The Best Surya Rugs of 2024

To each their own, and may the best rug win! Every home has different needs when it comes to picking the right dining room or living room rug. It all boils down to how the rug is made, and what it’s made of. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the different types of rug materials and how they work best in your home.

If you have kids or pets, you’re going to want to lean towards synthetic fiber rugs that can stand up to heavy use and spills. If you don’t entertain often, look for more natural fiber rugs that have a beautiful feel underfoot, but are still wonderfully durable options for long term use.

Wool rugs are the number one gold standard for a soft, textural feel with incredible longevity, natural stain resistance, and endless design options. Wool has a bouncy, resilient fiber that won’t crush under your dining table and chairs, or living room sofa. Because wool has a natural oil built into the fibers, it is more resistant to water based stains and can be easily spot cleaned or vacuumed.

Wool is susceptible to stains from excess moisture, greasy or oily spills, and can shed fibers in high traffic areas. Not to be gross, but moths and carpet beetles love wool. They naturally feed on wool fibers so if you do choose a wool rug, make sure you vacuum it regularly.

Cotton fiber rugs are an affordable alternative to wool rugs. Cotton is easily cleaned and most often seen in flat weave rugs, which we’ll discