Wide Tan border. 

If you’re considering a jute area rug for your home, you’re in luck when it comes to shedding. Well-made jute area rugs are woven very tightly, minimizing any shedding that may occur.

Give Your Pooch Some Jute

Jute rugs are a perfect pairing for people with pets. They have minimal shedding. The jute fibers are able to stand up to scratches and stains. And they’re easy to maintain. But let’s not forget that jute rugs are also beautiful additions to any home, giving your space the benefits of both function and style. 

Pets love natural fiber area rugs, including jute. Why is that? Discover why natural fiber is the perfect pet-friendly area rug option. 

Mudrooms also tend to be on the smaller side, making it hard to design an inviting and functional space.

But from closet organizers to coat hooks, there are a lot of things you can add to your mudroom design that minimize the mess and add function -- without taking up valuable square footage. 

What are these magical things every mudroom needs? Discover our top mudroom design essentials with the list below.

1. Comfortable, Yet Stylish Seating

Picture this: it’s a snowy day outside. You walk into the mudroom in your full winter suit, boots and all. Your first step is to strip off your boots to avoid getting water everywhere, but there’s nowhere to sit. Instead, you need to torture your back or knees by bending over or crouching down.  

You need a seating area. Whether you choose a chair, stool, or bench, every great mudroom design includes a place for guests to sit, strip off or put on their gear, and clean up before trekking through the rest of your home. These pieces of furniture serve an important function, but they can also be decorative and bring additional style into the space.  

Our personal favorite seating area in mudrooms are benches. Benches have additional room underneath them for you to store shoes, boxes, and other items to maximize space. Plus, they’re long, allowing guests to rest other items like purses, umbrellas, or hats on the bench while taking off their shoes.  

2. Flexible and Functional Storage

As your home’s portal to the great outdoors, mudrooms acquire a lot of seasonal gear and equipment. If your family has a lot of items to store in the mudroom, such as coats, hats, gloves, and shoes, then installing shelves, cubbies, or hooks is a simple way to increase your storage space and keep everything organized. 

Even if your mudroom has a closet, there are some clothing items that you don’t want to be dealing with doors and hangers for. Because of this, open cubbies and hooks are great tools for storing both large and small items like coats, scarves, hats, or even house keys. Children especially are more likely to use hooks than hangers, so if you have little ones in the house, hooks are a must. Plus, with options like Command Strips and over-the-door hooks, they don’t need to be permanent additions to your mudroom design and can be moved or uninstalled at any time.

3. Durable, Yet Decorative Floor Decor 

It’s all in the name — your mudroom is going to get messy. And you need a floor covering to protect your floors. But you don’t want to add a rug that’s just there to serve as a doormat, you want something that will serve as a decorative statement piece as well.  

So, how do you get both durability and decoration? Our outdoor-rated polypropylene area rugs are the perfect solution. They will be a life saver for your floors, minimize your cleaning chores, and serve as a beautiful floor covering. When placed well in the mudroom, the area rug catches the dirt and grime on people’s shoes as they come in from outside, containing the dirt to one area and keeping the rest of your homeclean. Plus, these rugs can be easily cleaned with water — in fact, we give you permission to wash them with your garden hose.

Which type of area rug should you use? Here are five of the best mudroom rugs for any home.

Pictured above: Our Outdoor Sisal Rug Collection in the Fuji Silver Color. (Image credit: Room for Tuesday). 

Make Your Mudroom a Cleanroom

The mudroom is the entryway into your home, and as such, it needs to be functional for your family and a welcoming area for guests. The items above will keep the room organized and add a splash of style to the area. So, make sure your mudroom design includes benches, hooks, area rugs, cubbies, and anything else you can think of that will make the gateway to your home more functional.

Want to see a great mudroom design in action? Check out Room for Tuesday’s epic laundry room makeover.

For commercial interior designers or property managers, your designs don’t just need to be beautiful, but also adhere to a multitude of standards. For example, there’s the American Disabilities Act (ADA), brand guidelines, signage, maintenance, and other considerations that other designers don’t have to factor in. With so many boxes that need to be ticked off, finding the right advice and inspiration for commercial spaces can be tough. 

If you ever find yourself starving for inspiration for the design of your commercial spaces, look no further than these six commercial interior design blogs. Why did we select these blogs? Each blog shares great examples that leverage varying design styles and tricks of the trade that make it easier to get the job done. Plus, you can see what’s trending in hospitality and commercial design all from the same location.

1. Interiors By Steven G.

Steven G. is a high-end, luxury interior designer. As such, he has plenty of experience in designing commercial and hospitality spaces with a focus on contemporary, modern, and traditional design styles. His blog, Interiors by Steven G., is one of our favorites because he continually highlights past projects, including those that are hospitality properties. 

In fact, you can find his past hospitality projects in his portfolio for easy browsing. One of our favorites was his work for Point South Tower (pictured below), which brought the outdoors in and utilized an area rug to help define the seating area of the lobby.

 Image credit: Interiors by Steven G.

2. Office Interiors & Design

Color palettes. Art rendering. Ergonomics. The role of a commercial designer is varied. And few blogs cover each and every aspect of the job quite as well as the Office Interiors and Design blog. Just taking a look at their most recent posts, you can see tips on how to ensure you’re incorporating the right colors into your design, making renderings that communicate both the beauty and the function of a space, and more helpful tips that make this blog an amazing tool and resource.

Image credit: Office Interiors & Design

3. Elsy Studios

From stunning property makeovers to what’s trending in commercial and corporate interior design, the blog from Elsy Studios covers it all. Our favorite aspects of their blog is that every post includes helpful advice for other designers or property managers. For example, they explain that even if you’re designing a professional and polished hotel lobby, you can still throw in some unexpected elements to create exciting moments for both guests and staff.

Image credit: Elsy Studios

4. Brabbu: Design Forces

Similar to following a specific design style or aesthetic, commercial designers need to incorporate brand values and guidelines into their design as well. The Brabbu: Design Forces blog has great examples of commercial spaces that are unique, yet still fit the desired brand look or atmosphere. And the best part? They come from interior designers located all over the world. 

For example, we loved their post highlighting the work design firm Big Red Rooster did on a Vietnamese sandwich shop pictured below. They left the classic sandwich shop booths and concrete floors to maintain the brand’s fast-casual vibe, but added wood rafters, colorful chairs, and a row of fresh greenery to bring a fresh flair.

 Image credit: Brabbu Design Forces

5. Hospitality Design

While not technically a blog, Hospitality Design should be any hospitality designer’s first stop for news articles, examples, trends, new products, interviews with other designers, and more. It’s also a great place to see what’s changing in the hospitality industry as a whole. 

For example, with big hotel chains creating smaller, boutique brands, hospitality designers will want to anticipate the change and hone the skills that allow them to create greatness in smaller spaces.

Image credit: Hospitality Design

6. Kaper Design

Need to design a restaurant or bar? Kaper Design is the ideal place to go for inspiration and ideas. We especially love their “Inspiring Us” page, which highlights the restaurant spaces that influence their own designs and why they love them. Just scroll through their first page and you’ll see images from coffee shops, bars, restaurants, and delis from all over the world to inspire you. One of our favorites was their post on The Potting Shed in Australia. From the beer tap handles to the ceiling to the decor, everything was made to look like, well, a potting shed.

Image credit: Kaper Design

Don’t Let the Well Run Dry

As designers, you can’t let your inspiration run dry. Follow the commercial interior design blogs above to ensure your creativity and design isn’t limited by brand guidelines, ADA rules, or anything else that crosses your path. Whether you need to design an office, banquet hall, music venue, or any other commercial space, the blogs on our list can help you out. 

What’s trending in commercial design? Check out our must-watch hospitality interior design trends for 2019.

This need for safety is ultimately what led Kim and Scott Vargo of Yellow Brick Home to start exploring other options for their stairs like carpet or rug runners. Having recently transformed their entryway into a stunning space featuring their original, 130-year-old staircase, covering up those stairs was not an easy decision to make. 

The end result, however, was one that they fell in love with. After deciding to install a beautiful and comfortable sisal stair runner, their entryway stairs are safe and well protected. Learn more about Kim and Scott’s project, why they settled on a stair runner, and how to pick one for your stairs below.

It’s Better to Be Safe Than Sorry

You know the scene in “Risky Business” where Tom Cruise slides at least 10 feet on the living room’s hardwood floors? 

Imagine making that slide on a hardwood staircase—it wouldn’t be pretty. In fact, it might look something like this:

via GIPHY

Hardwood is a slippery surface, especially if you love wearing socks around your home to keep your feet warm. And on your staircase, it becomes difficult to maintain a good grip and avoid a slip. For children, pets, or seniors, those hard staircases become even more difficult to battle. So, how can you fix those slippery stairs? A stair runner is a leading option. 

“With a new baby on the way, a stair runner was on our must-do list. As a shoes-off household, the stairs always felt a bit slick, and we were constantly nervous that they were a safety hazard,” Kim says.

With safety top of mind, Kim and her husband, Scott, started to look for a custom stair runner that wouldn’t completely cover their original wood planks but still help prevent dangerous slips. 

“We knew that a runner would be a perfect solution not only for the safety factor, but it would be a practical way to layer in a bit of texture, too!” Kim explains. 

While safety is the main reason you should consider a stair runner for your home, it’s also a great way to add an exotic texture to your entryway as Kim suggests. Plus, with a rug pad underneath, it’s far better for your feet, back, and legs to climb up and down the steps on a stair runner.

Picking the Perfect Stair Runner

Like with choosing any area rug, finding the right stair runner involved a lot of considerations. 

“We kept in mind a handful of key factors: durability, cleaning ease, comfort, and minimal pattern,” Kim remembers. 

When looking for your own stair runner, Kim suggests looking for a tight weave and thin pile area rug as to avoid stretched or sagging fibers. If you have your heart set on a pattern, Kim also recommends going with a minimal pattern as wear and tear won’t be as easy to spot. 

“A stairway, while not a ‘room’ in a home, likely receives more traffic than any other space. Being able to withstand everyday wear and tear is important to bear in mind, so that your hard work doesn’t go to waste,” she advises. 

And speaking of that additional traffic, it’s also a good idea to go with a polypropylene stair runner or another durable option that’s also easy to clean. 

To tick all of those boxes, Kim and Scott chose our polypropylene, sisal look-alike runners. And to ensure they had a minimal pattern that wouldn’t show wear as easily, they went with our Four Seasons Collection in the Belize Dune color with a cotton Granola border.

Fewer Slips, Trips, and Falls

After installing their new stair runner (they did it all by themselves, by the way! You can read all about it in their guide on how to install a stair runner), Kim and Scott immediately noticed a difference in the safety of their stairs. 

“We’ve noticed a huge difference in the way our dogs run up and down the stairs; their paw pads slip less, and overall, we feel that our whole family is so much safer, all because of a runner!” Kim says.

There are other benefits to their new stair runner that Kim and Scott are enjoying, too. 

“We are over the moon!” Kim continues. “We chose a more traditional color with a matching cotton border, but we were sure to select the runner material from the outdoor collection. Because the runner is a faux sisal, our pets aren’t attracted to the material (as they might be with a natural sisal).”

With their project complete, Kim and Scott can rest easy knowing that their adorable new addition, houseguests, and pets will be a little more safe around the stairs.

Take a Step in the Right Direction

If you have a set of hardwood stairs in your home, a stair runner is the perfect solution to fixing those slippery steps. A stair runner is also a great choice if you’re looking to add a different texture or comfort to the area. 

To make sure you find the right stair runner for your home, make sure you take Kim’s suggestions of durability, care, comfort, and cleaning. Get started on your hunt for a great stair runner by shopping our selection of custom rug runners.

If your staircase didn’t come to mind right away, that’s not surprising. We typically don’t think of our staircases or hallways as design areas in our home since they aren’t a part of a single room or aesthetic. But that doesn’t mean they can’t or shouldn’t be given special design treatment. 

To unleash the design potential of these small spaces, we have some advice from Leslie of Deeply Southern Home, a DIY and home renovation expert. Below, Leslie shares her top five tips for creating the perfect staircase makeover that can turn a simple walkway into a major focal point.

1. Create a Clean Slate

Before any work can begin, Leslie recommends thoroughly cleaning the staircase. This is especially true if you want to paint the stairs or replace the carpet. 

When speaking of her own staircase makeover, Leslie says, “Once the carpet was removed, we could see it was going to take a good deal of work to get the stairs suitable for paint. While it was time-consuming, it was definitely worth the effort.” 

To get your stairs clean of any excess wood, nails, or staples, Leslie suggests using a long-handled floor scraper. Then, fill in any holes you’ve left behind with caulk, leaving a smooth surface for you to work off of.

2. Fill in the Gaps with Molding and Shims

Once your stairs are down to the bare bones and original wood planks, you’ll likely notice some gaps. Your home’s contractor likely didn’t leave all of the planks perfectly flush. To correct this, but also give your stairs some more character, Leslie uses molding and shims. Not only does this help cover larger gaps when wood filler or caulk isn’t enough, but it also adds a new design element to the staircase. 

3. Get the Right Primer for a Durable Finish

Stairs are high-traffic areas in any home, making durability extremely important. With this in mind, Leslie is a big fan of using a paint and primer combo that will leave a durable finish that is also easy to scrub clean. On her own stairs, Leslie used the KILZ 2 Latex Primer. 

“KILZ 2® is my go-to primer because it is a water-based, fast-drying primer with low odor and terrific stain blocking power. As dirty as these stairs were under the carpet, a primer was an absolute necessity,” she says. 

Homeowners should follow suit for their own staircase makeover projects to ensure that their finished stairs can stand up to tough stains like mud, food, or drink.

4. Double Up on Paint

With a good primer for a base, one coat of paint might look like enough on your stairs. But take Leslie’s advice and do at least two coats. This will give you some additional peace of mind should a spill occur or the color start to fade. While one coat (with certain paints) may be enough on your home’s walls, stairs see a lot more activity and contact. You certainly don’t want to have to repaint your stairs earlier than necessary.

5. Install the Right Rug Runner

While you could leave your stairs bare and it would certainly be beautiful, it would also be very slippery and dangerous. So it’s a good idea to install a stair runner to provide some much-needed traction, texture, and comfort. 

In her own home, Leslie came to us looking for a durable custom rug runner that would add both safety and style to her new stairs. This led her to select our Four Seasons outdoor sisal collection as they’re extremely durable and easy to clean. And to contrast against the freshly painted white wood, Leslie went with our Domingo Slate rug color and our black, outdoor-rated binding.

Pictured Above: Four Seasons Outdoor Sisal Rug in the Domingo Slate Color With a Black Outdoor Binding

Making Steps in Style

If you’re looking for your next DIY project, keep your staircase in mind. A fresh staircase makeover is sure to leave a noticeable impact on your home given how often they’re used. Just remember to start with a clean, smooth canvas, select a durable primer, load up on extra paint, and install the right rug runner. 

Not sure how to measure your stairs for a new rug runner? Let us walk you through it. Check out our guide on how to measure for a stair runner. 

For more DIY tips from Leslie, be sure to check out her blog, Deeply Southern Home, or follow her on Instagram.

Whether you’re building your dream home from scratch or planning a living room refresh, chances are you’re on the hunt for tips, how-tos, and a healthy dose of inspiration to guide the way. But even though inspiration is all around us, it doesn’t necessarily come to us when we need it most. 

Luckily, if you’re starving for design inspiration, there are several places you can go to expose yourself to inspiring interior design ideas, examples, DIY how-tos, and so much more. 

Check out 10 of our favorite interior design blogs below. What makes them our favorite? They speak from experience, teach you how to replicate their looks, and use creative design tricks and trends to create amazing spaces.

1. Room for Tuesday

Room for Tuesday is a blog run by interior designer Sarah Gibson where you can find examples of multiple design aesthetics and genres. Sarah’s One Room Challenges, where she details her experience of trying to renovate a complete room in just six weeks, is our favorite feature. 

Most recently she renovated her laundry room into a chic, functional room for both her and her dogs with great success. To help her reach her six week deadline and complete the room, we provided Sarah with one of our custom outdoor sisal area rugs that her pets would enjoy. Her trick to getting it done in six weeks? Start small. Rooms with less square footage are easier to tackle on a short timeline.

 Pictured is an Outdoor Sisal rug with Putty Extra Wide Canvas Binding. (Image credit: Room for Tuesday).

2. Yellow Brick Home

Another pair of our favorite bloggers are Kim and Scott Vargo of Yellow Brick Home. This husband and wife team chronicles all of the renovations they complete on their Chicago condo, lake home, and fixer-upper. With varied projects and properties, there’s no end of ideas that you can find on their blog. 

One of our favorite projects Kim and Scott completed was their front entryway when they added a beautiful stair runner over their hardwood stairs. Why a runner? With a stair runner, they’re able to safely cover up their stairs without hiding the beautiful hardwood. If you’re looking to install a runner in your home, Kim and Scott made a handy guide for you based on their own experience.

Want the same look for your stairs? Shop our Four Seasons Collection in the Belize Dune color with a cotton Granola border. (Image credit: Yellow Brick Home).

3. Maison de Cinq

Curious as to how you should arrange your home? Or maybe you want to know what would make for good Christmas party decorations? Sheila Irwin of the blog Maison de Cinq is a great source of advice and insight. Her blog is much more focused on home decor than home renovations, and as such she has great buying guides and arrangement ideas for entertaining. 

With frequent updates to the spaces in her own home, Sheila highlights her new additions to the home and reviews them so you can easily decide if you want to follow suit or not. For a taste of Sheila’s style, check out our interview with her about her new living room decor and hardwood floor installation.

 Pictured above is a custom seagrass area rug. (Image credit: Maison de Cinq).

4. Deeply Southern Home

If you’re looking to do it yourself, look no further than the blog Deeply Southern Home. Loaded with DIY and interior design tutorials, Deeply Southern Home is an amazing source of tips and advice that you can apply to your current and future interior design projects. A great example was her staircase makeover, where she detailed the process of installing a stair runner from start to finish so her readers could easily replicate the result. They even added a unique border around the edge of the runner for a unique look that contrasts well with the stark white stairs.

 Pictured Above: Four Seasons Outdoor Sisal Rug in the Domingo Slate Color With a Black Outdoor Binding

5. The Budget Decorator

Interior design isn’t cheap. Even if you go the DIY route, renovations aren’t known for their affordability. If you’re looking to keep your costs low and under budget, The Budget Decorator blog is a great place to go for decorating ideas, projects, crafts, and more. For example, they have flea market finds and flea market furniture makeovers that show the best parts of inexpensive interior design and guide you through the process so you can do the same.

Before

Image credit: The Budget Decorator

After

Image credit: The Budget Decorator

6. Style By Emily Henderson

Exciting. Eclectic. Unique. Beautiful. Interior designer Emily Henderson’s blog showcases unbelievable spaces in homes that are truly breathtaking. With a great mix of metals, patterns, and colors, every space Emily highlights is a great source of inspiration. In addition to interior design, Emily also shares her top tools of the trade and items for the home. For example, she’s shared her must-have kitchen utensils that are both functional and beautiful.

 Image credit: Style by Emily Henderson

7. Centsational Style

As a renovator, decorator, and globetrotter, Kate of Centsational Style has a diverse skill set and aesthetic. Her blog is a must-follow for home improvement advice, renovation ideas, and great interior design examples. Just browse through her portfolio and you’ll see a countless number of spaces that are sure to inspire, including spaces both indoors and out. 

Her blog is also extremely well organized, making it easy to find the tutorials and examples you’re looking for. Her “Style Files” for example, are an amazing resource to visit before any interior design project, featuring her top articles on redecoration, trends, design benefits, and more.

Image credit: Centsational Style

8. Chezerbey

Chezerbey is a blog run by husband and wife duo Lauren and Kyle Zerbey. Their blog documents their journey to renovating their small 1910 home in Seattle, WA. We love their blog because you can follow their journey closely and learn from their first-hand experience with yard landscaping, bedroom remodeling, and more. As homeowners ourselves, we find their real-world experiences to be extremely helpful when assessing whether or not we can really do an interior design project without professional help.

Image credit: Chezerbey

9. A Cup of Jo

This blog does more than just interior design. With everything from style to recipes to travel, Joanna Goddard’s blog A Cup of Jo is a great go-to resource for just about everything. Her most recent interior design blog featured a crazy yet sophisticated North Carolina home that used almost every color in the rainbow in a creative way. Joanna also frequently features her favorite home decor items in her “Editors’ Picks” section of the blog to make it quick and easy for readers to purchase them for their own homes.

Image credit: A Cup of Jo

10. Decor8

It’s all in the name. Decor8 is a blog from Holly Becker that is all about home decor and design. If you need ideas for area rugs, lamps, end tables, furniture, etc. Decor8 has the suggestions and lists you’re looking for with your projects. Our favorite part of Holly’s blog, though, has to be the home tours. On the home tours, Holly walks readers through the design of the home, what served as inspiration, what still needs to be updated, and more.

Image credit: Decor8

Let Inspiration Strike

The 10 interior design blogs listed above are a great source of ideas, tips, and advice. Make sure you give each one a follow to get notifications when they upload new posts, makeovers, tutorials, and more. 

For even more inspiration, check out our list of top interior designers to follow on Pinterest.

Contrary to popular belief feng shui is very different from interior design. Feng shui is all about the flow of energy. It’s about the art of placement and arranging your space in a way that maximizes the chi or universal energy in your home. Good chi has been known to improve quality of life, health, and the overall well being for everyone in the home. 

Are you confident that your home has good feng shui? Below, read our five tips for good feng shui and maximum chi.

Step 1: Know the Elements

For great chi in your home, it’s important that you know all five elements of chi and make sure they are represented in your home’s rooms. 

• Fire: This can either be taken literally with candles or a fireplace, or figuratively by incorporating a warm color palette into your design.

• Earth: The easiest way to add the element of earth into your home is to include natural piece of furniture and decor like a natural fiber area rug or wicker furniture.

• Metal: Many metal elements exist in your home naturally. For example, your appliances likely fit the bill. But if you need an extra touch of metal, look to light fixtures, lamps, or ceramics. 

• Water: Similar to the element of fire, add water elements to your home by using cool color palettes or adding water features to your space.

• Wood: If your home has hardwood floors, you’re already off to a great start. If you’re in the need for more wood elements, furniture pieces like coffee, end, or dining room tables are popular wooden items.

The more elements you can channel in your design, the more chi you will be channelling in your space.

Step 2: Clear Your Feng Shui Portals

With such a close tie to nature, it’s important that your home’s portals to the outdoors (e.g., windows, doors, and staircases) have great energy flow. To promote the flow of energy, make sure these areas are well lit, unblocked, and decluttered. 

If these areas lack light or energy, try using mirrors to reflect light into the area or plants to breathe new life into the space and bring the outdoors inside. Have a couch in front of a floor-to-ceiling window? Good feng shui asks that you move the couch or angle it so that it doesn’t block the light.

Decluttering is also one of the most important steps for good feng shui that helps keep your portals clear. Too many pieces of furniture, papers, decorations, and more create unnecessary blockages in your space, limiting the amount of chi your body can consume and benefit from. So, put on your best Marie Kondo hat and tidy up your home by storing or donating the items you have in excess.

Step 3: Be Mindful of Shape, Color & Design

The color, shape, and design of furniture and decor in your home also channel and influence the amount of chi in your home. For example, warm color items promote the element of fire and cool color items promote the element of water. To make sure the shape, color, and design of your decor has maximum chi, custom decor items are a great idea. For example, our custom area rugs can be made to your exact specifications to ensure they channel plenty of chi in your home.

(Photo credit: Akseizer Design Group)

Close Your Eyes. How Does Your Home Feel?

When you close your eyes in your home, what do you feel? If you struggle to feel calm or restored, practicing feng shui can give you the energy you need. Promote the flow of energy in your home by incorporating all of the elements, bringing the outdoors in, and removing blockage in your home. You’ll know you’ve done good feng shui when you feel good energy flow through you.

Want an area rug with great chi? Create a custom shaped and sized area rug with us today.

Whether you’re a homeowner or pet-owner cleaning up after errant paws and messy fingerprints, or you’re an office or hotel manager trying to keep your hospitality space looking and feeling fresh despite heavy foot traffic, spills and stains are bound to happen wherever you spend your time. You want to know how to clean them up as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Learning how to clean your nylon rug or carpet is an important aspect of regular floor maintenance. Nylon is stain-resistant and soft, which makes it great for any space. Nylon carpet and area rugs are one of the most common options on the market today, due to their durability and comfort. If you’re wondering how to wash a nylon rug, follow our top tips and tricks below.

How to Clean a Nylon Rug

When it comes to decorating your space, nylon is a great fiber to choose for an area rug. Nylon is antimicrobial and easy to clean, which means whatever life (or your pet) throws your way, you’ll have the tools you need to clean up a spill and prevent a stain in no time.

Are Nylon Rugs Machine Washable?

Nope, nylon rugs should only be washed by hand. 

Nylon can take on more moisture than natural-fiber rugs, but it’s still not a good idea to throw it in your washing machine. Between the excess amount of water and the rapid spinning of a regular cycle, the washing machine will cause your nylon rug more harm than good.

Do Nylon Rugs Shed?

Nope! 

You’ll be cleaning up after your cat more than your nylon rug, because nylon fibers don’t shed. But, beware: Nylon rugs can create “fuzz” if they’re handled too roughly during cleaning. Using a beater bar instead of vacuum setting could be to blame. To prevent this, before vacuuming the rug make sure the beater bar is turned off 

How to Spot Clean a Nylon Rug

Time to spot clean your nylon rug? Here’s your step-by-step guide to preventing a stain:

1. Scoop up the spill as best you can.

2. Blot — do NOT rub — your nylon rug with clean, white cloths.

3. Apply warm (not hot) water to the area and continue blotting with a clean, white cloth, until you can no longer see any remaining stain coloring the cloth.

4. Use paper towels to absorb any excess moisture.

If the stain doesn’t completely disappear over the next day or two, use our Sisal Life Cleaner spot remover to fully dissolve the stain, then dry immediately with a hairdryer or fan.

How to Maintain Nylon Rugs in 3 Simple Steps

Learning how to wash nylon rugs is an important first step. Now, let’s explore the ways to maintain nylon rugs, so that they keep their shape, color, and texture for years to come.

#1 — Vacuum Regularly

When it comes to maintaining nylon rugs, beater bars and stiff brushes are the villain. Your vacuum is the hero. The most important step in proper maintenance is regular vacuuming. We recommend vacuuming your nylon rug at least once a week (or more in heavy traffic areas), to remove excess soil and dirt before they break down and imbed in the nylon’s fibers.

#2 — Clean Up Spills Immediately

Don’t let spills of any sort sit on your nylon rug for too long. If spills are ignored, permanent stains can appear, which can lead to unexpected fees associated with repairing or replacing your favorite nylon rug. Using the tips above, you can clean up a spill as soon as you see it.

#3 — Use Fabric Protectors

We recommend you treat all fabric and natural-fiber rugs with fabric protector—especially nylon. Fabric protectors help decrease the absorbency of nylon rugs while simultaneously increasing their lifespan. Using fabric protector doesn’t guarantee that your rug will never see a stain, but it can reduce the likelihood. Fabric protectors also protect against shedding and fuzzing.

See Ya Later, Stains!

If you’ve chosen a nylon area rug to decorate your home, office, or hotel, well done! You’ve made a great choice. Now, maintain your rug’s soft-to-the-touch texture, durability, and stain-resistance with proper cleaning techniques and ongoing rug maintenance.

Get the dirt on how to clean all our favorite fibers by reading our rug care and cleaning guides.

Lucky for you, there’s one material that works well across nearly every space. Nylon is durable, recyclable, and stain-resistant, which makes it a great contender when you’re trying to decide which rug to buy for your home, hotel, restaurant, bar, office … the list goes on!

But before you buy, there are some things you need to know about nylon. Read on for answers to some of your commonly asked questions about nylon rugs.

Nylon is a great choice for carpeting your commercial office. Try a Manhattan Nylon rug in Flint!

Are Nylon Rugs Soft?

Yes! 

Not only are nylon rugs highly durable—which makes them great for areas with heavy foot-traffic—they’re also incredibly soft! (So soft that we can almost guarantee your pet will love your new nylon rug.) Nylon’s fibers are extremely resilient, which helps them bounce back from wear and tear, maintain their shape, and stay soft underfoot well into the future.

Are Nylon Rugs Easy to Clean?

Yes! 

Nylon rugs are as easy to clean as they are soft, which is to say … they’re pretty easy to clean! Although nylon is not machine-washable, nylon rugs are simple to spot-clean when the need arises. Otherwise, using quality fabric protectors and vacuuming your carpet regularly should prevent any major stains or damage from settling in.

Nylon’s synthetic fibers make these rugs resistant to stains, so you can rest assured that wine night, a kid’s birthday party, or the new office puppy running around won’t turn your dream design into a dreadful disaster. Check out our how to clean nylon rugs page.

Are Nylon Rugs Durable?

Yes! 

Nylon is the most common carpet available on the market today, largely because of its durability. With hundreds of visitors piling in and out of their spaces each day, restaurant, hotel, and other commercial property owners love nylon because it can stand up to heavy foot traffic.

In addition to resisting stains, abrasion, and hundreds of footsteps, because nylon carpet is solution-dyed, color from spills and stains soaks into all of your carpet’s fibers, rather than sitting on top. This helps preserve the shape, color, texture, and vibrance of your nylon rug.

Take your foyer from simple to show-stopping with a patterned Hudson Nylon rug in Sandstone.

Should I Get a Nylon Rug?

Once again, the answer is yes! 

We love nylon rugs, because they are a high-quality, stain-resistant, and budget-friendly option for homeowners, restaurant managers, and hotel concierges alike. Bonus: Nylon is sustainable and recyclable, too. You can feel good knowing that once your nylon rug has run its course (no pun intended), it won’t end up in a landfill.

Start decorating with durable, stain-resistant, soft-to-the-touch nylon by creating a custom rug for your space today. Shop our selection of nylon area rugs and carpet to get started.

A well put-together lobby can make or break visitors’ first impressions of your space—and first impressions are incredibly important in the hospitality business. A dingy, unadorned lobby may leave your guests questioning their decision to stay at your hotel. Instead, try the ideas below to design a welcoming entryway that impresses travelers and helps them enjoy their stay. 

5 Hotel Lobby Design Ideas to Totally Transform Your Space

Making over your hotel lobby doesn’t have to be too costly or time-consuming. You can transform your hotel lobby and improve guests’ experiences with just a small change here and a minor tweak there. If you’re ready to get started, the five ideas below will help. 

#1 — Wow with Wall Art

Whether you hang framed paintings on the walls or stand sculptures in the center of your space, art makes for some of the best hotel lobby decor, and the options are truly endless. There are countless types of wall decor to consider for your hotel, including tapestries, macrame hangings, mirrors, even murals. Even if your hotel is part of a chain, unique artwork can help your location stand apart from others and create a personalized experience for your guests.

#2 — Show Off Your Green Thumb

Plants are always in style—especially this year. As one of 2019’s hottest hospitality design trends, this hotel lobby decoration idea is stylish, sophisticated, and sustainable—and it doesn’t require too much upkeep. Bring the outdoors in—and guarantee your lobby always smells great—by incorporating a few fresh plants or a full wall garden inside your hotel lobby.

#3 — Add Depth With A Custom Area Rug

Separate your lobby entrance from the sitting area with a Boucle Sisal area rug in Bambu.

Nothing says comfort better than cozy carpet or a regal rug. For a sophisticated, welcoming look in your hotel lobby, try a commercial area rug. Our contract-grade area rugs are a great option for lobbies of all shapes and sizes, because they stand up to heavy traffic. They also fit in with a variety of color schemes and decor. To create separation in a large lobby or multi-room suite, a large sisal area rug may be the perfect solution. Or, try wall-to-wall hotel carpet to add even more cushion and comfort to each of your hotel spaces.

#4 — Spring for a Fountain

Water fountains aren’t just for the outdoors. In addition to fresh, green plants and lush florals, fresh, flowing water can help bring the outdoors into your hotel lobby, too. Once your guests step inside, help them feel relaxed and at ease with soothing sounds that rival a babbling brook.

Indoor water fountains are available in a multitude of styles and sizes, which means you can add a water fountain to your hotel lobby no matter what your budget. If you can invest in a larger design, consider installing a statement fountain in the center of the lobby floor. A table fountain is a great solution for those who don't have the space or the budget for a larger floor design. 

#5 — Light Up the Room

Lighting is necessary for any space, so you might as well make it stylish. If you’re on the hunt for new hotel design ideas, unique lamps and lampshades are an easy fix. We recommend choosing lighting fixtures—including floor lamps, table lamps, ceiling lights, and sconces—that make a statement in your hotel lobby. Consider adding a pendant, or even hang a chandelier above the desk, for a little added class. Be sure to add ambience with accent lighting, as well.

Love Your Lobby (And Make Sure Your Guests Love It, Too)

If you’ve been wondering how to design a hotel lobby, we hope the ideas above inspire you to get started designing your dream lobby today. Try these tips to give your guests even more than they expect and set the scene for a positive experience from the moment they walk through the front door. These small hotel lobby decoration ideas will make a big impact on your space.

For more hotel interior design ideas, check out our other hospitality content:

• 5 Incredible Hotel Makeovers to Inspire Your Next Project

• 8 Must-Watch Hospitality Interior Design Trends for 2019

• The 3 Best Types of Hospitality Carpets and Hotel Area Rugs

Natural-fiber area rugs add depth to your space. Available in a wide array of neutral tones, naturally derived fibers work with any color scheme, and their subtle patterns and designs keep things interesting. But, before you make your purchase, it’s important to recognize the different features of each natural fiber rug, so that you can determine the best placement for each rug.

The Best Hotel Rugs for Your Hospitality Space

Hotels present a unique challenge for designers: any decor used in a hotel has to be durable enough to withstand high foot traffic and heavy luggage coming in and out each day. Below, get our recommendations for the five best hotel rugs and why you should use them in your space.

1. Commercial Nylon Area Rugs

Nylon rugs are one of the most widely used rugs today, largely because of their soft-to-the-touch texture and high durability. Nylon is perfect for high-traffic areas like a hotel lobby, foyer, or business center. Each style in our selection of commercial nylon area rugs is customizable to match nearly any look and any color scheme. Bonus: nylon is stain-resistant and easy to clean!

Add texture and color to your hotel lobby with a commercial Hudson nylon rug in Sandstone.

2. Commercial Sisal Area Rugs

For a more sustainable option that helps your property meet its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, consider commercial-grade sisal. Commercial sisal area rugs are durable, stain-resistant, and extremely versatile. Sisal can be woven straight as well as into unique patterns to help your space stand out. Sisal’s natural, creamy-white hue can be dyed nearly any color, which means they’re guaranteed to fit your hotel’s color scheme.

Commercial sisal is an all-natural, sustainable option you can feel good about.

3. Commercial Wool Area Rugs

All-natural, commercial wool rugs are incredibly smooth and soft to the touch. Because of their soft weave, wool rugs work perfectly inside hotel rooms, where guests can kick off their shoes and bury their toes in the wool to enjoy the full experience this fiber provides. Try putting a large, wool area rug under the hotel bed(s) or place a smaller rug near the couch or chair.

Add depth and durability to your hotel floors with Soho Wool carpet in Taupe.

4. Seagrass Area Rugs

Like sisal, seagrass is a thick and durable fiber that makes for a great area rug. Seagrass works well in high-traffic areas like hallways and entryways, but its beautiful beige hue deserves to be seen on a grander scale. It is the most stain resistant natural fiber.  Show off the gorgeous colors and textures of your seagrass rug by choosing a larger area rug to be the focal point of the lobby floor.

Seagrass can be used indoors or out. Set your patio apart with a seagrass rug in Seaside.

5. Outdoor Area Rugs

It’s not just your inside space that matters. When decorating outdoor areas, such as outside the hotel entrance or on top of a balcony, rugs from our indoor/outdoor polypropylene collection are your best choice. These outdoor area rugs are resistant to mold and mildew. They’re made to survive outside, unlike natural fiber rugs. Since they are built to withstand the outdoor elements, they are also great for hotel bathrooms, where a splash (or spill) of water won’t hurt them.

Add a little curb appeal to your hotel with a Cypress all-weather outdoor rug.

Hotel Rugs Your Guests Will Love

From inside hotel rooms to out in the open of the lobby or in a shady spot on the patio, area rugs make a great addition to every area in a hotel. We love helping hospitality spaces turn their dream design into a reality with our selection of natural-fiber and indoor/outdoor polypropylene rugs. These simple, affordable area rugs will bring a high level of quality to your hotel space.

For more hotel design inspiration, check out these five jaw-dropping hotel makeovers.

Especially if it covers many different rooms. If you’re looking to transform your carpeted space, keep reading for our tips and recommendations for making the carpet you select work for your favorite space.

1. Add Dimension With Layered Rugs

Just because your space is already carpeted, doesn’t mean you can’t add an area rug to the design. Layering rugs adds dimension and sophistication to your room or office. It’s also much more cost effective than replacing or tearing up old carpet and dealing with what’s underneath. 

When it comes to layering rugs, we have a few recommendations. Use a neutral wall-to-wall carpet as the base, so that it blends well with your chosen color scheme. Our collection of 55 neutral tones is a great place to find the right color for your room. 

Once you’ve chosen your base carpet, add a smaller complementary piece on top. This piece should be more colorful and unique than the base carpet, helping you subtly draw attention to a specific area in the room. Layer rugs where you want guests to gather, sit, or share a meal. 

This elegant, sophisticated look pairs a decorative rug with neutral wall-to-wall carpet. Image credit: The Spruce

2. Draw Eyes Upward With Art, Mirrors, and Color

If you appreciate your carpet’s functionality and comfort, but need a little help decorating around it, use other decor in your room to draw eyes up and away from your flooring. 

Mirrors, wall art, and large statement pieces help you draw guests’ attention to specific focal points in the room, rather than looking at the floor. In addition to loving your stylish, sophisticated room, guests will also enjoy the comfort, insulation, and noise reduction that carpet adds!

3. Match Your Decor With Your Carpet’s Color

One of the simplest ways to ensure your carpet complements your style is to match your decor with your carpet’s color. Neutrals are almost always your best option because they allow you to be more creative when choosing complementary decor. 

If you have white carpet, stick to a clean, white color palette. If your carpet is tan or gray, consider mixing dark and light hues to add depth to your space.

Wooden beams help create a nice contrast with the room’s wall-to-wall sun sisal carpet.

Wall-to-Wall Options for All

If you already enjoy the comforts of carpet, but are ready for a refresh, consider layering rugs on top of your carpet, using bright colors and accent pieces to direct eyes away from your floor, and display furniture that’s the same color as your carpet in your room. Each of these tips and tricks can help you make the most of your wall-to-wall carpet for years to come. 

Ready to love your carpet? All of our natural fiber area rugs come in a wall-to-wall application. Learn more about our wall-to-wall carpet and how to order it for your home.

Keep reading to learn more about the sisal and jute comparison, including a deep dive into what makes each fiber unique and how to determine which is right for your home, office, or hotel.

What’s the Difference Between Sisal and Jute?

Harvested from the agave plant, sisal is a sustainable, eco-friendly option for your space. At Sisal Rugs Direct, we handcraft sisal area rugs just for you, offering virtually any shape or size to ensure that they are a perfect fit for your home. Another all-natural, sustainable option is jute. Jute is harvested from the Bengal Delta Plain. Our handcrafted jute area rugs look great as ovals, rounds, and many other shapes to fit your home — indoors or out.

Sisal Carpet and Area Rugs

Sisal is a stiff fiber spun into a yarn-like material. It has a natural, creamy white hue and can be dyed any color — which makes it easy to create a custom a rug to match your interior design scheme. As one of the strongest natural fibers available, sisal is a great fit for high-traffic areas — like hallways and entryways in your home, commercial office, or hospitality space.

Your friends (and pets!) will love a soft, sophisticated Dorado Sisal area rug.

For more information on sisal rugs, check out these 5 facts about sisal everyone should know.

Jute Carpet and Area Rugs

Woven from the stalks of jute plants in India and Bangladesh, jute rugs have a natural brown hue that can be dyed many colors. All of our jute rugs are undyed and in their natural form. But, unlike sisal, jute is one of the softest natural fibers — and therefore slightly less durable.

Although they’re not as tough as sisal rugs, jute rugs are soft to the touch and ideal for areas with light traffic where your bare feet can enjoy the gentle weave. A jute rug will be a welcoming addition in your bedroom or family room.

Upgrade your space for the summer with an all-natural basket weave jute area rug.

Sisal vs. Jute: Making the Right Choice

Making the right choice between two eco-friendly, all-natural fibers — sisal and jute — really comes down to location and use. Where will you set up your sisal rug, or jazz up your space with jute? If you are looking to revive a low-traffic room in your home or hotel, consider jute. For busier, high-traffic spaces — like a hotel lobby or commercial office — stick with sisal.

Once you determine placement and use, picking the right rug will be simple. But, if you need a little extra help choosing the shape, color, and binding for your new rug, our experts are ready to help. Lucky for you, we give you the option to try before you buy new carpet for your space. 

1. Brasilia Sisal Area Rugs

Brasilia sisal is a larger, heavier boucle weave, made of 100% natural-fiber sisal of the highest grade from Africa. Although brasilia sisal is a larger weave, it still maintains a thinner pile height, which makes it a great choice for a stylish area rug, rug runner, or wall-to-wall carpet. From bright and bold colors like honey and sienna, to muted tones such as ash and ebony, our selection of brasilia sisal will help you transform your home, office, or hospitality space. 

This brasilia sisal runner rug in ash adds texture and comfort to this stylish living space. Photo cred Akseizer Design Group 

Price: $7.97 per square foot

2. Arrow Sisal Area Rugs

Mixing patterns is one of the season’s latest trends, and our inexpensive arrow sisal rugs help you make this style a reality in your home. Arrow sisal rugs are flat-woven in a trendy-yet-sophisticated chevron pattern. Our arrow sisal rugs are available in five neutral colors, that’ll match any color scheme in any space. These rugs are made of 100% all-natural sisal and latex-backed.

This arrow sisal rug in Friendly Tan adds color and texture to your home. 

Price: $8.07 per square foot

3. Boucle Sisal Area Rugs

Boucle sisal is one of our thinnest, tightest-woven sisal rugs, available in seven different colors your guests — and pets — will love! Boucle sisal is a classic weave made of the highest grade, 100% natural African sisal. Boucle’s tight weave makes it durable and long-lasting. If you’re on a budget, you’ll love our boucle style — they’re one of our most affordable sisal rugs!

This pup loves this tight-woven boucle sisal rug in color sand.

 Price: $7.97 per square foot

4. Seagrass Area Rugs

Seagrass is smooth-to-the-touch, with a slight natural sheen — and it’s one of our most cost-effective options. Seagrass is a durable, undyed natural-fiber choice you’ll love in your home. It’s undyed because seagrass naturally occurs in beautiful shades, like light brown and beige with a tinge of sage green. Thick seagrass creates a beautiful, long-lasting texture for a rug. It’s also the most stain-resistant natural fiber in our line-up.

This springtime living room refresh centers around a gorgeous seagrass area rug in seabasket.

Price: $7.11 per square foot

5. Dorado Sisal Area Rugs

Dorado sisal area rugs are made of the highest quality sisal with the smallest and thinnest looped weave. Dorado sisal is great for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and hallways. Our selection of dorado sisal rugs is available in a variety of color tones — from neutral ashland to bold Turkish coffee. Dorado sisal gives you a great bang for your buck.

Make your dining room set pop on top of a custom, oval dorado sisal area rug.

Price: $8.52 per square foot

Shop Sisal, Save Money

Decorating with a sisal rug doesn’t have to break the bank. With so many options to choose from, our collection of all-natural seagrass and sisal area rugs — from brasilia and boucle to arrow and dorado — you’re sure to find an area rug in-style and on-budget. 

Add comfort, texture, and character to your home with one of the five, inexpensive sisal rug styles listed above. Bookmark our blog to stay up to date on our latest sales. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, or Instagram for live updates, as well.

Another benefit of jute? It’s relatively easy to maintain. Dirt doesn’t cling to jute’s hard fibers — it rests loosely on the weave. When properly cared for, jute rugs will last you a long time. If you’re wondering how to clean jute rugs, keep reading for our top tips and tricks.

How to Clean Jute Rugs

By now, you may be wondering: Are jute rugs easy to clean? Cleaning your jute rug, or any natural-fiber rug, isn’t difficult — but it is different from maintaining a synthetic alternative. Jute rugs are a great option for most areas of your home, but remember: they are not well-suited for high-moisture areas (A.K.A - steer clear of bathrooms).

Can You Get Jute Rugs Wet?

When it comes to jute, water is only your friend in small doses. Drenching or hosing down your jute rug could lead to further damage. Instead, try these tricks:

Spot Cleaning Jute Rugs

An effective method for cleaning your jute rug is the spot cleaning method. Here’s how it works: 

1. Press firmly into your rug with clean, white paper or cloth towels immediately after the spill takes place, working from the outside of the spill inward to avoid spreading. Continue blotting — blot, do not rub — until no moisture transfers to the towel.
2. For solid spills, scrape up solids with a dull knife or nail file. Then follow step # 1.
3. For red wine and tomato sauce, dab with a white cloth dampened with club soda to neutralize the spill and remove any possible stain.
4. Let dry. Many times the stain disappears. If it doesn’t, try cleaning with a cloth dampened with mild soap, or use our Sisal Life Cleaner spot remover. Dry immediately with a hairdryer or fan.

How to Spot Clean Jute Rugs with a Dry Cleaning Powder

1. Before applying the carpet cleaner, test it on a non-conspicuous spot of your jute rug.
2. Then, shake the dry carpet cleaner onto the spill until covered. If you need a cleaner, our cleaner-of-choice is the Host Cleaning Kit.
3. Brush the dry carpet cleaner through the jute rug in all directions.
4. After brushing, pack the area with another handful of the dry carpet cleaner.
5. Wait until the area is completely dry. For wet spills, this may take overnight. The carpet cleaner will lighten to a pale, gold color as it dries. Once dry, vacuum your jute rug thoroughly. 

No matter what comes in contact with your jute rug, it’s important to control the amount of moisture it encounters as best you can — especially during cleaning. You should never steam clean, use wet shampoo, or wash your jute rug — and don’t use any other method that involves water saturation on a natural fiber rug, either. We recommend that you use a dry cleaning process, like the Host Cleaning Kit mentioned above.

How to Clean Up After Pet Accidents

Sometimes our furry friends decide to make do on the carpet floor. Don’t worry; when you have a jute rug, you can easily clean urine, feces, and vomit from its surface. Here’s how: 

• Urine. Blot up as much of the spot as possible by pressing firmly with clean, white paper or cloth towels, working from the outside of the spot inward to avoid spreading. To neutralize odor, mix ¼ cup of white vinegar with ¼ cup of water. Alternately dab a towel dampened in the solution with a dry towel. Then, follow spot cleaning directions. If the odor remains, try sprinkling baking soda onto the rug and let it sit overnight. This should help absorb any lingering odors.
• Feces or vomit. Scrape up any excess working from the outside of the spot inward to avoid spreading. Then, follow the procedure for spot cleaning. 

How to Clean the Border of a Jute Rug

For routine maintenance of bound jute area rugs with woven cotton, canvas, or linen borders, vacuum the edge carefully. Don’t let your vacuum sit on top of the binding or catch the corner of the rug. These missteps could damage the rug’s binding.

We recommend vacuuming in the direction that the binding is sewn, so as not to pull the binding away from the rug. Do not use a beater bar when vacuuming. 

If excessive soiling or spills occur on the binding, our Sisal Life Cleaner spot remover works well to clean things quickly. To maintain one of our premium leather bindings, simply wipe the surface with a damp (not wet) cloth or sponge, or use a leather cleaner and conditioner.

How to Maintain Jute Rugs

Regular Vacuuming

Regular vacuuming is the best way to care for your jute rug. Visible, loose dirt should be vacuumed with a strong suction vacuum. Do not use a beater bar. Vacuum your rug from different directions, passing over the area several times.

Although the need may not be visible, frequent and regular vacuuming will increase your jute rug’s life by preventing soil build-up. It will also help eliminate stains caused when spilled liquids dissolve and soil accumulates.

Apply Light Dampening

If exposed to dryness or low humidity, apply minimum moisture by spraying, clean mopping, damp brushing, or using any device that supplies a light and even application of clean water. 

This light dampening can help eliminate minor bubbling and looseness, as it’s normal for carpet to tighten up slightly as it dries. Don’t worry, jute rugs dry quickly. Under no conditions should your jute carpet be saturated. If drenched, your jute rug can take on undesirable dimensional changes and can stain from the different dyes in the underlay. 

Make sure your jute rug is vacuumed and clean before applying any amount of moisture, since dirt in the matting might stain if it gets wet and then dissolves.

Use a Fabric Protector

We recommend you treat all natural fiber area rugs — including jute — with our Sisal Life Protector, which helps to decrease absorbance and lengthen the time between cleanings. We can apply the protector for you, or you can purchase a 22-ounce, “Do-It-Yourself” Sisal Life Protector spray bottle. Our protector is an acrylic polymer fabric and textile protector, like Scotch Guard — but for natural fibers. 

Natural fibers and other fabrics treated with this protector will repel water and resist virtually all cold liquid spills, and even oily soil. Our protector does not contain any Ozone-depleting chemicals. 

We highly recommend treating natural fiber rugs with our protector to guard against spills and increase the life of your jute rugs. Applying Sisal Life Protector cannot guarantee that your jute rugs will never stain, but it will reduce the chances if a spill occurs.

Treat Curled Rug Corners

When you use jute area rugs in your home, hotel, or other space, regular foot traffic, shuffling, and luggage can cause the rug’s edges to curl. The problem is easy to fix. Simply dampen the curled area and weigh it down evenly overnight.

If your jute rug is severely curled, it might be necessary to repeat this process multiple times. To further prevent curled edges, consider stocking up on another one of our products, Curl Stop. Curl Stop is an anti-curling rug system safe for all floors, that helps keep rug corners flat.

Stain, Stain … Go Away!

Jute rugs are a stylish, durable, and sustainable option for your home or hospitality space. By following these tips and tricks, taking proper care of your jute rug is easy. Perform this work regularly, using the proper materials, to maintain the longevity of your jute rug. 

Jute rugs are easy to clean and maintain. If you want a jute rug for your home or business (or need a replacement), explore our collection of custom jute area rugs.

Below, read our Q&A with Fetherston, where she shares her image for her New York City home and explains how custom rugs from Sisal Rugs Direct helped her polish off her space.

Q: Tell us about your apartment. What were you hoping to accomplish by renovating the space?  

My apartment is a classic example of an industrial loft conversion typical of downtown New York City. I've had the apartment for over a decade and it was time for a refresh. I wanted to reimagine the space as a sanctuary in the city. My goal was to bring in the surrounding expanse of sky and river views, to create a modern, airy, light-filled space for me and my family.

Q: Why was an area rug essential to completing your vision for the apartment?

I always use area rugs to help define and anchor a space. In this case, it was essential as the loft is mostly one open space that includes a living room, dining room, and an open kitchen. The area rug helps break up the large room and define the main sitting area of the living room.

Q: Which type of rug(s) did you decide on and why?

I love layering rugs and usually like to do a natural fiber rug as a base with something textural or unique as an accent on top. For this project, I chose the Cabo Wool weave in Limestone as the base. I especially liked this rug because the wool texture woven against the sisal gives it a sophisticated, city-appropriate feel.

In my living room, I layered a vintage rug on top of the wool sisal rug, and the depth of color and texture of the two together is very rich. I used the same wool sisal rug in my guest room and layered sheepskin runners on top alongside the guest bed. 

Erin Fetherston adds texture to her guest room by layering natural area rugs.

Q: How do you like the finished look?

I love the finished look. The rugs lend an organic, natural feel to the space in a polished way, which was exactly what I was hoping for. 

This Cabo Wool rug in Limestone sets the foundation for Fetherston’s symmetrical living room.

Ready to Makeover Your Space?

Whether your sisal area rug is the primary focus of a room or complements other textures layered throughout the space, sisal area rugs can add depth and sophistication to any room — as is evidenced in Fetherston’s design. Sisal is a durable, all-natural fiber that works in homes new and old. If you’re looking for a new rug to complement your updated space, our collection of all-natural sisal area rugs is a great place to start.

Ready to embark on your own home renovation? Let these stories inspire you:

• Interior Design Inspiration: A Brooklyn Apartment Makeover

• How Sarah Gibson Took Her Laundry Room from Eyesore to Eye Catching

• Three Room Makeovers Sure to Inspire

If you’re looking at nylon or polyester carpeting for your commercial space, but you can’t seem to decide which of the two fibers is a better fit, you’ve come to the right place. To help you decide which material to use in your building, read on for a comparison of the two options below.

Benefits of Nylon Carpet

Nylon carpet has long been considered the most durable synthetic fiber on the market. Its durability means it can stand up to long-term wear and tear. But that’s not all. Here are a few more key benefits of installing nylon commercial carpet: 

• Resilience. The fiber bounces back from compaction and heavy foot traffic with ease.
• Stain-resistant. Nylon carpet is solution-dyed, which means color attaches to all fibers — not just those on top — to improve the fiber’s stain resistance.
• Recyclable. Nylon carpet stays out of landfills, keeping our planet greener for longer.

Benefits of Polyester Carpet

Polyester is a soft, comfortable, hydrophobic fiber, which easily repels liquid. Polyester comes in bright, bold hues, which can add a hint of personality to your commercial space. Wondering what else polyester carpet is capable of? Here are a few key benefits: 

• Water-resistant. If your guests track in water or mud, or spill their soda or other liquid all over your floors, polyester carpet won’t stain or break down as a result.
• Sustainable. PET polyester is made from recycled materials (one of Spring’s top trends), making it a sustainable, eco-friendly option for your commercial space.
• Cost-effective. Polyester commercial carpet is typically less expensive than nylon.

Nylon or Polyester Carpet: Which One Is Right for You?

Both polyester and nylon are comfortable, durable options for your commercial carpet. Each material is treated to help prevent spills from becoming stains. Both nylon and polyester are soft-to-the-touch, providing added comfort for your guests or employees. 

Although nylon is a bit more durable, polyester protects better against moisture and stains. So … which one is right for you? The answer is in the details. 

Where will your carpet be placed? Is it more important for your commercial carpet to withstand heavy foot traffic, or protect against spills and stains? Do you want sustainable, eco-friendly carpet? Are you looking to save money? Each of these questions should be considered before you take the leap to purchase and install your new commercial carpet. 

Want to see all that nylon carpet can offer? Check out our vast selection of nylon commercial carpet, complete with different colors, patterns, shapes, and borders.

The flooring in a hotel, restaurant, office, etc. can make or break guests’ and employees’ experiences in that space. If people don’t feel comfortable in your building — or they encounter a scratch, snag, or tear in the flooring — their experience turns sour, and they may not return.

Don’t worry. Maintaining the carpet in your commercial building doesn’t have to be difficult. Follow these four easy tips to learn how to maintain your commercial flooring and keep your guests, employees, and other visitors comfortable and happy throughout their entire stay.

Deep Clean Regularly.

Just like you need to service your car regularly to keep it running smoothly, the same is true for carpet. Regularly deep-cleaning your commercial carpet helps ensure it stays in top condition as the weather changes, traffic fluctuates, and spills and snags inevitably surface.

Natural fiber rugs and carpet should only be cleaned with a dry extraction cleaner. If your commercial carpet is all-natural sisal or wool, you’ll need a dry carpet cleaner to freshen up your space and leave your commercial carpets sparkling clean.

Use Doormats to Your Advantage.

Outdoor weather is unpredictable, so you never know what visitors will drag into your space. Use a doormat in the entryway to help capture dirt, snow, water, and any other miscellaneous elements trying to find their way indoors on the bottom of customers’ shoes.

To get rid of even more debris before entry, make sure the outside of your property is clear of mud, dirt, leaves, and trash. You may also choose to place a doormat or runner rug in high-traffic places, like in the employee break room, near the sink and coffee pot. The right carpet or rug will prevent damage to your hard floors, saving thousands in the long run.

Don’t Forget to Vacuum (and Sweep!)

Ground-in dirt and debris will reduce the beauty and lifespan of your carpeting by abrading the carpet’s fibers and leaving visible wear and tear from heavy traffic and dirty feet. Sweeping and vacuuming on a daily basis helps pick up smaller pieces of dirt, dust, sand, and the like, to keep them from forming stains or damaging the natural fibers of your carpeting.

Any loose dirt on your commercial carpet should be vacuumed with a strong brush-suction vacuum. Do not use the beater bar on natural-fiber rugs, like sisal, jute, or wool. You may not always be able to see dirt and debris, but regular, frequent vacuuming — even when the carpet appears “clean” — will increase its lifespan by preventing soil build-up and potential stains.

See a Spill? Clean it up ASAP.

Life is messy — and spills happen. Don’t worry! Stay on top of potential stains by quickly and efficiently cleaning up any spills you see on your commercial carpet. For dry spills — like powders, dust, and dirt — vacuum the excess material off your carpet, or scrape it off with the blunt edge of a spoon, if necessary. Work from the outer edge of the carpet toward the center.

For wet spills — like milk, wine, or mud — you’ll want to extract the material, and then scrape up the excess. Add cold water to the spill and blot the area, pressing downward. Never rub in a circular motion, as this can cause the stain to spread and set. If the spill was created by a hot substance, like coffee, add hot water to the area after blotting it with cold water.

Continue blotting until most or all of the substance has disappeared; then, place a stack of clean towels on top of the area, and place a weight on top of the towels overnight. This ensures the stain lifts into the towels, instead of setting into the carpet, until you return the next day.

Customers Care About Clean Commercial Carpet

Whether you’ve just installed beautiful new carpet in your commercial building, or you’ve recently recognized the need for regular cleaning and maintenance, the tips and tricks above will help you keep your commercial carpet in tip-top shape all year long.

And, to prevent messes from cropping up in the first place, we recommend you treat your natural-fiber rugs with our Sisal Life Protector, which helps decrease your carpet’s absorbency and lengthens the time needed between cleanings. We can even apply the protector for you.

Do you need to replace your property’s commercial carpet? Shop our full selection of commercial carpet, including sisal, nylon, and wool fibers.

Tune in to the upcoming trends below and take your home’s spring tune-up to the next level.

1. The ’70s Are Back

Fashion is cyclical, and so is interior design. The best design trends from the past always make their way back to center stage. For example, exposed wooden beams adorned ceilings in the ’70s, but they barely lasted into the ’80s and ’90s. Today, smooth ceilings with exposed wooden beams are back — and ’70s designers are shaking their heads in disbelief. 

The classic ’70s style is simple and pared back, paying homage to the old adage, “less is more.” Decorate with bold, geometric prints, an earthy color palette, mid-century modern furniture, and natural textures to give your home a modern-meets-groovy look and feel.  

This living room is modern-meets-retro — and incorporates almost all of the trends on this list!

2. Recycled Materials

Sustainability is always in style, and this spring is no exception. This eco-friendly design trend brings the great outdoors in, pairing earthy elements like fresh plants and all-natural sisal with textured elements like wicker and wood, as well as billowy textures like linen. 

Here at Sisal Rugs Direct, we celebrate sustainability and texture with our all-natural fiber area rugs, which come in a variety of fibers like sisal, jute, hemp, seagrass, and wool. 

Recycled materials like tree stumps, all-natural sisal, and linen curtains pull this space together.

3. Earthy Textures

Much like recycled goods, earthy textures are key this year. Wood, sisal, and jute add character to the composition of your room, and help you welcome the change of season by celebrating nature in your home. This look is about pairing elements like tactile throws with comfy cushions, or smooth, hardwood floors with a chunky sisal rug to create a welcoming home environment. 

This dreamy, all-natural meditation space is comfy and cozy, thanks to our patterned Key Natural rug. 

#4 - Mix & Match Patterns

One pattern is fun and visually interesting. Two or more patterns take things one step further. This spring, don’t shy away from mixing and matching multiple patterns. The key to combining patterns without causing clash is to stay within the same color family. 

Keep things monochromatic to stay on-trend. Or, incorporate a patterned accent wall into your space, and add patterned pillows, blankets, and wall art to complement the bold design.

Don’t be afraid of patterns! Our patterned wool sisal rugs add a little personality to your home.

#5 - Mustard Yellow

During spring and summer months, you’ve got sunshine on your mind. And the sun’s bold, yellow hue is exactly the color you want to bring into your home this season. Mustard yellow is usually reserved for fall, but this spring, it’s hitting homes in a big way. 

If you’re a yellow-lover, try brightening up your room with a mustard yellow wall. If you prefer more muted tones, try mustard yellow accents, like throw-pillows or lamps. Either way, find a way to make use of mustard to keep your home on-trend and in-style all season long.  

Love color? Our Cabo wool sisal comes in three tones: sandstone, limestone, and cement.

#6 - Ceramics

From vases to lamp shades, ceramics are taking more shapes and forms throughout modern homes. You can purchase ceramic pieces from home decor stores, or take up a new hobby and make your own (Pinterest has some excellent DIY tutorials that’ll teach you how). 

Fill embossed jugs and vases with freshly picked spring flowers, and decorate your home with neutral colors, blush pinks, and jet black — the season’s trendiest colors.

Do you decorate with ceramics? We love the idea of pairing smooth ceramic surfaces with tougher textures like sisal and jute.

#7 - Open Shelving

Instead of tucking your dishes, containers, and belongings away behind closed doors, show off your favorite items with open shelving! This design trend makes kitchens, bathrooms, and other rooms with cabinets appear bigger. Not to mention, you won’t forget where you put something. 

Open shelving is a cost-effective alternative to cabinetry. If you already have cabinets in place, don’t fret! All it takes to incorporate open shelving into your space is to remove the doors and hinges from your cabinet, sand them down, and repaint them. Or, you can replace them altogether with shelving found at your local furniture, home decor, or hardware store. 

Open shelving is a great kitchen idea — so is adding a sun sisal runner rug underfoot.

Spring Into Style With A Premium Sisal Rug

If you missed any of these trends the first time they made their debut in interior design, you’re in luck — they’re back and better than ever before. 

The ’70s have inspired simple, pared back looks, while sustainability weighs heavily on homeowners’ minds, encouraging them to recycle goods and decorate with earthy elements. Mustard yellow makes a bold statement, and ceramics keep things interesting in your multi-patterned home. Our natural fiber area rugs meet a number of the trends mentioned above. 

Shop our selection of area rugs to find the perfect rug for your home this spring.

As you scroll through your Pinterest feed, you’ll encounter pages upon pages of stunningly sleek living rooms, out-of-this-world patio spaces, and other DIYs-done-right. But the platform can give you more than just a little inspiration. There are other ways to leverage Pinterest for your interior design projects, including some surprising features and hacks.

Keep reading to discover how you can use Pinterest to take your next interior design project up a level and transform your home.

1. Make Your Dream Home a Reality

Not sure what your dream house looks like? We guarantee you can find both indoor and outdoor design ideas on Pinterest that fulfill your wildest dreams. In fact, you may even create multiple home decor and interior design-inspired Pinterest boards; one for your luxury dream home; one for a scaled-back, spot in the suburbs; and maybe even one for a cabin in the woods.

Pinterest Hack

If you’re trying to create a jaw-dropping guest bedroom, take a look at what hotel brands are pinning. They’re the experts, after all. Hotels decorate hundreds of guest rooms every year.

2. Find Your Next Statement Piece

There’s a reason why 93% of active pinners say they use Pinterest to plan for purchases. In addition, 87% of pinners say they’ve purchased something because of Pinterest. As a consumer, Pinterest is a great place to search for new products and ideas. Pinterest is basically a giant, online catalog of cool new pieces of furniture and decor. So, page through it and pin everything you love, the same way you flipped through your favorite Christmas catalogues and dog-eared your favorite toys as a kid.

Pinterest Hack

You can make your Pinterest search as broad (e.g., home decor) or as specific (e.g., sisal area rugs) as you want to find the pieces you need. Use the Pinterest visual search feature in their mobile app or browser extension to view saved pins and highlight the products you want. This feature also allows you to search Pinterest using any image you find on the internet. Pretty cool, right?

3. Learn New Tricks From DIY Tutorials

People have been pinning tutorials on Pinterest since its inception. It’s where foodies, fashionistas, designers, and mommy bloggers alike share their best ideas and share their step-by-step process for some stellar DIY decor with other pinners, like you! 

These tutorials are a great source of information for quick and easy changes you can make to any room, like painting cabinets or restoring an old coffee table to its former glory.

Pinterest Hack

Use Pinterest’s search filters to narrow down your results. For example, you can exclude certain boards and people if you just want to see the pin and tutorial steps, instead of all the extra fluff.

4. Reorganize and Revamp Your Boards

One of the best features of Pinterest is the ability to organize your pins into separate boards. There are limitless possibilities, and you can have as many boards as you want! You can arrange your boards by room, color palette, budget—anything you choose. You can even create collaborative boards and invite your friends, family members, or coworkers to add to your board.

Pinterest Hack

Clean up or reorganize your boards quickly by batch-removing pins, combining boards, or moving pins from board to board individually or in bulk.

It Pays to Pin

If you’re looking for fresh inspiration and new home decor ideas, Pinterest is the place to be. You’ll encounter endless pins showing you how to take your home to the next level with simple, DIY tricks and life hacks. Whether you use Pinterest to look for new renovation and decoration ideas, find stylish new pieces of furniture, learn DIY tutorials, or organize your inspiration, there’s something for everyone on this popular social media platform. 

To easily find your interior design inspiration on Pinterest, make sure you follow these people and their popular boards.

In keeping up with the times, many hotels and resorts have undergone extreme makeovers in order to provide guests an exceptional, one-of-a-kind experience. As a provider of premium, natural-fiber hotel and hospitality carpet, we love watching hotels transform their spaces to elevate guests’ stays. Below, find five of our all-time favorite hotel makeovers. And if you’re making over your own property, you’ll find our recommendations for hospitality carpet as well.

1. The Atlantis

The Atlantis Hotel has long been a spectacle of entertainment and hospitality. In 2017, the famous hotel unveiled a breathtaking rebrand of The Coral at Atlantis, showing off a number of creative amenities to establish itself as a top vacation destination where fun, education, culture, and purpose merge. The newly designed space features ocean-themed rooms, bold patterns, and splashes of Living Coral around every corner.

Image credit: LuxeGetaways.com 

Are you renovating your own coastal property? For ocean-front hospitality spaces, we recommend durable area rugs that can withstand heavy foot traffic and a little moisture. Our polypropylene and wool rugs are up for the challenge. And, our Tides Wool collection — available in conch, coral, manatee, oyster shell, and reef — is a fun, on-brand option that’s just too cheeky to pass up.

2. Country Living Hotel, Bath

One of the oldest buildings in Bath, Somerset, UK, Country Living Hotel was in major need of a major makeover. Its old-time decor charmed guests for years, but in 2018, it was time to breathe new life into the 1770-style home. Although the entire hotel got a fresh new look, Country Living Hotel paid special attention to bathrooms and communal areas.

Image credit: CountryLiving.com 

Looking to upgrade the bathrooms or communal spaces in your hotel, too? It can be tough finding the right rugs. Communal areas see endless foot traffic, and bathroom floors are prone to puddles and spills. Luckily, our commercial nylon and natural-fiber rugs can help with both. Consider adding a runner rug in front of your hotel’s front desk or beneath bathroom sinks to provide a little added comfort for your guests.

3. JW Marriott - Marco Island Resort

The JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort is situated off the coast of Naples, Florida, and encompasses 726 guest rooms. In early 2017, the luxury resort debuted a $320 million renovation, celebrating the resort’s many spas, culinary destinations, and recreational events.

Image credit: Marriott.com 

The adult-only resort likely encounters fewer slips and spills than a kid-friendly space, but that doesn’t mean a durable rug isn’t worth investing in. With communal areas both indoors and out, a versatile polypropylene rug can help take luxury spaces like the JW Marriott to new heights. So, if you’re renovating a resort or spa, consider adding an indoor-outdoor rug.

4. The Savoy

While the JW Marriott Resort highlights earthy elements and all-natural materials, the Savoy in London forges ahead in the opposite direction. Marble staircases, crystal chandeliers, and gold-plated decor greet guests at the Savoy after a $354 million renovation wrapped up in 2010. 

In addition to 38 new rooms, the Savoy also added a 325-square-meter Royal Suite overlooking the River Thames, the cost of which hovers around $13,200 a night.

Image credit: Telgraph.co.uk 

In historic, sophisticated, and stylish spaces like the Savoy, a run-of-the-mill area rug just won’t do. To continue impressing guests every step of the stay, you need a custom rug designed with your one-of-a-kind space in mind. Our wide selection of colors, borders, fabrics, and fibers will help you choose a look that’s uniquely yours, so you can stand out from the competition.

5. The Watergate Hotel

Straight out of Mad Men, the newly remodeled Watergate Hotel is an aesthetic nod to the 1960s. With 336 rooms, 17,000 square feet of meeting space, and a 7,000-square-foot ballroom to gawk at, visiting the Watergate Hotel feels like a trip straight into Don Draper’s world.

Image credit: ArchPaper.com 

At the Watergate Hotel, retro meets modern. And you can give your hospitality space the same look and feel. Try a neutral area rug, like our Prato sisal rug in tan, with a bright-colored border — like the bold red used at the Watergate’s in-house whiskey bar. 

You can customize your natural-fiber area rug to fit any room, for any decade.

6. Your Hotel Name Here!

Whether your hotel is brand new and you’re looking for a partner to provide premium, natural-fiber carpet, or you’ve been around as long as the Country Living Hotel in Bath and you’re ready to renovate, the right carpet can help make your wildest hotel design dreams a reality. Our state-of-the-art production facility helps us guarantee that all hospitality carpet and area rugs ordered from us will fit your exact specifications. Contact us to get a quote.

Upgrade your hotel lobby or bedroom suite with a patterned sisal rug.

Craving More Hotel Interior Design Inspiration?

You’re in the right place. For more inspiration and information on all-things hospitality design, check out these articles: 

• 8 Must-Watch Hospitality Interior Design Trends for 2019
• Simple Hotel Decor That Will Delight Guests
• 5 Decor Ideas To Upgrade Your Hotel Lobby

But, what about other types of rugs, like wool? You know and love the fiber for your winter hats, scarves, and sweaters, so there’s a good chance you’ll love wool area rugs, too. Wool is a comfortable, natural, and sustainable fiber that works in whatever space you place it. 

So, which of these types of rugs is right for you? Read on to uncover the benefits of polypropylene vs. wool rugs, and which is the best fit for your home.

The Benefits of a Polypropylene Rug

Polypropylene rugs are designed to look and feel like wool, sisal, and other natural fibers, but are made from synthetic material. This makes them the most durable and easiest to clean option for both your indoor and outdoor spaces. Not only are polypropylene rugs comfortable and resilient, but they’re also extremely versatile, functional, and—believe it or not—soft! 

Learn everything you need to know about polypropylene rugs here.

We love the way this Belize Frost indoor-outdoor sisal rug ties this breezy living room together.

The Benefits of a Wool Rug

Wool is a warm, cozy, soft-to-the-touch fiber that works well in nearly any space. It’s a natural, sustainable, fire-resistant option for your home, that’s also surprisingly durable. This is mostly due to the wax, or lanolin, that naturally rests on the surface of wool fibers. This lanolin coating prevents spills and messes from seeping in and staining your new wool rug. 

For more facts about decorating with wool, read up on these five qualities of wool rugs. 

Does your living room need a makeover? A lido wool rug in oyster is always in style.

Polypropylene vs. Wool: Which One Is Best?

Now that you know the differences between polypropylene and wool rugs, how can you determine which material is right for your home? 

First things first, ask yourself where the rug will go. Are you redecorating a bedroom or living room, or are you giving your bathroom or kitchen a facelift? Do you need comfort or durability? 

Bedrooms and living rooms typically encounter less foot traffic and fewer spills than other rooms, so, a soft and comfy wool rug is a great option. Your bathroom and kitchen, on the other hand, are high-traffic areas where water and other products may spill at any moment. For these reasons, a durable and easy-to-clean polypropylene rug is likely a better fit. 

The Right Fit Underfoot

Whatever rug material you choose — polypropylene, wool, or another natural fiber like sisal or jute — understanding their benefits can help you make an informed decision for your home. Whether you’re decorating indoors or out, there’s a rug out there for you. 

Ready to shop? Check out our vast selection of polypropylene or 100% wool area rugs. If you’re not sure what your room needs, fill out your custom style profile and our in-house interior designer will find you the perfect match!

For most people, it looks something like this: Wake up. Hop out of bed. Rush to the bathroom. Race to get ready. Skimp back to the bedroom. Walk to the closet. Fish for an outfit. Hustle down the stairs. Reach for some food. Find the keys. Head to the garage. 

Think about all the places in your home you walk through just to get out the door each morning. Without the right flooring, your first step out of bed could be a cold or uncomfortable one; you could trip on your way to the bathroom; your back could start to ache after standing on hard flooring for too long while getting ready; you could slip and tumble down the stairs.

And, depending on your footwear — and whether or not you have pets and kids running around the home — you risk scratching and staining your hardwood floors with every step. It’s easy to neglect these “secondary” spaces when we purchase furniture, rugs, and decor for the home, but hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, and stairs deserve adequate attention, too. 

Runner rugs are the perfect solution for these commonly neglected spaces. Below, check out our recommendations for the best runner rugs to add style, safety and comfort to your home.

Best Hallway Runner Rugs

Hallways see endless foot traffic day in and day out. It’s inevitable that your flooring will receive a few dings and scratches — unless you invest in a durable, natural fiber sisal or jute runner. 

Sisal and jute are tough natural fibers that can withstand heavy foot-traffic, without compromising comfort. The right rug can dramatically change the tone of your hallway. Take it from a space you rush through to get to the next room, to a space you enjoy spending time in.

 Make a stellar first impression with a Sienna Brasilia Sisal hallway runner to greet your guests.

Best Bathroom Runner Rugs

Let’s face it. Bathrooms get messy. Water, toothpaste, hair products … any number of damaging items can and will fall from your vanity onto your bathroom floor, but with the right runner in place, you won’t have to worry about stains. Polypropylene rugs look and feel like all-natural sisal, but they’re made to put up with moisture. 

Adding a runner rug to your bathroom saves your back — literally. In addition to providing a water-resistant surface to protect your floors against splashes and spills, a runner rug will also add comfort underfoot as you get ready in the morning and wind down at night. 

Image credit: Decor Pad

Best Kitchen Runner Rugs

Cooking is a relaxing hobby for many — but when back pain interrupts your chopping and sautéing, you may start to second-guess the two-hour recipe you planned for. Enjoy your kitchen more by adding a comfortable polypropylene or stain-resistant sisal rug runner. 

Remember, just like in your bathroom, kitchen floors are often on the receiving end of slippery and sticky spills. So, make sure your runner is up for the challenge.

 If you love this look, you’ll love a birch mahal jute runner in your kitchen!

Best Stair Runner Rugs

Last, but not least, consider adding a runner rug to your staircase — especially if you have wooden floors. Stairs are already tricky to make your way up and down at times, so make things easier for yourself and your family with the addition of a wool sisal runner. 

A runner rug on your staircase adds comfort and sophistication while reducing noise. So, as your kids come barreling down the stairs on Christmas morning, or your dog rushes upstairs to wake you up, a wool runner will protect your stairs and your ears.

 A wool sisal runner reduces the sound of footsteps on your staircase.

Run, Sisal, Run!

Consider the difference a custom, natural fiber runner rug could make in your home. The right runner will not only transform the spaces you typically rush through — foyers, hallways, closets, and stairways — but also add style and comfort to your home while cutting back on sound and stains. 

Have a runner, but aren’t sure where to put it? Here are six perfect places to lay down your runner rugs.

Whether your floors need a refresh or a total facelift, you want to find flooring that’s visually appealing, on-trend, and comfortable to walk across day in and day out. This year, stay on top of the latest developments in flooring by checking out these 2019 flooring trends.

1. Bleached Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are beautiful in any home, and in any variety of colors. If you’re looking for something outside the box, consider swapping your brown hardwood floors for bleached wood. 

This option gives you the durability of hardwood floors, but with a fresh, new look and feel—which is perfect if you’re not a fan of the traditional dark and shiny wood floors. Bleached or blanched hardwood gives your home a rustic, farmhouse feel. The light-colored flooring pairs beautifully with a bold, contrasting area rug—like our Porto Sisal rug in gray. 

Adding an area rug provides comfort, safety, and convenience to your home. Not to mention, they protect your bleached hardwood floors from pet stains and scrapes!

2. Sheet Vinyl

No, we’re not talking about your grandmother’s vinyl kitchen flooring. Yes, we’re talking about sheet vinyl, but modern designs are outshining what we’ve come to know as standard vinyl flooring. Bold patterns and gouge-proof durability are helping bring sheet vinyl back in a big way. And, sheet vinyl is an affordable option that provides the same look and feel as big-budget flooring without breaking the bank. 

Image source: Etsy.

3. Waterproof Flooring

Whether you have children, pets, high foot traffic, or all of the above, waterproof flooring can be a lifesaver in your home. In potentially damp areas like your kitchen, bathroom, or entryway, carpet and hardwood might not cut it. Waterproof flooring options like vinyl and ceramic can be better options. Better yet, add a waterproof polypropylene area rug to really set your room apart.

4. Pet-Friendly Flooring

If you have pets, you know they can sometimes be a pain (despite how much we love them). Dirty paws, scratches, and accidents can quickly wreak havoc on your otherwise pristine floors. 

For pet owners, flooring choices are often made based on function, not fashion. You may think hard surfaces like wood, tile, or laminate bode better with pets because they tend to be easier to clean, but we know from experience that pets love natural fiber rugs. And with our rug cleaning guide, picking up after your furry friend is easy.

Your pets (and floors!) will thank you for adding function and fashion to your home with a Dorado Sisal rug in Ashland.

5. Custom Area Rugs

If you can’t decide between hard surfaces or carpet, get the best of both worlds with a custom area rug to place on top of your hard floors. Area rugs add comfort and character to your home and can be easily interchanged as your style and design preferences vary. 

Our selection of custom natural fiber rugs can be cut to any size to fit any room.

Get a custom area rug fit perfectly to the dimensions of your favorite space, like this Belize Indoor/Outdoor rug in Pewter.

6. Bold Carpet

Carpet adds softness and warmth to your home while reducing noise from high foot traffic. Year after year, carpet remains a flooring frontrunner because it’s safe for pets and kids to play on and is easy to clean with regular vacuuming. Modern carpet designs incorporate bold, geometric patterns and bright colors to liven up your home. If you’re looking for wall-to-wall carpet, consider one of our natural fiber options, like Lana Wool sisal or Milano sisal.

Love this look? Try a wall-to-wall application of our Porto Sisal in Latte Tan.

7. Patterned Hardwood

If you still love the idea of hardwood floors, try sprucing things up with a fun pattern. Patterned wood is a fresh take on traditional hardwood floors. Panels placed randomly, diagonally, or in a herringbone or parquet pattern not only set your home apart but serve as excellent conversation starters for anyone who visits your home.

Flooring For All

Whatever your style, there’s a flooring option out there for you. If you’re looking to upgrade the flooring in your home, consider these 2019 trends. Bleached or patterned hardwood, sheet vinyl, pet-friendly fibers, and custom area rugs are excellent options to modernize your home. 

For more interior design trends, check out one of our trends posts:

• Breaking Down the Top Trends From TISE 2019 
• Living Coral: How to Add a Splash of the 2019 Color of the Year Into Your Home
• What’s Coming in 2019? Watch For These Emerging Interior Design Trends

Yes, hardwood floors are beautiful, but leaving them as-is can lead to scratches, injuries, and more. Covering up the hardwood in your home is not only a good idea, but a necessary step for maintaining the quality of your flooring and the safety of your family.

Why Should I Cover My Hardwood Floors?

Hardwood floors are popular in modern home design, so you may be surprised to hear us suggesting that you cover them up. There are a number of reasons to cover up your hardwood floors and other hard flooring surfaces, like laminate or concrete. Here are our top four.

1. Covering Your Hardwood Floors Keeps You Safe

Love this look? Add a Dorado Sisal stair runner to your staircase for added safety. 

Hardwood doesn’t offer much in the way of traction. Though beautiful, hardwood’s smooth surface can make people, pets, and even furniture prone to slipping and sliding. 

Adding a natural fiber rug to your hardwood floors or staircase can provide just the right amount of friction to prevent you or your loved ones from unexpected slips on the stairs. Rugs and runners — especially when paired with a rug pad — also absorb sound, helping eliminate excess noise in your home, so you can cozy up and relax in peace.

2. Covering Your Hardwood Floors Provides Comfort

Protect your back and your hardwood floors simultaneously with a Sun sisal rug in Sunlight. 

Standing on hardwood floors for long periods of time can result in aches and pains, especially in your lower back, knees, and other joints. In spaces where you stand still for a while, like in front of your kitchen or bathroom sink, consider adding a rug to provide comfort and relief. 

Polypropylene rugs are durable and water-resistant, which makes them perfect for high-traffic, potentially damp spaces like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. Your back will thank you! 

3. Covering Your Hardwood Floors Offers Protection

Keep your floors scratch-free with a Mali Sisal rug. Your pets will love it! 

With kids, pets, and guests running around your home, it’s easy for your hardwood floors to get scuffed up and scratched. Your babies, whether furry or human, mean well — but errant paws and plastic toys can leave permanent marks on flooring, and nobody wants that. 

The good news is that protecting your floors from nicks is easy. With a custom area rug, you can protect pets, kids, and your hardwood floors while adding sophistication to your home.

4. Covering Your Hardwood Floors is Convenient

Cleaning hardwood floors requires regular sweeping, dusting, mopping, and polishing — and with products that won’t damage hardwood’s finish. Carpet and rugs, on the other hand, require a bit less maintenance. Regularly vacuuming is enough to keep your custom area rug looking fresh, clean, and clear of dust bunnies for years to come. 

For a deeper clean, you can blot blemishes or scrape up solids with a dull knife or nail file. Our guide to cleaning sisal rugs offers a number of ways to conveniently clean your area rugs.

Goodbye, Hardwood. Hello, Sisal.

Hardwood floors are everywhere, and they can be great in certain situations. But, if you find yourself feeling sore after standing in your kitchen or bathroom, or your children and pets just can’t help but scrape up your space, consider a custom, sisal area rug to add safety, comfort, protection, and convenience to your home.

Not sure which rug you need? Take our quiz to find out!

At last year’s event, we discovered bold patterns and colors making a splash on floors across the world. This year, we learned about four prevailing trends making their way into homes in 2019.

The Top Trends From TISE 2019

2019 brings a number of exciting changes to the world of flooring and interior design. We know that sustainable, handcrafted pieces are coming back in a big way this year, and TISE 2019 only reinforced the trend. To keep your home on-trend, focus on sustainability and organic materials.

1. Bio-tech

In our modern world, we are hyper-connected to one another. Technology allows us to stay connected to friends, family, and coworkers 24/7. But as humans, we crave connection with nature and the world around us, too. That’s where bio-tech comes in. 

This trend puts nature on center stage, but leaves room for technology, too. In 2019, designers will merge “biology” — natural, sustainable elements such as handcrafted goods, upcycled furniture, and natural fiber rugs — with technology to create seamless, collaborative designs.

2. The Peacemaker

Creating peaceful interior spaces is often easier said than done. The Peacemaker trend invites raw elements — such as natural stone and worn wood — into the home to invoke peace. 

Soft grays, taupes, and other neutral colors pair beautifully with pieces found in nature. Consider a stone slab countertop, natural wood flooring, or a pressed flower wall hanging to incorporate this 2019 design trend into your home. Unlike bio-tech, the peacemaker space is low-tech, encouraging those who spend time in it to unplug, unwind, and relax.

3. Radical

According to TISE 2019, “In order to shape the future, we have to take it into our own hands.” This 2019 design trend challenges you to create the change you wish to see in the world using diverse, colorful, futuristic patterns and decor. 

This radical style is big, bold, and abstract. The trend is perfect for the rebellious and the non-conformists of the world, who are invited to break all traditional design rules to inspire a movement of freedom and self-expression in the home.

4. The Traveler

Last, but not least, TISE 2019 introduced us to The Traveler. Picture yourself as a sophisticated, successful businessperson traversing the world. After long days under fluorescent airport lighting, you’re looking for a dark, quiet space to recuperate. This trend is for you. 

The Traveler is about mature luxury. A variety of textures — like leather, corduroy, and solid wood — help create a classic look that stands the test of time. Dark hues such as gray, black, and brown will take over walls, bedding, and window treatments, so consider balancing things out with a light-colored area rug, like our Boucle Sisal rug in Bone.

Ready, Set … Get Trendy!

We loved spending time at The International Surface Event this year, and we’re excited to begin incorporating 2019’s latest trends into our homes. We hope you are, too. 

Whether you’re looking to mix technology with nature, relax in peace, get radical, or hunker down in a den of dark, our custom area rugs will complement any space. 

For more trends, check out the top interior design trends we’re watching closely in 2019.

New Year’s resolutions are great, but let’s face it: The new year begins smack dab in the middle of winter, and even though your house probably could use a little organizing, you’d much rather spend the season cozied up next to the fireplace, binge-watching something new on Netflix. 

As if reading your mind, Netflix gave you the best of both worlds by introducing you to Marie Kondo, expert organizing consultant and author. 

In her new show, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, the world-renowned tidying celebrity helps individuals and families alike transform their lives through the simple joy of tidying up.

Tidy Up Your Home With Tips From Marie Kondo

Take a look around your house. What do you see? Are there remotes scattered across the living room? Are toys out and about? Is a stack of dishes balancing precariously in the kitchen sink? 

The more clutter we have in our homes, Kondo suggests, the more stress we introduce into our lives. Here are some of Kondo’s tips for tidying up, reducing stress, and sparking joy in our lives.

1. Make the Commitment

The first and most important step to tidying is making the commitment to do it right. Marie Kondo employs a very specific method, the KonMari method, which can sometimes take months to complete. Kondo affirms that tidying up your home is only step one; once you commit to tidying up, you can apply the method elsewhere to spark joy in other areas of your life.

2. Picture the Kind of Life You Want

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to picture the kind of life you want and to set goals to help you attain it. Walk around your house and picture what things might be like if the rooms were tidier. Which chores can you never convince yourself to complete? Do you have rugs in need of a good cleaning? Are there items cluttering up your shelves and drawers? 

Quoted in Mirror, Kondo says, “Think in concrete terms so that you can vividly picture what it would be like to live in a clutter-free space.” The clearer your picture, the better.

3. Tidy Up in Order

The KonMari method outlines five specific categories of items to organize. In this order, tidy up: 

1. Clothing
2. Books
3. Paper
4. Komono (all other miscellaneous items)
5. Sentimental items 

The order is determined by how easily people are typically able to part with these items, so Kondo recommends starting with the items easiest to say goodbye to. You want to be in a heightened state of joy when you part with sentimental items, Kondo notes on her Netflix show.

4. When in Doubt, Discard It Out

Not sure if an item “sparks joy” for you? On Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, the organization expert says you’ll know joy when you feel it. She compares the feeling to holding a puppy dog and says the cells in your body will rise up when you feel joy. 

That said, if you’re on the fence when you pick up an item and try to decide whether it belongs in the “keep” or “toss” pile, remember: When in doubt, discard it out.

5. Categorize Everything

One of the most life-changing recommendations Kondo makes is to focus on category, not location. In other words, don’t tidy up your home room by room, but rather category by category, because it’s not just about organizing your house, it’s about organizing your entire life. 

It doesn’t matter where the items currently live, because her method is less about lightening your load than it is about rediscovering items that spark joy in our lives. 

When you dive into the KonMari method, Kondo asks you to grab all the clothing in the house and put it into one, big pile before saying goodbye to and thanking the items that no longer serve you. Then, you repeat the process with books, paper, and so on. As you progress through the method, don’t forget to tidy up furniture, area rugs, and home decor, too.

Does It Spark Joy?

Marie Kondo’s method for creating a clutter-free home is meant to help put you in touch with items that bring you joy. In her Netflix show, Kondo goes from home to home advising couples and families on tidying up, asking each of them the same, simple question: Does it spark joy? 

Give the KonMari method a try for yourself, or uncover more cleaning tricks by checking out our top spring cleaning tips and rug care guides.

Try these hospitality interior design tips and tricks to step up your hospitality game in 2019.

1. Personalized Experiences

Think the rug above is perfect for your hotel? Shop our selection of stain-resistant Sisal Rugs and select the Athens Taupe color. 

Guests of all shapes, sizes, and walks of life stay at hotels, so hotels can’t approach their offering as one-size-fits-all. The most successful hotels know they need to cater to the needs of every type of guest: parents with young children, a group of young women celebrating a Bachelorette party, a middle-school boys’ hockey team — you name it. 

Rather than just meeting guests’ basic needs with free shampoo, conditioner, and coffee packets, hotels need to focus on creating memorable experiences for their guests. These experiences could be a “selfie area” against a bold backdrop in the lobby, or a customer service line available 24/7 on Twitter or Facebook Messenger. 

In addition, leading hotels are using themed guest rooms, preset lighting preferences, and fully-stocked fridges to individualize rooms and provide exceptional guest experiences. Brands like Stay Well are changing the face of modern hospitality by offering products such as bathroom lighting that regulates guests’ circadian rhythm and reduces jet lag, and shower heads that reduce chlorine and leave guests’ skin feeling smooth and soft. For some guests, these amenities may seem over the top. For others, they’re exactly what’s required to guarantee a second or third visit.

2. Home Away From Home

Extended-stay hotels are no longer the only hotels to offer kitchenettes, small tables, and other familiar home amenities to accommodate guests. It’s now standard to find a coffee pot, microwave, and mini fridge in a hotel room, and for some, that’s just the bare minimum. 

Hotels are also turning away from the cookie-cutter approach to room design. Instead of making every room identical to the one next door, hotels are opting to diversify spaces so that every room offers something a little unexpected. Handmade goods, bold textures, diverse wall treatments, backsplashes, and area rugs all offer a touch of individualization to modern hotel rooms, helping guests feel as if they’re at home.

3. Smart-Home Technology

Image Alt Text: Modern Hospitality Space Offers Smart Home Technology. 

In the same way that modern banks are swapping tellers for tablets, modern hotels are replacing receptionists with self-check-in options, eliminating the need for a front desk and giving designers more space to work with when it comes time to designing the hotel lobby. 

Smart hotels offer personalized tablets that give guests the freedom to control room temperature, order room service, and stream their favorite shows from Netflix, Amazon, and other streaming services. The future of hotels means keys, messages for reception, and in-room preferences such as lighting and temperature will all be handled on guests’ mobile phones. 

To complement this modern approach to hospitality, hotel design will focus on balancing high-tech accommodations with minimalist decor. Designers will decorate with recycled wood and other organic materials, like sisal and jute, to counterbalance the influx of technology.

4. Bringing the Outdoors In

Regardless of the city they’re staying in, your guests can experience a tropical rainforest, rustic forest, or walled garden right at your hotel. In 2019, hotels are focusing on bringing the outdoors in, whether that’s with multilevel terraces, reclaimed wooden furnishings, or natural-fiber textiles. 

Bringing elements of the outdoors inside enables guests to connect with nature from the safety of their room or hotel lobby. This trend helps keep guests engaged in the hotel experience, providing something memorable for them to take back home with them.

5. Flexible Spaces

Ready to upgrade your hotel’s meeting room? Try a Dorado Sisal area rug in the color Ashland. 

Gone are the days of a couple outdated desktop computers atop an old table greeting you in a hotel “meeting” room. Meetings aren’t what they used to be, so minimal technology and poor internet connection doesn’t cut it anymore. Hotels need to modernize their meeting spaces in order to accommodate the modern business traveler. 

In 2019, we can expect hotels to integrate updated audio and video infrastructure to accommodate a variety of meetings, performances, and parties. From furniture to technical equipment to walls and dividers, the modern hotel meeting space needs to be as versatile as it is functional. Designers have to design for versatility and connectivity, as well as create more collaborative workspaces available for both guests and visitors.

6. More Than a Lobby

The modern hotel lobby encompasses much more than just a seating area and a desk for check-in. Today’s hotel lobbies are often complete with a hotel bar, restaurant, or even a storefront. 

For business travelers, multi-purpose lobbies like these are increasingly important. These guests don’t want to stay cooped up in their rooms all day and will venture to the lobby for a change of scenery. They need reliable WiFi, multiple outlets, and food and beverages at-the-ready to make it through their day, and lobbies should accommodate these needs. 

Hotel Designs reports that lobbies are becoming more eco-friendly, too. In 2019 (and beyond), we can expect to see large, potted plants being used to break up the lobby space into multiple sections, creating a clubhouse of sorts where people can explore various activities.

7. Local Integrations

“Buy local!” is all but a rallying cry for millennials. In 2019, hotels will continue to integrate the local culture into the guest experience. By embracing local retail and outsourcing more services to local businesses—like dry cleaning and deliveries—hotels will become cultural hubs where guests can enjoy exercise classes, massages, concerts, and more alongside locals. 

To truly integrate the local scene into the hotel space, hoteliers should also involve local designers and artists in the design process to help create a unique, local atmosphere.

8. Sustainability

Across all industries, sustainability practices are becoming more important to consumers — and the hospitality industry is no exception. Guests want to feel good about where they spend their money, and they want to stay someplace with a commitment to environmental sustainability. 

In 2019, hotels will continue to introduce more “green” initiatives. We can expect LED lighting, recycled materials, solar panels, and even hourglass timers in showers to help us monitor our water use. Designers will also incorporate more greenery and natural light into their designs.

Get Ready for These 2019 Hospitality Design Trends

The future is here, and it’s evidenced in modern hospitality design. From personalized experiences and smart-home technology to local integrations and sustainability best practices, modern hotels are ready for 2019. Are you? 

Lay down stylish, yet durable carpet and area rugs in your hotels with our hospitality carpet options.

And what better way to give your space a face-lift than with a new natural area rug? Here at Sisal Rugs Direct, we’re releasing a handful of new area rugs to help you ring in the new year in style. 

See the best of what 2019 has to offer down below!

1. Hemp Grass

Love this look? Shop our selection of custom hemp grass rugs. 

If you’re looking for a sustainable option that’ll leave you feeling better about your home’s carbon footprint, look no further than a natural hemp area rug. Hemp is a biodegradable, renewable, and eco-friendly option for flooring. Its natural fibers are soft to the touch and have a comfortable feel underfoot. Hemp rugs are great for a variety of reasons, such as: 

• Versatility. Hemp rugs come in a range of neutral and naturally-occurring colors that complement virtually any interior design style.
• Unique weave. Hemp rugs are hand-loomed, giving each one a completely unique look. If you’re looking for unique pieces to help you make a lasting impression with guests, hemp rugs are a great option.
• Eco-friendly. Hemp rugs are a durable, non-porous, and liquid-resistant option that has a smooth texture and soft sheen. 

Our new selection of natural hemp grass area rugs includes a variety of dark and light shades, making it easier for you to choose the perfect rug to fit your space.

2. Trinidad Sisal

Add texture to your living room or dining room with a Shaker Gray Trinidad Sisal rug. 

Trinidad sisal area rugs and runners are perfect for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and hallways. (Okay, they’re perfect for practically any space.) Trinidad sisal is thick and typically woven into a unique, basket weave design. The fiber is anti-static, sound-absorbing, naturally resilient, and flame-resistant. Plus, it’s totally versatile. 

At Sisal Rugs Direct, our Trinidad sisal rugs can be edged in eight different binding materials and are available in three color tones.

3. Kava Sisal

Our elegant Kava Sisal Rugs are available in three colors. 

Kava sisal rugs bring elegance, pattern, and life to any room. Available in three colors, the collection at Sisal Rugs Direct features tone-on-tone fibers and a flat-woven design, as photographed above. Tone-on-tone sisal colors do not distract from the beautiful way this rug is woven. In fact, we think these colors enhance the layout of this design.

Add a pop of pattern and a touch of fun to your home by incorporating a patterned kava sisal rug into an otherwise potentially plain space.

4. Merino Wool Sisal

Need a rug to keep you warm? Our Merino Wool area rugs are a perfect option. 

For the same reasons you love a warm, wool sweater or thick, woolen socks, you’ll love a merino wool rug in your home. Soft, sound-absorbing, and naturally resilient, it’s hard to resist these wool fibers. And at Sisal Rugs Direct, our merino wool styles come in four unique colors. 

Merino wool area rugs can be easily maintained with regular vacuuming and should be kept away from excessive moisture. They’ll add a touch of sophistication to any living room, dining room, or bedroom.

5. Patterns Wool Sisal

Take your room from simple to stylish with a Patterns Wool Sisal rug. 

Sometimes, a one-color rug just doesn’t cut it. Adding a patterned area rug to your family room, bedroom, or home office is an easy way to add a bit of personality to the space. And that doesn’t mean the pattern has to be bold and bright. Subtle patterns can still draw attention without completely taking over your favorite space. 

At Sisal Rugs Direct, our Sisal Wool Patterns Collection is equally as stylish as it is sustainable. Our patterns wool sisal comes in three patterned styles: diamond, Greek key, and chevron.

6. Tides Wool

Make a splash in your favorite space with a Tides Wool area rug in Coral. 

Wool has a natural lanolin coating that wicks away moisture and prevents stains, which means a wool rug is perfect for any season or space. Our Tides Wool Collection of flat-woven, natural area rugs will make you feel like you’re on a beach — even in the dead of winter. 

Tides wool area rugs are made of natural materials that help humidify your home. They’re available in five earthy colors aptly named after items you might find within the ocean’s tides: conch, coral, manatee, oyster shell, and reef.

7. Arrow Sisal

This stylish, Arrow Sisal Rug is available in five natural colors, including Friendly Tan. 

Arrow sisal rugs provide all the benefits of a traditional sisal rug, with an added, subtle chevron pattern. This sleek design complements any space, without taking over as the focal point of the room. Available in five neutral colors, our 100% sisal and latex-backed, flat-woven arrow sisal rugs can be edged in 10 different binding materials to match the design style of your home.

Stylish and Sustainable Natural Area Rugs

Sustainable, handcrafted pieces are making a big comeback in 2019. If you haven’t already incorporated a natural area rug  into your home, this is the year to give it a try. With more options than ever before, Sisal Rugs Direct can help you find the perfect natural-fiber area rug for your home. Our newest designs will help you stay stylish and sustainable all year long. 

Not sure which of our new products you want to buy for your home? Use our Try Before You Buy program to narrow down your options!

To help you fully enjoy the winter season, but still keep your home squeaky clean, follow our favorite winter cleaning tips below.

1. Declutter Your Entryway

Pictured above: Our Brasilia Sisal Rug Collection. 

Your entryway is the first impression your guests have of your home. It’s also the easiest place for coats, hats, mittens, scarves, snow pants, shovels, you name it, to pile up as the months drag on. 

A decluttered entryway makes it easy for guests to get indoors quickly and keeps the cold air outside where it belongs. In addition, it gives guests the impression that you’re clean and organized. When winter rolls in, it’s your signal to remove unnecessary spring, summer, or fall items from your entryway to make room for bulkier winter gear.

2. Give Everything a Home

Pictured above: Our Outdoor Sisal Rug Collection in the Fuji Silver Color. 

In the spirit of decluttering, you want your home to be a space to sit back, unwind, and forget about the blistering winds happening outside. Designate a specific place for each item in your home. Use closets, storage benches, shelving units, and wall hooks to keep your belongings organized and easy-to-find throughout the season. In high-traffic rooms, consider a outdoor-rated area rug that can handle dirt, dust, salt, and snow tracked in from the outdoors.

3. Clean the Ceiling Fans

During a long winter, you want to keep your home warm and toasty, not cool and breezy. Ceiling fans are great for circulating air throughout your home, no matter the season. In cooler months, run your fans in a clockwise rotation. This will help draw cool air up and force warm air down. 

You also want to make sure the air circulating throughout your home is clean by keeping the blades of your ceiling fan clean. One easy way is to grab an old pillowcase and place it over one of the fan’s blades. Pull it back slowly to remove the dust and continue this process until all blades are clean. This method allows you to trap dust inside the pillowcase, instead of watching it tumble to the floor or find a new home atop your furniture.

4. Winterize Your Home

Like the above rug? Shop our Dorado Sisal Rug collection. 

Snow is great for skiing, sledding, snowmobiling… the list goes on. But, once it’s tracked inside your home along with mud and salt, snow can become a major hassle for any homeowner. To keep your space in tip-top shape, consider a few of the following ways to winterize your home.

Lay Down Durable Area Rugs

Durable, outdoor-rated rugs—like polypropylene rugs—are perfect for winter. They’re long-lasting and easy to clean, so you don’t have to worry about wet boots piling up.

Use Tough Doormats

For the same reasons you want a polypropylene area rug, you want to invest in tough doormats that can withstand dirt, salt, and snow all season long. Keep your doormat in place even when the snow melts and becomes slippery by investing in a premium rug pad.

Create a “Boot Bench”

Durable winter boots can be a hassle to put on and take off, especially when you’re still bundled up in your winter coat, hat, and mittens. Add a small bench to your entryway or main living space where you and your guests can take a load off and remove footwear with ease. An outdoor-rated rug beneath the bench is also a good idea as it can absorb any moisture that drips off boots and shoes.

5. Replace Your Furnace Air Filter

Air filters are vital components of any HVAC system and help ensure the air you breathe stays fresh and filters common allergens and other airborne irritants. After all, the EPA estimates that indoor air quality can be five times more polluted than outdoor air. 

To keep your home’s air clean throughout the winter—and all year long—it’s important to regularly check and replace your air filter. Here are a few more reasons why:

Increase Efficiency

When your air filter is dirty or clogged, airflow is restricted and your system winds up working harder to do its job efficiently. That means more energy used, resulting in higher energy bills. By replacing your air filter on an ongoing basis, you can increase efficiency and savings.

Breathe Easier

Air filters act as a barrier to dirt, dust, mold spores, pet dander, and more. Regularly replacing your air filter helps it remain gunk-free, ensuring that you and your family breathe the cleanest, freshest air possible.

Avoid Costly Maintenance

Not only do air filters help prevent unwanted particles from making their way into your home, but they also prevent those particles from building up inside your system unit and ducts. Dust and dirt built up within your HVAC system can lead to unwanted (and costly) maintenance.

Fight Cold With Clean

Keeping your home clean throughout the winter doesn’t have to be difficult. Even with snow and salt finding their way into your favorite spaces, these winter cleaning tips help you prioritize clean over cold. 

For more winter cleaning tips, check out our favorite cleaning tricks from experts like Martha Stewart, Good Housekeeping, and more.

This year, Pantone announced the 2019 Color of the Year is Living Coral, a softer-than-orange but bolder-than-pink hue meant to wake up our senses and add warmth to our spaces. 

According to Pantone, Living Coral adds nourishment and comfort to our “continually shifting environment,” and “embodies our desire for playful expression.” What better way to playfully express yourself than through your home furnishings and decor? 

To keep your home on-trend all year long, try these easy ways to incorporate the 2019 Color of the Year into your favorite spaces.

1. Bedsheets

In its 2019 Color of the Year announcement post, Pantone shares that “In reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life, we are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy.” Maybe that’s why Living Coral works so well in a bedroom—a space we go to unplug and rewind. 

Living Coral pairs well with white, gray, navy blue, and metallic tones (as well as many others). So, if you already have a set color scheme in your room, Living Coral bed sheets may be just the low-cost item you need to spice up the space.

2. Accent Chairs

Bright and colorful accent chairs are making a splash in modern decor, and it’s easy to see why. These bold pieces are a simple way to update and invigorate virtually any space. If your room needs a focal point, an accent chair will definitely do the trick. Paired with a complementary, custom rug, a Living Coral accent chair could easily become your home’s main attraction. 

Designer Joy Cho says a side chair is an easy way to ease into adding new colors and patterns to your space. An accent chair can complement the larger pieces you already have in your home. If you’re hesitant to add such a bright, bold color to your home, start small with one chair, and in no time, your home will be filled with all the Living Coral items on this list.

3. Dishes

Make a statement in your kitchen by displaying 2019’s most on-trend dishware. Instead of cupboards filled with white plates and bowls, add a pop of color with a few new Living Coral kitchen items. Even two or three new mugs can change the way you feel about waking up and reaching for your first cup o’ jo in the morning.

And, updating your dishware is more important than just making your kitchen look prettier or more modern. According to G.E.T. Enterprises, color helps set the mood of your tabletop and can shape the experience your guests have of your cuisine. So, why not branch out and add a touch of bold, Living Coral to your dinnerware?

4. Wall Art

One of the simplest ways to incorporate a new color into your home is to update your wall art. Adding Living Coral artwork to your walls can liven up any room. 

To build a room around a color like Living Coral, Better Homes & Gardens recommends choosing a large focal point, like a rug or headboard, and adding complementary pillows, textiles, and wall art. They also recommend adding plenty of neutral or white accents to balance the bold color. You get the best of both worlds: classic, neutral tones and bright, trendy hues.

5. Towels

Whether you hang them on a rack or wall hook, roll them up and place them on shelving, or fold them to sit atop your counter, towels are a necessary element in every bathroom and kitchen. So, they’re a natural choice when it comes to incorporating Living Coral into your home. 

Because you use towels every day, there’s a good chance your existing inventory could use a refresh. Brighten up an otherwise-neutral bathroom with fluffy Living Coral towels that embody everything the color represents: warmth, nourishment, and comfort.

Keep Your Home Up-to-Date with Living Coral Accents

Whatever your existing home style, you can incorporate the 2019 Color of the Year, Living Coral, into your spaces with ease. Consider adding Living Coral bed sheets, accent chairs, dishes, wall art, or towels to keep your home up-to-date and on-trend with the latest styles. 

For more interior design trends, check out some of our most popular posts: 

• 2019 Interior Design Trends
• Sustainable Interior Design Trends
• 2018 Flooring Trends

If you are designing a new hospitality space, or are ready to upgrade your current hospitality carpet, check out our favorite options that are functional, durable, and beautiful.

1. Polypropylene

Pictured above: Our Belize Pewter Four Seasons Outdoor Sisal collection as a wall-to-wall installation in a boutique hotel.

Polypropylene rugs, made from synthetic, strong fibers, look and feel amazing while offering superior durability. Polypropylene rugs have a natural-fiber appearance, but unlike most natural fibers, they are able to absorb water — which makes them easier to clean and perfectly suited for bathrooms, basements, and outdoor settings. Plus, because of UV stabilizers woven into custom polypropylene rugs, their color won’t fade under harsh UV rays.

Polypropylene rugs are stain-resistant, too. And, in some cases, polypropylene is softer underfoot than other types of natural fiber rugs. They are designed to handle extreme weather, messes, and scratches. Not only does this make your housekeepers happy, but it also makes for a happy bottom line, as there is less carpet to replace due to spills and stains.

2. Stain Resistant Sisal

Think the above area rug is perfect for your hospitality decor? Shop our selection of Stain Resistant Milano Sisal Rugs.

If you’re looking for a sustainable, environmentally friendly rug option, our stain resistant sisal rugs are the way to go. Harvested from the agave plant, sisal is a stylish, natural fiber that works in any space, from bedrooms to kitchens, to sitting rooms and hallways. Sisal rugs are also easy to clean because their tight weaves capture dirt, which prevents staining. This makes them an excellent choice for hospitality spaces, where maintaining a high level of cleanliness is of utmost concern.

In addition, our special stain resistant sisal fibers have been treated to resist stains before weaving, making them the most stain and water-resistant sisal. They’ve also been treated with fire retardant, making stain resistant sisal perfect for both residential and commercial use.

Worried about foot traffic? Sisal is still a great option for high-traffic spaces because it can withstand almost anything—including the wheels of a suitcase; damp, muddy shoes; or pawprints, for those of you running pet-friendly establishments. And when it comes to style, sisal rugs come in a variety of colors, patterns, and piles, giving you endless opportunities to customize each rug to perfectly fit your space and wow your guests.

3. 100% Wool

Want to see what the above wool rugs could look like in your space? Request free samples of our 100% Wool Hampshire Area Rugs.

Wool area rugs are known for their durability and for their wide range of colors. They’re also naturally mold-resistant, which means they hold up throughout changing seasons and heavy foot traffic entering your space. The lanolin coating found in wool rugs is great for fending off messes, allergens, and other irritants, which keeps you and your guests happier for longer.

Additionally, wool area rugs provide acoustic benefits for your hospitality space. Wool rugs swallow the sound of loud footsteps, and they can absorb up to 30% of their own weight, making them a soft-to-the-touch (or, should we say step?) option for any room.

Choose Hospitality Area Rugs Guests Will Love

Deciding which type of hospitality area rug to use in your space is no easy feat. You need to consider the look, feel, and function of the rug before making a final decision.

Different materials offer different benefits for your guests. Polypropylene rugs can withstand even the most extreme weather, allowing them to remain outdoors for long periods of time. Stain resistant sisal rugs are natural, sustainable, and eco-friendly rugs that will last a lifetime. And, 100% wool rugs are a beautiful option that helps maintain both visual and auditory aesthetics.

Now that you know about the best materials for hospitality area rugs, the work begins. Which material will you choose to enhance your space? If you’re not sure, we can help. Learn more about our hospitality and resort management services.

The new year is right around the corner and with it comes a host of new patterns, styles, and trends to try out in your home. Ring in the new year in style by incorporating what will be the hottest design trends of the year into your space, using the ideas below.

1. Floral Patterns

Image credit: Elle Decor 

Flowery fabrics and wallpapers aren’t just for your grandma’s house. This bold trend is making a big comeback in 2019, adding an element of nature to any room. Pairing a festive floral pattern with a natural fiber rug, for example, brings the outdoors in, without compromising on style. 

Because floral patterns can feel busy and overwhelming in some spaces, consider adding a floral accent wall to break things up.

2. Bold Jewel Tones

If you’re not afraid of a little color, adding bold jewel tones to your 2019 decor is a great way to go. According to HGTV star Taniya Nayak, bright accent colors such as jewel tones and colors that contrast (like blue and orange) are making their way back into modern design. Make a statement in your home with a jewel-toned wall hanging, throw pillow, or blanket.

3. Geometric Backsplashes

Image credit: Design Sponge 

Much like this stand-out hexagonal design at Minneapolis event space Studio 125, geometric backsplashes and style tiles are popping up everywhere we look. 

Designer Amy Sklar says, “Simple, monochromatic kitchens have had a good long run, so we will be gravitating toward making a little more impact in kitchens.” You can do the same in your own space with a unique, geometric backsplash, or maybe even a boldly patterned rug.

4. Sustainable, Handcrafted Pieces

More and more, we see modern homeowners and designers gravitating toward sustainable, handcrafted pieces to fill their homes. A reclaimed wood coffee table, handcrafted counter stool, or vintage bed frame might be just what you need to revitalize your favorite space. 

Bringing these natural, earthy elements into a room helps it feel more grounding and inviting. Fibers like sisal, jute, and wool are perfect for incorporating a natural, sustainable look and feel into your home.

5. Four-Poster Beds

“A four-poster bed [is] the closest thing you can get to a hug from a piece of furniture,” says Sklar. And she’s not wrong. Four-poster beds create a stunning focal point in any bedroom and provide an added sense of security and comfort … not to mention luxury. In fact, according to Revival Beds, 30% of people would buy a four-poster bed for the added luxury it brings to a room. 

Four-poster beds fit within a variety of styles and bedroom designs. If your bedroom is large, or you have a particularly tall ceiling, consider a four-poster bed to add grandeur to the space.

6. Mixed Metals

Image Credit: Invaluable 

It used to be said that different metals couldn’t mix. Gold was paired with gold, copper with copper, and so on and so forth. But, in 2019, mixed metals are making a statement. Ideally, no more than a mix of two or three different metals should be used in the same space, but finally, you have the freedom to mix brass with gold or nickel, or pair silver and pewter with bronze.

7. Black Is Back

There’s something about an all-black room that we just can’t get enough of. When it comes to interior design trends in 2019, black is most definitely back. Black interiors evoke an indulgent, high-end experience, according to designer Kesha Franklin. 

To add a touch of indulgence and sophistication to your home, try black cabinetry in your kitchen or bathroom, black walls in your living room, or black bedding on a black, four-poster bed in your bedroom.

The Finishing Touch

These incoming interior design trends are sure to make waves across households everywhere this year. If you’re looking to spice up your decor, consider adding florals, jewel tones, four-poster beds, mixed metals, and lots of black. Introduce sustainable, handmade pieces to round out your space with one of our custom, natural fiber area rugs.

While getting your home ready for the holidays, you’ll likely break out all of your Christmas decorations. However, you may start to notice that a lot of your decorations stay the same from year to year. And we want to help you keep things fresh and add to your collection of Christmas decorations. 

To get your home in the Christmas spirit with some new, creative ideas, we compiled the top Christmas decorating ideas from our favorite interior designers and bloggers. Keep reading to see what they are!

#1 - Giant Paper Snowflakes

Remember making paper snowflakes when you were little? This Christmas, it’s time to refine your paper-snowflake-making skills. Tied with a piece of string, paper snowflakes are incredibly easy to make and can turn any room in your home into a winter wonderland. For example, Kelly Elko hung up giant paper snowflakes in her sunroom to bring more Christmas cheer into the space. 

Don’t remember how to make them? All you’ll need is paper, scissors, and string. Then: 

1. Fold the paper in half diagonally to make a triangle.
2. Fold the triangle in half, allowing the pointed corners to meet.
3. Fold your triangle into thirds.
4. Cut across the bottom of your paper to create a straight bottom.
5. Make additional cuts on the folded edges to create your snowflake pattern.
6. Unfold.

Take the full tour of Kelly Elko’s holiday home by visiting her blog.

#2 - Glittered Pinecone Wreaths

When we think of wreaths as Christmas decorations, we usually think of something green. By definition, wreaths are rings of flowers, leaves, or stems so it goes without saying that most wreaths you’ll come across over the holidays are filled with evergreen, cedar, holy, or pine leaves. That’s why we love the glittered pinecone wreath that Leslie from Deeply Southern Home placed above her mantlepiece. It’s unique in both material and color. 

Leslie found her wreath at Joann Stores, however, we bet you could make your own pretty easily with some pinecones, glitter, and glue.

Image credit: Deeply Southern Home

#3 - Ornament Centerpieces

Ornaments and baubles help you decorate your Christmas trees year in and year out. And odds are that over the years, you’ve accumulated quite a few of those ornaments and may even have to leave many of them off the tree. 

Thankfully, Sheila Irwin of Maison de Cinq has a great idea that will allow you to take advantage of those unused ornaments and create a beautiful focal point for one of your home’s rooms. Simply take your ornaments that are of a similar or complementary color and place them in a bowl to create a bright, shining centerpiece for your home.

Image credit: Maison de Cinq

#4 - A Hot Cocoa Bar

While this is, admittedly, not a decoration per se, it’s still a really great idea. What’s a better way to get into the season and welcome guests than with a cup of hot cocoa? 

We first discovered this idea after catching up with Sarah from Room for Tuesday. She gave her home’s coffee maker a designated spot in her home and then decorated the area around it with cocoa fixings, holiday mugs, a small garland, and candy canes. We think it’s one of the best ways to add holiday spirit to your home and makes it easier for you to entertain and welcome guests. It’s the best of both worlds.

Image credit: Room for Tuesday

Deck Your Halls

If you want to get in the holiday spirit, the right environment can make all the difference in the world. And the above Christmas decorating ideas will help your home feel more cheerful, joyful, and magical. So, serve up some hot cocoa, put up your wreaths, craft paper snowflakes, and display your excess ornaments. 

Need help getting your home ready for guests this holiday season? Decorating is only half the battle. Make sure your home is clean and well-stocked with these home holiday preparation tips.

But what should you paint? 

Below, you’ll find seven of our favorite creative DIY home painting ideas. 

1. Dining Room Chairs

Dining room chairs are an excellent opportunity to have a little fun with color — and you don’t even need to paint all of them. Just two will do. For example, you can paint the two chairs that sit at the heads of the table to give your dining room a big splash of color. Or, you can mix and match your freshly painted chairs around the table to create an interesting visual. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, painting each chair will be a major focal point. 

Before you get to painting, determine how many chairs from your dining room set that you want to paint and where you’ll place them at the table. Then, carefully think about your color selection. If your chairs are naturally dark in color, keep in mind that lighter colors will need several coats in order to fully come through. You’ll also want to sand the entire chair to ensure the surface is smooth and ready for primer and paint.

Image credit: A Beautiful Mess

2. Inside of Your Cabinets

When we think of painting ideas, we rarely think of painting the inside of something. However, painting the inside your cabinets is a great way to surprise yourself and guests with vibrant colors. And it has the added benefit of being really unique. 

Because the interior of your cabinets will often be obscured and will rarely be on display full-time, you have the freedom to pick brighter, more lively colors than you’d feel comfortable picking for your walls. 

To make sure you’re picking an accent color that still goes with your kitchen, bathroom, or the decor that surrounds your cabinetry, try matching it with a nearby decor item. For example, Jessica of Mom4Real matched her cabinet color with her kitchen chalkboard, soap bottles, and strainer to ensure the cabinet color fits well with the room.

Image credit: Mom4Real

3. Closet Walls

Similar to cabinet innards, closet walls are typically not visible to you or your guests. But just like the insides of cabinets, painting those interior closet walls with a fun shade is a surprising and creative way to use color in your home. 

To add the right color to your closet walls, use the same advice above and pick a shade that closely matches another piece of nearby decor or furniture. This way the closet color will match with the rest of the room and won’t create any clashing visuals. If you don’t want the closet color to feel matchy-matchy with the rest of them, try choosing a color that is within the same color palette or family as the rest of the room.

Image credit: Classy Clutter

4. Edges of a Door

Just a hint of color can go a long way. That’s why we love the idea of painting the edges of your interior doors. Painting this 2-inch strip of wood provides a fun, contrasting color without requiring a ton of work on your part. Just make sure to sand the door edge prior to painting and remember to use a primer as a clean base.

Image credit: Remodelista

5. Around the Dresser Drawers

This is probably the most involved home painting idea that we’ve come across. But the effect is very unique and, in our opinion, worth all of the extra effort. 

For this painting idea, take the drawers out of the dresser you want to paint. Then, sand the dresser to get a smooth surface that’s ready for primer and paint. The next step is to go to town and paint the entire dresser the color of your choosing. It’ll take a while, but once the coats are dry and you put the drawers back in, you’ll have a dresser that is one-of-a-kind.

Image credit: It’s Two AM

6. Window Trim

Color is nothing without light. In fact, that’s what color is: wavelengths of light. One of the best sources of light in your home is your windows. To make the most of the natural light entering your home, we love the idea of painting your window trim a bright, vivid color. When light then comes through the window, the entire room will become filled with color.

Image credit: Laura U Interior Design

7. Your Staircase

Stairs aren’t always the most decorative focal point in your home. They’re more functional than stylish. But that doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, your stairs represent a great opportunity to bring color to your home’s floors. 

For example, A Kailo Chic Life painted their entire staircase risers different tones of the same color for a fun ombre effect.

Image credit: A Kailo Chic Life 

But our favorite staircase painting project comes from Leslie of Deeply Southern Home. With a recently installed custom stair runner, Leslie wisely chose not to paint her stair risers a specific color. However, she did tape out and paint fun stripes that outlined the edges of her stairs. This added a nice, polished finish to her staircase.

Image credit: Deeply Southern Home

Paint the Town (and Your Home)

Adding color to your home doesn’t have to be done through new wall colors or decor. You can do it by painting the furnishings and decorations that already make your home unique. Stick to the above DIY home painting ideas and you’ll make your home more colorful and vibrant in no time. 

Need more ideas on how to use color in your home? Learn how you can add the 2018 color of the year into your home.

Now, designers are bringing that trend back. Whether you’re taking a walk around a design showroom, flipping through Better Homes and Gardens, or watching Love It, or List It on HGTV, you may start to see more and more designers opt to put rugs on walls as well as the floor. 

So, what gives? To find out why interior designers are hanging up rugs (and why you should try it, too), read all the reasons why down below.

They Introduce New Textures

Many of our homes’ surfaces are smooth. From tile to drywall to hardwood floors, smooth is the texture that stands out. But all those smooth lines and surfaces make for a one-dimensional home. This lack of texture is what leads to design trends like shag carpet, rustic furniture, and wicker decor. 

Rugs are unique in that they can help bring that enhanced level of texture to both your floors and your walls. Because rugs can be made from a variety of textiles, they can also be made in varying levels of thickness, also known as the pile. 

For example, seagrass area rugs have a medium- to thick-pile and relaxed weaves, providing an exotic, thick texture. Whereas a wool area rug is low-pile and has a very intricate weave for more subtle notes of texture.

Pictured above: Our Lido Collection Wool Sisal Area Rug

They Make Plain Walls Pop

Paint is the most common wall surface in homes. It can handle humidity better and it doesn’t require as much preparation when compared to wallpaper. And paint is a vital tool for any designer as it allows them to bring new colors into any given room as an added design element. However, paint is limited in the types of patterns it can create. 

While you can certainly try to paint patterns onto your walls to create additional visual interest, it can get hairy to tape out your pattern and not make a noticeable error. As a result, many homeowners (and some designers) simply stick to single color walls. But this creates a new problem: single color walls can look plain and boring. Hanging an area rug on those walls solves that problem. In fact, many area rugs now come in vibrant colors and distinct patterns, creating a big wow-factor for any room.

Like the above pattern for your own walls? Shop our Patterns Wool Sisal Collection and select the Key Dove color.

They Add Warmth and Depth

Neutral colors, like taupe, beige, white, and ivory, are the most common wall colors you’ll find in homes. They make rooms appear larger, and they don’t clash with other colors in the room and serve as a nice complement to most interior design styles. However, these colors can also feel cool and clinical. 

To warm up any white or neutral walls that may decorate your home, area rugs can provide plenty of warmth. Gold-tone area rugs are exceptional at this. For example, our Sun Sisal Collection is a classic weave that comes in several honeyed tones that tone-down cool white colors and introduce a warmer and more inviting color palette.

Cover Up Your Floors AND Your Walls

Area rugs aren’t just for your feet. They’re also for your eyes and they can be best seen and enjoyed when they’re hung up on your home’s many walls. Whether you want to hang one up in your living room, dining room, or guest bedroom, area rugs make for great additions that can spice up any room’s decor. 

To hang a rug on your home’s walls, you’ll need one that’s the right size. Check out our custom area rugs to get started.

But preparing and organizing your home before the holiday season hits its peak can help ease some of the pressure and stress of the season. So, make sure your home is ready to endure and impress this holiday season with these five tips for getting your home ready for the holidays.

1. Scrub the Place Clean

The holidays see both family and friends come into town to visit and celebrate. And like any good host, you need to clean up before they arrive. Cleaning the whole house is no easy task, so set aside one day, get all the equipment you’ll need, and take things one room at a time.

If you’re in a pinch and need to clean fast, prioritize the rooms that are guest-facing like your home’s common areas, powder room, and guest bedrooms and bathrooms. While you scrub things clean it’s also a good idea to organize cabinets, linen closets, and other storage areas so bed sheets, towels, and guest amenities are easy to find and bring out once guests arrive. With a spotless home, you’ll then have a clean slate with which to decorate.

2. Deck the Halls

No holiday season is complete without holiday lights, scented candles, wreaths, poinsettias, and more. Break out your best holiday decorations for the season, stock up at the Hallmark store, and start stringing up your holiday lights.

Want to really amp up the festive ambiance this year? Some of our favorite pieces of holiday decor bring the outdoors in. For example, holiday lights aren’t just for home exteriors, you can also string them up on your mantle, banister, or windowsills to make your home look sparkling and warm. 

3. Make Up the Guest Bedrooms

The unavoidable fact of the holidays is that you’re going to be hosting guests. And sometimes those guests require a place to stay for the night. Make sure you’re prepared to have overnight guests or extend an invitation for them to stay over by preparing the guests bedrooms before the holidays start.

Strip the beds, give them a fresh set of sheets, ensure the room is fully stocked and ready for new occupants at any given moment. This way you can rest assured that your loved ones will always have a place to stay with you.

4. Stock the Kitchen

From Thanksgiving to Hanukkah to Christmas and beyond, the holidays bring families together over a good meal. Plus, there’s plenty of baking to go around as well. And the last thing you want to have to do the night before any one of those holidays is going to the store — it’s guaranteed to be crowded and picked over.

Avoid this worst-case scenario by stocking up your kitchen with the majority of your baking and cooking needs. While you’ll need to purchase some fresh ingredients closer to the holidays, you can certainly purchase others in advance and freeze them if you’re concerned about expiration dates. There are also some ingredients like flour, sugar, canned foods, potatoes, and others that will keep fresh all through the holiday season. So, make a list, check it twice, and head to the store before it’s too late.

5. Give Guests a Warm Welcome

The warm glow of scented candles. Throw blankets. A crackling fire. A cup of hot chocolate. Warm, inviting pieces of decor go a long way in helping guests feel a sense of welcome in your home. Keeping this in mind, make sure you're ready to usher in guests by lighting the candles, starting a fire, turning up the heat, or preparing a little welcome treat.

Holidays Don’t Have to Be Hectic

With plenty of preparation, you can avoid much of the hustle and bustle of the holidays. So before the holidays are in full swing, make sure you set aside some time to thoroughly clean your home, prep the kitchen, make up the guest bedrooms, and decorate for the holidays.

Want to give your home a little present for the holidays? Our Black Friday sale is right around the corner! Starting this Friday our entire site is 20% off. Just use promo code blackfriday18 at checkout between 12:00 AM Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 and 11:59 PM Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018 to receive the discount. Happy shopping!

Still wary of using patterns in your interior design? Here are our favorite, approachable ways to add patterns to your home.

1. Mix & Match With Mesmerizing Throw Pillows

The key to selecting a pattern is ensuring it doesn’t dominate the space. It’s an additional touch, not a primary design component. Throw pillows are small decorations that allow you to introduce a simple pattern without overpowering the room. And because you can never have just one throw pillow, they’re the perfect decoration for you to mix and match patterns with. 

2. Create a Patterned Backdrop on Your Walls

Take a look around your home’s walls. Odds are, you’ll find a lot of solid colors and neutrals. Imagine the visual effect you could create if just one of those walls featured a unique, eye-catching pattern. With wallpaper and/or careful painting, that look can easily be achieved. 

Looking for a pattern for a larger room? Feel free to be more bold with your pattern selection. Patterns with loud, vibrant colors and large-scale prints will make an incredible impact. 

In smaller rooms, patterns can still be used, but they should be more subtle so they don’t dominate the space. For example, patterns could feature soft colors with light backgrounds to make the room feel larger. Three-dimensional patterns like a trellis or stripes will also help open the room up.

3. Introduce Subtle Designs Through an Area Rug

Not all patterns have to be bold and bright. If subtlety is more your style, area rugs are really useful ways to implement a pattern since they don’t draw too much attention and are still very beautiful pieces of decor. 

What kinds of area rugs make for the best fit? Natural fiber area rugs, like jute, sisal, or wool, for example, have intricate weaves and looms that give them distinct and often completely unique designs. Our own patterned wool sisal area rugs come in three classic patterns that can liven up any space without taking over.

Interested in the above rug for your own home? Shop our Patterns Sisal Wool Rug Collection and select the Key Marble pattern.

4. Form Your Own Unique Pattern With Tile

Tile is a diverse material that can be used as both a floor or wall covering in kitchens, bathrooms, and showers. But another great feature of tile is that you can make your own patterns and designs with it. Tile coverings are just collections of smaller tiles, meaning you can arrange tiles of different shapes, colors, or material to form your own unique pattern.

5. Decorate Solid-Color Walls With Artwork

For bedrooms, bathrooms, and other smaller areas in your home, the above ideas may be hard to incorporate due to limited space. You don’t want the patterns and designs you use to be the only thing guests notice about the room. This is where artwork can do all of the heavy lifting. 

Artwork comes in many different sizes, making it easy for you to find the perfect piece for any room in your home. Because they won’t be taking up the whole wall with a pattern, you can also be more adventurous in your art selection. Before you start shopping for artwork, you’ll want to make sure that you have an idea of where you’ll want it to hang on your walls. This makes it easier for you to find an art piece that is the right size and style for the room.

Patterns Are Easier Than You Think

Figuring out how to use patterns in your interior design can be an intimidating task. But the above methods make pattern usage easy for any space in your home. Whether you decide to use artwork, wallpaper, throw pillows, area rugs, or your own tiled designs, any pattern you use will go a long way towards creating a beautifully designed home. 

Ready to add fun shapes and patterns into your home? Shop our collection of new patterned wool area rugs to lay down a unique pattern that fits any room or design style.

But that’s easier said than done. There are countless area rug options to choose from such as nylon, olefin, and even polyester. However, none of those materials are sustainable, eco-friendly options that leave you feeling good about your home’s carbon footprint.

Here at Sisal Rugs Direct, we pride ourselves on offering area rugs made only from the best natural fibers at affordable prices. And to expand that offering, we have a new collection of hemp area rugs, featuring new colors and durable hemp fibers.

Learn more about our new natural hemp area rugs and why they’d make a great addition to your home below.

1. Natural Colors That Complement Any Space

Hemp grasses naturally come in different shades that work well with a variety of interior design styles. It doesn’t matter if you prefer mid-century modern or a coastal design, the natural beige tones of hemp fibers make for a great fit. And because they’re neutral, they can complement a wide variety of color palettes, including bright and bold colors and patterns.

In our new collection, you can find both light and dark shades, making it easy for you to find the right color that will contrast the rest of the room. The colors, which can be seen below, are also un-dyed so you can enjoy them in their natural glory.

2. Completely Unique, Intricate Weaves

Part of what makes our natural hemp area rugs so special is their exotic, unique weave. As you can see in the image to the right, each rug’s weave is hand-loomed, which creates special variations and characteristics that give your rug its own personality. Even though this may result in an imperfect weave, you can feel confident in the fact that each fiber was handcrafted with care.

3. Made From 100% Natural Hemp Grass

For the environmentally-conscious, hemp area rugs are a dream. Harvested from hemp grass fibers found on the slopes of mountains in the Pacific Rim, hemp is a durable, non-porous plant that has a smooth texture and soft sheen.

Given these properties, hemp area rugs themselves are very durable and have liquid-repelling properties. After the hemp grass is harvested, the fiber is separated and dried to create a distinct color that is rich and warm — colors that are also found in the finished area rug.

Want a Unique, Natural Look for Your Home?

If you like what you read above, a natural hemp area rug will bring warmth into your home, as well as exotic and unique textures that you can’t find with any other natural fiber rug. And each rug is durable to boot, making it a no-brainer addition for your most-loved spaces. Check out our new collection of hemp area rugs to experience them for yourself.

Not ready to commit? Don’t forget to take advantage of our Try Before You Buy program. Let us know a bit more about your home or design project, and we’ll hand pick several rug samples for you to test out. Then, just let us know which rug you like the best.

Fall represents the perfect time to give your home’s interior design an update that’s on-trend with fall’s unique color, vibe, and style. The best part? An updated look doesn’t have to mean a whole new design. Below, are five essential and easy fall interior design trends to usher your home into the new season.  

1. A Fall-Forward Color Palette

Pops of color bring contrast, freshness, and energy into your home in any season. And fall is no different. Color is easy to incorporate, too, as adding a bit of color doesn’t need to involve new wall coverings. Instead of heading to the paint store to find a new fall shade, pick up some colorful throw blankets, drapes, centerpieces, accent pillows, vases, bedding, or wall art. These little items can go a long way in bringing new, refreshed colors into your home.

But what colors make for a good fit this fall? Navy blue and plum are this season’s top color trends as they make a great contrast against any nude or neutral furniture or decorations. The darker colors also help usher your home into fall, toning down your spaces from the light and bright colors of summer.

2. The Golden Touch

Gold is a classic interior design trend that will never truly go out of style. It’s a timeless look that creates visual interest through texture and shine, something that can’t be achieved through other colors or patterns. This fall, add soft touches of gold to your home through utensils, cabinet hardware, lamps coasters, or picture frames to add some fall style to your home’s spaces. Because gold is richer than other neutrals and beiges, it also gives off some much-needed warmth for the cooler fall season.

3. Natural Wood Decor

Changing leaves, while gorgeous and vibrant in color, also reveal the beautiful bark and wood they stem from. Bring some of that wood into your home to give your home an earthy and welcoming look. 

Wood adds new and exciting textures thanks to the different grains of wood you can find. For example, wood slices give you both the smooth and jagged texture of wood in a single piece of decor. If you’re not sure how to use those slices in your home, they make for great seats (if they’re large enough), mantle decorations, or table centerpieces.

4. Dominant, Oversized Florals

Floral prints are a huge design trend in both the spring and summer. Colors come alive during those seasons and floral designs are a great way to showcase bright, bold shades that reflect the season. But fall also has its own unique, beautiful floral arrangements. 

Steeped in purples, oranges, and greens, fall floral patterns bring a whole new color palette into the mix and feel earthier in comparison to their spring and summer counterparts. Place these beautiful florals in your home through wallpaper, patterned pillows, or artwork.

5. Bright, Playful Patterns

If your home has plenty of solids, patterns and prints are excellent for mixing things up. For fall 2018, bright and playful geometric patterns are making themselves known through throw pillows, upholstery, wallpaper, and art. They’re great additions to spaces thanks to their bold colors and shapes, drawing attention and capturing wandering eyes.

Even your area rug can rock a playful pattern that sets the tone for the rest of the room. For example, our patterns wool area rugs come in fun, classic patterns like diamonds, keys, and waves. Give them a look for yourself below.

If you want the same look in your home, shop our Patterns Wool Sisal Collection and choose the Wave Sahara color/pattern.

Fall in Love With Your Interior Design

Having the same design year-in, year-out can get boring. Give your home’s most-loved spaces a much-needed update this fall season with trends like patterns, wood decor, pops of navy blue, gold accents, and more.

For more interior design ideas that can help you revamp your home, check out the rest of our interior design trends for 2018.

This presents a problem, however, for most homeowners. Our living rooms are filled with our best decor and furniture as it’s so central to our homes. And these messes threaten to ruin, damage, or stain our carefully curated spaces. So what’s a homeowner to do? How can you keep your living room clean? 

Lifestyle blogger Julie Blanner has five tips that can help you keep your living room spotless and easy to tidy up. Learn more about the tricks she has up her sleeve below.

1. Organize. Organize. Organize.

It’s easier to tidy up when everything has a home. As Julie says, “If everything has a place, it’s much easier to maintain.” 

So take advantage of closet organizers, containers, and other organization systems to give your living room’s throw blankets, remotes, gadgets, and toys a space to call their own. If you have guests coming over, this helps your living room appear less cluttered and has fewer items taking up visible space in the room.

2. If You See It, Clean It

Don’t wait until later to pick up a stray item or clean dirt off the floor. If you save it for later, it may never get done. Or, it may even get worse. So, do as Julie does and clean up throughout the day. 

“If I see something in the mudroom that belongs in the office and I’m heading that direction, I drop it off and put it away,” Julie says. 

This makes large, deep cleaning tasks a little easier to tackle as well, considering you’ve already done some of the work.

3. Do a Walk-Through

No one likes guests to see their mess. Before your friends, family, or coworkers come over, Julie suggests taking some time to tidy up. 

“Just before guests arrive I do a quick walk through the house and can usually have it picked up in 5-10 minutes because of the organization systems we have in place,” Julie tells us. 

If you took the first tip on this list seriously, this task becomes all the more easy as those items your picking up have a place to go — there’s no need to go stuff them in a closet.

4. Make It Easy on Yourself

“We have an asphalt driveway that despite all efforts, transfers onto surfaces inside our home, including our living room rug,” Julie says when asked about her homes toughest stains. 

So, how can she keep a clean living room with such tough stains? 

“I found an alternative rug that looks and even feels like sisal, but wipes and hoses clean,” she explains.

If you’re battling similar tough stains in your living room, like mud, red wine, or spilled food, putting in durable furniture and decor can make all the difference in the world. For example, Julie designed a custom polypropylene area rug that had the exact look and feel she wanted with none of the strict care instructions. In fact, with an outdoor-rated area rug, she could wash the rug completely with a garden hose making it easy to clean up spills and stains. Slipcovers are also great additions to your living room if you struggle with keeping messes off the couch. 

Want the above look for your own living room? Shop our Four Seasons Collection and select the Belize Frost color.

5. Live Minimally

Another way to keep your living room and other spaces clean is to adopt a minimal lifestyle or philosophy. With fewer things cluttering up your living room, the more neat and tidy the room will appear. 

“I’m always purging, letting go of things that only clutter our home and minds,” Julie says of her own minimalist lifestyle. 

To reduce the noise in your own living room, consider removing any items that don’t need to be there or don’t contribute thoughtfully to the space. Notice any oddball items that stick out? Or maybe there’s an old, ratty throw pillow that’s seen some better years. Whatever the item is, your living room will likely benefit from a brief purge of any unnecessary items.

Make a Clean Break From Bad Habits

Maintaining a clean living room is less about cleaning regularly and thoroughly, and more about adopting new habits that result in a clean and organized space. So live minimally, tidy up as you move about, do walk-throughs, become a master organizer, and set yourself up for success with durable furniture and decor. 

For more tips and tricks for around the home, check out Julie’s blog. You’ll find new recipes, gift ideas, and inspiring DIY design projects. 

Have a stain on one of your area rugs that just won’t go away? Use our rug care and cleaning guide for tips on how to remove even the toughest of stains.

But what makes or breaks some of the best home renovations? 

While we may be a little biased, we would argue that a good area rug can make all the difference, helping define your new space and complement your new look. 

Don’t believe us? Here are five times our natural fiber area rugs helped put the finishing touches on some incredible home renovation projects for DIY-ers like Kim Vargo, Sarah Gibson, and others. 

1. A Cozy, Safe Entryway

Kim and Scott Vargo of Yellow Brick Home had beautiful hardwood stairs. But while they’re gorgeous to look at, they were a little too dangerous to walk on — especially with a baby on the way.

Even though this was a renovation born out of necessity, Kim and Scott found the perfect sisal stair runner that helped cushion their footfalls and provide plenty of grip for climbing up and gliding down steps. Not only did the stair runner help fix the slip, but the classic belize dune color avoided overpowering their unique black and white staircase.

Want the same look for your stairs? Shop our Four Seasons Collection in the Belize Dune color with a cotton Granola border

2. A Carpet-Free Home

Carpet works in some homes, but fails in others. In the case of Sheila Irwin’s living and dining rooms, it failed to impress her. And so Sheila set out to renovate her living room and nix her drab carpet once and for all.

Removing carpet is no easy renovation task, requiring Sheila to take the plunge and invest in hardwood floors. But the change had a huge payoff as Sheila and her family could enjoy the hardwood floors she always dreamed of having. To help define the spaces in her home and add some comfort against the hard surface, Sheila used two custom seagrass rugs.

Want to see more of Sheila’s awesome work? Check out her blog, Maison de Cinq.

3. The World’s Most Chic Laundry Room

Interior designer Sarah Gibson is no stranger to a renovation challenge. In fact, she does them for fun and writes about them on her blog, Room for Tuesday. 

One of her most transformational projects was her most recent One Room Challenge, where she set out to renovate her laundry room. In under six weeks, Sarah and her husband, Emmett, planned to bring the room into this decade with brand new floors, custom cabinets, decor, and more. Talk about a tough task.

They were able to get it all done, though. From a custom “cabinet kennel” for their two adorable dogs to a custom polypropylene rug that would fill the space without covering their floor vent. Now, their laundry room is functional and 100% unique.

For Sarah’s exact rug, shop our Fuji Silver All-Weather area rugs.

4. Large and In Charge Living Room

Kelly Elko has been renovating and decorating her 100-year-old home for years (you can check out her progress on her website). But one room that had her scratching her head was the living room. At 27 feet long and 13 feet wide, her living room was both huge and awkward. The long and narrow size left her living room feeling cramped and crowded. 

But with some strategic arrangements, new furniture, and a custom seagrass rug that fit just right, Kelly’s living room feels more open and fresh than ever before.

Have a fireplace or odd shaped room that makes it hard to find the right rug? Take some advice from Kelly and purchase a custom shaped area rug.

5. A Crafty Playroom

Children's playrooms have to deal with a lot of wear and tear over the years — they’re well loved and it shows. Decorator and mother of three, Patsy Schmidt, wanted to renovate her home’s playroom into a space that her kids would love, but also a space that she could keep clean. 

 Her first point of business was to find a new sofa and slipcovers so there was a cozy place to hang out that could also be washed in an emergency. And for fun crafts, Patsy’s husband crafted a custom table and art box. To put the finishing touches on the room and help define the sitting area, Patsy designed her own custom-shaped sisal area rug.

To create a similar rug in your own home, shop our Sisal Sun Collection and select the Sunrise color with a serged edge.

Great Ideas for Any Room

Whether you’re renovating a bedroom, living room, or front entryway, there’s plenty of inspiration to draw from in the home renovations above. From focusing on function to creating custom pieces, there’s plenty of beautiful design ideas above that can help you create a unique, eye-catching space.  And an area rug can help you bring it all together. 

For more design ideas, DIY tutorials, creative decorations, and more, follow these 32 interior designers on Pinterest.

Pete Nelson and his team of expert builders step in to make that dream a reality. And Animal Planet is there to document the build on their show, Treehouse Masters.

As a big fan of their show and the incredible creations Pete is able to craft, we couldn’t have been more excited to create a custom seagrass rug for one of their builds. Once we heard Pete wanted to make a “rumpus room” treehouse — a room dedicated to adult play, games, parties, and recreation — we were even more eager to help out. Read on to hear more about the project and see the finished space.

Creating a Fun, Playful Space

For this treehouse masterpiece, Pete and the gang wanted to build a playroom for adults. They made plans for a card table, hot tub, cornhole set, outdoor bar, and plenty of other activities and spaces that make for an outdoor retreat filled with fun and games.

The fact that the treehouse was also for their friend and forklift supplier, Russ, also added pressure onto Pete to make sure he got the build just right.

While play was the main focus for this build, Pete didn’t want it to look and feel like your typical backyard treehouse. He wanted to make sure it felt like a home that could be lived in and furnish the treehouse into a fun, yet stylish space.

A Styling Good Time

While Pete makes building architectural giants up in the trees look easy, the team needs some interior design help to transform the treehouse into a beautiful hangout. And for that task, the builders turn to designer Christina Salway; “the glorious guru of good-time design” as Pete puts it.

To pull the finished look together, Christina came to us for two seashell seagrass area rugs with a pale ash, narrow cotton border. You can see a close up of one of the rugs pictured below.

Part of the reason Christina went with the seashell color and pattern was to provide a contrast to the smooth, hardwood floors and match with Russ’s industrial-chic design style. She then placed them underneath the treehouse’s two seating areas to help distinguish the two areas of the space.

With the build finished and the design complete, it was time to show Russ and his wife, Kristi, their new rumpus room treehouse. And they couldn’t have been more blown away.

“Beautiful,” says a teary-eyed Kristi after the big reveal. “Oh my goodness, it’s gorgeous. It’s absolutely stunning.”

Russ chimed in as well, saying, “I kinda wanted to hug Pete. I just — I didn’t know what to do! I was just so excited looking at this thing of beauty. It’s awesome.”

See How It All Came Together

We already knew that a seagrass rug could help elevate any home, but now we know that includes treehouses as well. From the hot tub to the card table, this treehouse will be a fun one that Russ, Kristi, and their family can enjoy for years to come.

Watch the full episode online to see the full transformation, as well as Russ and Kristi’s stunned reaction.

Mixing interior design styles can be a daunting and risky task. But the good news is that it can be done in a way that creates a mix that matches rather than “miss-matches.”

To create a completely unique look that is a true reflection of your personality and design preferences, follow these codes of conduct for blending interior design styles together.

1. Color Creates Consistency

When mixing styles, staying true to your color motif is one of the best ways to maintain cohesion. For example, if you’re looking to add a rustic element to a living room that’s home to a white, contemporary sofa, select a farmhouse-chic armchair that’s part of the same color palette. Quite simply, the more similar your decor appears to be, the less likely it is for the space to look mismatched.

2. Size Is Everything

Size matters if you want to avoid an obvious mix of styles and create a balanced space. For example, if your room is a mix of small coastal decor and large industrial furniture, the stark contrast in sizing will create separation. So, make sure your different styles are equally represented with items both large and small to create a more blended, natural look.

3. Fill in the Void

Symmetry and balance are important design considerations because awkward gaps and spaces can make rooms look incomplete. For example, if you place a mid-century modern end table next to one side of your bed and leave the other side empty, the bedroom looks unstable. But if you use an end table or wardrobe to fill in the void, the room will balance itself out as you’re creating a more symmetrical look.

4. Separate, But Equal

if your ultimate goal is to create an eclectic yet cohesive look, you can’t let one style overpower the other. The best way to avoid this it to make sure your design styles are represented in both furniture and decor items.

However, keep in mind that this equal representation should not easily be seen. You don’t want to split the room down the middle and make the left bohemian and the right contemporary. Your style-specific elements should be distributed evenly throughout the room to show that they go together and aren’t meant to be separate.

5. Everyone Needs a Friend

One thing you don’t want in your space is a solitary piece of decor with nothing to go with it. So, make sure you give your style-specific decor items a companion piece. Companion pieces are decor items that share similar shapes, colors, styles, or finishes. This helps fill up the room and avoid any “odd man out” scenarios in your home.

6. Don’t Get Bent Out of Shape

Shapes are another way to make sure your room looks cohesive rather than detached. For instance, if your couch is rounded, you should go with a round or oval coffee table in front of it. While it can be tempting to play with different shapes, when those items are of a different design family, it can look as though your room doesn’t pair well together. Instead, use similar shapes to give the impressions that your design is united.

7. Go After Pieces That Are a Blend of Styles

Occasionally, you may come across a single piece of decor or furniture that features two different design styles. You may find a dining room chair that has a traditional shape, but is made of translucent plastic, making the chair both traditional and modern all at once. Using these pieces of decor easily brings both interior design styles into your home, without having to make the special considerations listed above. 

Mix It Up

If you want to express multiple design aesthetics, don’t be afraid to mix it up. If you want to place an art deco coffee table in front of a contemporary couch, go for it. Just follow the advice above to make sure that your finished look is united and unique, not detached.

Want to sprinkle your home with more great design ideas? Check out these 2018 interior design trends. 

However, arguably the most important part of the kitchen is its ability to help you cook efficiently, store all of your nifty kitchen gadgets, and clean up relatively quick. It’s the classic choice of function over fashion. But wouldn’t it be nice if your kitchen had both, though? 

Luckily, we have several kitchen interior design ideas that can fix that and give you the best of both worlds.

1. Add Contrasts

An easy way to create a visually appealing design is to use contrasting tones, colors, and textures. Instead of leaving a single note, add dimension and interest to your kitchens through opposite shades or textures. 

For example, if you have dark countertops, go with white cabinets to contrast the colors. If you're not installing a brand new kitchen, painting your cabinets or surrounding walls are an easy change you can make all on your own. And you can play with contrasts by adding a colorful accent wall as well. The main goal is to create a balanced look that complements the space instead of washing it out or overpowering the design.

2. Create an Eye-Catching Backsplash

Tiles come in a wide range of colors, sizes, and textures. Ranging from smooth ceramic to wavy, natural stone, backsplashes add eye-pleasing and textural dimension to your kitchen. Plus, it’ll help you save your kitchen’s walls from water damage, stains, and potential mold build-up. 

If your backsplash isn’t giving you the vibe you're looking for, consider giving it a revamp. You can find plenty of awesome backsplash tile options at your local tile shop. For a clean look, we love subway tile backsplashes as the tiles are large and smooth, adding to a neat, modern, minimalistic design style. If you’re going the most rustic or industrial route, try a natural stone or tile grouping that showcases some copper tones. If you’re feeling bold, you can even remove and install the backsplash on your own. However, be extra careful with the grout as it can dry on your tiles, leaving a permanent mark. 

Not sure what you should create? Check out any one of these amazing interior designers on Pinterest and take a look at their kitchen boards for some inspiration.

3. Lay Down a Comfy Area Rug

When you’re cooking or cleaning the dishes, you’re always on your feet. And it with hardwood floors or tile in the kitchen, it’s not great for your feet or back. In fact, standing for long periods of time can result in foot, ankle, and back injuries. It goes to show that your kitchen could benefit from a little bit more comfort. 

An area rug is a fantastic addition to any kitchen, as it provides your feet with some much-needed support. Plus, there are several types of area rugs that are water and stain resistant, making them ideal for your home’s kitchen where messes are bound to happen. For help selecting the right rug, view our guide on the best kitchen area rugs, including polypropylene rugs, seagrass rugs, and more.

Want the look pictured above in your own kitchen? Shop our All Weather Polypropylene Rugs

and select the Fuji Mahogany rug color with a Chocolate Narrow Cotton binding. 

And before you lay down an area rug in your kitchen, you need to purchase a rug pad as well. Rug pads offer an extra layer of cushioning to prevent foot, ankle, and back strain, helping you avoid any additional discomfort or injury. 

Still having doubts as to what area rug you should get for your kitchen? Fill out our style profile and we’ll send you six hand-picked rug samples for you to try out. The best part? It’s 100% free.

4. Upgrade Your Hardware

Remember those contrasting textures we talked about? Well, hardware can bring some much-needed shine, texture, and personality into your kitchen space. And it can be a quick, easy change to make as well. For example, if your cabinet hardware is more muted with a matte finish, try giving it an upgrade to brushed nickel, brass, or marble material. There are countless types of hardware materials, types, and style to choose from, but stay true to your interior design style (e.g. rustic, industrial, contemporary, coastal) and you’ll find the perfect fit.

5. Display Your Go-To Gadgets

There are a lot of tools in your kitchen. From spatulas to mixers, you have a lot of utensils and appliances at your disposal and your kitchen needs to be built to store them all. Or does it? 

While you most likely want to hide your large gadgets like the Kitchenaid mixer or your toaster, those little utensils like whisks, wooden spoons, ladles, or tongs can actually make for fun decorations that leave your favorite tools just an arm’s reach away. With a decorative utensil jar, you can proudly gather and display your go-to tools next to your stovetop where you’ll need them the most. Or, if you’re feeling like that might take up too much counter space, you can build a rack or shelf that allows you to hang your tools, pots, or pans creating an eye-catching focal point in your kitchen.

Everything and the Kitchen Sink

You spend a lot of time in your kitchen. And while it should be functional, it should also be beautiful. The kitchen interior design ideas above will help you achieve that goal. Through comfy area rugs, using your utensils as decorations, upgrading your hardware, and more, you’re well on your way to creating a kitchen space that you’ll love and appreciate for a long time to come. 

Need to renovate more than just your kitchen? Check out our other style guides for interior design ideas and inspiration: 

• Dining Room Style Guide
• Master Bedroom Style Guide
• Patio Style Guide
• Entryway Style Guide

In addition to limited space, though, there’s also your lease and roommates to consider. Your landlord likely won’t approve any construction or changes to the space that could impact future tenants. And your roommates (should you have any) might have differing tastes from your own. 

So, what are you left to do? How can you design your apartment without breaking the bank or your lease agreement? 

In the past, we’ve helped some amazing interior designers design apartments for clients and themselves. A great example full of interior design inspiration, is the story of how interior designer, Alex Kalita, renovated her Brooklyn studio apartment with some paint, an area rug, new light fixtures, and multi-purpose furniture. 

If you’re looking for even more great apartment design ideas, here are our favorite interior design tricks that can make a big difference in a small space.

1. Mirrors

Apartments are small and space to redecorate is limited. Luckily, there is a neat trick you can use to make your apartment space feel much larger than it actually is. And that trick involves mirrors. 

By hanging or placing mirrors around your apartment, you’re creating an optical illusion that extends the room. As reflections of what appears before them, mirrors are able to make walls disappear, giving you and your guests the illusion that the room is much larger than it actually is. Mirrors are also great at reflecting light, making your apartment seem brighter and bigger. If you’re apartment feels tight and cramped, use mirrors to your advantage.

2. Area Rugs

One of the most common apartment types is a studio apartment, where the lines are blurred between the bedroom, living room, kitchen, and other spaces. Instead of spaces defined by walls and doors, studio apartments often place all of those necessities into a single room. This makes defining and separating spaces hard to do. 

Area rugs are a great addition to apartments as they help create a physical and visual barrier between your functional spaces and help define an area. Plus, they’re comfy to walk on and offer much-needed protection for your hardwood floors. The aforementioned Alex Kalita, for example, had a stipulation in her lease that she needed to cover more than 80% of her hardwood floors as they were original planks that had been there since the 1800s. A custom area rug then became a must-have for designing her rental apartment.

3. Wallpaper

With limited space to make sweeping design changes, your apartment’s walls offer a perfect, blank canvas for you to design. And while paint is certainly a great option, wallpaper is easy to apply and has minimal risk of staining floors, wood trim, or other items you don’t want hard-to-remove paint on. 

Wallpaper is perfect for creating eye-catching accent walls, or adding a subtle pattern to the whole room. And wallpaper isn’t as painful to install like in previous years. Today, you can purchase “peel and stick” wallpaper that doesn’t require you to slather your apartment’s walls with a paste that is hard to remove. This is also good for renters as it means less damage to your apartment’s walls, helping you reclaim your security deposit and stay within your lease guidelines.

4. Light Fixtures

Tearing down walls, creating a built-in, or even adding a backsplash might be a little too complex interior design projects for an apartment. Especially if you only plan to rent the apartment temporarily or for a few years. But for a quick change that’s inexpensive and creates a memorable space, light fixtures are a great go-to item. 

Upgrade the light fixtures in your apartments kitchen, living room, dining room or other common spaces to create an bold focal point that your guests will love. Light fixtures can also help emphasize your interior design style. For example, unique fixtures like lanterns or old filament light bulbs are great ways to showcase your industrial or rustic aesthetic. 

5. White, Bright Décor

In small spaces, it tends to get dark as there is less room to install windows. In addition, several apartments tend to share the floor of a building, meaning there are many windowless, interior walls in apartment units. Combined, this leads to dark apartments that don’t get a lot of light. 

Make the most of the light in your apartment by using light, bright decorations, furniture, and wall colors. By focusing on bright tones, your apartment will reflect the natural and artificial light in the space, making it feel larger and brighter. However, be careful of white-washing your apartment. Instead of going all-in on one shade or color, introduce new colors through accent pillows, decorations, throw blankets, area rugs, and other pieces to add fun contrasts to the space.

Enjoy the Little Things

While construction and major renovations are likely out of your budget and lease agreement, there are plenty of little things you can do that make a big difference in your apartment. Mirrors, bright decorations, new light fixtures, area rugs, and wallpaper are just of few apartment interior design ideas that can leave a big impact. 

For more apartment interior design inspiration, learn how designer Alex Kalita renovated her Brooklyn apartment.

But which apps are the most useful and help you create your dream home? 

Below, we list our favorite interior design apps for inspiration, furniture placement, color selection, and more. And the best part? We know home renovations can be pricey, so each app on this list is free!

1. Pinterest

Probably the most common and well-known on our list, is the Pinterest app — an online pinboard filled with ideas, crafts, tutorials, and design inspiration. Every idea on the Pinterest app is represented as a pin, which when clicked on consists of an image, a description, and often times a link back to the source of the image or where you can find the items featured in the pin. Users can save pins onto customizable boards to look back on for reference or to share ideas with others.

 If you’re looking for remodeling ideas, a DIY tutorial, or are just want some ways to revamp your home, Pinterest is great place to start looking. All of Pinterest’s visuals are sure to get your creative juices flowing and help organize all of your design ideas.

Download Pinterest on the App Store | Google Play

2. iHandy Level

Does your project involve mounting your new family photo above the fireplace? Or maybe hanging a mirror in your newly renovated bathroom? Whatever it may be, you want to make sure that it’s straight and centered on your wall. But, before you go digging through the old tool box to find a level, try downloading the iHandy Level app first. 

As one of five iHandy tools in their carpenter toolkit, the iHandy Level is free and easily the most-used of the five. This app turns your smartphone into a surface level by leveraging your phone's built in sensors. 

The set up is simple. Before use, hold your phone against a flat surface and press the calibrate button to align your phone. Do this three times while your phone is vertical, horizontal, and face-up. After the calibration is set, hold your smartphone up to the object that you want to straighten, and read it as you would a normal level. Downloading this app helps guarantee you’ll never have to worry about a crooked wall hanging ever again.

Download iHandy Level on the App Store | Google Play

3. Houzz

Houzz is as close as it gets to a one-stop shop for your interior design needs. On Houzz, you can browse photos of furniture, rooms, design styles, and more to find the inspiration you’re looking for. Plus, you can also use the Houzz app to find professionals in your area that can help you with your design project. For example, Houzz can connect you with a contractor, interior designer, or even a brand or product. (If you ever need a natural fiber area rug for your project, we’re on Houzz as well!)

Download Houzz on the App Store | Google Play

4. Havenly

Making home design decisions can oftentimes be a difficult process. If you’re struggling on what to do, try downloading the Havenly app. Havenly allows users to seek advice from real professionals within the interior design industry. Begin by taking Havenly's style survey to get matched with the perfect designer who can help you to create the space that you have always wanted. Then, work with the Havenly pros to put together a spectacular room by using your existing furniture pieces or by starting completely from scratch. 

This app allows users to upload photos of their actual room to give the designers an exact visual of what they are working with. So, if you have an interior design vision in mind, but need help piecing it together or you’re indecisive about what would look best, be sure to download this app to your smartphone.

Download Havenly on the App Store

5. Color Capture

Have you ever seen a color, either in the sky or in a friend’s home, and wished you could use it as a paint? Surprisingly, there’s an app for that.

Color Capture by Benjamin Moore allows users to snap a picture of any color inspiration they see, and instantly generates paint matches from Benjamin Moore’s over 3,300 paint colors. Not only does Color Capture provide you with a paint color match, but it also gives you palette suggestions of two other colors that correspond well with the given color. So, next time you find that perfect shade, be sure to pull out the Color Capture app on your phone and write down that paint name.

Download Color Capture on the App Store | Google Play

6. magicplan

Sometimes, renovation projects are more involved than a fresh coat of paint and some new furniture and instead involve an entirely new floorplan. And if you have next to zero experience creating a floorplan, it can be a daunting task. But, luckily, the magicplan app has your back. 

The magicplan app is an awesome digital tool to utilize while working on any home interior project as it uses your smartphone's camera to create professional floor plans and blueprints in just minutes. 

Simply stand in the room you want to create the floor plan of, and use the app to take a picture of one corner in the room. Continue rotating and tapping the corner button each time the camera is in line with a corner of the room until you are back at the corner you began with. The magicplan app will then create your room’s floor plan where you can add in objects, doors, windows, electrical, and more. This app is great for furnishing your home, planning DIY projects, gaining price estimates, or mapping out your current floorplan.

Download magicplan on the App Store | Google Play

7. Measured

While working on an interior renovation or DIY project, you’ll probably need a tape measure or ruler along the way. However, it can be frustrating trying to use a tape measure when you’re working alone and don’t have an extra hand to hold the other end, and a ruler or yardstick isn’t always be long enough. If this is the case, the Measured app provided by Lowe’s is your solution. 

This app converts your smartphone into a digital tape measure. Using augmented reality technology, Measured can tell you the length of your kitchen countertop, how tall your night stands are, and how far away everything else is in between. 

Simply open the app, aim your phone towards the beginning of where you want to measure from, tap the screen, point your phone towards the ending measuring point, tap your screen again, and read the displayed distance for instant measurements.

Download Measured on the App Store

8. Hutch

Lastly, the Hutch app is a must-have for interior design because it allows you to “try on furniture” before purchasing it. It’s hard to know for sure what end tables would look good next to your sectional, or what rug would fit nicely in your new baby’s nursery. The Hutch app fixes that as it allows you to place thousands of different furniture and decor pieces in a virtual room, giving you an actual idea of what the room will look like. 

Another favorite feature of the app is that when you first sign in, Hutch guides you through a design quiz to narrow down what would be perfect for your interior design project. For example, Hutch will ask you which room you’re designing, what your budget is, and what your interior design style is so they can give you tailored product suggestions. Then, if you find something you like, you can purchase all the items directly from the app. It’s like an online dressing room for home design.

Download Hutch on the App Store | Google Play

More Favorites?

There are so many great design apps for interior design we couldn’t possibly list them all. Do you have a favorite that wasn’t mentioned? Let us know on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, or  Twitter.

If you’re struggling to find the right area rug for your space, you’re not alone. Many homeowners battle with that same decision. With things to consider like cleaning, sustainability, function, and style, it’s hard to arrive at a singular option. 

Well, we’re here to help with that.  

Take our quick, 60-second quiz below to see which area rug you should get for your home based on looks, function, and care.

Test It Out

Found your perfect area rug, but aren’t sure how it’ll look in your home? Test out some samples with our Try Before You Buy program. Just complete your style profile and we will hand pick and ship six rug samples to your front door for free. That’s right — free. Let us know which sample you like best and we’ll send you the real deal.

Area rugs keep your feet comfortable, protect your floors, tie the room together, and have a host of other benefits. But with so many options like size, color, material, and various accessories to choose from, finding the right area rug can quickly get out of hand. 

In fact, many homeowners and designers make critical mistakes when choosing an area rug. This can lead to spaces that look mismatched or experience heavy wear and tear. 

To help you make sure you’re not making those same mistakes and are able to find the perfect area rug everytime, check out the most common area rug mistakes below and how to fix them. 

1. Buying the Wrong Size Rug

The easiest mistake to make when it comes to finding an area rug is purchasing the wrong size. Too often, homeowners “guesstimate” the size they need instead of actually measuring out the dimensions. This leads to lots of vacant space or too much covering that is hard to decorate around. 

How can you fix it? The easiest fix is to take the time and measure out the exact dimensions that you need. With the exact dimensions on hand, you purchase a custom area rug for the perfect fit. Here at Sisal Rugs Direct, we can make custom rugs in any shape or size that you lay out for a truly custom solution. This helps ensure that you have the perfect rug around your fireplace, along angled walls, and more. However, if a custom rug sounds too involved, go with the closest standard size.

Still not sure what size is best? Follow our guide on how to choose the right rug size room by room.

2. Forgetting to Purchase a Rug Pad

Area rugs, while pretty and durable, also provide comfort for your feet and back. However, without a rug pad, that comfort may be lacking. Rug pads offer additional support and padding under rugs, preventing slippage and extending the life of your area rugs. Without a rug pad, your rug is free to bunch up, move, and slide around on your floors. 

How can you fix it? The solution is simple — get a rug pad for your indoor and outdoor rugs. This not only adds cushioning under your feet, but also prevents your rug from moving around too much, leading to additional wear and tear. 

3. Going With the Wrong Material

The material you select for your area rug is very important. Some fibers — wool, sisal, jute — are great for living rooms and family rooms. Whereas other fibers (e.g. seagrass and polypropylene) are ideal for kitchen area rugs. 

How a rug performs in a certain area is also dependant on its pile. Thick pile rugs are more comfortable, whereas thin pile rugs are easier to clean. As a result, it’s critical that you think of how your rug needs to function before you make your decision. 

How can you fix it? A good rule of thumb to follow is that if you need a durable, easy to clean area rug, polypropylene should be your first choice.As a synthetic, sisal look alike, polypropylene rugs are ideal for kitchens, outdoor spaces, and in high traffic areas. They can be washed with a hose if they get messy and are extremely durable, meaning they can take a beating.

Pictured above: Our All Weather Polypropylene Rugs Collection in Fuji Mahogany with a Chocolate Narrow Cotton binding.

4. Ignoring Cleaning Instructions

Speaking of washing your rugs, don’t assume you can clean any rug with traditional soap and water as you can easily ruin your natural fiber area rug with too much moisture. For example, water can cause permanent staining. Many homeowners aren’t aware of the water weakness in most natural fiber area rugs, however, leading to harmful rug damage. So, pay attention to your rug’s care instructions before making your purchase. 

How can you fix it? NEVER use water to wash your natural fiber area rugs. Instead, use a Host Dry Carpet Cleaning Kit, vacuum, or soft bristle brushes to do the heavy lifting. It’s also a good idea to check out our rug care and cleaning guides for detailed steps on what to do and what not to do with your natural fiber rugs. 

5. Choosing the Wrong Binding or Color

A picture is worth a thousand words. But when that picture is for online shopping, it’s hard to tell if it’s entirely accurate. And what looks good on your computer screen doesn’t always translate into real life. Because of this, many homeowners and designers choose the wrong binding or color for their area rugs. This leads to a mismatched look where the rug material and binding clash against each other, which isn’t pleasing to look at. 

How can you fix it? Pay attention to the recommended binding pairings for the area rug you want. For example, on our website, we recommend different color bindings based on the pattern, material, and color you’ve chosen. This ensures that you always receive a binding that complements your rug choice.

Pictured above: Beachwood Santiago Sisal Rug with a Granola Narrow Cotton binding.

Not confident in your rug’s color? Use our guide on how to choose the right rug color.

Make No Mistake About It

It’s easy to get lost in all of the area rug options out there. But with proper planning and research, you can avoid the common area rug mistakes above and find the best rug for your home. 

Use our guide on how to choose the perfect area rug to make sure you avoid the above mistakes from the get-go.  

Compared to previous years, 2018 is all about creating an exterior space that looks and feels like it was meant to be indoors. Outdoor living has transformed from a simple seating area to a complete expansion of your home. 

Below, we listed some of 2018’s top outdoor design trends to help ensure your patio, porch, or other creative outdoor space is in style and will have you loving the outdoors this summer season.

1. Add Light With Outdoor Floor Lamps

Summer is in full swing and warm nights are here. Outdoor lights allow for the fun to continue long after the sun is set. Lighting up your outdoor space not only serves as a safety feature for your guests, but also creates an atmosphere that is tranquil and inviting. 

While string lights have been a hot trend for several years, floor lamps are taking over this season. Use a fun outdoor floor lamp in place of traditional string lights to create a relaxed and special ambience on your patio this year. An outdoor floor lamp will provide a subtle glow for your party or offer a clear view of the night sky during an intimate night in.

2. Treat Your Patio Like a Living Room

More and more homeowners are seeing their outdoor spaces as an expansion of their home, bringing the indoors out. This means transforming your outdoor area into a seemingless blend of your interior kitchen, living room, and entertainment areas. 

So, when shopping for outdoor furnishings, think of it as an extension of your living room. Don’t hesitate to use furniture, décor, and styles that are traditionally used indoors as a part of your outside design - just be sure to use items that are still built to withstand the elements. Items such as outdoor rugs, throw pillows, outdoor couches, and the previously mentioned floor lamp can help to create a space that is trendy, yet as cool and cozy as the inside of your home.

3. Use a Neutral Color Palette

This year’s outdoor design trends are all about minimalism and nature. As a result, neutral color palettes are in. Neutrals offer a timeless, classic look that won’t go out of style like a bold, bright pattern. In addition, the natural colors of your landscaping are really able to shine and pop when your patio has a neutral tone to contrast with. 

When considering a natural color palette, think of colors such as white, beige, taupe, grey, and black. Though these colors may often be thought of as “boring,” they can create the perfect, subtle backdrop for other colors within the space.

4. Pot Your Greenery

Going along with the minimalism and nature theme, terracotta colored garden pots are a perfect way to display your plants. Terracotta pots are also classic fixtures that won’t go out of style, making them a great asset for any outdoor space. 

Avoid planting a jumble of different flowers or herbs in a single pot as it can quickly look messy and overgrown. Instead, opt for a one-plant-per-pot method. This will make your outside space look and feel much more organized and modern. And as an added bonus, plants that are potted individually are often easier to maintain.

5. Avoid Metal Outdoor Furniture

In the past, wrought-iron has been a staple for many patios. However, with this year’s outdoor design trends, which focus on nature and natural colors, this material feels a little out of place and too industrial. Instead of wrought-iron, wire, or metal furnishings, go for a wicker or wood option. 

Wicker and wood furnishings create a more open and airy atmosphere on your patio. Plus, wicker and wood furnishings work well for all patio styles as both materials are easily adjustable. For example, wicker and wood are great additions to contemporary, coastal, or rustic outdoor spaces.

More Outdoor Design Tips to Get Your Inspiration Flowing

Feeling inspired to bring the indoors, outdoors this summer? For more tips and guides on outdoor design check out our Ways to Create Cool Spaces for the Summer and Tips for Setting Up the Perfect Outdoor Table.   

To celebrate summer and the Fourth of July holiday, we’re having a sale of epic, Black Friday proportions. Just how big is the sale? From Monday, July 2 until Friday, July 6, we’re taking 20% off of everything. That’s right, everything.

 Black Friday deals are here early, so make sure you pick up some of our top items, including:

Custom Area Rugs

Custom area rugs are often thought of as expensive additions to your space. However, they could save you the cost of having to buy several area rugs to cover one space. If you’re still worried about the potential cost of building a custom rug, this 20% sale means you could save big. It doesn’t matter if you need wall-to-wall carpet, a custom cutout for a fireplace, or just a larger-than-normal rug, we have you covered and it won’t break your bank.

Want the look featured above? Create a custom Seagrass area rug in the Seabass rug color and a Pale Ash border. 

Outdoor Polypropylene Rugs

The great outdoors and high traffic areas in and around your home have a reputation for being tough on area rugs. Instead of worrying about the wear and tear on your rugs, lay down a durable indoor/outdoor polypropylene rug. These rugs look just like sisal but are extremely strong, easy to clean, and comfortable. There’s no better time than right now to replace your worn out rugs with a strong and safe polypropylene area rug now that they’re all 20% off.

Need a really large outdoor area rug? Our new Islands Collection comes in sizes up to 16 feet and 2 inches wide, which is massive! Below is one of our Islands Collection rugs in the Mallorca Opal Sand color as a wall-to-wall application to cover the entire patio. 

New Patterns Wool Sisal Collection

Patterns are fun, textural ways to create an eye-catching space. Our new Patterns Wool Sisal Collection has three different bold patterns for you to choose from to ensure that there is the perfect pattern to fit your interior design style. Made of a natural New Zealand wool and sisal blend, these area rugs are soft and comfortable without sacrificing durability. In fact, wool is naturally stain resistant and anti-static. 

Shop the rug above by viewing our selection of Patterns Wool Sisal Rugs. This rug is the Wave Sahara pattern with a Granola border. 

Host Dry Carpet Cleaning Kit

If you’re not in the market for a new rug, this is still the perfect time to stock up on cleaning supplies. Our spot cleaner and rug protectant should also be shopping items on your list, but the Host Dry Carpet Cleaning Kit is such a good kit that even Martha Stewart uses it. And it has the biggest savings of our cleaning products, meaning you’ll save $7.59 on each kit during our Black Friday in July Sale. 

Get Your Black Friday Shopping Done

During our Black Friday in July Sale, we’re taking 20% off of everything. So, don’t wait until Black Friday to save big—get shopping now!

Just use the code JULY4 at checkout to apply the 20% discount from Monday, July 2 to Friday, July 6. 

If your home doesn’t currently have a patio, or you want to revamp your existing patio space, it can be hard to know where to start. From getting the right patio furniture to choosing the right patio layout, there are a lot of decisions to be made. Luckily, we have a pretty good guide to help you out. 

Below, you’ll find our seven steps on how to create a patio area that will wow both you and your guests.

Step 1: Choose the Right Spot

As a homeowner, you’ve likely heard one of the most popular rules of real estate: location, location, location. Well, that same rule applies to your patio. Before you break ground on your dream outdoor patio, you need to make sure you build it in the right spot. 

To do this, you’ll want to pay attention to the areas of your yard that are in the morning or afternoon sun or have natural shade. Depending on how hot you want to get, you may want to put down your patio in a shaded area. Or, if you’re not shy of direct sunlight, you can avoid those shady areas. In addition, if you want to create an outdoor dining area on your patio, you’ll also want to make sure that you place your patio near your kitchen to avoid long trips between the two while entertaining.

Step 2: Size It Up

Location is an important first step, but the size of your patio is equally important. Is the patio just for you and your immediate family? Or do you want a little extra room for entertaining? You’ll need to answer those questions to appropriately size your patio. 

Also, take into consideration the amount of yard you’ll be taking up with a patio—you may want to leave a larger grass area for your pets or kids to play in. Alternatively, if you have a pool, hot tub, or garden that you want to leave room for, you’ll need to incorporate that into your patio size as well. 

Typically, the standard patio size is 12x12 feet to accommodate six to eight people. However, if you only need to accommodate four people, you’ll need at least a 10x10 foot patio area. The big thing to remember when sizing your patio is that you should leave an extra 3 feet around your patio furniture for walking space. 

Step 3: Source Smart Materials

A patio is a paved outdoor area that adjoins to a house. The key word here is paved. Once you’ve nailed down where your patio will be and the size you want, it’s time to get paving. 

For your patio, there are a lot of paving options to choose from like brick, decking, concrete, slate, flagstone, and many others. While it can seem impossible to make a decision, we recommend going with a surface that is smooth so it’s easy to move chairs, tables, umbrellas, and other patio furniture. If you’re still struggling to make a decision, narrow down your options by what fits best with your home’s style and landscaping.

Step 4: Create a Feature

The best patio areas aren’t just a concrete area with a table and chairs. The best patio areas have features for families and guests to gather around. Whether it’s an outdoor fireplace, fountain, garden, or outdoor kitchen, pick what you want your focal point to be so you can design the rest of your patio around it. 

Step 5: Designate a Seating Area

No patio is complete without a way to sit, relax, and enjoy the outdoors. Give yourself a nice place to relax by outlining your patio seating areas. When designing your seating areas, make sure to think about the maximum capacity of your patio. If you want to be able to fit eight people comfortably, you’ll want to design a seating area (or two) large enough to support them.

 Want a pro-patio-tip? A great way to distinguish seating areas is an area rug—yes, even on an outdoor patio. In fact, our polypropylene rugs were made for the outdoors as they can be washed with a garden hose, won’t fade in the direct sunlight, and can withstand all of the elements. Oh, and they’re a beautiful sisal look-alike design.

Want the look pictured above for your patio? Shop our Four Seasons Collection and select the Montego Charcoal rug color and outdoor black binding.

Step 6: Design With the Sun in Mind

The sun can be your best friend (hello, vitamin D) or your worst enemy (who doesn’t hate sunburns?). As you design your patio area, you should constantly be thinking about the sun and how it can bake your patio’s occupants. You’ll want to enjoy your patio all day long, even on the sunniest days, so it’s best to put up some design elements that can block out some of that sunlight. 

Through creative use of a trellis, pergola, umbrella, or trees, you can make it so that your patio is protected from the sun all summer long. Also, if you want to protect your feet from getting scorched on the hot patio stone, our new 16” indoor, outdoor polypropylene rug is perfect for big patios as it can keep your feet safe on a large outdoor area.

Shop our new Islands Outdoor Polypropylene Rugs to use the above look for your next patio project.

Step 7: Turn On the Lights

When the sun goes down, the party doesn’t stop. Use environmentally-friendly LED lights throughout your patio to make it an inviting place to relax even after the sun sets. Or, you can put up tiki torches, lanterns, or other fun lighting options that give your patio a more eclectic or exotic feel.

Take Your Design Outside

A great patio area is one of the best assets to have for any home. As an ideal area for entertaining, playing outside, or relaxing in the sun, designing a new patio is a good investment to make for your home and your happiness. When starting to design your patio area, just keep the above seven steps in mind to guide your decision making. 

How else can you elevate your patio design? Here are six things you should add to transform your patio into a relaxing retreat.

Scratching is an important practice that helps cats maintain the health of their nails, stretch their muscles, mark their territory, and let out their emotions, according to the Animal Humane Society. However, that doesn’t mean you want them using you or your furniture as a go-to scratching post. 

If you want to give your cat something durable to scratch, there are plenty of cat scratching accessories to choose from. But some options out there are factory-made and may contain toxins that are potentially harmful. If you want a safe and healthy cat scratching accessory for your cat, here are our top cat scratching accessories made from 100% toxin-free, natural fibers. 

Love the rug and cat accessories featured in the image above? The posts and rug are both made of our Sand Boucle Sisal.

1. Sisal Cat Scratching Post

If you have limited space in your home to designate as a cat-scratch-friendly place, a sisal cat scratching post is the perfect option. It’s one of our most popular cat scratching accessories that your cat will love to play with. 

Made of 100% natural sisal fibers, the post’s material is completely sustainable and safe for your feline friend. Plus, if your cat likes to get rough while scratching, sisal is a very durable fiber, minimizing the chance that they’ll ruin their fancy new post. 

Want to give your cat a new place to law down? Try a sisal cat scratching post with a perch.

2. Sisal Remnants

Typically, cat scratching posts are tall and narrow. But what if you want to create a more advanced or unique scratching area for your cat? This is where sisal remnants can be a big help. As pieces of 100% natural sisal fibers, these remnants are perfect for creating your own scratching posts, ramps, beams, or replacing worn out sisal. 

For example, we’ve seen people wrap large wooden beams with their sisal remnants to create fun ramps and posts for their cats to use and reach new heights. In addition, you can adhere your sisal remnants onto unused shelves that your cat likes to use as a perch so they can entertain themselves while lying around.

3. Sisal Cat Scratch Board

Posts, ramps, and perches are great scratching areas for around your home. But what if you want a cat scratching accessory that you can freely move and take with you while traveling? Sisal cat scratching boards are portable, allowing you to take them with you wherever you go. Plus, they can help keep your cat from pulling at your carpet or area rugs if you place them on top of or near your floor coverings. 

If it’s a struggle to keep your cat occupied with a scratching board, they can also come with fun toy attachments like a mouse. That way your cat can playfully swat at mice while scratching to keep their bodies healthy.

4. Door Knob Scratching Pad

Does your cat love your doors? Does your cat love them a little too much? If your doors have endured plenty of scratches over the years, a door knob hanging scratching pad is ideal for prevent scratches on your doors. They’re painless to install, too—just hang them on the door knobs that seem to get the most attention from your cat. Or, if you don’t want to buy several pads, just carry one pad room to room depending on where your cat is lounging that day.

5. Sisal Area Rug

Last on our list of cat scratching accessories is one that might not come to mind for cat lovers. Posts, remnants, boards, and pads will all help prevent your cat from scratching your furniture and carpet, but a sisal area rug is another wonderful option. Considering that a sisal area rug can cover a larger surface area in your home, this gives your cat plenty of room to go wild and scratch away. Sisal rugs won’t give into your cat’s claws either as their tight weaves guard them against damage, making them a very durable area rug. Sisal is also a very pet-friendly area rug option, making it a fantastic choice for your cats.

The Cat’s Meow

All of the cat scratching accessories listed above are some of the best options for protecting your home from scratches, nicks, and other cat-related damage. However, they will also put your mind at ease that your cat is playing with a toxin-free, natural fiber toy that won’t put their health at risk.

Having a tough time deciding which cat scratching accessory to buy? Let us walk you through how to choose the best sisal scratching post for your space.

Considering how much time we spend in our kitchens, it’s important to choose a rug that protects your home’s floors, adds beautiful style, and provides comfort while cooking, cleaning, or baking. But many homeowners struggle to find the right rug for their kitchens due to size restrictions, increased foot traffic, and the potential for spills. 

If you’re one of those homeowners grasping at straws to find the right kitchen rug, we can help. Below, we share the five best kitchen area rugs, including both natural fiber and synthetic options.

1. Durable Polypropylene Rugs

Kitchens can get messy. Stray flour, olive oil splatters, spilled red wine, there are countless messes that can occur in a kitchen. And that means there are countless messes that can get on your floors and floor coverings. 

A polypropylene, sisal look-alike area rug is perfect for kitchens where you want to make sure your floors are well-guarded against potential stains. Due to their durability, polypropylene rugs are especially great options for in front of the kitchen sink as they can get completely wet without causing damage to the rug’s integrity. Plus, if a spill does happen on a polypropylene rug, you can just wash away the mess with a wet towel. 

Want the look pictured above in your own kitchen? Shop our All Weather Polypropylene Rugs and select the Fuji Mahogany rug color with a Chocolate Narrow Cotton binding.

2. Seagrass Area Rugs

Remember those spills we mentioned? Well, some of them can leave stains on floors and area rugs if you’re not careful. And if you don’t want a discoloration drawing attention from your houseguests, you’ll want to lay down an area rug that can withstand spills and have minimal chance of staining. 

Seagrass area rugs are a natural fiber kitchen rug that is naturally stain resistant. As a fiber that grows and is harvested underwater, seagrass is highly stain and water resistant. With a seagrass rug in your kitchen, there is minimal chance that a spill will turn into a permanent stain. In addition, seagrass is a unique, exotic texture, giving your kitchen a beautiful and stylish look.

3. Thin Pile Sisal

Seagrass and polypropylene aren’t the only kitchen area rug options that are professionals at handling dirt, messes, spills, and stains. A sisal area rug with a thin pile is also a great option for any kitchen. 

A thin pile sisal area rug is extremely easy to clean as it effectively traps dirt and other messes in its weaves. To get rid of crumbs and other stray food, all you need to do is shake out the rug to remove the mess. In addition, a thin pile sisal rug also won’t catch on chairs, tools, table legs, or other kitchen furniture as its fibers are tightly woven, allowing your rug to last longer. 

What kinds of sisal area rugs have thin piles? Check out our Boucle Sisal (pictured below), Brasilia Sisal, or Milano Sisal area rugs.

4. Custom Shaped Area Rugs

Because your kitchen may have an island, peninsula, or breakfast bar, there are some odd shapes that your floor can take. To find an area rug that can fit that space can be hard as you’re not looking for a standard, rectangular rug. What you need is something custom. 

Thankfully, you can create a custom shaped area rug made to fit your kitchen’s exact dimensions. It doesn’t matter if you’re designing around a floor register, kitchen island, or kitchen table, you can build a kitchen area rug that fits your exact needs.

5. Rug Runners

Considering the many shapes and sizes that kitchens can take, rug runners are also great options for the kitchen—especially if you have a galley kitchen or narrow walkways in between countertops. When picking the material for your kitchen’s rug runner, just make sure to use take the above fibers into consideration and go with a thin pile sisal, seagrass, or polypropylene option as those are the most durable and easy to clean.

Where else is a great place for a rug runner? View our six top places to put a rug runner in your home.

Fire Up Your Kitchen’s Style

Kitchen area rugs can be hard to decide on as they’re bound to take a beating. But between polypropylene, seagrass, and thin pile sisal, you can’t go wrong as they are all durable, easy to clean, comfortable, and beautifully exotic. Plus, you can get them in custom shapes and sizes, or get them made into a runner so they can perfectly fit your home’s kitchen. 

With your kitchen designed, how is your dining room looking? Spruce up the rest of your entertaining space with our dining room style guide.

If that didn’t sound ambitious enough, Sarah has been participating in the One Room Challenge since 2017. The challenge requires Sarah and her handy husband, Emmett, to renovate one room in their home in just six weeks. Having already completed 2017’s One Room Challenge by renovating their bathroom, Sarah set her sights on their laundry room for 2018. 

With a laundry room space that was terribly outdated, heavily used, and lacking function, Sarah knew she wanted to tackle updating her laundry room next. So, that’s exactly what she did, and she did it all in just six weeks.

Gearing Up for an Overhaul

After purchasing their Salt Lake City home, both Sarah and Emmett new the entire home would need an overhaul. Before choosing to renovate the laundry room, Emmett and Sarah had already begun renovating their kitchen. But with so much traffic coming in and out of their laundry room to get to their kitchen, it made sense to use the One Room Challenge as an opportunity to renovate the laundry room. 

Using the current floors, cabinet, and single shelf, many updates needed to be made to bring the room into this decade. But with only six weeks to repair the laundry room’s subfloor and update the rest of the space with a more modern and eclectic style, Sarah and Emmett had quite the challenge ahead of them. 

Creating a Chic, Functional Laundry Room

Before the renovation, Sarah and Emmett’s laundry room was terribly outdated with not a whole lot of cabinet space and a lot of neutral colors. 

To revamp the room, Sarah wanted to use the same patterned tile for the floor that she used in their kitchen renovation. Not only would this make a seamless transition from the laundry room into the kitchen, but it would also give the laundry room a much needed pop of color and pattern. Sarah also went with a black soapstone countertop to complement the black exterior doors and add a luxurious element to the space.  

Besides giving the room a new look, Sarah also wanted to add function. Through new cabinetry, Sarah was able to create a unique space for their two dogs, Cash and Finn, to kennel up, allowing the laundry room to double as the pet room. And because their dogs would be frequent occupants of the laundry room, Sarah went looking for an area rug as well. By choosing an outdoor sisal rug, Sarah and Emmett could rest easy knowing that mud wouldn’t be tracked into the kitchen and that it is easy to wash should they spill detergent onto the area rug. 

“When sampling the rug, we even had our dogs touch the sample to see how durable it was going to be. We did little in-house paw tests! It held up so well, I knew we had the right rug,” Sarah remembers. 

Sarah was also excited about the rug as it helped give the room a break from all of the patterned tile. 

“There is so much tile in the laundry room and kitchen. As beautiful as it is, we have over 300 square feet of this same patterned tile. I really wanted a solid texture to break it up, and the laundry room was the best place for it based on function,” she says. 

Thankfully, her new sisal look-alike polypropylene rug is the perfect breath of fresh air for the room while still adding to the room’s functionality.

(Pictured is Fuji Silver Outdoor sisal rug with Putty Extra Wide Canvas Binding)

Making Design Easy With Custom Fixtures

As you can see in the images from Sarah’s now stunning laundry room, the interior design was anything but cookie-cutter. To achieve her vision, Sarah needed custom elements to truly transform the space into the functional yet modern room she wanted. 

“You can’t tell from the pictures, but the ceiling is actually slanted. This meant that the mill work and crown molding were really tricky to install. Thankfully, Emmett was able to make it work despite the challenging angles. The end result really brought my vision to life!” Sarah recalls. 

Aside from custom cabinets that perfectly fit the odd ceiling and allowed Sarah to crate her two adorable dogs, Sarah also needed the perfect area rug to cover up the tile as well as the crawlspace hatch that occupied the laundry room. However, with a floor vent near the edge of the room, Sarah couldn’t go with any standard area rug. 

“A custom sized rug really saved us because the room has a floor vent that we couldn’t cover. With a custom rug, we could neatly tuck the rug under the washer, leave the vent uncovered, and still have equal spacing around the perimeter,” Sarah says of the laundry room’s custom rug.

As you can see in the picture above, Sarah’s custom rug is well-loved by her two dogs, covers up the awkward crawlspace, and leaves their floor vent unobstructed, making it the perfect laundry room rug. 

Want to get Sarah’s exact rug?  Shop our Fuji Silver All-Weather area rugs.

Add Function, Texture, and Style to Any Room

If you’re looking to add an area rug to one of your home’s many rooms, don’t settle for a standard rug size. Make sure you have the perfect rug that matches your room and check out our custom rugs today.

Sarah is constantly renovating, whether it’s for her own home or for her clients. See updates from all of Sarah’s projects on her blog Room for Tuesday — you just might find the perfect inspiration for your own home renovation.

It’s for these reasons that selecting the right area rug for your pet-friendly home is all the more important. But when shopping for your furry best friend(s), it’s normal to wonder about safety. This causes many homeowners to ask: Are polypropylene rugs safe for pets? The answer is absolutely. 

Learn more about why polypropylene is a safe, durable option for your pet-loving home down below.

A Safe, Reliable Playspace

Any pet owner knows that taking your pets into the veterinarian can sometimes come with a huge price tag and a lot of anxiety. It’s important as their main caregivers, that you make sure your home is a safe, healthy space for your animals to live in. Otherwise, you could be jeopardizing their well-being and putting them in harm's way. 

Made of strong and safe synthetic fibers, polypropylene rugs are completely non toxic, making them perfectly safe for your pets both indoors and outdoors. You can feel confident that your dog, cat, bunny, or other animal can play safely and freely on your area rug without sacrificing their health. This holds true whether your pet is lounging on the rug or tries to eat off of its surface. Either way, polypropylene rugs are safe for your pets and are not harmful, making them a great pet-friendly area rug.

Can Withstand Plenty of Pawprints

Shedding. Drooling. Tracking in mud. There are a lot of reasons why pets can create quite the mess. One thing you don’t want, though, is to have to worry about the mess instead of spending quality time playing with your fuzzy companion. 

Luckily, polypropylene rugs can stand up to your pet’s messy paws without any problems. This makes them a great choice for any areas of your home that might take a heavy beating like stairs, hallways, or the living room. And because they can safely absorb water, polypropylene is also a great choice for outdoor areas as well. 

This also means that these area rugs are extremely easy to clean in the event that muddy paws make their way onto your rug. Simply press firmly with a paper towel and continue to blot. Or, for a pesky spill that won’t go away, feel free to wash the rug completely with a hose and allow it to dry. 

Read: How to Clean a Polypropylene Rug

A Thin Pile for Fewer Snags

Does your dog or cat like to paw at you? If so, you’re already aware that your animal’s claws, paws, or nails can do some damage. Whether that’s breaking your skin, hooking in your clothes, or tearing your area rugs, animals love to scratch. If you have a polypropylene rug, however, those tears in your rug become few and far between. 

Made of tightly woven polypropylene fibers, these area rug have a thin pile. This tight weaving makes it so that your pets’ paws, nails, claws, or teeth won’t get caught in the fibers. Not only does this reduce the snags that appear on your rug, but it also prevents your pet from injuring itself trying to get free from the fibers.

A Safe Rug for a Safe Home

With non toxic fibers, stain resistance, and a thin pile, polypropylene rugs are not only a safe option, but one of the best options for a pet-friendly area rug. With polypropylene protecting your floors both indoors and outdoors, you won’t have to keep a constant watch on your pets to make sure they don’t ruin your floors. 

To find the perfect pet-friendly area rug for your furry friends, view our selection of polypropylene rugs.

Preserving this 1800s ranch house and estate was no easy task, and even involved removing the home’s roof. Because this restoration was so extensive, Pamela also worked on restoring the home’s front porch—an area that has seen a lot of use over the years. 

The end result of the restoration was an incredible transformation. To see how Pamela recreated the original furnishings of the home’s front porch to extreme accuracy, check out the amazing before and after pictures down below!

Rancho Los Alamitos Restoration: Before and After

Rugs featured above: Oval rugs are Costa Rica Outdoor Sisal Rugs with serged edge to match. Rectangular rugs are Belize Dune Outdoor Sisal Rugs with serged edge to match.

Photos by Albert E. Cawood

On the front porch, you may notice some familiar items: outdoor sisal rugs. The home’s 1931 appraisal determined that the family’s porch featured two oval and four rectangular sisal rugs. To get the correct size and shape sisal rugs, Pamela came to us to create six custom sisal rugs. 

We were happy to design and deliver those rugs to help protect the porch floors from visitors for many years to come. And the end result is nothing short of stunning! 

Congratulations, Pamela, for creating a beautiful and historically accurate space! We were thrilled to have helped in any way possible and look forward to doing so again in the future. 

To see more updates from Rancho Los Alamitos, don’t forget to follow them on Twitter or Instagram, or like them on Facebook.

Transform Your Own Home

Creating the exact look on the front porch required custom solutions for Pamela Young Lee. Your own home’s interior design may require the same level of personalization. But custom doesn’t have to mean expensive. Our own custom area rugs can be built to your exact specifications, no matter the shape or the size, for an affordable price.

To reduce the amount of waste we produce and help protect the environment, sustainability has become a major interior design trend. But more than the ecological benefits, sustainability can also offer big cost savings in reusing materials and reducing energy consumption.

If you’re looking to incorporate more sustainability into your interior design this year, here are 2018’s hottest interior design trends that also happen to be eco-friendly.

1. Recycled Glassware

Glassware isn’t usually associated with interior design. But considering that your glassware decorates your table, countertops, or end tables, it’s a piece of your design you should think about.

In using recycled glassware like vintage mason jars, sea glass tumblers, or champagne glasses made from recycled plastic, your glassware will be supplied from eco-friendly sources. However, if you want to buy new glassware for your home, recycled glass bottles and jars can still make for fun decorating items. These recycled pieces reduce the amount of waste that occupies our landfills, helping to improve the environment.

2. Woven, Natural Textures

Texture is a big piece of any interior design. The more you can use natural decorations like woven straw baskets, wool blankets, or bamboo decorations, the more sustainable resources you have in your design. For example, wicker placemats, art, and woven shades can make for great natural textures in your home. And in the case of natural woven shades, they can also help retain your home’s climate or temperature, reducing your energy consumption.

3. Natural Fiber Area Rugs

Anytime the word “natural” is in the product name, you can feel confident in the fact that it is made from renewable and sustainable sources. This is certainly true for natural fiber area rugs. Made from natural grasses or fibers like sisal, wool, jute, hemp, and others, natural fiber rugs are 100% sustainable. In addition, the insulation they provide your floors can reduce your energy bills by helping keep your home retain its temperature.

4. Repurposed Furniture and Decor

Today’s landfills are overflowing with trash, furniture, and other waste. As you move from home to home, it’s easy to just throw out the old and purchase the new. However, the amount of waste that’s produced as a result can quickly pile up. Avoid the temptation and instead repurpose your furniture and decor.

If you feel as though your current furniture doesn’t fit your aesthetic or design, reupholster your furniture to fit your new home. Still feel like it’s not working? Donate your old furniture to charity and pick up some new pieces from a refurbished or used furniture store. You can discover some amazing vintage furniture in those stores that can become an easy statement piece.

5. Natural Paints

Manufactured paint can be heavily processed, generating plenty of energy and releasing strong fumes. While this allows the paint to settle evenly, strengthen, and give off a bright hue, there are natural options that are a great alternative. Natural or organic paint, as the name implies, is a more environmentally friendly option than manufactured paint as it gives off zero emissions. This can also help reduce the number of allergens in the air, a helpful quality for asthma and allergy sufferers.

6. Recycled Tile

In the spirit of re-use and reducing waste, your home’s flooring can also come from recycled sources. While reclaimed wood floors are the more popular option, recycled tile is a great flooring choice for your bathrooms, kitchen, and other areas of your home that require a surface that’s a little more durable than hardwood. Recycled tile is an eco-friendly flooring choice that looks great in your home and allows you to feel confident in your carbon footprint (or lack thereof). 

Sustain Your Home with More Design Trends

When incorporating sustainability into your next interior design project, pay special attention to the waste you’re saving in the process by focusing on renewable resources or recycled materials. Looking for more great design ideas? Check out these 2018 interior design trends.

For example, spring cleaning is a good way to ensure you’re regularly removing irritants from your home’s environment. And appliances like air filters are another great way to reduce the amount of allergens you may come into contact with. But did you know that your area rugs can be natural air filters as well? It’s true!

So, what are the best rugs for allergy sufferers? Check out our hypoallergenic rug recommendations down below, all of which can improve your home’s air quality and trap allergens.

1. Polypropylene Rugs

The most reliable rug option for allergy sufferers are synthetic, polypropylene rugs. The polypropylene fibers are made to repel allergens and inhibit mold growth, meaning that they won’t house or release allergens into the air. This is what makes polypropylene rugs such a great option for the outdoors, but also for a home where allergies need to be taken into consideration.

Another benefit to polypropylene rugs is that they’re low pile rugs, meaning they are tightly woven or looped rather than shaggy. Shaggy rugs tend to shed their loose fibers, serving as another potential irritant to sensitive noses.  

2. Wool Area Rugs

Wool area rugs serve as a natural filter, trapping allergens and removing them from the air you’re breathing. As a naturally non-allergenic fiber, wool also prevents the growth of bacteria and dust mites. In fact, studies have shown that wool area rugs or carpets perform the best when it comes to resisting dust mite infestation. Beyond preventing dust and other common allergies, wool also wicks away moisture, helping to prevent against mold build-up.

3. Sisal Area Rugs

Sisal area rugs are also low pile, making them thinner than other area rugs and a smart option for a hypoallergenic rug. Sisal fibers are also intricately woven, reducing the possibility for shedding. And because sisal rugs should never be cleaned with moisture, mold and mildew will avoid your sisal rug if you are caring for it properly and keep it dry.

4. Jute Area Rugs

As a natural repellant of dust mites, jute area rugs are ideal in homes where dust allergies are common. As a natural fiber area rug, jute rugs are also thin with tight and strong fibers, preventing the release of rug fibers into the air and improving your home’s overall air quality.

5. Grass Area Rugs

Like jute and sisal rugs, natural grass area rugs are also less likely to shed, reducing the number of irritants in the air. This includes natural grasses like seagrass and hemp. For allergy sufferers, this means that your home’s environment won't be floating with as many irritants in the air.

While grass area rugs are ideal for their non-shedding properties, they do tend to have larger weaves, meaning they don’t filter the air as well as a polypropylene, wool, sisal, or jute rug. However, they’re still an excellent option that can improve your air quality.

Allergy-Proof Your Home

The type of rugs you have in your home can make a huge difference when it comes to your indoor air quality, positively impacting allergy and asthma sufferers alike. In addition to getting the best rugs for allergy sufferers in your home, it’s also a good idea to make sure you regularly clean your area rugs to remove allergens from your home. Not sure how to clean them? Check out our rug care and cleaning guide.

But before you purchase a wool area rug for your home, there are some things you need to know. Because wool fibers have unique characteristics that set them apart from other natural fiber options, they can be quite different from other natural rugs using fibers like sisal, jute, or seagrass.

To help you decide if a wool area rug is the best option for your next design project or home renovation, here are the five things you need to know about wool area rugs.

1. Wool Area Rugs Are Resilient

With a reputation of being soft, wool is also incredibly durable. This is mostly in thanks to the wax that naturally rests on the surface of wool fibers called lanolin. This wax helps protect your wool rugs from stains and soils, something that any homeowner will be happy with. As a natural sealant, lanolin traps dirt and stains at the surface of the rug, saving your wool fibers from any harmful damage or permanent discoloration. Plus, this makes wool rugs easier to clean!

Part of durability is a rug’s ability to not show wear and tear. Luckily, wool rugs can last for years and years, not showing any signs of extended use or heavy foot traffic. Pairing this with a high level of stain resistance makes wool area rugs a great choice for hallways, family rooms, and other high-traffic areas in your home that might need a little extra protection from spills, footfalls, or pets.

2. Wool Rugs Are Flame Resistant

One feature of wool rugs that might surprise you is that they are flame resistant. As a natural flame retardant, wools rugs are great for children’s’ rooms to give you some added peace of mind. And if you have a fireplace, a custom shaped area rug with a fireplace cutout is a great option to have near the fire.

3. Wool Area Rugs Are Sustainable

Made with 100% wool fibers, wool area rugs are sustainable and environmentally friendly products. Produced by sheep, wool is completely renewable and helps protect them from the cold winter. In the summer, wool coats are removed from sheep to prevent overheating and painful tangles. Because wool is a natural fiber, this also means that your wool rug is recyclable after it’s served its purpose in your home.

4. Wool Is a Natural Humidifier

Wool is an absorbent fiber once you get beneath that lanolin layer of wax. Because of this, your home can benefit from this absorption as it can serve as a natural humidifier. When your home’s air is full of humidity and moisture, your wool rug will absorb some of that moisture in the air. And when your home turns arid or dry, that moisture will be released from the rug. All in all, this helps regulate your home’s environment, making it more comfortable all year long.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that you might want to consider a different kind of area rug for your bathroom. With the steam produced from showers, your wool rug may become too damp.

5. Wool Rugs Are Colorful

We mentioned it earlier, but wool area rugs can come in a beautiful array of colors and patterns. Where other natural fiber area rugs mainly come in sophisticated and elegant neutrals, wool rugs can bring more vivid color to your floor coverings.

How well does that color stand up? Very.

The process for dying wool rugs ensures that the colors are fade resistant, helping your rug stay vibrant for longer. However, just like anything that is dyed, wool may fade if it is placed in direct sunlight on a routine basis. But even with exposure to direct sunlight, these should be very minimal, if not unnoticeable, fading.

Pull Back the Wool Over Your Eyes

Wool area rugs are a great choice for your home thanks to their durability, colors, sustainability, and more. If you’re interested in purchasing a wool rug for your home, check out our selection of wool rugs. Need a custom shaped or sized rug? We have you covered with that, too. Use this form to start designing your custom rug.

However, many homeowners mistake “custom” as synonymous for “expensive” and shy away from purchasing those custom solutions and items for their home. Contrary to their beliefs, not everything that’s custom made takes a crazy investment. In fact, there are a lot of custom decor options out there that won’t add several zeros onto your interior design project budget.

To help you find those custom home decor items that can help you personalize your space without costing an arm and a leg, check out our favorite custom pieces down below.

1. Area Rugs

One of the big appeals to custom decor is that they can be made to fit your exact dimensions. Not every home is created equal, so sometimes the standard factory-made products are either too big, too small, or just don’t fit. This happens frequently with area rugs as many manufacturers only produce rectangular rugs that come in standard sizes like 6x9, 10x14, and others.

While we may be a little biased, creating custom area rugs is a great option not only because they can be made to the exact size you want, but also the exact shape. If you have an angled wall or a fireplace, finding the right rug becomes easy as the area rug can have clipped corners or cutouts to ensure that your rug is the perfect fit.

2. Hardware

When it comes to your kitchen and bathroom decor, space becomes all the more valuable. Because kitchens and bathrooms have a lot of accessories that need a place to live, homeowners typically struggle to store them in an organized way. Too often, countertops and cabinets become cluttered with appliances.

Luckily, custom cabinet hardware can help you maximize your space with special drawers, hinges, and cabinets that provide organized storage for your kitchen or bathroom. And with cabinets that can hold plenty of contents, your counters will also be less cluttered with gadgets and tools. Plus, you can also find custom glass or metal knobs or handles that add pops of color or personality.

3. Feature Walls

Interior design is a way of expressing your personality and style. It’s a reflection of you and your family. This is part of why we decorate our homes with family portraits, favorite artwork, and different mementos. It gives your guests a taste of your personality and experiences.

To show off your personality, feature walls are a great way to create an eye-catching personal statement but also help fill in empty walls. Feature walls can come in the form of photos, plants, or collections. And because your walls could need a host of frames or items to fill up the space, creating a custom feature wall ensures that the void is filled.

4. Window Treatments

There are countless types of windows that have a wide range of sizes. From bay windows to picture windows, there could be several types of windows that were used to construct your home. And because they can be installed as a single window or several, this can create a large grouping of windows that become hard to cover.

Due to the range of sizes you might need for your window treatments, and the type of treatment you might want, custom is the way to go for blinds, shades, drapes, shutters, and other window treatments. By going with a custom solution, you can guarantee that your treatments are the right color and size, bringing the room together and protecting your home from the sun’s rays.

5. Light Fixtures

Light fixtures aren’t typically thought of as a statement piece of design. However, as the center of light in a room, they get plenty of attention. And while you can find plenty of awesome light fixtures at a lighting store, a custom option ensures that you don’t have to settle for something that’s close to what you want.

Creating a custom light fixture is the best way to get a light fixture that is completely unique and is exactly what you’re looking for. With a custom option, you can get the perfect ceiling plate, cord, bulb, lamps, sockets, and more for your light fixtures, helping to create a fixture that complements the rest of the room’s design.

Complete Your Interior Design Vision

Custom home decor is important for completing your interior design vision and adding personality to your home. From custom area rugs to window treatments, there are plenty of opportunities to get custom decor that is the perfect fit for your home.

Thinking about getting a custom rug? Here are five things you need to consider beforehand.

One of those recommendations involved stabilizing the ranch house for seismic activity. But because stabilizing the home meant drilling into the main floor walls, Pam took this as an opportunity to do additional work on the house. 

However, unlike most restoration projects, Rancho Los Alamitos has to maintain its historical accuracy. This created a bit of a challenge for Pam when trying to find historically accurate floor coverings that were the right size and shape, but could also take a beating from visitors. Luckily, this led Pam right to our door. 

Below we detail Pam’s restoration project, as well as how our custom sisal rugs helped save the day.

Completing the Master Plan

The master plan for Rancho Los Alamitos involved a whopping 167 recommendations for the entire 7.5-acre historic site . However, easily one of the most laborious recommendations was the seismic stabilization. 

While it’s one of the last steps of the master plan (there’s only one recommendation left to be completed), it also required a lot of additional work. 

“We had to take the roof off to have enough height to drill into the adobe walls on the ground floor from above,” Pam explains. “Considering the roof was already removed, we decided to re-roof, upgrade our electrical, fire detection, dehumidification, paint the exterior, and countless other improvements.” 

However, all this additional work caused the ground floor to also take a beating as artifacts, art work, and original furnishings were constantly moved throughout the home to create enough working room. 

One of the areas that took a beating was the front porch, causing Pam to add restoring the front porch to her ever-growing list of work.

Finding an Exact Match

The front porch at Rancho Los Alamitos is a large space that was central to the original family’s daily lives. 

“Because the front porch faces east, it was a cool place for the family to hang out in the evenings. They also did a lot of entertaining on the front lawn, making the porch a natural gathering place while they were hosting guests,” Pam describes. 

This also meant that they front porch had a lot of original furniture and rugs to decorate the space, provide some comfort, and protect the hardwood. With the job of recreating the front porch space to its original likeness, this meant that Pam had to find new, accurate rugs that would serve the same function. 

“The home was appraised in 1931, and we used those findings to determine the correct furnishings we needed to purchase. In reviewing the appraisal, we found that they had two oval rugs and four rectangular rugs on the porch,” she says. 

However, even though she knew what to look for, Pam had a hard time finding those six rugs. 

“We looked for a long time for someone who made oval sisal rugs. We constantly found rectangular rugs in standard sizes and had trouble finding someone who would make a truly custom rug for us,” she claims. 

After a considerable amount of time was spent researching, Pam came across our site and discovered that we could create a sisal rug to her exact specifications. 

“It was so wonderful that we could get the sizes and shapes we wanted and didn’t have to settle for a proximation,” Pam adds. “It was also important that these rugs are durable and help us preserve the original hardwood floors. The outdoor sisal rugs were exactly what we were looking for.” 

Plus, because Pam took advantage of our free rug samples, she was able to make sure she found the perfect rug before they were purchased, not after.

Struggling to Find Your Ideal Rug?

As Pam’s story goes to show, searching for the perfect rug can take up a lot of valuable time. Make sure that you’re finding the best rugs for your home by using our Try Before You Buy program. We’ll send you six free rug samples based on your unique style profile to ensure that any rug you purchase matches your design style, room function, and more.

This is where custom area rugs can bring a lot of value. Made in all kinds of shapes and sizes, custom rugs are designed to your exact specifications every time, no exceptions. And before you think that custom rugs are only for millionaires in mansions, they could actually save you the cost of needing to purchase several floor coverings for one area of your home.

Still unsure if a custom rug is the right choice for you? Here are four reasons you should design a custom rug instead of going with the mass-produced.

1. You Have Angled or Curved Walls

Rooms don’t always make a square or a rectangle. Through angled or even curved walls, there are a lot of shapes that your room can take from trapezoids to ovals. If your space has an angled or curved wall, you’re going to want to create your own custom shaped rug.

For angled walls, create a custom rug with one of the corners clipped. Before ordering, measure the room a few times to make sure you have the correct dimensions, so the manufacturer can cut the corner with precision. Without a corner cut rug, you’ll have to settle for an area rug that is too small for the space and leaves the angled part of the room uncovered, creating an awkward void of empty space.

For a curved wall, take the same approach but with a curved edge. Common curved area rugs are semi-circles, ovals, and rounds, but if you need a unique shape, try drawing a diagram for your manufacturer. This ensures that the rug is cut to match the exact shape you need.

2. The Room Is Either Very Large or Very Small

A small rug in a large room looks almost as awkward as a large rug in a small room. The bottom line is that in both scenarios, a standard rug creates an awkward space that is difficult to design around. Either the room drowns in floor coverings or feels oddly empty. Fortunately, a custom rug is guaranteed to fill the space without becoming overwhelming. Once you decide how much floor you want to leave uncovered, you can design a custom rug that is the perfect fit for your large or small room.

3. Your Fireplace Juts Out

Fireplaces typically have hearths that expand out from the walls a couple feet. While this creates a warm and inviting space, it also makes it hard to find the right area rug. With a hearth to work around, a rectangle or square rug will have a difficult time hugging around the corners of the hearth, leaving plenty of empty space near your wall. This creates a gap that is strange to look at. By designing a custom rug to fit around the hearth, you can avoid creating those empty spaces and fill out the room.

4. Wall-To-Wall Is a Necessity

For lofted areas, stair runners, or great rooms that you need to fill, a custom rug is the only way you’re going to cover the floor from wall-to-wall. This is especially important if you want to protect your hardwood floors from heavily trafficked areas of your home like the family room or hallways. This recently came in handy for interior designer Alex Kalita of Common Bond Design. To design her rental apartment, she needed to cover over 80% of her hardwood floors to comply with her lease agreement. Without a custom rug, Alex would have needed to purchase several area rugs and spread them throughout her home, adding to her design costs.

Create Your Own Area Rug

If you’re in the market for a new area rug and can’t find the right shape or size to get, a custom area rug is your best bet. From angled walls to fireplaces, a custom rug can fit perfectly in any room with odd shapes or furnishings. Design the perfect rug in your home by visiting our create a custom rug page.

Not sure what you’re looking for? Let our stylists help you. Fill out our style profile and we will hand-pick six free rug samples for you to try out in your home.

For interior design inspiration, trends, tips, and products that you can feel confident in, there are talented interior designers on Pinterest that constantly share their best ideas. Recently, we posted the first half of this list highlighting 16 of those interior designers you should follow on Pinterest. But for even more great design ideas, here are the remaining 16 inspiring interior designers you need to follow for a continuous supply of creative ideas for your home and lifestyle.

1. Stagetecture

From interior design trends to DIY crafts, the Stagetecture Pinterest page is full of great ideas to spruce up your space. While there is plenty of interior design inspiration on their boards, there’s also real estate, recipes, tutorials, and plenty of other pins to explore. It’s part of why we love following them — there’s always something unexpected.

2. Tharon Anderson

3. Brett Helsham

Interior design is a very visual expression of your personality. Brett Helsham’s Pinterest uses visual inspirations from fashion, technology, landscapes and more to create bright, colorful boards that are full of character. In addition, Brett has plenty of boards from her own design projects including both commercial and residential renovations.

4. Lorri Dyner

5. Dorm Decor

As the name would imply, Dorm Decor is an interior design firm focused on campus living. Dorm Decor is one of our favorite Pinterests because they offer creative and innovative interior design ideas that maximize floor and wall space better than anyone. This is helpful to both students and adults alike who might be tight on space and need to take full advantage of the floor space that is available to them.

6. Megan Papworth

Even though she’s only one-half of a mother-daughter interior design business, Megan Papworth’s Pinterest has enough pins for the both of them. There are dozens of boards Megan has put together based on room function, furnishings, and fixtures, but our favorite board “Home Design & Decor Inspiration” is easily her most pinned. It’s the perfect board to browse if you don’t know what inspiration you’re looking for.

7. Christi Barbour

As an expression of yourself and your personal style, interior design inspiration doesn’t only come from other homes. Christi Barbour celebrates that fact through her pins and boards. Drawing inspiration from travel, photography, fonts, quotes, and more, Christi’s Pinterest is a smorgasbord of fun and thoughtful visuals.

8. Sheila Irwin

9. Liz Marie Galvin

Because interior design is an expression of yourself, it’s helpful to see what others use to express their personalities. Filled with fashion, makeup, recipes, DIY crafts, and — of course — interior design, Liz Marie Galvin’s Pinterest is the perfect representation of her own style and personality. For example, her “Wish List” board is filled with the products, accessories, and furnishings she wants for her own collections.

10. Harding & Company Design

11. Mark D. Sikes

With over 67,000 followers, Mark D. Sikes has a Pinterest page that captures attention and delivers plenty of great ideas. But while you can find boards of interiors, Mark also shares pins of inspiring people, places, and things. With multiple sources of inspiration, his Pinterest provides hundreds of beautiful ideas you could bring into your home and your lifestyle.

12. Jessica McIntyre

13. Kim Armstrong

If you’re looking for ideas for a colorful, bright space in your home, look no further than Kim Armstrong’s Pinterest. Reflective of her own interior design style, Kim’s pins and boards are full of colorfully curated spaces and renovations providing a vibrant array of great ideas. Browsing through, you’ll find a lot of purples, blues, and pinks decorating her pins and boards.

14. Cassandra LaValle

Cassandra LaValle, founder of coco kelley (a platform of curated ideas for interior design, parties, tabletops, travel, food, and fashion), has a Pinterest with an endless supply of beautiful, cool, and fresh pins. With interior design pins mixed in with fashion, travel, prints, and more there are several ways you can become inspired on Cassandra’s page.

15. Christine Markatos Lowe

Our favorite part of Christine’s Pinterest is that she has boards dedicated to different color palettes and color trends. From cerulean to vermillion, Christine has plenty of ways you can use those colors in your home, and you can find them all through her many pins and boards.

16. Timothy Corrigan

Missed Part 1 of This List?

Don’t forget to check out Part 1 of this list if you missed out. Follow us on Pinterest as well for creative ways to use natural fiber area rugs, interior design tips, and information on our latest sales.

If you’re struggling for interior design ideas or want to stay up to date on the latest interior design trends, Pinterest is the perfect place to go. And to get the best ideas from people who really know what they’re talking about, here are 32 interior designers you need to follow on Pinterest.

1. Alex Kalita

Alex Kalita of Common Bond Design, a mother-daughter interior design firm, has everything you might need to design your home from boards on bath accessories to art you can hang on your walls. In fact, Alex’s Pinterest page has 100 boards of inspiration for you to browse through.

2. Caroline Cardone

Top Rail Interiors, created by founder Caroline Cardone, focuses on marrying interior design and architecture into one, impressive home. With boards that are organized by room type, Caroline’s Pinterest is easy to navigate, making it quick to find the perfect design inspiration.

3. Denise Sabia

As an expert house flipper, DIYer, and designer, Denise Sabia of The Painted Home has an endless supply of Pins that you can sort through to find a million ideas. Plus, as the design coordinator for DIY Network’s Stone House Revival, you can see what inspires Denise’s design style.

4. Amber Lewis

Amber Lewis of Amber Interiors is a master of Pinterest with nearly 70,000 followers watching her every pin. Her boards are highly organized into different design styles, room types, colors, and more to make sure that whatever you’re looking for, there is something that will spark an idea.

5. Tobi Fairley

The self-described “mom, designer, business consultant, blogger, travel lover, Chanel girl, razorback fan and yogi who loves to cook!” has countless boards and pins filled with interior design inspiration, but also lifestyle inspiration. With her own design firm, Tobi Fairley & Associates, Tobi’s Pinterest has real updates from her projects, which are our favorite boards of hers to follow.

6. Ron Marvin

A residential interior design expert, Ron Marvin of Ron Marvin Design works hard to create tailored, classic homes. On his Pinterest, Ron focuses on adding the products and spaces that give him inspiration, so you can try and recreate his looks within your own home.

7. J. Banks Design

Focusing on high-end resort décor and interior design, J. Banks Design has pins that showcase their timeless, stylish, and livable interior design projects. Our favorite part about their Pinterest is that they have hundreds of pins highlighting their commercial, international, and other projects so you can see exactly how they create classic, high-end hospitality spaces.

8. Rebekah Zaveloff

Rebekah Zaveloff of KitchenLab Design, has dozens of boards filled with her favorite things, rooms, renovations, art, decorations, and more. Need ideas for kitchen or bathroom hardware? Rebekah has you covered with creative fixtures, handles, faucets, and more.

9. Martin Raffone

From the micro to the macro, Martin Raffone’s Pinterest has boards showcasing both broad, creative architecture and minute, high-quality details. In addition to sharing his personal inspirations on Pinterest, Martin also shared his own work from Martin Raffone Interior Design. Martin also has a Moroccan-inspired design collection, maisonLAB, that he also pins frequently and is a good source of exotic décor.

10. Brad Ford

Brad Ford’s Pinterest is filled with clean, sleek, impressive furnishings, spaces, and décor. If you want ideas that that are a little out-of-the-box, Brad’s inspiration boards are filled with innovative products and ideas that could make for an eye-catching design. One thing we love about Brad’s boards is that they are all true to his style of clean, contemporary design, making his page a go-to for modern ideas.

11. Caitlin Moran

Having created her own interior design firm, Caitlin Moran Interiors, using inspiration from her worldly experiences, Caitlin’s Pinterest is a diverse collection of colors, styles, décor, and more. But to help you sift through all of these diverse ideas, Caitlin organized her boards into room type, so you can quickly find ideas for your design projects.

12. Marie Flanigan

With nearly 2,000 pins of innovative interior design, beautiful furniture, and creative color palettes, there’s plenty to fall in love with on Marie Flanigan’s Pinterest. While there’s plenty of inspiration on Marie’s page, our favorite thing she did was organize her boards by action. For example, “Arrive,” “Dine,” “Live,” and “Dress,” are all boards that focus on designing front entryways, dining rooms, living rooms, and closets.

13. Stephanie Woodmansee

A colorful collection of decorations, furniture, bedding, and spaces, Stephanie Woodmansee’s Pinterest is a great person to follow for creative uses of color in interior design. She’s also one of the most active pinners on this list with nearly 9,000 pins to pull inspiration from. We love following her not only for the interior design ideas, but also for her pins on architecture, travel, textiles, art, and food. And with so many pins, Stephanie somehow manages to put them all into organized boards.

14. Kerrie Kelly

Kerrie Kelly of Kerry Kelly Design Lab (KKDL), uses her Pinterest page to share her portfolio and impressive design projects. It’s really fun to browse through each of her portfolio boards to see what she’s accomplished and how she tackles each design project. Beyond the portfolio boards, Kerrie also has “trendwatch” boards that highlight the many upcoming trends in the interior design and decorating world.

15. Cullman & Kravis

Cullman & Kravis, an interior design firm, has a Pinterest page that is filled with inspiration based on interior design styles. For example, they have boards on mountain resorts, New York style apartments, coastal living, outdoor spaces, and more.

16. Joanna Jones

Joanna Jones of J. Jones Design manages a Pinterest page that is complete with natural design elements, greenery, artful accessories, and beautiful décor. Our favorite board of Joanna’s though is her “Kitchen: Design + Storage” because it is filled with innovative ideas for kitchens that might lack sufficient cabinet or pantry space. After all, who doesn’t want more space in their kitchen?

Stay Tuned for Part 2

The interior designers above can offer a wealth of inspiration to fuel your future design projects. However, you may have noticed that this article only shared 16 interior designers, and not the promised 32. But, don’t worry – there’s a part 2 coming soon!

For more interior design tips, creative ways to use natural fiber area rugs, and information on our latest sales, don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest as well.

But how can you tell what your interior design style is?

Hopefully, we can help you figure that out. Before you begin your next design project, take the quiz below to find out what your interior design style is. We’ll also offer you some tips on what to look for when designing with your style in mind.

There’s More Where That Came From

While it plays a major role, good interior design needs more than just a style. For more guidance on how to design your next project, check out these interior design color palettes that will dominate 2018.

This was evident at the 2018 International Surface Event (TISE) in Las Vegas. After viewing dozens of exhibits and attending educational sessions, one thing became very clear to us: 2018’s flooring trends are meant to grab attention.

If you want to create beautiful floors in your home that stand out, check out these seven 2018 flooring trends we saw from the floors of TISE down below.

1. Mixed Wood

Traditionally, hardwood floors are made up of one, consistent wood type and tone for an entire space. However, more and more homeowners are looking to mix things up by covering their floors with a variety of hardwood styles, textures, and colors. Through these mixed tones and textures, the floor instantly grabs attention to the different planks instead of letting the eye focus on the room’s décor. This flooring trend also really stands out when using a variety of plank sizes or a parquet style.

2. Mosaic Messages

Too often, our eyes are drawn to walls, light fixtures, and furniture, causing a beautiful floor to go unnoticed. To correct this and bring some much-needed attention to their floors, many homeowners are creating tile mosaics that spell fun messages. For example, your kitchen floor could say, “smells like love.” Or, your bathroom might have, “Caution: Wet Floor.” These messages are a fun, creative way to bring some of your personality or humor to a variety of rooms.

3. Futuristic Contrasts

The future serves as inspiration for many upcoming interior design trends, including mixed metals, bold colors, and more. When it comes to your floors, using rows of both light and dark tile, wood, or porcelain create a stark, futuristic contrast that’s pleasing to the eye. If you’re not into the look of having set rows of dark and light flooring, most marbles naturally create a deep contrast. For example, black marble with gold veins contrast nicely and give off space-like vibes.

4. Sustainability

Continuing on from last fall's flooring trends, sustainability continues to be an area of focus for interior designers and homeowners. While you might think that sustainability limits your flooring options, there are several ways you can achieve a sustainable floor. Sustainability doesn’t mean you need to go all in on reclaimed wood. Instead, you can use recycled plastic bottle rugs, cork flooring, or bamboo for a more environmentally friendly space that isn’t as costly as reclaimed barn wood.

5. Geometric Shapes

Another way designers are catching eyes and creating artistic floors is through geometric patterns and shapes. Already we’re seeing wood panels and tiles that are cut in special shapes and laid in a unique way that is pleasing to the eye. For example, the diamond-shaped tile shown below was laid specifically to create a hypnotic illusion. Naturally, your eye can’t look away once it’s been hooked.

6. Terrazzo Flooring

Vinyl and linoleum floors are common flooring choices, but what if you want an upgrade? Terrazzo flooring is the perfect choice if you want to replace your home’s linoleum or vinyl floors. Comprised of stone chips (usually of marble) embedded in concrete, terrazzo is less expensive than its marble parent, making for a more affordable and colorful option. Plus, the terrazzo look is wholly unique, giving your floors some extra flair.

Feeling Trendy?

The 2018 flooring trends above can make your home’s floors more of a centerpiece instead of an afterthought. Interested in more interior design or flooring trends? Check out these fall flooring trends and 2018 interior design trends from the experts.

To celebrate 2018’s new color palettes and usher in a new year, AmericasMart put on a vignette exhibition called “In Living Color”. Put together by seven incredibly talented interior designers, these vignettes showcased Pantone’s interior design color palettes in innovative and unique ways.

Given that color is one of the hardest interior design decisions to make, Pantone’s color palettes offer a great starting point to build off of. To help guide your own color choice, we’re sharing how the exhibition’s most talented designers drew inspiration from Pantone’s palettes and how you can use them in your own home.

1. Resourceful

The resourceful interior design color palette is pretty straight-forward. It is the use of complementary colors blue and orange. Considering that blue and orange are both warm and cool tones, this creates a nice contrast that you can’t look away from. For this vignette, interior designer Margaret Kirkland used exotic lanterns, mirrors, doors, and wardrobes to add warm woods with an orange tone. Continuing down the exotic path, Margaret used a plush area rug and decorative plates to bring cool blues to the room. The end result was a relaxing room filled with both cool and warm colors.

How can you use the Resourceful color palette? The trick to the resourceful color palette is to use blue and orange in an innovative way — don’t take the color palette too literally and splash the colors on your wall. Instead, keep in mind that there are countless ways you can use those colors that don’t involve wallpaper or paint.

Image Credit: Margaret Kirkland

2. Playful

The name kind of implies it, but the playful interior design color palette is eclectic, eccentric, and bold. To convey a playful atmosphere, interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn used unexpected colors to create an eye-catching and exuberant space. What kinds of colors did he use? Well, he mixed teal, hot orange, and fuchsia together throughout the vignette against an ultra-white background. This created a big pop of color that gave some fun and funky vibes.

How can you use the Playful color palette? Don’t be afraid to get loud. Avoid shying away from bright colors and instead embrace them. To create cohesion among your bright colors, make a neutral like white your mainstay. This causes your color use to come across as sensible and fun instead of whacky.

Image Credit: Brian Patrick Flynn

3. Intensity

The intensity interior design palette is all about black, gold, and strong colors coming together to create a lush and dramatic space. Interior designer Mallory Mathison started her intensity vignette by putting up a distinctive teal wallpaper, creating the foundation for the room. Then, she used touches of black, gold, rich green, and ivory to add more dramatic complements.

How can you use the Intensity color palette? Start with touches of black and gold, whether it’s in your wall colors, furniture, or light fixtures. Then look for a rich shade of blue, purple, or green to make a statement.

Image Credit: Mallory Mathison

4. Intricacy

The intricacy interior design palette is about mixing neutral metals with pops of color and texture. Interior designer Kristin Alber used dark metallics to add more drama and contrast to her intricacy vignette. To highlight several textures throughout the room, she kept her colors pretty neutral, making it easier to see the different textures in the space. For example, thanks to the neutral color, you could easily see the ribbed knit blanket, brushed ceramic pot, and more.

How can you use the Intricacy color palette? This color palette really celebrates different textures. To let your textures stand out, use neutral metals and colors throughout the room. Also, keep in mind that metallic doesn’t necessarily mean shiny.

5. Discretion

The discretion color palette is all about strong, masculine elements that are structured and tailored. For this vignette, interior designer André Hilton of Jordan Hilton Interiors used a mixture of masculine blues, grays, reds, and yellows throughout the space and used a wide variety of luxe textures. Our favorite textures he utilized were the wood veneer wallpaper and the mixed metals decorated throughout.

How can you use the Discretion color palette? Use a wide range of subtle hues to create a strong room. This also allows your small uses of color or new textures really stand-out.

Image Credit: Jordan Hilton Interiors

6. Verdure

Verdure is defined by Merriam-Webster as the greenness of growing vegetation. With this guidance, interior designer Chris Socci turned to greenery and woods to give his vignette peacefulness and personality. Chris also took extra consideration where color was concerned, choosing to use shades of green that were still youthful like mid-tone and olive. Thoughtful use of color aside, our favorite item in Chris’s vignette was by far the bike bar. The bike bar also fit well with the color palette thanks to its wood table top and sustainability factor.

How can you use the Verdure color palette? Make your home a peaceful, yet youthful place by introducing greenery and other natural elements like reclaimed wood tables and natural fiber area rugs into your home.

Image Credit: Chris Socci

7. Tech-Nique

Interior designer Corey Damen Jenkins describes his interior design color palette, Tech-Nique, as “a joyful celebration of vivid, unabashed color and pattern with a mix of both traditional and modern.” While the furniture in his vignette rang more traditional, Corey used the walls of the room and the fixtures on those walls to introduce modern celebrations of color. For example, Corey used vibrant wallpaper, a colorful patterned area rug, and abstract art to liven up an otherwise more elegant and traditional space.

How can you use the Tech-Nique color palette? Create a fun, contrasting mix of elements in your home with patterned walls, colorful light fixtures, new wall art, technology, and more.

Image Credit: Corey Damen Jenkins

Need More Interior Design Inspiration?

Just in case the interior design color palettes above didn’t give you enough inspiration, check out what home styling experts had to say about the best 2018 interior design trends.

As a maker of custom rugs with both natural fibers and synthetic materials, polypropylene is just another fiber on our loom. To help you decide if polypropylene carpet or area rugs are a good option for your home — or your patio — we have the answers to your questions here.

What Is a Polypropylene Rug?

Polypropylene rugs (also known as olefin rugs) are designed to look like sisal, but they are actually made from synthetic fibers.

Polypropylene — the main ingredient in the rug — is simply a polymer created from monomer propylene and is frequently used in packaging, labels, textiles, and reusable containers. Considering how widely polypropylene is used, odds are you already have plenty of it in use at your home.

These polypropylene fibers are specifically made to look exactly like wool, sisal, and other common rug fibers. Once made, these fibers are machine woven into unique rugs that look exactly like the real deal but come with the added benefits of being man-made. For example, polypropylene rugs are carefully designed for superior comfort and resilience, making them versatile rugs that can find a home in both the indoors and outdoors.

Are Polypropylene Rugs Soft?

The answer is yes! As you already know, rugs are designed to add comfort, beauty, and functionality to any designated space. Some spaces, however, require higher levels of comfort or functionality than others (like your kitchen or family room, for example), and the fibers used to create a rug determine how well it will serve its purpose.

Polypropylene rugs are designed to be soft and offer the right amount of comfort needed, have the same look and feel of natural fibers, and provide great functionality. Browse through our selection to find the right polypropylene rug for your home or commercial space and consider adding a rug pad underneath for more cushioning.

Are Polypropylene Rugs Durable?

Yes, polypropylene rugs are durable. Made to handle extreme weather, messes, and scratches, polypropylene rugs are extremely resilient and can easily bounce back from wear and tear. In fact, this resilience makes them great rugs for both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Why are polypropylene rugs great for inside or outside?

Polypropylene rugs are highly stain-resistant and will not grow mildew or fade when exposed to outdoor elements. This makes them excellent solutions for outdoor spaces and indoor areas with high-moisture or where frequent spills occur. If you're looking to add a rug in your kid's bedroom, in the basement, or outside on your patio, a polypropylene area rug is highly recommended. And if your polypropylene carpet or rugs get dirty, you can simply wash them off with a hose as there’s no need to worry about excess moisture.

Should I Get a Natural or Polypropylene Rug?

Figuring out how to choose a rug is no easy feat that involves weighing a lot of pros and cons. When it comes to your home, you need to weigh the look, feel, and function of the rug before you can make the right choice. If you still can’t decide on which type of rug is best for your home after weighing all of the options, check out our full comparison of natural vs. synthetic rugs.

Ready to go all-in on a polypropylene area rug or carpet? Check out our full selection of sisal look-alike rugs.

If you’re in the process of planning your next renovation or design project, here are five more 2018 interior design trends that you don’t want to miss. With a focus on creating a bold, memorable space, the trends down below will help you craft an eye-catching design in any of your home’s rooms.

1. Bold Colors

With ultra violet as the 2018 color of the year, it makes sense that other bold colors are making an entrance this year. Perfect for accent walls, throw blankets, and distinct pieces of furniture, bold colors create a signature pop of color in any room. For example, use a bold color for the towels to upgrade your guest bathroom decor, or use a bold color for the ottoman in your living room to make a statement.

The key to using bold colors in your interior design is to use it sparingly. Too much of one color — especially one that’s not a neutral — can overpower the room and be displeasing to the eye. Instead, place one or two bold color items throughout the room to make it noticeable, but not overwhelming. 

2. Ceilings As the 5th Wall

Too often, people forget to look up. The same is true in interior design. Beyond light fixtures, many homeowners and interior designers overlook the fact that your ceiling has a lot of real estate. This year, it’s time to use it or lose it! Install creative ceiling tiles, funky light fixtures, a fresh coat of color, or add reclaimed wood beams to really make your ceiling a work of art. Now that your ceiling isn’t just a white slab of wall, your home’s guests won’t be able to stop looking up and admiring your work.

3. Materials with a Purpose

Another big trend in interior design for 2018, is using materials that have a purpose and leave an impact on society or the world in some way. This can mean using recycled materials, sustainable fabrics, greenery, or furniture produced with renewable energy.

To incorporate these materials in your home, look for sustainable area rugs or plants that you can place throughout the space. Alternatively, try looking for decorations or furniture that were either made sustainably or make frequent contributions to the community in the form of funding or donations.

Want to get the look pictured above? Start creating your own custom Milano Sisal area rug.

4. Colorful Doors

As established previously, 2018 is a year of bold, in-your-face color. Because of this, more and more interior designers are making a colorful first impression on house guests by using doors as their canvas. This works especially well if your home’s exterior or interior walls have a neutral color. With a colorful door on a neutral backdrop, you can create a striking contrast that makes your use of color really stand out. And considering the first design trend on this list, the bolder the better.

5. Mixed Metal

While playing with colors can create a beautiful contrast, so can playing with texture, materials, and other design elements. One way interior designers are playing with contrast in 2018 is by combining metals like brushed copper and stainless steel or silver and gold.

If you want to create a similar mix, just remember that metals don’t have to be shiny — simply search for metals with a matte finish to avoid an overpowering shine. Whether you choose to include metals in your light fixtures, mirrors, lamps, furniture, and other decorations, there are countless opportunities to mix and match complementary metals and textures.

How Else Can You Create a 2018-Worthy Space?

As highlighted above, 2018 is going to be a year of bold and stand-out designs. Stay on top of all the 2018 interior design trends with our additional resources below:

• 7 Hottest 2018 Interior Design Trends From Home Styling Experts
• 2018 Color of the Year: 6 Easy Ways to Use Ultra Violet in Your Home

Luckily, there are rug trends that are both stylish and affordable. Enter: the round jute rug.

Round, braided jute rugs were all the rage back in the 60’s. They’re affordable, all-natural, and handmade rugs that serve as the perfect frame for countless areas in your home. While they’ve been absent from the mainstream for 50-some-odd years, round jute rugs are making a resounding comeback in 2018.

Below, we work through why round jute rugs make the perfect complement to your home and how you can incorporate them into your interior design.

Affordable & Simple

First and foremost, round jute rugs make a splash due to their simplicity and affordability. Made from 100% natural jute fibers, these rugs are environmentally friendly and inexpensive thanks to the renewable resource of jute plant fibers. Round jute rugs are also an affordable because of their shape. Circles take up less surface area than their square or rectangular counterparts, meaning there are fewer fibers and labor needed to complete the rug.

Don’t mistake affordable and simple for low-quality and bland, however. These rugs have all been hand-woven and stitched by skilled weavers who have perfected the braiding technique. Jute fibers can also come in several different color combinations, ensuring that there is the perfect rug for any part of your home.

Soft on Your Feet

Natural fiber area rugs are well-known for having unique, thick weaves, causing many homeowners to assume this means the rug will be rough underfoot. This is a misconception to make, however, as it could cause you to pass up on a perfect rug that is quite comfortable.

Braided jute rugs are some of the softest natural fiber area rugs you can purchase.  Jute has a gentle, soft weave made of softer fibers that make them the perfect cozy and comfortable rug option for your home.

Just because it’s soft, however, doesn’t mean it’s hard to clean. As a natural fiber area rug, it is true that you can’t clean your jute rug with copious amounts of water, chemicals, or other sources of moisture. However, this problem is easily fixed with a couple swipes of paper towel or a dry carpet cleaning kit.

Fits Many Styles

Having been a trend during the groovy 1960’s, you may find yourself feeling a little skeptical towards including round jute rugs in your home. But just because interior design has transformed in the past 50 years, doesn’t mean round jute rugs aren’t still a great fit for any space.

Made in a universally accepted shape and neutral, complementary colors, round jute rugs can go with any design aesthetic. For example, gray hues tend to go best with contemporary and modern styles thanks to their darker, sleek look. Whereas tans tend to go best with more rustic or coastal designs, which makes sense as the tan jute fibers look a little like soft hay, straw, or beach grass. And if you have a design style that falls somewhere in between, try making your decision based off the furniture that sits nearest to the rug and choose the color that would serve as a nice contrast.

Ready to Start Shopping?

Round jute rugs are an old trend that is coming back in a big way. Take a look at our borderless round jute rugs or oval jute rugs to find the perfect option for your home.

Because of this, a rug is a necessity to protect your mudroom floors and pick up any dirt before it tracks into the rest of your home. This rug needs to be durable enough to stand up to boots and spills, but also easy to clean up of all of that dirt and grime. Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t mean that your mudroom rug needs to be a tough and ugly specimen.

To help you find the best mudroom rug for your home that is both beautiful and can take a beating, here are our favorite mudroom rugs that are durable, beautiful, and easy to clean.

1. Milano Sisal

Milano sisal is our most stain and water-resistant sisal weave. Each weave is treated for stains before the rug is woven, forming a strong and easy to clean rug that you can feel confident in. These rugs also come in a variety of colors and bindings, ensuring that you can create the perfect rug that fits your mudroom’s design. Keep in mind, however, that this is still a natural fiber area rug, meaning that cleaning it with water-based methods could jeopardize the integrity of your rug.

2. Mali Sisal

Rugs with larger weaves make it easier for homeowners to rid their rugs of dirt as the large weave traps dirt more easily and in larger concentrations. Mali sisal rugs have our largest loop weave of high-quality sisal, making it an excellent dirt trap for your mudroom. Once dirty, simply pick up the rug and bat away the dirt. If any dirt remains, try a dry carpet cleaning kit to eliminate the mess once and for all.

3. Chunky Sisal

Another large weave rug, our chunky sisal rugs use thick and large boucle weaves. The large boucles, or ribs, can not only add great texture and dimension to your mudroom, but also a lot of function as the boucle easily captures dirt and other messes. The thick texture also helps remove dirt from shoes when scrapping your footwear against the area rug, keeping mud from entering the rest of your home.

4. Four Seasons Sisal Look-Alike

This sisal look-alike has the look and feel of a natural sisal rug, but is durable enough to be used outdoors. Made of a 100% polypropylene, they will not fade in the sun, mold or mildew, and are stain and water-resistant. While they can live outside, they also make great rugs for high traffic or high use areas in your home like a mudroom.

Our four seasons outdoor sisal area rugs also come in over 25 color and pattern options, guaranteeing that you will find a rug that fits your style. And because they aren’t a natural fiber area rug, you can clean them as often as needed with as much water as you want.

5. Seagrass Rugs

We also recommend Seagrass for entryway and mudroom rugs as they are naturally stain resistant and hold up well to high traffic and high use areas.  Seagrass has a natural look just like a natural sisal, but can bear the brunt of your boots, mud, snow, and other spills you might bring into your home through your mudroom. They’re also some of the easiest rugs to clean due to their resilient fibers. With Seagrass rugs, you can clean up any mud or tracks with water and just watch the spills disappear.

More Ways to Vamp Up Your Mudroom

Mudrooms can be both stylish and functional. Make your mudroom an efficient space andcheck out the items you need to design an effective mudroom.

For 2018, Pantone has announced that the Color of the Year is ultra violet, an almost neon purple. Considering how provocative and vibrant this purple is, it can be a head scratcher trying to figure out how to use it in your home. But as a Minnesota-based company with countless Prince and Vikings fans, we think we have what it takes to help.

If you’re looking to adopt the trend and use ultra violet in your home, here are six easy ways you can incorporate 2018’s Color of the Year into your home’s interior design.

1. Install a New Headboard

When you think of the most colorful part of your home, the bedrooms are likely low on the list. Homeowners tend to put all their most fun colors into high traffic areas like kitchens, living rooms, and other areas guests commonly go. Luckily for you, this creates an opportunity to liven up your bedroom with colorful furnishings.

Make a statement for your master bedroom and get a new ultra violet headboard. As the backdrop for the room’s bed centerpiece, it will be a new can’t-miss addition to the room. If a new headboard seems out of place for one of your bedrooms, take a more sedate route and update the room’s bedding to include some purple. New bedding will still help you make a trendy statement, it just won’t stand out as much as a new headboard.

2. Paint Accent Walls

Color is a common design element to any home, and one of the most important color decisions you’ll make for your home lies on the walls. Your wall color often influences the entire room and sets the color pallet for the entire living space. If you’re home’s spaces have the same wall color on all four walls plus the ceiling, it can be easy to get bored with the monotony.

Help your rooms come alive by giving one wall a couple coats of ultra violet paint. Serving as an accent wall, this helps any room instantly become more interesting to the eye. Paint isn’t the only way you can update your walls, either. If you want to make a less permanent change, update the rooms curtains or drapes with an ultra violet option to add more color to your wall surfaces.

3. Place Bold Furniture

Furniture is an oft used, oft noticed part of anyone’s home making it a natural place to add new colors into your interior design. From couches and end tables to bar stools and ottomans, there are countless opportunities to add a bold, new ultra violet piece of furniture into your home. This new statement piece or pieces will draw attention and have guests clamoring to try it out. And before you get a new purple piece of furniture for every room, make sure to use them sparingly to avoid overpowering the room and losing any luster.

4. Get New Bathroom Towels

Adopting a color trend doesn’t have to be as extensive as new furniture or new walls. For a fun update that only requires one trip to the store, simply update your bathroom towels to an ultra violet hue. Don’t forget to purchase a complete set to make sure your bathroom towels and bathmats go together and don’t create a color competition in your bathroom. If you want your guests to notice the new change in your home, make sure to select one of the guest bathrooms or powder rooms for your new towels.

5. Throw Colorful Pillows & Blankets

Often, homeowners add color to their rooms with decorative additions that are scattered throughout the space. For example, throw pillows and blankets are easy ways to add color to living rooms and bedrooms alike. Simply find a color and pattern that goes well with the room’s design aesthetic, and throw it on the couch or bed for an added pop of color.

6. Update with Wall Art

Interior design is a way to express yourself and your personality through furniture, color, pattern, decorations, etc. And one of the best ways you can express yourself through your home’s interior design is through wall art. Wall art is your chance to hang family photos, unique paintings, or even inspirational quotes that represent what is important to you as an individual.

In addition to expressing yourself, try updating your walls with art that includes ultra violet or purple. If you aren’t finding the right photo or painting, you can always take a more creative route and put together your own purple DIY creation. For example, you could use stencils to paint your own motivational quote or fun saying on a purple canvas or wood panel.

Want More Design Trends & Inspiration?

For more fun design ideas for the new year, check out these seven winter interior design ideas that can heat up your home.

If you’re in the market for a new area rug, chances are you already have several samples on hand to evaluate your options. To help you reach the right conclusion for your home, here are five things you need to consider when narrowing down your area rug samples.

1. Color

A lot of design decisions all boil down to color. It’s a stand out characteristic that will either clash or complement the interior design of your home. Make sure you’re making the right color decision on your area rug by positioning it next to each of the space’s furniture and decor items. This will give you the visual information you need to decide if the color will be a mismatch or not. In addition, hold the rug up to your wall colors, wallpaper, and floors to make sure the color is a good fit. Do this for each sample you have to toss out colors that work and colors that don’t.

2. Pattern

Like color, pattern will also be a make it or break it quality. If you already use patterns through the space, it will be important that your patterns aren’t too similar as it can create a confusing and disorganized look in your home. If the patterns you use differ enough, you can create a fun mix and match style that draws attention from guests and creates a fun and unique space. You’ll also want to make sure that the area rug pattern isn’t too loud or too quiet, especially if this is the only pattern you use in the room. You’ll want the pattern to be strong enough that it’s noticeable, but weak enough so that it doesn’t overpower the space.

3. Texture

Feel is just as important as look. After you’ve narrowed down your rug samples based on how they appear, it’s time to judge them based on how they feel. Give your area rug samples a thorough feeling test by walking on them barefoot. If you have a furry friend, have them give it a try as well. Keep in mind while testing out the rug texture that coarser rugs are easier to clean as the thick weaves capture dirt and spills more easily, whereas softer rugs may require extra rug cleaning and care.

4. Function

Depending on the function your area rug will serve, you’ll want to gravitate towards different types like natural vs. synthetic area rugs. For example, if the rug will be in a high traffic area of your home like the front entryway, you’ll want a durable and easy to clean rug that can tackle any dirt, snow, or scratches. But if the rug will be in a bedroom where guests, pets, and other family members won’t be walking on it, you’ll want a cozy, soft rug that elevates the comfort level of the room.

5. Size

Last, but certainly not least, is the size of your rug. Samples are small swatches of the rug you will receive, making it really hard to judge the actual size of the rug. If the area rug sample can’t come in custom size, make sure you write down the dimensions the rug does come in. Then, if you’re able, use painter’s tape to outline where the rug will be in your home using that same length and width. If you can order a custom rug, use the tape to outline your desired rug size to help influence your decision. For more help in getting the right size area rug, check out our guide on how to choose the right rug size.

Hand-picked, Curated Area Rug Samples

If you’re stuck on which area rug is right for your home, fill out our style profile to receive six free, hand-picked area rug samples for you to choose from.

Having worked with countless interior designers on many dining room projects, we know what makes a stand-out dining room really special. To help you create the perfect welcoming, memorable space for your family and friends, here are our favorite dining room design ideas we’ve gathered over the years.

1. Display a Collection

Personal items are amazing conversation pieces. If you can display a personal collection, gallery, or other unique yet authentic items, your dinner party will have an endless supply of things to talk about. A collection is visually interesting for your guests, but there’s also a personal story behind it that makes it special. In addition, you can keep adding to it as the years go on to build out your arrangement and really fill out the space.

2. Use Slipcovers

Dining room chairs can either be ornate and beautiful, or just simply feel like another chair. If your dining room chairs are lacking a little flair, try using slipcovers to add more color and personality to the room. The best part is that slipcovers come in a variety of styles, colors, and patterns, allowing you to cycle through different designs depending on the function or theme of your dinner.

3. Create an Eye-Catching Ceiling

When you set out to design a room, it’s natural to focus on the rooms four walls and the floor. But what about the fifth wall, a.k.a. the ceiling? It’s the most forgotten surface of most rooms because it can be hard to visualize decorating beyond new light fixtures, soffits, or molding. While it can be a challenge to create a statement ceiling, the output is well worth it. Try covering your dining room’s ceiling with embossed tin ceiling tiles, custom artwork, rustic beams, and more to catch eyes and create a sense of awe.

4. Dress Your Lamp Shades

Good lighting is essential for any space in your home in order to brighten any dark spaces, but lighting is also a great way to get creative with your home’s interior design. For example, you can use fun decorative lamp shades to add new volume and shapes to your dining room chests, cabinets, or tables. Our favorite lamp shades have fun shapes that paint interesting patterns across the room.

5. Go with Non-Traditional Seating

Often, homeowners gravitate towards dining room tables that are rectangular in shape for a traditional table. But these long tables aren’t always the best for conversation. A great way around this is to go with a non-traditional dining room table and seating arrangement. For example, you can try using booths, benches, stools, and other different seating options to help make your dining room different and unique.

6. Mix and Match Patterns

To avoid creating a dining room that is just a table, chairs, and painted walls, use patterns to your advantage. Add patterns to your dining room through wallpaper or even your chair upholstery. To make the room even more visually interesting, try using a different pattern on each chair to create an array of fun colors and patterns that get guests excited to choose their seat.

7. Lay Down a Beautiful Rug

We’ve covered the walls and even the ceiling of your dining room, but we can’t neglect the floor. A great way to frame your dining space from the rest of the home and even frame the table is to lay down a custom area rug that fits the space to perfection. As for the type of rug you should use, custom sisal area rugs are easy to clean, beautiful natural fiber rugs that go with any design aesthetic thanks to their warm and neutral tones. But if you think a patterned rug might be a nice statement piece for the room, you can also get a patterned sisal rug that gets guests talking.

Want More Interior Design Tips?

Find the perfect area rug size for your home with our dining room rug size guide. For more advice on how to style other rooms in your home, check out our master bedroom style guide or our entryway style guide.

Given all the changes winter brings, it’s only fitting that your home’s interior should change as well. Just as we get all of our winter clothing and accessories out from storage to help us brave the outdoors, you can also equip your home to combat the season from the indoors.

To help you change up your home’s style and give you some much needed warmth, here are seven of our favorite winter interior design ideas.

1. Put Out Extra Throw Blankets

Winter is the time of the year where warmth creeps away, leaving you bone cold in your own home. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix that doesn’t involve upping your thermostat. Make sure you are never too far away from a cozy blanket by placing warm throw blankets throughout your home. They’re perfect for the backs of couches, ottomans, or beds. Our favorite winter throws are fuzzy and heavy so they’re comfortable and guaranteed to trap your body heat within a cocoon of warmth.

2. Use Textured Pillows

To complement your home’s new fuzzy and warm throw blankets, a plush textured pillow is another great way to warm up your home environment. Pillows with a soft knit, thick fabric, or a faux fur material make it so that there is always a warm place to put your head, feat, or back. If you’re concerned about a furry pillow clashing with your home’s design aesthetic, try placing only one or two neutral colored ones in your rooms. This helps ensure that you’re not going overwhelming the room with new textures.

3. Introduce Warm Colors

Regardless of where you live, you know that winter can wash out colors for the season. With no leaves on trees, flowers covered by snow, and a sun that only appears for several hours a day, vibrant colors can be hard to come by in the winter. Because of this, we encourage you to take any opportunity you can to add color back into your home in the wintertime. Stopping just shy of painting your walls, you can instill warm colors back into your home with accent pillows, table runners, centerpieces, and more.

4. Lay Down Soft and Durable Area Rugs

Unless you have heated floors, you are likely used to wearing your slippers all over the house in the winter to keep your feet warm. Plus, with snow falling outside, mud, water, and other messes can easily track their way in. Luckily, you can warm up and protect your floors with strategic area rugs. In high traffic areas of your home, place an outdoor sisal rug that’s easy to clean and can withstand anything winter can throw at it. Then, lay down a softer rug like a jute or sisal wool rug to give your family room a cozy place to rest your feet.

5. Add Fresh Greenery

Like we mentioned above, winter strips the earth of our lawn, flowers, and plants. It’s a natural and necessary process, but that doesn’t mean your home has to go without organic plants and greenery. Place bouquets of colorful flowers or evergreen arrangements strategically in your home for a noticeable pop of color and to keep your air fresh. Then, replace your greenery with new arrangements to keep your home refreshed throughout the season. Don’t be afraid to break away from traditional winter plants like pines or poinsettias to avoid making your home into a stereotypical winter wonderland. 

6. Place Lit Candles

Fire is the universal symbol for heat. If you have a fireplace in your home, it probably sees a lot of action in the winter — as it should. Not only does a fireplace warm up your home through the energy of the fire, but it also casts warm colors across the room. But you most likely don’t have a fireplace in every corner of your home. This is where lit candles can make an impact. Place lit candles in your bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms, and other spaces to give your entire home the warmth and ambiance of an open flame without a fireplace present.

7. Pile on the Wood

While it seems very rustic, wood is also a very warm design feature given its association with fire. You can add warm wood to your living spaces through new wooden stools, chairs, coffee tables, and other furniture items. In addition, wood panel walls also provide a warm cabin feel. If those ideas are too much of an undertaking, you can also find great wooden antiques, lamps, or decorations to hang up on your walls or feature on your end tables.

Is Your Home Prepared for Winter?

Between snow, dry air, and winter boots, there are many reasons for you to prepare your home with new furniture and decor during the winter months. For more ways to keep your home safe and warm this winter, discover how a polypropylene rug can protect your floors.

From size and placement to style, there is an endless array of things to think about. But one of the first choices you’ll need to make is the type of rug you need.

Of all of the options out there, many homeowners like yourself arrive at either a natural fiber or synthetic area rug. And to help you decide between the two, we’re pitting them against each other in a natural vs. synthetic rugs showdown.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Natural Fiber Rugs

Built with fibers that are 100% natural and sustainable, natural fiber rugs have a wide range of benefits. Made with plant fibers like sisal, jute, hemp, seagrass, and more, natural fiber rugs can come in a variety of textures and colors that match any interior design style. They can also come in unique patterns to liven up your home and create eye-catching pieces.

Beyond their fun styles and comfort level, natural fiber rugs have practical benefits as well. For starters, they are static-free as they are very absorbent. Their ability to hold moisture means your hair won’t stand on end and will lessen your chances of getting a nasty shock. In addition, natural fibers are good at collecting dust in their weaves, which eliminates the amount of dust particles in the air. If you suffer from allergies, this means there are fewer particles in the air that could trigger your allergies.

With the benefits out of the way, it’s time to flip the coin. Remember the high absorbency we mentioned earlier? This can also be a bit of a drawback. Because natural fiber rugs absorb lots of water, you need to be very careful with how you clean them. In fact, water saturation should be avoided altogether to avoid damaging your rug’s color or fibers. In addition, some natural fibers have very thick weaves. While thick weaves make great dirt catchers, they can also feel coarse on bare feet.

The bottom line? Natural fiber rugs are perfect for the indoors, adding plenty of style and comfort to any space through their warm textures and colors. But if you need an area rug for your patio or a high traffic area in your home, you may want to take a look at a synthetic option.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Synthetic Rugs

Right off the bat, the term “synthetic” may be an immediate turn-off to you as a homeowner as it implies that they are “fake.” But as a maker of high-quality natural fiber area rugs, we also know that synthetic rugs can look and feel amazing while offering superior durability.

Synthetic rugs are most commonly made from polypropylene, nylon, or polyester. In fact, our own outdoor sisal rugs are made from polypropylene for maximum durability. These materials have been specially manufactured to be incredibly durable and easy to clean, making them a cinch to maintain all year long. And unlike their natural fiber counterparts, water is no issue allowing them to resist mold build-up as well. They also won’t fade in direct sunlight, making synthetic rugs the perfect outdoor option.

However, there are a couple of cons to a synthetic area rug. For starters, moving heavy furniture across the rug can create an abrasive friction that could permanently damage the material. This can easily be avoided, though, by making sure you lift furniture pieces instead of dragging them. In addition, synthetic rugs are susceptible to oil-based stains if they’re left on the rug for too long.

The bottom line? If your area rug will be placed outside or in another area where messes are going to be a regular occurrence, synthetic rugs are the most durable and easiest to clean option out there.

Before You Make Your Decision

At the end of the day, choosing the right area rug for your home is no joke. If you’re still unsure which rug is right for you after weighing all of the pros and cons, check out when you should choose a synthetic rug over wool

But not every cleaning technique will leave your rug in the best condition. Certain chemicals and tools can leave your rug scratched or stained beyond the point of repair. To help you successfully clean your natural fiber rugs, here are five cleaning techniques you should never use.

1. A Vacuum with a Beater Bar

Beater bars are helpful when cleaning carpet, mats, and other long fiber floor coverings. The bar digs deep into the fibers to turn up any dirt that might be lingering underneath. And while this all sounds well and good for your natural fiber rugs, it can actually be very harmful.

Your natural fiber rugs are made with 100% green and sustainable materials and beater bars can potentially scratch and pull apart their thick weaves. Instead of running over your sisal, jute, seagrass, or other natural rug detach the beater bar from your vacuum cleaner. Then, use one of your vacuum’s special attachments to carefully vacuum dirt from the rug’s weaves. This will leave your rug clean and scratch-free.

2. Steam Cleaners

More often than not, our cleaning intuition tells us to get something wet in order to clean it. It probably stems from the fact that we shower or bathe to get ourselves clean. But this isn’t necessarily the best cleaning method for your natural fiber rugs as it can cause discoloration or even shrinking of your rug.

Because water saturation can ruin your natural fiber rug, never use steam cleaners. Instead, it is important to control the moisture you apply to the dirty area. First, firmly press onto the stain with a paper towel. If the stain remains, blot it with a soda-dampened white cloth. This allows you to limit the amount of moisture the rug absorbs and leaves the rug plenty of time to dry.

3. Wet Shampoo

Similar to the advice above, wet shampoos can also cause harm to your natural fiber rug. Because shampoos require rinse cycles to absorb and remove messes, your rug will become way too wet in the process. And as we’ve established before, this can jeopardize the integrity of your natural fiber rug.

Instead of using a wet shampoo, try a host dry cleaning kit. As the title suggests, this spot remover is completely dry, leaving your rug’s integrity intact. Simply shake the powder, place it on the spill, brush, and vacuum. 

4. Soapy Cleaning Agents

Cleaning agents often spray water, soap, and other chemicals onto your rug’s heavy spills. But if it leaves your rug damp, it could do more harm than good. Plus, a soapy residue can easily stain your carpet once it goes to dry.

Before going to clean your natural fiber rug with a cleaning agent or stain remover, make sure that the agent won’t leave your rug wet or leave a soapy residue behind. This ensures that you won’t be permanently staining your rug when you go to spot clean. Cleaning agents like Sisal Life Cleaner are easy to apply onto troublesome spots, but won’t leave your rug wet.

5. Hard-Bristle Brushes

Brushes are pretty handy when the time comes to scrub out a stain or muddy footprint. With a little arm muscle, brushes help loosen dirt and other spills so you can remove them from the rug. But hard-bristle brushes can create new snags and scratches on your rug in the process.

Use a brush with soft bristles to make sure your rug doesn’t deteriorate while cleaning. A soft-bristle brush works well with dry cleaning kits as well as spot removers as it allows you to freely scrub away at stains.

Is it Time to Clean Your Natural Fiber Rugs?

Cleaning isn’t always a crystal-clear science. For more information on how to clean your sisal or natural fiber rug and best practices, visit our rug care and cleaning guide.

When it comes to your home, your front entryway gives guests the first impression of your home and sets the stage for the rest of your space. To help you give a first impression that is memorable, welcoming, and vibrant, here are seven creative ways you can style your entryway.

1. Mix and Match

One way to add new dimensions and creativity to any space is to mix and match several items together. This creates a layered look. Get mixing and matching in your home by using a variety of photos, mirrors, paintings, and other decorations on your entryway table. Your items should be of varying sizes to make sure the look fills up and completes the entryway. And even though you’re mixing and matching things that usually don’t go together, try using a single element like tone, color, or finish to make the room feel cohesive.

2. Keep it Personal

Your home is a personal space. It’s your little oasis in the world where you draw comfort from every day. And whether you want it to or not, your home says a lot about the people who live in it. Share your own stories and memories with guests by including personal touches that highlight your memories, hobbies, family, and more. For example, you can create a photo wall in your entryway that introduces guests to your personality as well as your home.

3. Antiques

A challenge for every entryway is storage. Guests have plenty of coats, hats, scarves, shoes, etc. and you don’t always have an entryway closet to put them in. If you need some storage for your entryway space, try using an antique trunk or bench to carve out a space for your guest’s outdoor accessories, providing both style and function to your entryway. If you’re not into the antique or rustic look, try painting it white for a more modern and contemporary vibe.

4. Patterns

Patterns always add a festive and fun feeling to any room. And while it may not feel like you have a ton of space to work with in a front entryway, you can still add patterns and fun designs. Try creating a patterned accent wall with wallpaper. Add a durable patterned sisal rug to protect your floors from dirty shoes. Toss a fun patterned pillow on a bench or chair that sits in or near your front entryway. Incorporating these small touches of patterns helps spice up the space, without overpowering guests.

5. Shoe Showcase

Shoes are bound to pile up in an entryway and there’s not always space for them in a closet or trunk. Instead, try having a little fun with the different types of shoes that enter your home. With a little creativity, you can easily purchase or make a shoe rack that displays some fun footwear to the entire house. If you’re concerned with protecting your home’s floors from stray tracks or shoe scuffs, place an outdoor sisal rug by your front door. These rugs are easy to clean and durable, making it the perfect rug for your entryway.

6. Creative Coat Hooks

As we’ve previously mentioned, storage can be a bit of an issue in an entryway and not all coats easily fit inside a trunk. If you don’t have a good space for your coats, try adding some fun and creative coat hooks. For example, you can use clothespins, figurines, antlers, and more to add a little personality to your entryway walls. If you don’t want to install hooks onto your walls, you can always purchase a fun, decorative coat rack.

7. Welcome Wall

Last, but not least, your walls are a blank canvas that provide an opportunity for you to wow your guests. By using wood paneling, plants, wallpaper, and other tools you can create an eye-catching wall that becomes an instant talking piece. If you don’t want to completely cover your entryway walls, you can always hang a drawing, painting, or portrait to serve as a statement piece.

Find More Interior Design Inspiration

If you’re wondering how to design other spaces in your home, check out our master bedroom style guide or our kids’ room design ideas.

Back in August, we talked to Alex, co-founder of Common Bond Design, on how she handled her lease’s strict floor stipulations when designing her rental apartment, but now Alex is sharing the rest of her apartment makeover. Find some interior design inspiration with her tips from Architectural Digest below:

Smart Use of Space

New York City apartments and urban apartments in general are infamous for their limited floor space. Restricted to around 600 square feet for her whole home, Alex knew she would have to get creative if she was to maximize her home’s potential. One of the ways Alex looked to maximize space without sacrificing functionality, Alex started shopping for a European stove. Not only did the stove fit perfectly, but it also arrived ahead of American stove competitors saving valuable time.

If you’re struggling to make use of your apartment’s small kitchen, try taking a page out of Alex’s book by shopping for European appliances which are typically smaller. In addition, you can look for clever furniture items that serve dual purposes or have multiple functions. For example, a desk that can also fold into a dining room table.

The bottom line: Fill your home with pieces that take advantage of your limited space and don’t waste the precious square footage their given.

Keep It Original

Apartment buildings typically have a distinct style or aesthetic that makes them unique. For example, you might have exposed brick, vaulted ceilings, ornate molding, or industrial chic ductwork that give your apartment a one-of-a-kind vibe. Alex’s apartment, for example, had 20th century fixtures like hardwood floors, industrial doors, and metallic radiators. And instead of covering up this unique vintage look, Alex opted to leave her radiators and doors in their original state.

The bottom line: Highlight the elements of your apartment that make it unique.

Creative and Efficient Lighting

Considering apartments are usually one unit in a larger home or apartment building, east and west facing windows can be scarce. This means natural light and brightness are a highly sought-after resource. And while you absolutely cannot install more windows into your apartment (hello, construction costs), you can install new light fixtures and white decorations to brighten up your apartment.

Make your apartment a brighter place to live by adding white tile, counters, cabinets, tables, or even just a light wall color. This way the natural light you are getting in your apartment is reflected throughout your home. In addition, make sure your windows aren’t obstructed by furniture, heavy drapes, or blinds to maximize your potential natural light.

The bottom line: Lacking natural light? Bring the light into your home with new light fixtures and bright décor.

Need More Interior Design Inspiration?

For more makeover inspiration like Alex’s, check out these three room makeovers from interior designers that are sure to inspire.

Set designers also know a thing or two about rugs and how they “really tie the room together” to borrow a line from the cult-classic film “The Big Lebowski.” They know how to select rugs that match well with the set’s aesthetic and context — something that isn’t easily replicated in your own home.

To help inspire your own area rug selection, here are five famous rugs from your favorite movies and tv shows.

1. Aladdin

The first famous rug that popped into our minds is Aladdin’s magic carpet. A rug with an attitude and an affinity for flight, this magic carpet is the only rug on our list that’s also a character. While an oriental rug with decorative tassels might not fit every space, it is important when choosing an area rug to make sure that the rug adds plenty of character to your home.

Image Credit: Walt Disney Pictures

2. The Big Lebowski

The most odd of all rug-lovers, Jeff Lebowski (a.k.a The Dude), embarks on an epic journey when his beloved rug is vandalized by a couple of thugs. His rug not only tied the room together, but it also stayed true to The Dude’s eclectic and cobbled aesthetic. If you have a lot of cobbled together design elements in your own space, double check that you have a rug that fits by using our Try Brfore You Buy program. Just fill out our style profile and our in-house designer will send you six free rug samples to help you find what works best for your space.

Image Credit: Gramercy Pictures

3. Downton Abbey

Known for their historic sets, Downton Abbey has a wealth of interior design inspiration for homeowners who love antiques and traditional design. And with such grand and ornate sets, some items need to be custom made to fit the space.

If you have a large living room or oddly shaped parlor in your own home, you can create a custom rug for the perfect floor covering. This ensures your furniture fits safely on the rug and that your rug doesn’t run into any awkward walls.

Image Credit: NBCUniversal

4. The Shining

Remembered for its iconic pattern, the carpet in “The Shining” is not easily forgotten — neither is its plot. Rated as one of the best horror films of all time, “The Shining” is sure to leave an impression on you.

To leave a lasting impression on the guests in your home, rugs with distinct patterns and prints are sure to be remembered. Our own patterned sisal and Moroccan tile rugs are a lively way to add new patterns to any area.

Image Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

5. Game of Thrones

A little-known fact about Game of Thrones is that the Night's Watch characters have shaggy warm coats made of IKEA rugs. That’s right, Jon Snow battles White Walkers in an IKEA rug you can purchase at a store near you. We have to say, they certainly seem to hold up well in the harsh Westeros winter.

If your rug needs to withstand the outdoors and considerable wear and tear, a four seasons outdoor polypropylene rug is a weather-ready option. It’s not as warm to wear as the shaggy rug on Jon Snow’s back, but it is incredibly durable and easy to clean.

Image Credit: HBO

Want More Hollywood Inspiration?

Check out Jeff Lebowski’s guide to choosing an area rug for tips on how to pick an area rug using famous quotes from the cult classic film, “The Big Lebowski.”

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To help you create a kids’ room that withstands the test of time and excites your kids, we gathered seven design and decoration ideas your kids will love.

1. Comfy, Magic Carpet

Kids frequently play on their hands and knees, making hardwood an uncomfortable flooring option for their bedrooms and playrooms. Protect your floors and give your kids a comfortable place to play by adding a fun carpet or rug to their room. Give them a rug they’ll really enjoy by playing off of one of their favorite Disney movies like Aladdin. Soon to be a live action film, your kids will love a magic carpet of their own. Our own Key Dove style carpet has a fun exotic pattern that could fit the bill.

2. Decorative Toys

Every child has a set of favorite toys they refuse to let go of, even when they outgrow them. To make sure that your kids’ toys have a special space in their room, use them as special wall and shelf decorations. This way your kids can enjoy and appreciate their toys long after they’ve stopped playing with them.

3. Bunk Beds and Trundles

Kids love bunk beds, they’re fun to climb, easy to make forts out of, and make for exciting sleepovers. For parents, bunk beds provide endless entertainment for their children and offer an efficient use of space. If your child has their own room, try opting for a trundle bed instead. Trundles still make for fun and easy sleepovers, but have the added benefit of being able to be tucked away when not in use.

4. Creative Decals

Decals are a great way to add some fun and creative decorations to your child’s room. The decals can be of almost anything, including flowers, trees, and animals. With decals you can create a whole landscape to decorate the room with. Plus, they’re friendly for your walls and easy to take off. When your child’s tastes inevitably change, just peel them off the walls and select a new set of decals to give the room a fresh look.

5. Fun Colors

Kids love all things colorful, bright, and intense. But that doesn’t always make for the best wall color. Once you find a fun color that your child likes, try using it as the accent wall color so it doesn’t overpower the whole room. If you think the color is still too much as an accent wall, incorporate their favorite color into their bedding, lamps, or chair.

6. Animals

If your kid has a love of animals, use prints, furniture, and decorations that reflect their favorite animal or habitat. For example, if your kid loves safaris, a natural sisal or seagrass rug looks just like safari grass. In addition, you can highlight their favorite animals by decorating their shelves with figurines or stuffed animals.

7. A Personal Connection

Whatever you do for their room, make sure you include your child’s favorite things, hobbies, sports, and more to incorporate into their room. After all, they’re the ones that will spend the most time in the room. For example, if your child or teen loves snowboarding, hang a snowboard or two on their walls. Including their personal preferences in the design will ensure that your kids fall in love with whatever you come up with.

Need More Style Tips and Guides?

If you need more interior design inspiration, check out our recent master bedroom style guide.

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We love this movie for those same reasons, but also because The Dude’s love for his rug is what sends him on his epic and chaotic journey. Given how the rug really tied the room together, we know that Jeff Lebowski knows how to pick an awesome rug.

If you’re struggling with how to choose an area rug in your home, The Dude and his friends, Walter and Donny, offer up some valuable advice throughout the film. Below, we share how to choose an area rug using popular quotes from “The Big Lebowski.”

“The Dude abides.”

One thing that stays true throughout the film is that The Dude stays unapologetically himself. He has fully accepted who he is - an unemployed bowler who only knows how to take it easy.

When it comes to choosing your own rug, it’s important to stay true to yourself as Dude does. Pick your design aesthetic for the space and make sure your rug fits in and adheres to the room’s look and feel. You don’t want an area rug that clashes with your style or seems out of place.

“Just take it easy, okay?”

As previously mentioned, Dude only knows how to be chill and live a relaxed life. But regardless of how lax you are, there are areas of your home that will take a beating no matter what. For example, areas like your kitchen, hallways, and family room will see a lot of foot traffic over the years. If you need a rug for those high traffic areas, be mindful of the rug’s durability as you’ll want something that will last throughout the years without showing wear and tear.

“Walter, he peed on my rug.”

What pet owner hasn’t said this? If you have pets, Dude understands your pain after a thug peed on his favorite rug. Even if your pets are potty trained, it’s not uncommon for them to get over excited or upset and have an accident. Make sure your favorite rug is protected from unexpected surprises by choosing an easy to clean outdoor rug. If accidents can’t be avoided, extend the life of your rug with these three must-have accessories.

“Careful, man, there’s a beverage here!”

No matter how careful you or your houseguests are, food and beverages will be spilled. It’s a common fact of home ownership. And while some spilled beverages, like club soda and water, are easy to clean up, there are others that will stain and never be removed. Protect your floors with a rug that’s durable and easy to clean like disaster-ready outdoor rugs.

Have a stain you’re hoping to remove from your rug? Check out our rug cleaning tips for natural fiber rugs.

“Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like... your opinion, man.”

As The Dude knows, not everyone’s opinion aligns with your own. While you might like the look and feel of one rug, your partner might think the opposite. It can be hard to reach a unanimous decision without hurting someone’s feelings. Luckily, we offer a try before you buy program. Through our program you can receive six free rug samples based on your unique style profile. Simply fill out our style profile form and our in-house designer will send you six rug samples that fit your aesthetic and room function.

“This aggression will not stand, man.”

Adopting a line from President George H. Bush, The Dude stands his ground against the other, more rich and influential Jeff Lebowski. He tries to draw a clear line in the sand that he will not be overlooked or overpowered.

Pick out the right color and texture rug so it doesn’t overpower the other design elements in your space. In addition, try a natural fabric or fiber rug that is friendly, not harsh for the environment. Our own products are sustainable rugs made from 100% naturally green fibers like sisal, jute, seagrass, and more so you can rest assured that your rug is environmentally friendly.

“That rug really tied the room together, did it not?”

Walter and Dude know the value of a good rug - it ties the room together and helps define a unique space. If you’re still on the search for a rug and aren’t sure where to start, fill out our style profile to receive six free rug samples hand picked by our designer just for you.

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Give your home a fresh makeover fit for 2018 with the hottest design trends from interior designers, industry experts, and more.

1. Velvet

“Velvet is a trend that started getting really big last year in fashion, and now it seems to be hopping over to design,” says Sheila Irwin, interior designer and founder of Maison de Cinq, in her latest design trends blog post.

Serving as a luxe, timeless fabric in your home, velvet makes a great statement piece in nearly any room. Perfect for accent pillows, blankets, headboards, couches, and more, velvet adds warmth and comfort to your home with surprising versatility.

The trick to adding velvet décor and furniture to your home is to use it sparingly. Velvet is the perfect pop of color and texture, but if it’s used too much throughout the room it loses its luster. While velvet is making its appearance in more furniture than ever, Sheila recommends using velvet pillows and throw blankets for a more affordable option.

2. Iridescent Accents

As we’re looking ahead to the future, it’s very fitting that futuristic iridescent accents would make our list. Lizzie Grover, Creative Director of Hutch, an interior design tool, predicts iridescent accents will appear in backsplashes, end tables, and other decorative pieces. This includes alarm clocks, cabinet hardware, light fixtures, and more.

To get started with iridescents in your home, start small. Given the natural shine, iridescents demand a lot of attention from the eye. Make sure whatever iridescent piece you add to your home, whether it’s wallpaper, tile, or a pillow, doesn’t immediately overpower the room.

3. Greenery

Plants are a tried-and-true design trend, but Nancy Fire, founder of Design Works International and Design Director for HGTV Home, predicts that spicing up your space with a unique plant wall or planter is going to be the new trend.

"Get creative with planters by using both hanging and floor models or painting your pots in patterns that complement your interiors," Nancy told POPSUGAR. If you have a lot of light in your home, cacti and succulents are low maintenance plants that can serve as a fresh and natural centerpiece in your space all year long.

The greenery trend doesn’t stop and start with plants, though. You can also get in on the trend by adding other natural elements like a sisal, jute, or seagrass rug. Natural fiber rugs are made from 100% renewable and organic material making them friendly for the earth and your home. In addition, you can add decorative elements that represent greenery like a wooden bowl, or leaf-inspired serving pieces.

4. Geometric Patterns

Interior designer Larina Kase predicts geometric patterns will be used more throughout the home. Easily added through wallpaper, backsplashes, accent pillows, and household ornaments, geometrics shapes are an approachable design trend that can be incorporated into nearly any design aesthetic.

5. Typography

Michelle Gage, an interior designer from Homepolish, thinks messaging will seep further into our homes. We’ve already seen typography in the home through fun sayings on signs and embroidered pillows, but Michelle thinks this will only ramp up in 2018.

“It’ll become increasingly popular, given the way we all communicate on social media. It will remain more of a complement to a room’s story and live on in smaller finishing touches like pillows and art,” Michelle recently said to realtor.com.

6. Metallics

According to interior designer Annie Elliott, one of the best ways to lighten up a room is to add metallic colors and accessories. On realtor.com, she says “Most rooms need a bit of sparkle, and a pillow laced with gold thread can be just the way to achieve it.”

If you want to get extra crafty, you can also purchase metallic paint to cover art, furniture, or fabrics in your home. It doesn’t have to be a cool silver accent, either. Copper, bronze, and gold are metallic accents that add warmth and shine into any space.

7. Intense Colors

Every year, the most anticipated 2018 trend is Pantone Color Institute’s Color of the Year. And while Pantone hasn’t quite made their 2018 announcement, their Executive Director, Leatrice Eiseman, isn’t shy about predicting hot colors for 2018. In fact, Leatrice recently told realtor.com that 2018 will be a year of intense, bright colors that pay homage to technology through bright teals, purples, fuchsias, and more. These colors will not only be seen in our home interiors, but also in our clothes and accessories.

Looking for more design inspiration?

Stay on top of the latest interior design by checking out fall’s top flooring trends including cork, bamboo, and more.

Luckily for you, pets love natural fiber rugs. Natural fibers like jute, sisal, seagrass, and more make the perfect pet-friendly area rug that is beautiful, durable, and comfortable at the same time. But don’t just take our word for it—take it from your pets! Below, we dive into the four reasons why pets love natural fiber rugs.

1. Freedom to Play

If your home is decorated with antique furniture, crystal decor, or foreign rugs, it’s safe to say your home wasn’t designed for a pet. Pets have a happy habit of entertaining themselves by jumping on the furniture, trotting around the house, and getting their dander on just about everything. Having easily broken or ruined items around your house only limits your pet’s ability to have fun and enjoy the home as much as you do.

With natural fiber rugs, your dog, cat, bunny, or other beloved pet can finally be themselves. Without having to worry about scratching your hardwood floors or staining an oriental rug, your pets can live in a care-free home. Seagrass rugs especially allow all of the dirt and mud from your best friend’s paws to disappear right through the weaves.

2. Soft on the Paws

No one likes sleeping on the hardwood or tile floor as it’s stiff and unforgiving. Not to mention the fact that standing on such floors for hours each day puts a strain on your feet. In fact, it’s probably for this reason that our pets love to jump on our furniture or curl up in a pile of blankets. So if we wouldn’t lounge on our own hard floors, why should our pets?

Natural fiber area rugs offer the perfect place for your pets to lay down after trekking in the yard or playing with their favorite toy. They provide a little extra cushion from the hard surfaces of your home, but are still easy to play on when needed. An outdoor sisal rug is a great fit for your patio as well, giving your pet’s paws some relief from the sun-baked floors.

3. Zero Stray Threads

Rugs with fringe and loose, shaggy fibers are no doubt fun to play with, but inhaling threads of fabric or getting tangled in loose snags is not enjoyable. It also means that the rug is easy to ruin after only a little bit of wear and tear. And as the homeowner, that is the last thing you want in a pet-friendly rug.

To protect the quality of your rug and prevent any snags or tangles, natural fiber rugs are tightly woven together. Other shaggy or cotton rugs are easily picked apart by clawing cats and digging dogs, but the thick weaves of natural fiber will keep your rug together through it all. In addition, our natural fiber area rugs come with secure binding to eliminate any loose fringes or weaves at the ends of your rug.

If you think your furry friend would love a natural fiber rug to lounge on, check out one of our many pet-friendly area rugs.

For more adorable pets, visit our cute pet contest page to gush over all of our past entries. If that still doesn’t cut it, give our favorite #pugonarug, Winnie the Pug, a follow on Instagram.

To help you find surprising, yet perfect places in your home for an area rug, here are our five places you wouldn’t think to put a rug.

1. Laundry Room

It isn’t often that we see nice area rugs in places that see a lot of action like a laundry room. For starters, the area is prone to increased foot traffic, stains, and messes. But that doesn’t mean the room can’t benefit from a durable, eye-catching area rug. With an area rug in your laundry room, you can comfortably wash, dry, and fold your clothes while barefoot.

The best laundry room area rugs need to easily withstand detergent, water, and footprints. Natural fiber rugs are a great fit as dirt and other messes don’t cling to the hard fibers, but instead rest in the weave. Choosing the right rug size is also important as area rugs that are too large (or too small) are distracting to the eye.

2. Patio or Deck

Our outdoor spaces are some of our most-loved parts of our homes—especially in the summertime when the weather is at its best. But sometimes the outdoors can be harsh on our patio/deck floors or on our feet. For example, when the sun has been baking your patio floor, it becomes impossible to walk on without burning the soles of your feet.

From protecting your outdoor floors to giving your outdoor living space a cozy vibe, an outdoor rug has many benefits. Built to withstand the seasons and tough weather conditions, specially designed rugs like outdoor sisal or polypropylene rugs offer the ideal solution for withstanding the elements and being easy to clean. And because they have a natural, earthy look they will feel right at home in the outdoors.

For more ideas on how to decorate and arrange your patio, check out our nine ways to create cool spaces for the summer.

3. Walk-in Closet

It’s an often neglected area, but your walk-in closet is a well-loved space that you spend a lot of time in each day. But your closet doesn’t have to be just a glorified storage room for your clothes and accessories. Pairing your walk-in with a warm, cozy rug can help transform your closet into a real room for your home.

Make your closet a comfortable lounge space by laying down a new area rug. And because you’ll be doing a lot of standing in your walk-in to change outfits and accessorize, you’ll want a rug that is softer on your feet. For the softest natural fiber rugs, try sisal wool, jute, or large weave sisal.

Have carpet in your closet? Don’t worry—you can layer a beautiful area rug on top of your carpet to complement the room.

4. Mudroom or Entryway

Mudrooms and entryways can become filled with hoards of shoes, winter coats, hats, and other accessories for the outdoors. After all, they are the first and last rooms our family members and guests use to enter and leave the house. But instead of letting your tile, wood, or carpet floors take the beating and have to mop it up afterwards, an area rug can go a long way in terms of hiding the mess and protecting your floors.

Use an area rug in your entryway or mudroom to greet guests as they first arrive and protect your floors from all of the shoes and mud tracks they bring in. Similar to a laundry room, the rug you select for your front entryway or mudroom should be durable and easy to clean as it will see a lot of foot traffic and stains. But luckily, the hard fibers and thick weaves of a natural fiber or polypropylene rug make cleaning a simple task.

Find out how to design the perfect mudroom or entryway for your home with our four essential mudroom items.

5. Kids’ Room

Kids’ rooms usually don’t see design items like area rugs, end tables, or ottomans. With plenty of toys and imaginative kid-friendly design themes, an area rug can seem like an odd fit. But if your child’s play area or bedroom has hardwood or tile floors, an area rug can be a lifesaver. You can also pick a fun rug design that will help fuel your child’s imagination. For example, an oriental rug can be your child’s own magic carpet.

Because the kids’ room is often where playtime happens, it’s critical to get your children a rug with softer fibers. After playing on their hands and knees all day, you don’t want your children getting frequent rug burns. If you want a natural fiber solution, sisal wool or jute rugs are a great choice.

Ready to purchase a beautiful rug for your home? Get started with our four factors to consider when choosing a natural area rug.

For the best master suite, it needs to have the right mix of personality, relaxation, and comfort. To help you style your master bedroom with confidence, we’ve outlined five easy steps you can take to design the perfect master bedroom.

1. Select a Style

The first step to any interior design project is to pick a style. From contemporary to mid-century modern to coastal design, it’s important that the style you choose is reflective of your tastes and is something you won’t easily tire of. And if you have a partner you share the room with, it’s best to consult on a style with them as well. No one wants to wake up each morning to a room they don’t feel belongs to them.

The style you select will help influence everything in your room, including the bedding, furniture, wall coverings, and proudly displayed knicknacks. While the style will serve as your template going forward, remember that it’s okay to deviate from time to time. Your style should serve as a guideline, not a rulebook. At the end of the day, you’re the one that will have to live with it!

2. Color the Walls

Hands down the hardest decision to make when designing a master bedroom is picking the wall color. With an endless range of colors to choose from, it’s an overwhelming decision to make. And because this will likely be the first color you see each morning, it’s crucial that you pick a color you won’t get sick of.

To create a relaxing, calm environment, we recommend going with one of our natural color pallet ideas. In addition, the color should go with the style you selected as well as the furniture and décor you already have picked out. But before buying gallons of paint and plastering them on your walls, take samples and paint patches of color on your existing walls to test them out. Your patches should be a couple of coats thick so your test has the most accurate color. If you like what you see after a few days or weeks, you know you have the right color for your master.

3. Move in the Basics

Once the walls are painted, it’s time to start putting the room together. If style is a guideline to follow, the furniture is the template you’ll work off of. To begin, start with selecting and moving in the big furniture items every complete master bedroom needs. This includes the bed frame, mattress, end tables, wardrobes, and other must-have furniture items.

Once the furniture is in the room, you can start arranging the items to your liking. While arranging your furniture, pay special attention to your morning and nightly routines. For example, if the first thing you do in the mornings is change out of your pajamas, you may want to place the wardrobe near your bed for fast access. Or, if you like to wake up to the morning sun, place your bed in the direct line of an east-facing window.

4. Create Warmth

One of the best assets to any master bedroom is an element of comfort and warmth. With an excess number of pillows, blankets, rugs, and quilts, master bedrooms have a homey, relaxing feel that lulls you to sleep each night. Comfort items also help create a sense of security — after all, there’s a reason it’s called a ‘security blanket’!

Warm up your bedroom with rugs and blankets to create extra comfort while you sleep, lounge, or walk around your room. For the best level of comfort, try a soft sisal or a wool sisal rug. But before purchasing or laying down a rug, make sure you choose the best rug size for your bedroom. This ensures you have the perfect sized rug to comfort your feet all day long and minimize footfall noise.

Do you have carpet in your bedroom? You can still add more warmth and comfort to your space by following our guide on how to place a rug on carpet.

5. Add Happy Details

The best way to enjoy any space is to surround yourself with happy reminders and memories. It’s important that you design your room for yourself and not for others by placing things that make you happy throughout the room. This could be trinkets or mementos that you’ve picked up on your travels, paintings that were handed down through your family, or other treasured items you’ve acquired in your life. The important thing is that your bedroom and the items in it make you happy.

Now that you know how to design your master bedroom, don’t forget to check back here for more style guides to use in your home. If you’re ready for more interior design tips, check out these four ideas for using sisal rugs to add style to your interior design.

Trying a rug in your home before committing to a purchase is not new – physical stores have offered this option for years. Now we are bringing that same flexibility and convenience to you through our online store. And the process is quite simple.

You fill out a ‘style profile’ so we understand your needs and preferences, and our in-house designer will send you up to six curated samples of Sisal products that will fit with your:

• Home décor colors
• Flooring type
• Type of room
• Additional requirements, such as durability to handle kids, pets, etc.

Testing the free samples in your home gives you the opportunity to confirm the feel, color, and quality of the rug. That way you can decide what will look and work best in your home – and be certain you’re making the right decision.

Ready to get started choosing the best rug for your home? Fill out your style profile today. 

Installing New Hardwood Floors

It wasn’t an easy decision to make the move to hardwood for Sheila and her family of five. It was an investment in their home that they weren’t confident in at first.

“We had wall to wall carpet that I hated for forever, but I wasn’t sure how long we’d be in the house or if we would be moving,” Sheila explained.

But as a family, they decided to take the plunge and install new hardwood floors back in January. By February, Sheila had her dream hardwood floor. However, when her dog scattered across the wood planks she realized she gained something else as well: noise.

Beautiful, but Noisy

Determined to leave the new hardwood as the centerpiece for her living and dining rooms and dampen the footfalls of five people plus a dog, Sheila started looking for rugs.

“I didn’t want another print to busy up the room, I wanted something simple and clean that would let the hardwood floor shine,” Sheila said of her ideal rug.

And considering the unique layout of her dining and living room, Sheila knew she couldn’t just go to Pottery Barn and get a standard sized rug. She needed a custom solution, leading her to our (virtual) doors.

A Custom Seagrass Rug

Once she found us, Sheila instantly set her heart on a one-of-a-kind natural seagrass rug. Knowing that the rug wouldn’t detract from her new floors and the elegance they brought to her home, Sheila was beyond pleased with the result.

“Even with the rug, you can see the beauty of the floors,” Sheila said. “The contrast of the wood and the seagrass is powerful and pairs really well together.”

Plus, Sheila noted that the rug arrived in perfect quality and right on time. Something homeowners and designers alike can appreciate.

Thank you again, Sheila, for choosing a custom seagrass rug for your home. We agree and think the room turned out amazing. You have great taste and we hope to work with you again soon!

To see more of Sheila’s incredible designs, check out her blog, Maison de Cinq, focused on making homes more beautiful inside and out.

One such apartment renter is Alex Kalita, interior designer and co-founder of Common Bond Design. We sat down recently with Alex to find out how she tackled the toughest stipulation of her Brooklyn apartment lease: covering up the hardwood floor.

An Ironclad Lease

Alex’s railroad apartment has beautiful, wide plank hardwood floors from the early 20th or even late 19th century. The honey pine wood gave a warm, inviting feel to the long, narrow apartment. But when anyone set foot on those planks, they shouted back in creaks and groans. Thus inspiring the special caveat to her lease agreement.

“It broke my heart to have to cover them, but those beautiful floors were extremely creaky,” Alex remembered. “My neighbors would have thought I was bowling.”

Required by her lease to cover at least 80-90% of her hardwood floors and spare the ears of her neighbors, Alex needed to find a floor covering that would fit nearly her whole apartment. But with such a long and narrow railroad apartment, that proved to be a little difficult.

Balancing Size, Durability, and Style

Alex started her search by looking at a variety of rugs. Living in such a narrow and long space, she needed something that would fit well and not be mismatched with the size of the apartment. What’s more is that it needed to have a large surface area to cover that 80-90% of her floors. A simple 6x9 rug wasn’t going to cut it.

The rug also needed to be indestructible, handling messes from both puppies and parties. Thinking of her part-time house guest, an adorable Puggle she shares custody of, the rug had to endure paw scratches and prints. Not to mention the fact that the rug would be exposed to potential food stains in the kitchen and dining areas.

Pictured above: Hektor, Alex’s puggle, happily destroying a tennis ball on Alex’s new sisal rug.

Last but certainly not least, with her own interior design business, Alex needed a solution that would complement, not clash, with the little bit of hardwood she could show off.

With all of these considerations in mind, Alex set her sights on a custom sisal rug.

The Perfect Fit

Once placed in her apartment, Alex’s custom Four Seasons sisal rug was the perfect solution. At 7’6”x17” the sisal rug has held up well in her home, surviving bolognese accidents and furry friends. Plus, because sisal doesn’t demand a lot of attention, the rug helps highlight and draw wandering eyes to the wood floors and is the perfect complement to her décor.  She ended up choosing the color Belize Dune with matching Serging border. 

Pictured above: Alex’s new sisal rug pairs well with the rest of her apartment.

As Alex said, “I was worried a coastal sisal rug might clash with my more engineered and architectural furniture, but it ended up providing a fun contrast. It also helps my home feel larger. With such narrow and long rooms, the sisal rug helps the space feel more like a home and less like a hallway.”

Alex warned us that she wasn’t a rug person before renting this new apartment. But we hope that since laying down her own custom sisal rug, we’ve helped change her mind.

For more makeover inspiration like Alex’s, check out these three room makeovers from interior designers that are sure to inspire.

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In an effort to preserve the island’s unique history and character, the Nantucket Historical Association (NHA) created Nantucket By Design, a week-long fundraising event celebrating Nantucket’s past and future. The climactic event in the week-long celebration is the New Party at the Oldest House. But to get the house ready to wow charitable guests and leave a mark on Nantucket, the NHA partnered with the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID). Here’s how the NYSID and two of its talented students set out to design a room in Nantucket’s oldest house.

It All Started With a Killer Concept

How do you bring modern design into a home that was erected in 1690? It’s a difficult premise that instantly drew in NYSID students, Ajaee Shepard and Mae McKenna. Challenging themselves with creating a strong contrast to what might usually be in a 1600s Nantucket home, they created a design concept, “Bauhaus by the Sea.”

“It was the last thing you’d expect in the oldest house,” Ajaee said. In fact, the strength and unexpectedness of their concept is what helped them earn the project in the first place, beating out other students in a competition to design a room in the old house.

Their design fusion involved taking geometric shapes and marrying them with the bright freshness of nautical design, which was no easy task.

Designing a 1600s-Era Living and Dining Room

For their design contributions, Ajaee and Mae designed the largest room in the house, which proved to be a little difficult considering its size and function.

“It’s a very large space because it used to be the only room that the family used all of the time,” Mae said. “They slept, ate, cooked, and worked all in that one room to conserve heat.”

To preserve the importance of the room and take advantage of such a large space, Ajaee and Mae created a living and dining space. And to help distinguish the eating area, they searched for the perfect rug and found us, Sisal Rugs Direct.

When we heard that the NYSID needed a sisal rug for Nantucket By Design, we jumped at the chance to help them complete their project and donated one of our all natural fiber rugs for their room.

“The rug ended up being the perfect size for all of our furniture and because it had a black trim, it paired really well with our black design elements,” Mae said.

Nantucket’s oldest house before the event:

Nantucket’s oldest house with Ajaee and Mae’s design concept:

Preserving Nantucket’s History

With the design complete, Nantucket By Design’s finale event was a smashing success.

Pictured above: NYSID students Ajaee Shepard and Mae McKenna

The project not only helped highlight Nantucket’s longstanding history, but also helped two design students propel their careers. Ajaee is already starting work with a real estate development firm, and Mae has her sights set on an internship next fall.

We couldn’t be happier to have donated to the NYSID and the NHA and look forward to doing so again in the near future.

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1. Bamboo

Exotic and eco-friendly, bamboo is a popular flooring option among designers and homeowners. Not only are bamboo floors just as strong—if not stronger—than traditional hardwoods, bamboo usually costs less per square foot because it takes less time to harvest. The rising demand for bamboo has also led to a greater selection of plank sizes, colors, and textures offering homeowners plenty of options to suit their style.

2. Concrete

Sleek, trendy, and definitely edgy, concrete can make any room feel industrial chic. Perfect for a modern or contemporary style, concrete floors will last a lifetime. Although, concrete now comes in so many different finishes and colors, there aren’t many styles it doesn’t go with. The one drawback that still exists for concrete, though, is its comfort level. Concrete is a hard, unforgiving surface. But the right soft sisal rug can prove to be the perfect accessory to add warmth and softness to your home.

3. Cork

Comfort is always in style and cork is one of the most comfortable flooring options out there, making it the perfect flooring choice for popular rooms like the kitchen. Cork is also eco-friendly and low maintenance, giving homeowners further peace of mind. And if you think cork only comes in one, tan color like corks for your wine bottles, cork floors are now produced in a spectrum of colors like gray, black, white, brown, or red to fit your taste.

4. Black Stained Floors

Perfect for contrasting with bright furniture and white walls, dark floors—including tiles and hardwoods—are rising in popularity. Homeowners who like the look of smooth, less grainy wood, often prefer dark, black stained floors as the grain is harder to see. This creates a floor with a more modern vibe. The uniform look also makes the room easier to decorate as there are fewer colors to clash with.

5. Gray Hardwood

Steely and sophisticated, the color gray is putting its stamp on furniture, bedding, wall coverings, and now flooring. Gray is a flexible neutral that goes along with many kitchen, living room, and bedroom designs. And while you can purchase gray hardwood floors from the get go, you can also refinish your existing hardwood to achieve the perfect shade of gray for your home.

6. Sustainable or Reclaimed Wood

A trend affecting many businesses is the need for local, sustainable goods. For your floors, this means going with a classic American hardwood instead of looking to products from overseas like Brazilian or Australian hardwoods. Oak, maple, and pine woods are forested locally and are replenished after the harvest. If you’re looking for a more sustainable option than local hardwood, reclaimed wood is the ultimate recyclable that is the perfect complement to antique and rustic design styles.

Need some more inspiration for your floors? Discover how a custom sisal rug can take your home from so-so to show-stopping.

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Finishing a Large Living Room With Awkward Proportions

Kelly Elko gives magazines and her hundreds of thousands of social media followers a behind-the-scenes look as she decorates her 100-year old home. Earlier this year, she was stumped when trying to decorate her 13-foot wide by 27-foot long living room.

A too-small rug didn’t fill the space quite right, leaving Kelly scratching her head over the best placement of her furniture. Upon a friend’s recommendation, she researched larger rugs and happened upon Sisal Rugs Direct.

After working with a personal designer at Sisal Rugs Direct and trying free samples of jute, sisal and seagrass, Kelly ordered the perfect custom rug to finish off her space

As Kelly said,” This beast of a room needed a custom rug and I wanted something neutral that could withstand teens, spills and dog slobber while still looking amazing. Seagrass is a workhorse that not only looks incredible but it can take a beating.”

Putting the Finishing Touches on a Playroom/Schoolroom Refresh

Patsy Schmidt, a decorator and mother to three girls, decided to create a space for her daughters to be creative and have fun. She started the project by finding the perfect sofa and slipcovers to make the space comfy for lounging. She then accessorized with a combination of found and crafted furniture (including a table and art box made by her husband), pillows, drapes, and other kid-friendly décor – featuring some of the girls’ own artwork.

But she needed the perfect rug to help round out the space. She finally found it at Sisal Rugs Direct. As Patsy said on Instagram, “One step closer to a totally finished playroom....our new sisal rug from @sisalrugsdirect! It is perfect in the space...they do custom shapes and sizes, so I got the exact size I needed and exact shape!”

Choosing the Perfect Dining Room Rug

OceanChicBoutique Etsy shop owner Angie Sian shared her experience in an Instagram post:

“If you were to ask my advice on choosing a dining room rug, I would need to know 3 things before we even discuss your budget...do you have kids, pets and are you Type A?! Now you can certainly spend thousands on a hand woven oushak or other wool type rug and they can be stunning but if you answered yes to my 3 questions, than I would probably have you reconsider to save your sanity.

Regardless of your style of decor, the rug I most often recommend is SEAGRASS! This is the only type of rug I own and let me tell you why.

First, it's almost impossible to stain it. Invariably when my cats get sick, they go straight for the rug! Every. Time. In the beginning, I would panic but after cleaning and praying, the stain would always magically be gone by morning.

Secondly, even a custom cut on the larger size should easily run less than $1k; not bad at all. I ordered this one from @sisalrugsdirect and got the exact dimensions I needed.”

Ready to move ahead with your own room makeover? Fill out this style profile for free curated samples of Sisal Rugs Direct products, selected just for you by our in-house designer.

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Q. How did you get your start in design?

Deb: After attending college with a focus on business, I earned my degree in Interior Design. My first job was working for a design studio, where I became lead designer. I’ve now got 23 years of experience under my belt.

Q. How did you learn about Sisal Rugs Direct?

Deb: I first learned about Sisal Rugs Direct when the design studio I worked for out of college carried their products. Sisal Rugs was still a small company at that time.

Q. What is your specialty?

Deb: I have extensive experience with working with customers in their homes – from standard homes to executive-level homes – on everything from organization to full remodels. Since joining Sisal Rugs, I’ve also had the opportunity to work on coastal homes, helping customers prepare them for presentation online to be rented. I also seem to be the go-to resource for stairing. Most of my design knowledge is in flooring, so working at Sisal Rugs Direct is an excellent fit. 

Q. What is a typical day like working with customers looking for home flooring?

Deb: My main title is Office Manager, but I work with customers on all types of projects and to address a range of needs and issues. Someone might call in a panic because a party guest spilled red wine on their rug. We send customers a care sheet for their rugs and include care instructions on our website, but when that glass of red wine spills, a customer is not thinking about those resources. It helps when there is a friendly voice on the other end of the phone telling them we can work through it together.

Other times customers may want advice on the best rug for their scenario, such as their highly trafficked kitchen or living room. When designing a custom rug, customers often send photos showing what they like or the décor they are trying to complement, and we look at flooring options to create custom rugs. While we offer binding, I also work with the material that our customers supply so it matches their décor.

Q. What is your experience with corporate customers?

Deb: I’ve worked with major retailers such as Vera Bradley and Lily Pulitzer, and hotels, especially those in the Caribbean. Sisal rugs are popular in the Caribbean but it’s difficult to get rugs finished there at a reasonable price. Recently a design event company hired us to create a large number of rugs for an Oscar de la Renta party.

Q. What do you feel sets Sisal Rugs Direct apart?

Deb: I believe it’s a combination of the level of service and our direct interactions with customers to ensure we are meeting their needs. We are attentive to our customers and committed to providing them with the perfect rug. That translates into great relationships that encourage customers to return.

One example is when I was working with a customer and her husband to help them find flooring for their new executive-style home. We got the opportunity to meet in person while they were visiting family in Minnesota. Working together we created custom flooring that met their needs. Since then, she brought us in to help her daughter figure out the best flooring for her new home with her husband and children.

Ready to engage Deb to design your custom rug? Start by filling out your design profile here.

Anton Sisal. This raised diamond trellis pattern is a bit softer and more open than other diamond-patterned sisal rugs. Featuring a raised pattern that comes in neutral colors – grey, parchment, truffle, wheatberry and domino – this rug will blend with any décor. Add this to your room for an on-trend look that is more affordable than what you can find anywhere else.

Milano Sisal. This thin-sisal rug, made in Belgium, comes in a unique striped pattern in taupe, beige, and greys for a contemporary, clean-line look. A stain protectant is soaked into the fibers before the rug is woven, ensuring the rug is highly water and stain resistant. The rug is also treated with a commercial-grade fire retardant, making it suitable for both residences and high-traffic locations including hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses.

Cambridge Soft Sisal. With this rug, we introduce a natural boucle pattern in ultra-soft, 100% wool. Choose from two grey and two neutral tones when adding this affordable wool rug to a bedroom or other room in your home.

Recycled Plastic Bottle Rugs. When you think of recycled plastic bottles, softness doesn’t come to mind. That’s why you won’t believe that this plush, cut-loop pile rug is made from 100% recycled material. Not only does it look and feel terrific, it is 100% stain resistant, anti-static, and sound absorbing. Perfect for family and kids’ rooms, where easy clean up is a must. This rug makes it easy to do something good for the environment!

Curious about our new rugs? Order your free samples today, or get started on creating your own custom sisal rug!

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1. Get a clear view. One of the easiest ways to brighten a room is by brightening your windows. Get them sparkling inside and out using your favorite glass cleaner and cloth, or hire a professional to do the dirty work. Finish off the windows by replacing heavy shutters and blinds with sheer, filmy, light-colored curtains that diffuse the summer sun.

2. Toss those old pillow covers. Now’s the perfect time to trade out heavy, cozy toss pillows for light ones. Go with white and other fresh summer colors that complement the décor in your living room for an airy, vibrant feel.

3. Lighten up surfaces. If your main living spaces feature lots of dark wood or heavy tablecloths, lighten things up. You could replace heavy furniture in your main living space with lighter-colored pieces. Or reupholster with light-colored fabrics. A simpler, more affordable solution is to use white or light-colored decorations. Think tablecloths, candles, jars holding seashells and rocks…anything that conjures summer.

4. Reflect on your rooms. There’s nothing wrong with cozy rooms, but in the summer, you want to open up your spaces. An easy way to do that is by hanging mirrors that reflect daylight and create an airier, open feel.

5. Bring summer into the bedroom. Summer is a terrific time to breathe new life into bedrooms. Store all those heavy winter coverings for lightweight, light-colored ones. And replace your well-worn bed pillows with fresh ones that bring new comfort to the room.

6. Incorporate the smells of summer. You can easily bring summer into your home by cutting flowers from the garden and displaying them in the living room, kitchen, and even bathrooms. Use existing vases or get creative with whimsical displays in pitchers and oversized drinking glasses. Another way to introduce the smells of summer is with citrus-scented soaps and candles.

7. Whiten your walls. Put a fresh coat of white paint on dark walls. In just a few hours, you can transform a dark space into an airy one. If the thought of painting an entire room feels overwhelming, paint a single wall opposite your windows. This provides a welcome accent and reflects incoming light.

8. Declutter. Lighten up literally by purging rooms of unused furniture that clog up the flow. While you’re at it, look for ways to recycle or donate the pieces so they continue serving a purpose, even as you lighten your load.

9. Freshen your floors. To round out your airier rooms and put a bounce in your step, lay down summer-colored rugs. With so many patterns and colors to choose from, you’re certain to find the perfect complement to your fresh new design.

Now that you’ve created the perfect cool spaces for your summer, it’s time to sit back and enjoy!

• Does the space have high traffic?
• Will the space be used often for entertaining?
• Does anyone in my home have allergies?
• Will I need the rug to look as fresh in five years as it does now?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may want to consider indoor/outdoor polypropylene rugs.

Jeff Akseizer, principal of Akseizer Design Group (ADG), depends on them to complete upscale interior designs for both himself and his clients. (ADG is responsible for designing some of the leading hospitality, commercial and residential properties along the East Coast and across North America.)

“Synthetic sisal rugs can look as expensive, as authentic, as luxurious, and as amazing as any rug you can find in a high-brand retail design center,” he enthuses. “I’ve put this rug in show homes that are worth millions of dollars. Without a doubt everybody asks, ‘Where is that great rug from? How much is that?’ And when you tell them roughly the cost, their eyeballs pop out. So, from that perspective, indoor/outdoor rugs are a really nice homeowner tool. They give you a nice designer element without breaking the bank.”

Jeff especially appreciates these rugs stand up to wear and tear.

“One of the challenges we face is how to make a hotel room look as good on day 10,000 as on day 1,” says Jeff. “With typical mushy hotel carpets, a maid can pass over them with a vacuum a few times, or a wet towel is left on the floor, and they’ll quickly show wear. In contrast, Sisal Rugs Direct indoor/outdoor rugs will look brilliant from the moment you install them to several years later.”

They can even survive spills. It’s why Jeff uses indoor/outdoor rugs in his own home when he entertains.

“If someone spills red wine, it’s no big deal,” he explains, “I can just grab some paper towels, soak it up and move on with the evening. I’m not scrubbing some rare Alpaca-based wool rug worth $20,000. It takes the pressure off both the guests and myself.”

Finally, if you have allergies, indoor/outdoor polypropylene rugs are the safest bet because they repel allergens thanks to their flat weave and inorganic fibers. Mold has nothing to consume and pollen dries out. In contrast, allergens and mold thrive in wool; the thicker the pile, the more hospitable the environment.

If you want durable, hypoallergenic floor covering at a value, check out our selection of 49 indoor/outdoor sisal rug types that come in a variety of shades and textures. You can even match them online to your floor. Plus, you can customize them with more than 8 binding materials in dozens of colors. Have a little fun and play with our online tool to create the perfect custom design.

A favorite expression among Monhegan’s long-time visitors is, “We like to do nothing, and it takes us all day to do it,” laughs Michael Brassard who, with his wife Jaye Morency, owns The Island Inn on Monhegan, the largest hotel property on the island.

Jaye and Michael left behind investment and consulting careers in Boston to live their dream of owning a historic hotel. It wasn’t an impulsive move, they had been looking for the perfect property for 25 years; one that was on the ocean, historic and would let them indulge in both creative design and historic preservation

Then, in January 2014 after a 90-minute harrowing ferry ride on the roughest seas they’ve ever experienced, they decided that the Island Inn, operating since 1907, was precisely what they were looking for.

“It really caught our eye in terms of clean, simple lines,” explains Michael. “Unlike a lot of restorations that go too far, the previous owners knew when to stop. This was critical for us because we always preserve a sense of place in anything we restore. We try to do as little as possible to it, and this struck just the right balance.”

Michael considers the hotel an extension of the island’s character. “It’s very comfortable, like a well-loved, well-worn sweater,” he says. “The hotel has that same kind of comfortable balance that’s clean and simple, where you immediately feel at home.”

While many inns are brimming with frill and clutter, the Island Inn takes a minimalist approach because it really doesn’t require over-the-top adornment.

“Jaye and I prefer to focus on the stunning surroundings, including the most amazing sunsets you’ve ever seen,” says Michael. Furthermore, the Inn features artwork by renowned painters. “The previous owners established a tradition of displaying a Monhegan-based fine artist for the entire season in the dining room and common areas. So basically, everywhere you look, you see incredible natural and artistic beauty.”

Enhancing this beauty are sisal rugs from Sisal Rugs Direct.

“They’re comfortable, easy to maintain, and feel great underfoot,” says Michael. “Sisal has this simplicity that we love. It feels historic, yet also contemporary and clean. It has a nice, summery style that makes you feel like you should go out on the porch and enjoy a ‘Dark & Stormy’.”

We especially appreciated Sisal Rugs Direct’s custom-ordering process.

“Sisal Rugs Direct is very easy to work with, from choosing the border and materials to the colors, they give you a lot of flexibility,” Michael points out. “It was a simple, uneventful transaction, as it should be when you’re working with the best companies. They met our needs in a straightforward way, and delivered exactly what they promised.”

The Island Inn on Monhegan is one of several hotels that appreciate Sisal Rugs Direct. See how the White Moose Inn,  Hive Hotel, and  Casa Faena Hotel have used custom sisal rugs from Sisal Rugs Direct  to enhance their décor.

Photo Credit: The Island Inn on Monhegan

But, before you get too carried away, consider the advice of some of the nation’s leading interior designers. They provide tips that will help you ensure that your custom rug is perfect for your space.

1. Know your budget and style.

“The two most important considerations for a custom rug is budget and style of the home,” says Kerrie Kelly, Founder and Principal Designer, Design Lab. “Budget ties into the construction and materials used for the rug, while the style of the home is key for determining the overall look.”

2. Focus on dimensions and details.

“Size of a rug is very important. Too small and it will look wonky in your space, too large and there's a possibility that it won't fit,” says Stephanie Coffaro, Interior Architect. “With a custom rug, there are typically no returns, so be very meticulous with your measurements!”

Consider the experience of lifestyle blogger Kelly Elko, who created a custom rug for her home. She almost got the dimensions wrong.

“Math was never my strong suit, but you know what they say about measuring twice and cutting once, so I was extra careful when I measured. But even with all of my care, I still somehow managed to get them wrong!” explains Kelly. “Luckily Sisal Rugs Direct noticed my mistake and emailed me so I measured once more and finally got it right.”

It’s no wonder Stephanie says, “the devil is in the details.”

“Think about the weave, the pattern, the materials, the edges, and trim. All elements are important, and the details are really what make something unique and special,” she points out. “Try to think ahead and. Not just what's trendy now but what you might like for the future. Since it's an investment, aim for beauty with longevity.”

3. Location matters.

“Custom rugs make a statement that is truly unique to your home. They’re more of an investment so consider location for biggest impact like an entry hall or the dining room,” advises Gregory Nelmes, owner, Gregory Nelmes Interior Design.

“Look at the rug placement in correlation to your furniture,” adds Susan Jones, president, Sisal Rugs Direct. “Make sure the rug grounds and defines the space.”

4. Ask for samples.

“This will ensure color expectations are met,” notes Gregory. Susan advises matching these samples to furniture, floor and all colors.  Samples help you get a good idea of the texture and color in your home before ordering.  Added bonus - the first 6 samples are free at Sisal Rugs Direct!!

5. Take advantage of choices.

“Look at all of the border bindings that are available. At Sisal Rugs Direct, we offer a multitude of options in a variety of widths and colors. We’ll even let you use your own material.” says Susan.

Find out more about how custom rugs can take your home from so-so to show stopping, and check out all of the details about your custom-design options.

“For homeowners who want a unique look or need a unique size, it’s best to go with a custom rug instead of buying ‘off the rack,’” advises Kerrie Kelly, Founder and Principal Designer, Design Lab . “A custom rug is one of a kind and can make a space really stand out, while a custom-sized rug is great for fitting those funny corners or larger, expansive spaces.”

Lifestyle Blogger Kelly Elko proves Kerrie’s point with her recent purchase of a custom rug from Sisal Rugs Direct. The awkward proportions of her long, narrow living room made it challenging to place furniture. Furthermore, an off-the-rack rug made the room feel smaller.

“This beast of a room needed a custom rug and I wanted something neutral that could withstand teens, spills and dog slobber while still looking amazing,” explains Kelly in her blog. Her solution: a custom rug from Sisal Rugs Direct.

“I couldn’t be happier with my choice!” she raves. “The seagrass rug with black cord weaved through and the faux leather banding adds the perfect finishing touch.”

Credit: Kelly Elko

Custom Rugs Celebrate Your Style

“Creating anything custom is definitely both a commitment and an investment,” says Stephanie Coffaro, Interior Architect. “I think a good time to invest in customized rugs is when you've finally established your personal style and already have some of your larger, more permanent pieces like sofas, chairs, and tables. You'll also want to make sure that you know exactly where the rug will go as the size of the rug is dependent on the space that it will live in, especially if it's an unorthodox size.”

Custom Rugs Create Conversation

“The right-size rug is key to anchoring a conversation area or a dining room table - and sometimes standard sizes just fall short,” explains Gregory Nelmes, owner, Gregory Nelmes Interior Design. “Draw out your furniture groupings and place tracing paper of different sized rug to determine the right size you need.  Custom rugs allow you to select colors and textures specific to your home.”

Custom Rugs Make the Most of Your Home

“If possible, all rugs should be custom.  Your rooms, hallways, doorways and other spaces are unique to your home, and it’s nice to have a rug that fits them exactly,” says Susan Jones, “For example, I am just furnishing my new townhome. In the living room, I needed a rug that would define the seating area, but leave enough space between the coffee table and fireplace. Also, on the two ends, I wanted the chairs to fit on top of the rug, but not go too far into the traffic areas.

“In my hallway, I needed a rug inside of the door and then a runner,” she continues. “Both were customized to not cover any vents, allow enough space for arriving guests to stand on, and the runner to end before the living room. Custom rugs beautifully united every element of my home.”

Now, look around your home. Think about where a custom rug would liven up your interior design. Then have a little fun and play with our create-a-rug tool.  You’ll be amazed by how easily and beautifully your perfect custom rug can come together.  

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Even though Kirby is camera-shy, Sheryl says “he’s just our love bug. He’s the most gentle rabbit we’ve ever met and he’s really very smart. He’s potty-trained and loves being around people. He’s really a great pet to have around and we love him.”

Sheryl found Kirby two and a half years ago through the Pasadena Humane Society website. “We literally dropped everything and went over there because he was so cute. The weirdest thing is that his name came with him; when we saw him we were like, ‘But he is a Kirby!’”

Even though Kirby easily won her heart, she was surprised when she found out Kirby won the contest.

“I’m thrilled Kirby won; we’ve been on cloud nine and now my husband says Kirby’s a star!” laughs Sheryl.

Sheryl is looking forward to spending her prize – a $250 Sisal Rugs Direct gift certificate. She’s a regular visitor to Sisal Rugs Direct. “I go online every few weeks to look at rugs, there’s a few places in the house where I could use them,” she says. “I have a hemp rug already and they’re so easy to maintain, especially with pets.”

Furthermore, Sheryl regularly recommends Sisal Rugs Direct to her clients. As the owner of Textiles and Trimmings, she works with designers and architects to provide upscale lighting, furniture, outdoor furniture, accessories, and more.

“I got my email about Kirby winning as I was walking into an account. She’s a very high-end designer and I was telling her about the Sisal Rugs Direct website and she’s like, ‘I’ve never used this site and I use sisal a lot.’ I responded that the price point is great and the turnaround is fast; I encouraged her to check it out.”

If you’re an interior designer, take advantage of designer discount program where you have access to exclusive discounts.  You can sign up online here.  

1.  Refresh Colors and Textures

“An easy way to update your home for spring is to swap out your winter colors and textures for softer, more sinuous materials like linen and cotton,” says Kerrie Kelly, Founder and Principal Designer, Design Lab.  “These breezy materials can easily make your space feel fresh and revived just in time for spring. Also, add splashes of color via throw pillows, linens, and area rugs. Something as simple as a bright tablecloth can elevate your home.‘’

Antonino Buzzetta, principal and owner, Antonino Buzzetta Design, concurs.

"Put out a gorgeous table cloth. You've got countless fabrics to choose from to transform your space into something magical,” he states in House Beautiful.

Photo Credit: Antonino Buzzetta

2.  Bring the Outdoors In

“Bring in some life through seasonal plants and fresh blooms and flowers,” advises Stephanie Coffaro, Interior Architect, who we recently featured in a series of blog posts about the latest design trends.  

“For spring, I think a few well-placed bouquets can bring in pops of color, and make our spaces bright and alive,” she continues. “I'm a big fan of tulips and lilies because my mom always had them in the house growing up, and lilies establish a purity and elegance that can uplift any space.”

In the process, invest in a new vase or two, recommends Laura Gaskill, a regular contributor to Houzz. Target sells dozens for under $15 or find some for next to nothing at a garage or estate sale. She also recommends bringing garden urns indoors, because “it's less expected than a typical flowerpot and hints at the garden.”

Photo credit: Tara Bussema

3.  Go for Throws and Pillows

“A very minor investment is to bring in some fun pillows and light throw blankets that you can keep in storage when not in season so that you're always ready to change things up throughout the year,” notes Stephanie. “Bold florals and organic patterns are definitely on trend this year, and bringing in that freshness that reminds us all of spring.”

4.  Add an Objet d’Art

“Many people enjoy their curios, and a well-placed artifact like a coffee table book or a few tabletop accessories can really update a space without breaking the bank,” points out Stephanie.

Julie Blanner, lifestyle blogger, changes out her artwork in the springtime. “It takes just a few minutes, but offers a fresh appearance,” she explains in her blog.

5.  Be Colorful

“Spring is all about color! The most economical way to make the biggest impact in your home is paint,” says Gregory Nelmes, owner, Gregory Nelmes Interior Design. “Not feeling like Van Gogh? Then go for new throw pillows in fresh pastels or vivid brights. The covers can be easily changed each season.”

6. Rearrange your space

"Rearrange the floor plan of your living room — it's the ultimate no-cost decorating tip,” says Jason Grant, Stylist, in House Beautiful. “Moving around your furniture will be a super-quick update for the new season and will have you feeling brand new."

7.  Lighten Up

“Spring is time to open the windows and lighten up your home décor. Some easy and affordable ways to lighten up your home are to change some of the accessories,” notes Susan Jones, Vice President, Sisal Rugs Direct. “For example, change up your darker, heavier oriental and wool rugs for lighter sisal and natural fiber rugs. Traditionally, in the south, they would take up all of the heavy, dark oriental rugs and replace them with lighter sisal and natural fiber rugs. You’ll be surprised how inexpensive it is to create a rug to perfectly fit your décor.”

Photo credit: Erika Ward Interiors

Now that you know how easy and inexpensive it can be to bring in the freshness of spring, we hope you’re inspired to try out some of the ideas presented by our design experts. Want some more inspiration?  Check out why some of the nation’s top interior designers love sisal rugs.

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Indoor/outdoor polypropylene rugs aren’t what they used to be. And that’s a good thing, says Jeff Akseizer, principal of Akseizer Design Group (ADG), which is responsible for designing some of the most upscale hospitality, commercial and residential properties along the East Coast and across North America.

“For years you couldn’t find indoor/outdoor sisal rugs that looked close to anything real, and you also couldn’t find colors that were attractive,” he recalls. “They used to come in terrible primary colors, then later they came in brown or black. But no one made a woven sisal that looked great.”

Then he discovered what Sisal Rugs Direct offered.

“This product can look as expensive, as authentic, as luxurious, and as amazing as any rug you can find in a high-brand retail design center,” he enthuses. “I’ve put this rug in show homes that are worth millions of dollars. Without a doubt everybody asks, ‘Where is that great rug from? How much is that?’ And when you tell them roughly the cost, their eyeballs pop out. So, from that perspective, indoor/outdoor rugs are a really nice homeowner tool. They give you a nice designer element without breaking the bank.”

Not convinced that indoor/outdoor sisal rugs can look like the real thing? Consider the upscale White Moose Inn, located steps away from the world-renowned Inn at Little Washington. ADG created the interior design for the hotel, which guests rave about.  “We really enjoyed the modern aesthetic -- this is NOT a traditional B&B with frilly tablecloths and lace lampshades,” proclaimed a TripAdvisor reviewer.

The Inn is proud of its contemporary, Scandinavian aesthetic created by ADG. An important component of that is indoor/outdoor sisal rugs that were laid wall-to-wall in the hotel’s six guest rooms.

“One thing I always hear about sisal is, ‘Oh, people aren’t going to like how it feels on their feet’” says Jeff. “ADG has proven that wrong in many cases. This is actually a comfortable product on the foot. More so, people want their floor to feel clean and fresh, and when you walk around on shaggy carpets at boutique hotels, it doesn’t feel that way.”

In fact, Jeff notes that one of the most common guest inquiries at the White Moose Inn is “What’s on the floor in the guest room?”

“Market research and market data and all that great information that we pay for is one thing, but the horse’s mouth is another,” says Jeff. “So I look at what guests respond to, and they respond positively to sisal.”

Jeff consistently uses indoor/outdoor sisal rugs in his designs, and even his own home, because they maintain their beauty.

“One of the challenges we face is how to make a room look as good on day 10,000 as on day 1,” says Jeff. “With typical mushy hotel carpets, a maid can pass over them with a vacuum a few times, or a wet towel is left on the floor, and they’ll quickly show wear. In contrast, Sisal Rugs Direct indoor/outdoor rugs will look brilliant from the moment you install them to several years later.”

This is why sisal indoor/outdoor rugs are Jeff’s go-to floor covering choice in his own home, especially when he entertains.

“If someone spills red wine, it’s no big deal,” he explains, “I can just grab some paper towels, soak it up and move on with the evening. I’m not scrubbing some rare Alpaca-based wool rug worth $20,000. It takes the pressure off both guests and myself.”

If you want no-fuss sisal rug beauty at a value, check out our selection of over 49 indoor/outdoor sisal rug types that come in a variety of shades and textures. You can even match them online to your floor. Plus, you can customize them with more than 8 binding materials in dozens of colors. Have a little fun and play with our online tool to create the perfect custom design.

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1.  Wipe walls and ceilings. Use a vacuum to remove dust. Tackle stubborn surface grime, especially prevalent in kitchens, with a solvent-free degreaser (test it first in an inconspicuous area to ensure it won’t mar the surface).

2.  Dust books and shelves. Take everything off the shelves, and brush shelves and books with a feather duster. Use the dust-brush or crevice tool on a vacuum to reach into tight spots. Wipe the spines of leather-bound books with a clean, soft cloth.

3.  Clean upholstered furnishings. Take cushions outside and gently beat them by hand to remove dust. If there are stains, check the pieces for care labels. Use the vacuum’s upholstery and crevice tools to clean under seat cushions.

4.  Polish metal door and window hardware. Liquid polishes and polish-permeated cloths work well for moderately tarnished surfaces; pastes and creams are for heavier work. If tarnish doesn’t come off, try a stronger product.

5.  Dust your home thoroughly. This includes hard-to-reach places, such as the tops of ceiling fans and window casings. Always work from the top of a room down. Vacuum the dust that settles on the floor.

6.  Ensure fire safety. Change batteries in smoke detectors (this should be done twice a year), and make sure units are free of dust. Teach everyone in your household how to use a fire extinguisher, and review escape plans.

7.  Wash window screens. Using warm water and a mild dishwashing liquid, scrub each screen with a brush; rinse thoroughly.

8.  Clean window treatments. Many draperies and curtains are machine washable; check labels. Dry-clean fabric shades. Wipe wooden blinds with a damp cloth; warm water mixed with a mild dishwashing liquid is safe for metal and vinyl blinds.

9.  Use your dishwasher to clean more than your dishes. Throw in toothbrush holders, sponges, plastic hair brushes, glass light fixtures, and toys.

10.  Wash your window on a cloudy day. Use vertical strokes on one side of the window and horizontal on the other. This way, when you spot a streak, you’ll know which side it’s on.

Finally, give your natural fiber rug a refresher by vacuuming it with the beater bar off. NEVER steam clean, wet shampoo or use any other method that involves water saturation on a natural fiber rug.  Get details on how to deep clean your natural fiber and indoor/outdoor rugs here:

• How To Clean Sisal Boucle Rugs
• How To Clean Sisal Wool Rugs
• How To Clean Seagrass Rugs
• How To Clean Jute Rugs
• How To Clean Hemp Grass Rugs
• How To Clean Sisal Brasilia Rugs
• How To Clean Sisal Sun Rugs
• How To Clean Chanelle Sisal Wool Rugs
• How to Clean Indoor Outdoor Rugs

Here’s to your immaculate home!

1. Make the Ground Accommodating

Whether your table will be set on a patio or on the grass, a rug is a nice touch. Using a rug under your table is a great way to provide a level surface for the table to sit on as well as a more welcoming place for your guests to rest their feet. If you’re really adventurous, a floor runner makes for a great and sturdy table runner that won’t blow in the breeze. Check out Sisal Rugs Direct for inspiration for your next party.

2. It’s All About The Lighting

Lighting is key when trying to create a wonderful outdoor table space, but unfortunately, too much artificial light attracts those pesky unwanted guests. Limit the bugs and increase your table beauty by using candles. By placing short candles in tall glass holders, you can avoid the wind issue as well. If you want to take the bug repellant to the next level, use citronella candles in your holders. They come in all different sizes and colors that will compliment your table.

3. Let The Landscape Inspire You

Instead of focusing on bringing all of the indoors out, try letting the outdoors play an inspirational role. Use some of your small planters to help build up the tablescape and set the tone for the look. A few nice pots of decorative flowers or plants can easily take the place of a vase of flowers ties the table and surroundings together.

4. Bring the Bar Outside

Putting together a bar cart is a nice way to compliment your outdoor table setting without overcrowding. It’s also nice to not have to go inside every time someone needs a refill. While you don’t want to over decorate your bar cart, you will want to make sure that some of the table elements are represented. Adding the same candles or even a floral element will continue the beauty of your table and go a long way in completing the overall look.

5. Prepare For The Weather

The wind is one of the biggest threats to an outdoor table setting. If you’re concerned about the heaviness of your dishes or the possibility of your napkins taking flight, consider using a small bowl of fruit to weigh everything down. It’s a nice refreshing treat for your guests and a great way to keep everything where you put it. If the wind isn’t your only concern, consider getting a canopy tent. They are easy to put up and take down and they can also be decorated to enhance your table setting and create ambiance. If you aren’t in the market to buy one, there are many places to rent one for just the night. 

Jessican Kane is a write for Silver Superstore, the online leader in silver flatware, moscow mule mugs, replacement pieces and more!

ADG counts on Sisal Rugs Direct to set the foundation for many of their projects, especially in the hospitality sector. Their most recent assignment using a Sisal Rugs Direct product was the Hotel Hive,  Washington, D.C.’s first micro hotel concept. The rooms within this innovative hotel are designed to be elegantly efficient - like honeycombs (hence the name) with comfortable and compact, yet beautiful, spaces.

“The materials we used to design the rooms had to be very, very special; they could not be something that was just average,” explains Jeff Akseizer, owner of ADG.

They’ve also used Sisal Rugs Direct’s indoor/outdoor rugs at the historic White Moose Inn in rural Virginia. ADG was charged with giving the inn a clean, tailored, timeless look, so they installed the rugs wall-to-wall in the guest rooms. Today, says Jeff, the number-one question guests ask the front desk is, “Where did you get your carpet?”

Sisal Rugs Direct’s indoor/outdoor sisal rugs are one of ADG’s go-to floor covering choices, says Jeff, because:

1. They’re durable. “One of the challenges we face is how to make a room look as good on day 10,000 as on day 1,” says Jeff. “With typical mushy hotel carpets, a maid can pass over them with a vacuum a few times, or a wet towel is left on the floor, and they’ll  quickly show wear. By contrast, Sisal Rugs Direct indoor/outdoor rugs will look brilliant from the moment you install them to several years later.”

It’s why Jeff uses indoor/outdoor rugs in his own home when he entertains.

“If someone spills red wine, it’s no big deal,” he explains, “I can just grab some paper towels, soak it up and move on with the evening. I’m not scrubbing some rare Alpaca-based wool rug worth $20,000. It takes the pressure off both the guests and myself.”

2. They feel fresh. “One of the things I always hear about sisal is that people aren’t going to like how it feels on their feet,” says Jeff. “We’ve proven that wrong time and time again. People prefer something clean and fresh. When you walk around on shaggy carpets in boutique hotels, it isn’t clean and fresh. Who wants to be reminded that someone else was in the room 24 hours ago?”

3. They’re stress-free. “One of the biggest complaints hotels receive,” he explains, “is how difficult it is for people to move their luggage. The thicker the carpet, the greater the resistance.”

The flat weave of sisal rugs eliminates this issue by allowing wheeled luggage to roll smoothly across the floor.

4. The colors are ideal for interior design.  Jeff explains that the first step in an interior design plan is to make sure the largest object in the room acts as a base to complement the rest of the design scheme. Typically that’s the floor, so designers often start there and work upward.

“It’s not an easy task and designers can spend hours ruminating on it,” notes Jeff. “What’s nice about Sisal Rugs Direct is that many of their rug colors work with a large range of complementary colors in both warm and cool tones.”

5. They look like a million bucks (but they definitely aren’t). “Sisal Rugs Direct product looks as expensive, authentic, luxurious and amazing as any rug you can find in the high-brand, retail-design centers,” points out Jeff. “I’ve put these rugs in show homes worth millions and millions of dollars. Without a doubt, everyone asks where we got them.”

When Jeff reveals his source and their cost “their eyeballs pop out,” he laughs. “The cost of a Sisal Rugs Direct rug is close to the tax you would pay for any item from a design center.”

But the primary reason Jeff turns to Sisal Rugs Direct is their service.

“They’re very responsive. Colin Jones (the marketing director for Sisal Rugs Direct) knows how to do good business. Our pace is very, very fast and we often can’t wait 3 to 5 days for a quote,” says Jeff. “Colin, however, can often get a rug to us in that timeframe instead of making us wait two, three, four, eight or even 16 weeks. And when we can provide something as wonderful as this product in our clients’ spaces as quickly as we can, it really helps. Colin understands this process and is always willing to accommodate. That’s why I’m loyal to Sisal Rugs Direct 100%.”

Experience what Jeff is talking about for yourself. Peruse our enormous selection of rug choices, and then play with our custom-design tool. See how perfectly, and affordably, a Sisal Rugs Direct product can fit into your space.  

Here’s how Stephanie advises embracing this trend that celebrates both old and new:

Combine high polish with rough, gritty textured surfaces and materials.
“Think peeling paint and plaster on a wall coupled with a modern sleek couch,” she explains. “Or a raw floor with beautiful brass or gold detail.”

Unite flea-market finds with traditional elements.
“Pick up a flea market piece of furniture and give it a great update with metal such as gold or antique finishes,” she explains. “Focus on pieces with handcrafted elements that show it wasn’t mass produced on a machine.”

Mix and match vintage with modern.
“If your home has traditional architecture, add interest with a modern light fixture,” advises Stephanie. “Opposing design style may seem counter-intuitive, but when you bring contrasting elements together, there’s interesting, eclectic visual impact.”

The timeless style of natural fiber rugs plays well with the Raw and Refined trend whether it stands alone or layered. Create your own by selecting from a spectrum of textures, colors, borders and more to highlight either polished style or a more bohemian edge.

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• You have a rug you love but it just isn’t quite big enough.
• You don’t want to replace a stained or worn carpet quite yet.
• You want to create a fresh look with what you already own or at a minimal cost.
• You simply want more color and texture in your rooms.

Don’t:

• Use a high pile on the bottom rug or your top rug won’t lay flat. Select a rug that has a low or flat weave. Our Brasilia or Boucle Sisal Rugs are the perfect choice.
• Create a tripping hazard. Bound edges can provide a smooth transition between rugs. And again, be sure to select a rug with a flat weave. We offer 8 border materials that come in dozens of colors; you can even supply your own.  
• Make the furniture wobble. Create a steady surface with a flat, large, bound base.
• Overwhelm the room with your floor. Consider the entire space – furnishings, accents and fixtures - when selecting your rug.

Do:

• Use a neutral rug on the bottom unless you have a very sharp eye for blending color. Your rug should complement every aspect of your room. We offer  55 neutral tones  that blend well with both warm and cool color schemes.
• Compliment art or a unique piece of furniture. A thoughtfully placed smaller rug can subtly direct attention.
• Indicate areas where people can sit together. Furniture can look adrift in large room, but thoughtfully layering area rugs can instantly create gathering points.
• Use the same color family as the rest of your décor. This will enable you to create contrast without clashing.

Sisal Rug Direct makes it easy and affordable for you to layer rugs, even if you’re a design novice. Our neutral, flat weaves create a solid, yet stylish, layering base that will give your interior design that professional touch. See for yourself by exploring our sisal rug collection.

Photo credit: Architectural Digest

1. Combine bold, geometric shapes and patterns with rough-hewn earth-toned elements.

“Sandy browns, spicy reds, and terracotta are making a resurgence. Unite that with some simple whites and blacks and natural plant colors to create a living, breathing, comfortable space,” advises Stephanie.

2. Emphasize varying textures.

“The textures of the Desert Explorer trend are stunning,” enthuses Stephanie. “While they may not perfectly match, they also don’t compete with each other. The variations in pattern blend well together because the geometry and color palettes are unique but complementary."

3. Combine geometric patterns with handcrafted elements.

“The patterns from desert cultures are huge right now,” notes Stephanie. “You can have an all-white room, and incorporate that with bold, hand-crafted pieces to create super-high impact. Even baskets can be a beautiful, sculptured piece of art that will never go out of style.”

4.  Layer rugs, beginning with sisal.

“Textures, colors and patterns all come together with layered rugs,” says Stephanie. She recalls a shop in Sweden where vintage Persian rugs covered the floor. “You couldn’t see the floor at all. Even though I’m a simple person, I could not get enough of the patterns.”

Stephanie strongly recommends using sisal rugs as a base for any layering. “They lie flat, and tend to be a neutral tone and texture to provide a solid foundation for other patterns and textures,” she explains.

Easily recreate the desert explorer trend in your own home at Sisal Rugs Direct. Browse our wide selection of rugs and create your own.

You can identify and follow this trend with:

1. Colors that fall in the spectrum of white, black and gray. “They’re very soft, neutral and quite timeless,” she notes.

2. High contrast walls and floors. “We’re pairing dark, shiny, black floors, white walls and white ceilings to create a sense of infinity,” she says. “You can also do a reverse with an all-black spaces and white floors.”

3. Smoky, translucent glass walls or textured walls. “These create separation and privacy without creating barriers,” says Stephanie. “It’s more of an open feeling, but removed just enough so that there’s a sense of privacy.”

4. Objects that are airy and mesh-like. “This create a sense of movement and softness to balance high-contrast colors that can be overpowering.”

Rest assured, you don’t have to paint all the walls in your house black or white to create the faded look, but if that’s your style, then go for it! If you’re not ready to take the leap, consider using design accessories to reflect this trend, such as:

• Pillows and throws in black, white and shades of gray
• Black and white vases
• Incorporating matte black hardware
• Mirrors with black and white frames
• A gray natural fiber rug with a black or white border –create your own!

“Black and white is like a blank canvas; it’s timeless and soothing. Don’t be afraid of committing to a bold black wall or white space,” notes Stephanie. “Even if you’re a really colorful person you can layer all of these colorful things within a black and white room,” she notes. “It’s really about using color in the right amount, and that’s going to be different for every person.”

In the next blog post, Stephanie will discuss the therapeutic power of the natural trend, which creatively brings the outdoors inside.

In the meantime, if you love the faded trend and want to bring elements of it into your space, one of the easiest and non-committal ways to do that is with a natural fiber rug. Customize it by size, shape, color pattern and border.  

1. Color your space with earth tones.

“We’re looking at shades of greens and taupe-y, warm, earthy colors” notes Stephanie.

She admits that while the pantone color of the year is a green tone, it doesn’t translate well into living spaces. “When I have my color swatch in front of me I like to tone it down, bring it a little deeper, and create something more natural with sage or forest green,” she explains.

2. Surround yourself with live plants.

Terrariums and succulents may be easy to take care of, says Stephanie, but the naturalist trend makes the most impact with voluminous greenery.

“The naturalist trend is really about embracing nature as it is: big, bold, organic and very leafy,” she explains, “like a jungle feeling with big ferns and palms… it’s a soothing escape from a high-tech environment.”

She advises selecting plants based on how they will fit together holistically into a space. “Which ones speak to you? Which ones do you connect with?” she asks.

3. Decorate with bold wallpaper.

If you don’t think you’ll be able to maintain plants, Stephanie suggests considering wallpaper as an alternative.

“There are so many with big leafy prints and giant flowers, and they’re so engaging,” she says, adding that wallpaper’s permanence shouldn’t worry you. “This is a trend that will have longevity. I love being out in nature and bringing it into my spaces; it’s very soothing.”

4. Invest in natural fibers.

“When we talk about natural, we talk about things that are from the earth, fibers that don’t have PVCs or synthetics,” points out Stephanie. “The obvious choice is natural fiber rugs. They bring a warmth and a natural energy; they’re just not for porches anymore.”

Stephanie encourages layering natural fiber with wool rugs. “They add warmth and grounding to a space and make it cozier,” she points out.

Beyond natural fiber rugs, Stephanie points out that furniture, fixtures, and accessories made out of materials such as rattan, jute, and cork can enhance a naturalist look. An added benefit, notes Stephanie, is that they’re environmentally sustainable.

“The naturalist trend supports the house of our environment. We live in a world where we throw things away so quickly, so it’s really important we’re making conscious decisions to choose items that won’t harm the environment,” she points out. “When we throw natural fiber away it’s biodegradable. There are no plastics or synthetics, so they have a zero-impact environmental footprint.”

The naturalist look may be one of the easiest, and ubiquitous, trends to embrace. It plays well with other interior-design trends and is destined to be a classic. So that investment in some leafy greens and natural fiber rugs will pay off for a long time in unexpected ways.

“When we seek stress relief and connection, we often find ourselves out in nature. Bringing those natural materials into our spaces transports that natural connection into our homes so it’s immediately accessible,” says Stephanie.

Looking for some natural inspiration? Start with natural fiber rugs.

We met Stephanie at the International Surface 2017 Event in January. It’s the world’s largest floor-covering event in the world. There she recreated her vision for sanctuary in an actual home that was built on the showroom floor.

“These trends stem from cultural shifts and influences; they’re a response to the overly digitized, overly stimulated rapid lifestyle that we’ve all been living,” she explains. “The purpose is to slow down and live more intentionally with pieces that have more of an escapist, calming and soothing feeling.”

• The faded trend brings together the timelessness of black, white and shades of gray to effortlessly create high-contrast, yet relaxing, spaces.

• The naturalist trend brings the beauty and therapeutic power of the outdoors inside with soft greens and earth tones, as well as live plants.

• The desert explorer trend satisfies those with a bohemian streak by showcasing the exotic patterns and textures of African, Native American and other tribal cultures.

• The raw and refined trend thoughtfully combines old and new for an exciting juxtaposition of industrial, high-tech style with well-worn, well-loved classics.

What Stephanie finds especially exciting about these trends is that their elements can be easily combined to reflect your individual style.

“We have witnessed an interesting shift in our culture because we are exposed to so many things, we have so many options. With the internet, we can see literally everything and anything we want,” she explains. “We can tailor looks to what speaks the most to us.”

She notes this wasn’t an option a generation ago. “You saw and adopted one look, avocado green kitchens, for instance,” she points out. “Today we have so much choice. We better understand how spaces can affect us emotionally and physically. We make choices more consciously.”

This is one of the reasons Stephanie studies why people are attracted to certain spaces and incorporates what she observes into her designs. Without the confines that come from working out of a traditional studio, she can travel freely and work remotely in places as far flung as Sweden and Cambodia. This helps her broaden her perspective and keep up with the latest trends around the globe.

“When I’m out in public and I look at spaces that people gravitate toward, I wonder why,” she explains. “I love observing people; there’s a subconscious response to space. There’s an emotional draw that brings people to specific elements, like light, plants and water features. There’s definitely a psychological thread running through why we choose specific spaces and why we love certain aspects of certain spaces.”

Want to learn more about Stephanie’s unique perspective on interior design? Stay tuned! In future blog posts, we’ll go into detail about how each of Stephanie’s exciting trends incorporates her observations, and how you can easily and effortlessly recreate each trend in your own home.

Of course, these trends play very well with natural fiber rugs. Get a head start on recreating Stephanie’s looks in your own home and have a little fun by playing with our “Create a Rug” feature. You can select materials, colors, textures and borders to instantly see what your perfect rug will look like.

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1. Create a Place to Relax

When you want to create a place that will naturally attract people to relax and converse, lure them with a bordered sisal area rug. Notice how effectively this is accomplished in the Casa Faena seating area pictured below.  

The sisal rug’s texture and pattern provide exciting contrast to the velvet couch and refined chairs, and sets them apart from the larger room. Without the sisal rug, the room would lack cohesion and the furniture would appear randomly placed. In contrast, the rug creates a connected, welcoming space.

2. Avoid Boring Perfection and Provide a Safer Environment

While a sisal rugs helps make seating areas more inviting and less random, it enhances the sophisticated, yet casual style of Casa Faena bars and dining rooms by complementing patterns and textures. This is achieved without the triteness and boredom of perfectly matched patterns and colors. Furthermore, the rugs’ low pile makes it far easier for guest and service staff to move about without tripping.

3. Stylishly Protect High-Traffic Areas

Hotels require floor covering that can withstand heavy traffic. That’s why sisal rugs are always a smart choice. Their endurance is legendary. Here, Casa Faena adds an extra level of protection to their floors by layering a sisal rug that covers dozens of square feet with an oriental carpet.

Sisal is ideal for layering because of its flat surface. Again, the sisal rug’s border instantly creates a separate space in the large room, making the arrangement of furnishings more intentional and inviting.

We hope you have a chance to visit Casa Faena and see the beauty of these rugs in person. Make these looks your own by exploring our wide array of rug patterns, colors, and borders that we can customize to your exact specifications.

Enliven Entry Ways

Light sisal rugs on dark hardwoods keep floors immaculate while creating eye-catching contrast that adds a touch of elegance.

Dreaming of a parquet hardwood floor but you just don’t have the energy, time or money to create one? Just add a sisal rug with pattern that match the tones of your hardwood.
Or, just for fun, take your guests back to their childhood.

Create Stronger Stairs

Lisa Scibilia, the author of Shine Your Light Blog, raves about her natural-fiber stair runner. “Do you recall me mentioning once or twice or 352 times that I l.o.v.e. natural fiber stair runners???” she asks. “I love their neutralness, their texture, and their ruggedness for a family with kids,” she writes. “We had a large seagrass rug for over 12 years, and it withstood a lot of abuse. It met its demise thanks to our pup, but for over a decade it stood up to life with young kids and lots of entertaining.” Natural fibers like hemp, seagrass or jute may be a better choice than sisal for stairs. Sisal can become slippery with excessive wear while other fibers are surprisingly long-lasting. Whatever natural fiber you select, however, rest assured it will take much longer for them to show wear and tear than traditional carpeting.

Insulate Living Spaces

One of the huge drawbacks of hardwood floors is that you know precisely every step the person on the floor above you is taking. Sisal rugs are the perfect solution for living spaces because of their ability to absorb sounds – you’re insulating your hardwoods from damage and the floor below from noise. Plus, there’s an abundance of creative sisal rug options: design a rug with borders, patterns, shapes and colors that are perfectly customized for your space, or layer them with other rugs.

For floors that look amazing longer than you ever imagined, turn to sisal rugs. Want more flooring and interior design ideas? We have plenty of inspiration. Enjoy!

5 Ways to Customize Your Sisal Rug

The 10 Hottest Interior Design Trends for 2017

4 Ideas Using Sisal Rugs to Add Style to Your Interior Design

1. Will this rug stand up to traffic?

Sisal is a strong choice when it comes to covering your high-traffic areas. It’s made from one of the toughest of natural fibers, the sisalana agave plant.  Expect a sisal rug to look brand new, with proper care, for at least a decade - even in the busiest areas of your home.

Keep in mind that sisal may not be the best choice for stairs as it can become slippery with excessive wear. Other highly durable choices are jute and hemp. Jute was once used on ships before steel cables were invented, so it isn’t going to fall apart under the weight of a busy household. While hemp may look fragile, it’s surprisingly long-lasting and even gets stronger with wear. This makes it ideal for stairs.

2. Will this rug stain easily?

Seagrass is the perfect choice for places where there’s the potential for lots of spills, like kitchens. Because it’s grown in saltwater marshes, it’s water resistant, and won’t stain as easily as other natural fiber rugs. Plus, seagrass fibers are easier on bare feet.

3. Can this rug be used outdoors?

While they’re perfect for screened or covered porches, natural fibers are not optimal for 100% outdoor use. However, we offer  49 sisal-rug lookalikes in the gamut of patterns and colors. These are made from polypropylene that can face the elements with confidence. They won’t fade, mold or mildew. They’re remarkably easy to clean – just hose them down. If you still want to use a natural fiber, jute or hemp may be the longest lasting if they’re not exposed to moisture.

4. How versatile is it?

1. For abundant choices that will fashionably take you from bedroom to living room to play room, consider sisal wool rugs, which are mostly 60% wool and 40% sisal for a delightfully soft feel. Here are the some of our favorite styles.

• Lana wool is defined by its striking basket-weave design and amazing comfort.
• Cabo offers an intricate weave that has a sophisticated feel.
• Chevron’s timeless pattern introduces a distinctive, eye-catching movement.
• Chanelle, which is woven in Belgium, has a unique texture is 75 percent sisal and 25% wool.

For the ultimate in personal style, customize your rug by size, shape, border and more.

We hope this gives you a good starting point to select a natural fiber rug. If you have more questions, please contact us. Our team can help you develop the perfect rug to fit your space and your lifestyle, call us at 1-888-613-1335 or go here to begin creating your ideal floor covering.

Whatever you loved about ‘90s style, it may be time for a facelift. Here are 10 ways to make it happen without spending a bundle.

1. Colors that Reflect the Earth and Sky
A quick coat of paint can give a home an instant update. ElleDecor informs us that the most stylish wall colors will reflect nature. Think of the rich blue hues of ocean waves, the brilliant glow of the noontime sun, or the verdant green and dusky browns of a forest.

2. Modular Shapes
Inspired by tiny houses, urban nomads and mid-century modern style, we’re going to see modular furniture that’s easy to move and allows endless design possibilities, according to Interiorzine. A quick trip to IKEA can produce plenty of inexpensive inspiration.

3. Cork
Domain Australia reports that cork is making a comeback. It’s beautiful because it adds warmth and texture, and practical because it’s ideal for absorbing noise. This is important as more homes adopt an open floor plan. Want to lose the sponge-painted wall fast and inexpensively? Hang some corkboard.

4. Metals
Go for the gold (and the bronze and the chrome) advises Azure magazine. From architecture to light fixtures to furniture, you’re going to start seeing more metal everywhere. However, we advise limiting metallic to finishes and furnishings which can easily be changed once the metal trend moves on. Think candleholders and switch plates.

5. Custom Headboards
If you’re a DIY type, all you need to update the look of your bedroom is a wooden pallet and some string lights. If you’re not, look for upholstered headboards, which you can buy for as little as $70 at Target.  Decoist reports that when it comes to bedrooms, creativity reigns in 2017.

6. Natural Textures
Not only are natural colors coming inside so are natural textures.  Design Campus declares that “natural textures rock” in 2017. Bring the outdoors in affordably with a sisal rug, a natural ottoman, rattan-look storage tower, or wicker chair.

7. Geometrics
Vogue reports that homes should appear curated and an easy way to achieve that look is with simple lines and geometric designs. Toss a chevron throw over your favorite chair or throw some diamond-block pillows on your bed.

8. Velvet
Interior designer Christina Haire revealed to Luxpad that 2017 “is all about velvet…velvet on velvet.” She loves how it can move from casual to formal, but remain elegant. So add some velvet pillows to that chevron throw.

9. Color Blocking
The home décor site, Lonny, reports that extreme color blocking is being embraced by the fashion-forward. If extremes aren’t your style, consider temporary updates like color-blocked window treatments or accessories.

10. Tribal Touches
Paradoxically, Houzz advises using ancient cultures to create a more modern look. They recommend decorating your home with eclectic combinations of artifacts and styles from exotic locales like Morocco. They note that even sterile interiors can look stunning with a few well-curated tribal pieces.

There’s one thing that all of the 2017 trends have in common: They blend perfectly with sisal and natural rugs. Go to our website to customize a rug - at an impressive value - that will blend perfectly with the trends you want to embrace.  Our wide array of borders, textures, patterns and materials allow for endless design possibilities.

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1. Texture

Select from more than two dozen materials, each with several textures, to perfectly fit your style and interior design. If you’re unsure of what material will work best in your space, remember:

• Jute will feel the most pleasant on bare feet. But its softness also means it isn’t as durable as sisal, seagrass and hemp. So we recommend placing jute rugs in areas where there’s not constant traffic, like bedrooms, family rooms and living rooms.
• Seagrass is both highly durable and easy on the feet. An additional advantage is it’s non-porous and therefore water resistant. That makes it ideal for kitchens and bat
• Sisal is the most durable material and can be used in just about any room, except for outdoors.
• Hemp grass maintains its texture, even in high-traffic areas, and can actually strengthen as it wears. This makes it ideal for stairs.

2.  Color

Each rug material offers multiple colors, ranging from a choice of two for hemp grass to 18 for patterned outdoor propylene rugs.

We know it can be challenging to select just the right color online. That’s why our website allows you to compare rug colors to 11 flooring types to ensure the optimal match. Of course, if you want to be certain your rug will blend with your color scheme, we’ll send you up to six samples for free.

3.  Size and Shape

Do you want a hexagon, pentagon or octagon rug? How about a rug that fits perfectly around your fireplace? Or maybe an L-shape to fit a kitchen, entryway or porch? Sisal Rugs can make it happen as long as your rug is no larger than 13-feet wide and 100-feet long.  Let your design imagination run wild!

4.  Patterns

Make the most of both the natural rug texture and your interior design by selecting from up to a dozen patterns. Sisal offers the most options while hemp grass has the fewest.

5.  Borders

An addition of a border can transform the look of a rug from casual to modern to elegant. Consider the words of Erika Hollinshead Ward, Principal Designer, Erika Ward Interiors.

“More and more of my clients are warming up to the idea of using natural rugs in their living spaces. Half of them had only considered sisal rugs for sunrooms,” she explains. “However, introducing leather borders is a welcomed departure from the traditional cotton duck and gives the room setting a designer-quality, polished look.”

You can create a customized border by:

• Type of stitching
  • Blind stitching is hidden. Corners are finished at an angle unless you request a lapped corner. This is the standard on leather and tapestry, but is available for an additional cost on other borders.
  • Top stitching is visible, but the thread matches the border. This is standard on canvas, cotton, linen and faux leather bindings.
  • Type of materials
    • Cotton is the softest and most customizable border.  Select from three widths — narrow, wide and extra-wide — and 44 colors.
    • Canvas is durable and available in 10 colors with wide and extra-wide widths.
    • Linen has more texture than the other choices, adding visual interest. It’s available in four colors.
    • Leather is a strong and sophisticated choice for an indoor rug. Choose from six colors.
    • Faux leather looks and feels like the real thing, but can be used anywhere including outdoors. Choose from seven colors.
    • Serging  is a trim option made of a poly material that can be matched to any color. It can be used indoors and outdoors.
    • Outdoor binding is UV-stabilized and water-resistant to withstand the elements.
    • If you want to make sure no one has a rug exactly like yours, provide your own fabric. Email sales@sisalrugs.com or call us at 1-888-613-1335 for more details on fabric requirements and shipment information. Get more information about your border options: Sisal Rugs Binding.

Remember, for a fraction of the cost of a customized wool rug you can create a sisal rug that lends the perfect combination of style and function to make your space look like a million bucks. Be sure to bookmark this page for easy access when you’re ready to create your custom rug. We make it fast, easy and fun.

1. Sisal rugs set a strong foundation.

“Sisal rugs lay the perfect foundation for any space,” says Kerrie Kelly, Founder and Principal Designer, Design Lab. “Equal parts fashionable and functional, sisal rugs look best when layered beneath a statement-making area rug in a living space to add comfort underfoot with added durability.”

2. Sisal rugs won’t clash.  

“Sisal rugs are great because they are neutral.  You can add them to any space and they will compliment most styles.  They work with any aesthetic,” says Charmean Neithart, Owner and Senior Designer, Charmean Neithart Interiors.

3.  Sisal rugs can handle high traffic.

"I've loved and used sisal rugs for years,” points out Nicole White Quinn, CEO and Principal Designer, Nicole White Designs Interiors. “They are the perfect texture to add depth and dimension to a room, but most important, they are low maintenance and therefore the perfect fit for a high traffic room. I use them often in homes with pets and young children because they can pretty much withstand anything.”

Charmean agrees.  “(Sisal rugs) are low cost and durable, they can deal with lots of foot traffic from house guests to pets to small children,” she adds. “Finally, sisal rugs add texture which is something I love in my designs.”  

Photo credit: Erika Ward Interiors

4.  Sisal rugs are versatile.

“You simply can’t beat the versatility of a sisal rug. They fit into almost any design style—traditional, modern, or contemporary—just as any other material found in nature,” says Erika Hollinshead Ward, Principal Designer, Erika Ward Interiors. “And who can find fault with Mother Nature’s perfect design?

“More and more of my clients are warming up to the idea of using natural rugs in their living spaces. Half of them had only considered sisal rugs for sunrooms,” she points out. “However, introducing leather borders is a welcomed departure from the traditional cotton duck and gives the room setting a designer-quality, polished look.”

5.  Sisal’s color allows for design flexibility.

“Sisal’s natural color variations allows it to play well with both warm and cool color schemes and allows other important design elements such as furniture or art to take center stage even in a formal living room,” notes Erika.

6.  Sisal rugs can be customized.

“I can have them custom made to fit a room perfectly and layer other rugs on top of it. Sisal rugs look good with anything,” notes Elizabeth Newman, Owner, Elizabeth Newman Interior Design. “I use them in houses with both modern and traditional décor; they’re a good staple."

7.  Sisal rugs create comfort

“I don’t like a room that looks untouched. I want it to look lived in over time, and layering with sisal rugs does that,” says Elizabeth. “You can add anything you love and it will be comfortable and pretty.”

Inspired to expand your interior design repertoire with sisal rugs? Give yourself a treat and take a few moments to explore the versatility, beauty and remarkable affordability of sisal rugs at Sisal Rugs Direct.

Or visit our custom rugs page to start creating your new rug!

1. Sisal Rugs are Environmentally Friendly

Sisal rugs are renewable, sustainable, and long-lasting.

The plant materials used to make them can be collected again and again without damaging the ecosystem. Sisal rug fibers, for instance, come from the agave sisalana cactus. Approximately 1,000 fibers are extracted from a single leaf. The rest of the plant is used to feed animals or produce electricity. They’re 100% biodegradable and won’t end up in a landfill.

2. Sisal Rugs Mitigate Allergies

Sisal rugs repel common allergens, such as dust mites, that thrive in conventional carpeting. They’re also inhospitable to pollen. In fact, sisal rugs may even be better than plain hardwood or linoleum because they trap dust and allergens and can be vacuumed away.

3. Sisal Rugs Don’t Off Gas

Conventional carpets can off gas, or release volatile organic compounds(VOCs), for at least five years. You may recognize this smell when you lay a new rug. These chemicals have been linked to about 180 health issues. Sisal rugs are natural and aren’t exposed to toxic chemicals, therefore they have almost no VOCs and don’t off gas. What they do release is a natural, grassy smell that will disappear soon after your rug or carpet is opened up and left to breath.

4. Sisal Rugs are Durable
If you require floor-covering in a high-traffic area, sisal rugs can stand up to the challenge. Its source, the agave sisalana cactus, is so durable that no drought has ever killed it over a century of commercial production. In fact it is used to make marine rope for large ships.

5. Sisal Rugs Provide Sound Proofing

If you don’t want the people downstairs to hear your every move, sisal rugs are the healthy, environmentally sound choice. You can still mute noise, but you won’t be exposed to the chemicals, dust and dirt inherent in standard wall-to-wall carpeting. Again,you’ll be kinder the environment because sisal is renewable and sustainable.

6. Sisal Rugs Reduce Static

Wintertime especially brings shocking surprises, especially in colder climates, thanks to static electricity. Sisal rugs stops the shock because it absorbs energy, maintains normal humidity and prevents static buildup.

7. Sisal Rugs Maintain Their Color

Sisal rugs are free of artificial colors so they won’t stain anything that rests on them. Furthermore, any sunlight will subtly change the color, but there won’t be the obvious fading you see with conventional rugs.

8. Sisal Rugs Fit Any Style

Sisal rugs aren’t just for designers who are in love with shabby chic. Consider this:

• They can magically make formal interior design more livable without losing an ounce of elegance.
• Their texture and color can provide a masculine touch.
• Their neutral tone can optimally enhance a colorful décor without clashing or aesthetic boredom.

Bring lasting, natural beauty home with sisal rugs that come in a remarkable variety of sizes and patterns, and can even be custom designed at Sisal Rugs Direct. Go here to inspire ideas or call us at 1-888-613-1335.

1. Bring a Big Space Together

Without area rugs, an open floor plan can easily feel like a warehouse instead of a living space. Sisal rugs can help you distinguish living areas by providing boundaries without walls. Not only does this enhance beauty and style, it invokes a warm and welcoming environment.

Sisal rugs are the smartest choice for open spaces because they have varying textures and shades that provide excitement without clashing. Yet, they avoid crossing into the aesthetic boredom that comes with interior design that is overly coordinated.

 2. Play with Layers

So you have a rug you love but just haven’t been able to use it. Why? Because it will create the dreaded rug island: It’s just not quite big enough to meet the edges of any furniture without squishing everything together so tightly that you feel claustrophobic.

Sisal rugs to the rescue!

With sisal, you can take that too-small rug to new dimensions. Their neutral tones and durability make them the optimal base for any rug. Nicole Gibbons, blogger and creative director of So Haute, advises allowing at least 12 to 18 inches of space on all sides so you can see the contrast between them.

3.  Mix and Match

A room where all of the accents are identical is jarring, sterile, and certainly not a place where we want to spend much time. Yet, a space with clashing rugs, drapes and pillows can be just as uncomfortable.

If you’re unsure of your talent for mixing pattern, but want to avoid the matchy-matchy syndrome, sisal rugs are your answer. Their neutral colors blend perfectly, their textures create compelling interest, and their style will make you look like an interior design whiz.

4.  Run for the Border

Want a custom look without paying the high price that often comes with it? Add a border to your sisal rug to bring remarkable drama or subtle intrigue to any room. It’s amazing what an unexpected pop of color will do, just check out the entry way below.

We have the colors and textures to get the precise look you want. Choose from:

• Four binding methods
• Six materials: leather, linen, canvas, cotton, faux leather, or provide your own
• More than 60 colors, though the color choices depend on the materials you choose

Whether your design tastes are urban modern or shabby chic, whether you’re more at home in a warehouse condominium or a classic bungalow, whether you’re a jetsetter or a mom or a both, sisal rugs gives you the flexibility to fit your style.

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1. Keep a Host Carpet Cleaning Kit on hand. This is a dry extraction cleaner that even Martha Stewart counts on to keep her sisal rugs spotless. Use it to effortlessly remove common stains caused by:

• Beverages

1. Blot by pressing firmly with clean, white paper or cloth towels until no moisture transfers to the cloth. Work from the outside in.
   
2. Shake Host Dry Carpet Cleaner onto the spill until covered.
   
3. Brush the cleaner through the stain in all directions.
   
4. Press another handful of cleaner into the stain.
   
5. Wait until the area is completely dry. For wet spills, this may take overnight. The cleaner will lighten to a pale gold color as it dries.
   
6. Vacuum thoroughly. 

• Most Food

1. Gently scrape up excess with the a dull knife, working from the outside in.
   
2. Shake Host Dry Carpet Cleaner onto the spill until covered.
   
3. Brush it over the spot in all directions.
   
4. Wait about an hour and then vacuum.

• Pets

Urine:

1. Press the spot firmly with clean, white paper or cloth towels. Work from the outside in.
   
2. To neutralize order, dampen a white towel with a mixture of 1/4 cup of white vinegar with 1/4 cup of water. Alternate blotting the stain with the damp towel and then a dry one to avoid getting the area any wetter.
3. Blot excess moisture by pressing firmly with dry, clean, white paper or cloth towels until no moisture transfers to the cloth.
4. Shake Host Dry Carpet Cleaner onto the spill until covered.
   
5. Brush the cleaner through the stain in all directions.
   
6. Press another handful of cleaner into the stain.
   
7. Wait until the area is completely dry. This may take overnight.  The cleaner will lighten to a pale gold color as it dries.
   
8. Vacuum thoroughly

• Feces or Vomit

1. Scrape up any excess, working from the outside in. Blot by pressing firmly with dry, clean, white paper or cloth towels until no moistures transfers to the cloth.
2. Shake Host Dry Carpet Cleaner onto the stain.
   
3. Brush cleaner through the stain in all directions.
   
4. Press another handful of cleaner into the stain.
   
5. Wait until the area is completely dry. This may take overnight. The cleaner will lighten to a pale gold color as it dries.
   
6. Vacuum thoroughly.

 • Wax

1. Scrape up as much wax as possible.
   
2. Place several layers of white paper towels or brown paper bags over the wax spill.
   
3. With a warm (not hot) iron, slowly iron over area. Use caution. Wax will transfer to paper.
   
4. Continue absorbing wax with clean areas of the paper.
   
5. Shake Host Dry Carpet Cleaner onto the spill until covered.
   
6. Brush it through the carpet in all directions.
   
7. Wait about an hour and then vacuum.

 • Paint or Nail Polish

1. Scrape up any excess, working from the outside in.
   
2. Apply a small amount of Host Spot Remover to a clean, white towel and blot.
   
3. Wait 2-3 minutes.
   
4. Scrape up any leftover spill.
   
5. If traces of the spot remain, repeat applications of the remover.
   
6. Shake Host Dry Carpet Cleaner onto the spill until covered.
   
7. Brush it through the stain in all directions
   
8. Wait about an hour and then vacuum.

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2. Gently scrape up solids with a dull knife or nail file.

3.  If you don’t have a Host Carpet Cleaning Kit, use a damp, white cloth to blot liquids, but never rub, because that can work the stain in deeper.  Dry immediately with a hairdryer.

4.  Always try to remove a stain from the outside in so you don’t expand it.

5.  Never use any cleaning method that involves water saturation – that includes shampooing and steam cleaning. This could warp your carpet and cause permanent stains.

6.  Vacuum at least weekly using suction only - keep that beater bar off. Make several passes over the carpet from varying angles, unless your rug is bound. Then you want to vacuum at the angle the binding is sewn. Be careful not to let the vacuum catch the edge.

7.  Treat with Sisal Life Protector to help your rug repel water, and reduce the chances of staining and soiling. Sisal Rugs Direct can also apply protectant for you before shipping.

Is your spill not listed here? Find it on the Host Spot & Spill Guide.

Be sure to bookmark this page for easy reference, because you never know when you’re going to have an accident. If you need more ideas on how to keep your sisal rug looking fabulous, take advantage of these resources:

• How to Clean Jute Rugs
• How to Clean Seagrass Rugs
• How to Clean Indoor Outdoor Rugs

Popular options for reducing static electricity include using a humidifier, treating rugs with anti-static chemicals and wearing special shoes when walking on carpeted surfaces. Instead of doing the extra work to make your floors produce less static electricity, why not start with a rug that’s naturally static-resistant?

Sisal rugs are the perfect choice for homes prone to static electricity, especially those in cold-weather climates. The natural fiber absorbs energy, maintains normal humidity levels and prevents static buildup. With a sisal rug in the room, you’ll be able to touch surfaces without fear of being shocked. Additionally, sisal rugs are sturdy and beautifully textured, giving your home a cozy feel that’ll warm the room in the winter.

Sisal Rugs Direct has a variety of sisal styles, colors, patterns and sizes. Explore the different sisal collections to find the perfect rug to keep your home warm and static-free this winter.

Although native to Mexico, agave sisalana has been naturalized and cultivated across the world — some of the largest producers are Brazil, Tanzania and Kenya. Our collection of sisal rugs is harvested in superior-grade plantations in Tanzania. The strong sisal fibers are extracted from the plant’s long, green leaves, then washed, sun-dried, brushed, graded and bailed on the plantations. Each leaf of the agave plant contains about 1,000 fibers, and one plant produces around 200 leaves during its productive life cycle. Because the agave sisalana grows easily and is incredibly fruitful, it’s no wonder the plant is used in so many products.

Sisal is also a popular material because of its green properties. While the plant is harvested and processed, it generates mostly organic waste, and the leftover parts of the plant are used as bioenergy, animal feed and fertilizer. Our Tanzanian plantations use the plant residue to produce electricity in rural areas and feed local livestock. Every part of the plant is used, making sisal an excellent renewable resource.

As a versatile and sustainable plant, agave sisalana is a powerful resource for producing a variety of products. Check out our customizable sisal rugs and see for yourself the amazing properties of this popular material.

Our sisal rugs come from the agave sisalana cactus plant. The extremely strong sisal fiber is obtained from the long, green leaves of the agave sisalana, with each leaf containing approximately 1,000 fibers. The fibers are then washed, sun-dried, brushed, graded and baled before being crafted into our beautiful sisal rugs.

In addition to rugs and other fiber products, the different species of agave are very popular in everyday items. The agave americana plant is used to make sweeteners like syrup and sugar. The agave tequilana produces tequila, and the agave attenuata is a common garden plant. Other species have been used for tea, diuretics, breakfast cereal, pens and other office supplies. The agave plant truly is one of nature’s most versatile creations.

What’s the rug’s function?

The color you choose for a rug largely depends on what purpose the rug has in the room. If you want it to stand out as a centerpiece, choose a color that contrasts with the floor or even a patterned rug. If you’d rather the rug blend into the rest of the room’s decor effortlessly, shoot for a rug with a color similar to the floor.

What’s the ambiance in the room?

Think about the feel of the room when selecting a color for a rug. Is it a bright and open room full of movement and excitement? Is it a calmer, quieter space? Typically, lighter colors add energy and expand a room, while darker tones tend to make a room more intimate and cozy.

Thanks to the Create a Rug tool, you can preview various combinations of colors, border colors and flooring backgrounds to see what a custom rug will look like in your room. Play around with a few options and then choose a color that’ll fit the best in your home.

Palmas

Our newest jute offering is the thickest and chunkiest jute rug that we could find!  It brings dimension and texture to any space.  The jute fibers can be found in four distinct, undyed and natural tones ranging from a gray in Storm to the mellow Harvest. 

Basketweave

Woven in a basketweave pattern, this jute rug is thick and durable, yet incredibly soft. In fact, the Basketweave jute is one of the softest natural fiber rug offerings from Sisal Rugs Direct. With a soothing, naturally soft texture and long-lasting durability, this jute continues to be a popular selection for customized rugs and is available in two colors, clay or graystone.

Mahal

Jute Mahal rugs feature a chunky, braided texture that creates a visually intriguing pattern and catches the eye. The thick weave will also bring warmth to the room, especially one with hard surface floors. Available in artic gold, birch, wheat and white, the Jute Mahal will be a beautiful and comfy addition to your home.

Round and oval borderless

The round and oval borderless jute rugs are two of Sisal Rugs’ bestsellers. Braided in a certain way to appear borderless, these traditional rug designs add a warm, vintage touch to any room. Both styles are offered in tan, gray and arctic white.

Whichever style of jute you choose for your custom natural fiber rug, you can’t go wrong with this durable, renewable fiber that feels great underfoot.

Sisal Wool – The traditional sisal wool blend is 60 percent wool and 40 percent sisal. It’s one of the softest of our natural fiber rug offerings and comes in five colors. All color options are flat woven, which makes them easy to clean and maintain.

Lana – One of Sisal Rugs’ best-selling rugs, the Lana sisal wool is made of 55 percent wool and 45 percent sisal. The style is defined by its striking basketweave design and amazing comfort.

Cabo – The Cabo wool sisal rug is a sophisticated design with an intricate weave that creates a simple yet elegant feel. This style comes in three colors.

Chevron – The Chevron wool sisal is designed to bring vibrancy and movement into your home with its timeless pattern. It has a blend of 64 percent sisal and 36 percent wool, and the distinctive pattern is available in five colors.

Chanelle – Chanelle Wool Sisal features a contemporary, textured design that’s woven in Belgium and is made of 75 percent sisal and 25 percent wool. Three color options are available.

Once you've chosen a sisal and wool blend, head to the Create a Rug page and start crafting your new rug. Color, border, shape and size can all be customized to fit your needs.

Common shapes and sizes

• Rectangle – Rectangular rugs are the most common type of rug because they work in practically every room. They come in a wide range of sizes, from a typical 2-ft. by 3-ft. door mat to a large 8-ft. by 11-ft. area rug.
• Square – Less common than rectangular rugs, square-shaped rugs are often placed next to accent furniture, such as under an end table.
• Round/oval – Round and oval rugs are used in interior design to make a room feel intimate and group furniture together. Round rugs are typically found with diameters measuring 4, 6, 8 or 10 ft.
• Semi-circle – Also called half-moon rugs, the semi-circle shape is most common for door mats.
• Octagon, hexagon, pentagon – These traditional rug shapes aren’t as common in modern design, but they’re traditionally used in entryways or small, intimate spaces.
• Runners – Runners are long and skinny, and they primarily line hallways or cover stairs. Standard runner widths are 24 and 28 in., but custom sizes are available.

General sizing and placement rules for each room

Choosing a rug size in most cases depends on the size of the room. You should always measure the space before ordering a rug, but here are a few rules of thumb to consider:

• Living room – To unify the furniture in the room, get an area rug large enough to place all the furniture on top of the rug. To draw attention to the center of the room, or to show off the rug as focal point, keep furniture off the rug and instead use it to frame the rug.
• Dining room – Allow at least 18–24 in. of extra room on all sides of the dining table so chairs will remain on the rug when pulled out.
• Bedroom – There are two main techniques for rug placement in bedrooms. Either use one large rug underneath the entire bed, with about 2 ft. excess on each side and 4 ft. at the end of the bed, or place multiple smaller rugs around the sides instead.
• Hallway – Cover at least 75 percent of the hallway’s length and leave a couple inches of floor uncovered on each side.

With a better sense of rug sizes and shapes, you can find a rug that suits your needs. Custom sizing is also available at Sisal Rugs if one of the standard sizes isn’t quite right.

Stitching

• Blind Stitching – Thread at the top and sides of the binding is hidden. All corners will be mitered (finished at an angle) unless you request a lapped corner. Blind stitching is the standard on leather and tapestry bindings and is available for an additional cost on other bindings.
• Top Stitching – Thread is visible with top stitching. The color of the thread will match the binding color so the two blend together. Top stitching is standard on canvas, cotton, linen and faux leather bindings.

Materials

• Cotton – Cotton binding is recommended for all rug types. It’s the softest binding, making it a great choice for indoor rugs. It comes in three widths — narrow, wide and extra-wide — and 44 colors so you can create the perfect rug to match your design scheme.
• Canvas – Not as soft as cotton but still nice and durable, canvas stitching can be used on any rug. It’s a top-stitched binding that’s available in 10 colors and two widths — wide and extra-wide.
• Linen – Linen binding is nubby and more textured than the other choices, adding visual interest to any rug. Linen is blind-stitched and available in four colors.
• Leather – A blind-stitched, quality binding, leather is a sturdy choice for an indoor rug. Six color options are available.
• Faux Leather – The synthetic leather binding looks and feels like the real thing. It’s perfect for any rug, even an outdoor rug. Faux leather bindings can be top-stitched or blind-stitched and come in seven colors.
• Serging – Serging is a simple trim option made of a poly material that can be matched to any color. It’s great for indoor or outdoor rugs.
• Outdoor – Outdoor Binding is UV stabilized and water resistant to withstand outdoor elements and keep your outdoor rugs in top condition.
• Your Own Material – Provide your own fabric for a truly customized rug. Email sales@sisalrugs.com or call us at 1-888-613-1335 for more details on fabric requirements and shipment information.

To start designing your own custom outdoor rug, first decide which type of outdoor rug you want. Sisal Rugs offers four different kinds, and you can learn what makes each unique below.

Four Seasons

This is the most popular of all the outdoor collections.  The Four Seasons collection features four distinct styles: Belize, Domingo, Laguna and Montego. Each style is available in bronze, cobblestone, dune and pewter, so you can order the color that best fits your design. Four Seasons outdoor rugs have a pile height of 3/16 to ¼ in.

Al Fresco

As sisal look-alikes, Al Fresco rugs are popular among those who want the look and feel of sisal but the moisture protection and durability of a polypropylene rug. These rugs are available in six neutral colors and three styles (Costa Rica, Cypress and Logan). They have a short pile height at 3/16 in.

All-Weather

The All-Weather collection offers 11 beautiful dark tones. Canvas, Cypress, Logan and Fuji styles are available. With the longest pile height at ¼ in., these are the softest of all the outdoor rugs.

Patterned

While most of the other outdoor selections feature simple designs, the Patterned collection offers more complexity to give your outdoor space a boost. The Malta and Montego styles showcase a stunning Greek Key pattern and are available in rich, darker tones. In contrast, the diamond-patterned Tangier style and Moroccan tile-patterned Tribal style are available in lighter, neutral colors. Most of the patterned outdoor rugs have a short pile height of 3/16 in.

Learn more about the different outdoor rug options and designing a custom outdoor rug with the Create a Rug tool.

Boucle, Brasilia and Dorado

The first three styles of sisal rugs are the thinnest and most tightly woven. With tight weaves, these rugs are built tough and won’t show signs of wear and tear easily. Boucle is a simple, classic sisal weave and one of the most affordable styles. Slightly thicker and larger than Boucle, Brasilia sisal has a bolder, more striking appearance that’ll draw attention in the room. Dorado rugs are made with the highest-quality sisal and are the thinnest option available.

Santiago, Mali, Sun and Chucky Boucle

These styles feature large, thick weaves that are perfect for creating texture and character in a space. The larger-weaved rugs are also the softest of the sisal offerings. Featuring a thicker Boucle weave, Santiago makes a bolder statement than the regular Boucle sisal. The Chunky Boucle has an even larger weave and is one of the thickest sisal rugs available. Both Mali and Sun sisal have large, looped weaves and are known for their softness. The main difference between the two are their color offerings; Mali is available in seven colors, ranging from light to dark, while Sun is now available in three design forward grays and other naturals. 

Kenya, Porto and Trellis

Natural fiber rugs are known for their subtle designs, often containing only one color. Kenya, Porto and Trellis are three patterned sisal rugs that offer more variety. Kenya has a beautiful diamond pattern, while Trellis features an intricate lattice pattern modeled after a garden trellis. The Porto sisal has a pattern of Greek Keys, a symbol of infinity and unity used in design to showcase elegance. Any of these patterned sisal rugs is sure to make a statement in your home.

Now that you know what separates each sisal weave, you can pick the right style for your room.

Stair Runner

Carpeted stair runners are a happy medium between wood and carpeted stairs. They cover the center of the stairs to create a safer walking path, yet they leave the hardwood exposed on the edges to show off the wood’s natural beauty. For a quality runner that perfectly fits your stairs, Sisal Rugs specializes in creating custom-sized stair runners in a variety of natural fibers. Wool is one of the most popular fibers for stair runners, but sisal, sisal-wool blend, seagrass, jute and other fibers are also available to fit your needs. Visit the Stair Runners page to learn more about fiber types and the easiest way to measure for a stair runner.

Abrasive Tape

Adding abrasive tape to stairs is a simple way to lessen slipperiness without covering any portion of the beautiful hardwood stairs. Tread tape sticks to the surface of the stairs and creates a rough surface so shoes have something to grip while walking.

Non-slip Coating

Another option is non-slip or anti-slip coating, which is applied to the hardwood stairs with a brush or roller like paint or finish. Clear coating is available for you to leave the original hardwood design showing, or the coating comes in multiple colors if you’d like to give the stairs a new look.

Safety should never be a concern in your home. With a stair runner, abrasive tape or non-slip coating, you can breathe a little easier knowing your hardwood stairs aren't going to cause any slipping mishaps.

Turn a piece of driftwood into a unique planter for succulents

Instead of the typical succulent pots you buy for your tiny plants, buy a driftwood planter or make your own. Tended, a gardening blog, provides great DIY instructions for crafting your own natural planter using a piece of driftwood and a gouge tool. 

Create your own word art to hang on the walls

Design words like "Home" or "Family" using driftwood and hang your DIY art on the wall. If you aren't someone who likes to craft, plenty of driftwood art options can be purchased online instead. 

Hang a driftwood-framed mirror

Another way to incorporate driftwood into your home is to find a mirror framed with the wood material. This decor idea is both practical and subtle, which is great if you already have a few statement accessories in the room. 

Place driftwood pieces in clear cylinder vases 

Create a beach theme by filling up clear cylinder vases with rocks, sand and driftwood. You can assemble your accessories on top of dressers, open shelves or even the coffee table. 

When your home needs a touch of excitement, using driftwood as decor is an easy way to add statement style. Try these ideas to get started on your space's design today. 

We feel less stressed in an uncluttered space.

The more stuff we accumulate, the easier it is for our spaces to become cluttered. The more our homes become cluttered, the easier it is for us to become stressed. When we walk into a room that looks crowded with accessories, many of us tend to feel overwhelmed. A low-maintenance design creates a calmer environment that instantly quiets our minds and lowers stress. 

We want to reconnect with nature.

Many materials and colors used in low-maintenance design are natural or inspired by the outdoors. We spend most of our time inside, so we might as well make the most of it by bringing a few elements of the outdoors into our interiors. 

We don't want to waste time keeping our home in order. 

Life is busy and many homeowners don't want to spend the free time they do have cleaning up their home. Fewer accessories means less dusting. An open, minimal design also tends to look cleaner and more organized than other interior design styles, without requiring more work on the homeowner's end. 

When life gets complicated, it's nice to come home to a space that's stylishly simple. That's why today many homeowners are choosing contemporary, uncomplicated decor and furniture over traditional styles.

The benefits of texture

Texture adds depth to a room to create a more visually interesting design. It's not always apparent when texture is behind a room's eye-catching style, but you always notice when texture is lacking. The room feels flat and there's nothing that makes you want to reach out and touch anything. Texture is like the whip cream on top of a pumpkin pie — it completes the pie and delivers a cool, creamy experience without you even taking a bite.  

How to add texture to your home

You can bring texture to your home in a variety of ways. Throw a shag accent pillow on the sofa for a luxurious touch. Hang up textured wallpaper for a hint of drama. A very easy way to incorporate texture into a room is to place a natural-fiber rug, like sisal or jute, on the living room floor. Natural fiber rugs have a course texture that adds visual excitement, but is soft underfoot for comfort. 

If your interior design looks blah, texture could be the way to create a more compelling room. 

This is why researching a brand or material instantly makes you a smarter shopper. After all, it's better to invest time to find a quality product than it is to invest money in a piece of home decor you'll soon have to replace. Let's take sisal rugs, for example. Sisal rugs are naturally beautiful and affordable, but are they durable? You'll want to know the answer to that question before bringing a new rug into your space. 

Sisal rugs and durability

The good news is that yes, sisal rugs are durable. In fact, they typically last longer than other types of natural-fiber rugs, thanks to the resilient nature of sisal fibers. Sisal rugs are well-suited for high-traffic areas in the home, such as the living room and entryway, and continue to look great for years after you first place one on the floor. 

How to extend the life of a sisal rug

Even with its strong, durable quality, sisal rugs still need to be taken care of. Follow these cleaning tips to maintain your sisal rug's beauty and comfort.

• Vacuum regularly: Weekly vacuuming prevents dirt from building up and causing stains. 
• Spot clean by blotting: Immediately after a spill, blot (don't rub) liquids. 
• Use a rug pad: Rug pads keep rugs in place, enhance comfort and extend the life of a rug. 
• Treat rugs with a protector: In between cleaning sessions, use Sisal Life Protector to repel water and retard soiling. 

Don't waste money on a rug that won't last. Bring a durable, attractive and affordable rug into your home by choosing a sisal variety. 

That being said, it might not be in your best interest to pack up and move to the country. In that case, it's time to get creative with your home decor and create a country style regardless of where you live. Get inspired with these five American country style suggestions. 

Handcrafted gems

Quality craftsmanship is a hallmark of the country interior style. You don't have to be a skilled woodworker to bring this important element to your home, though. There are plenty of American-made furniture items, from wooden tables to chairs, that can help you create the relaxing look you love. 

Natural materials

You don't have to actually live in the country to surround yourself in nature. Natural-fiber rugs, wooden furniture and burlap accessories are examples of natural decor and furniture you can bring into your home. 

Rustic finishes

The vintage style is very in right now, which means you can find quality furniture that looks weathered but is actually brand new.  

White backdrops

The country life is simple and soothing, which is why the walls of many farmhouses are painted white. Add a few bright colors as well, such as yellow and blue, to create a welcoming appearance. 

Antique accessories

Hit up a few local antique stores to see what types of accessories you can find. Pieces with history create a one-of-a-kind home, and they are often great conversation starters!

If you're ready to slow down your life but you do not move out to the country, bring the country to your home instead. These five tips will help you create a farmhouse interior that's both stylish and simple.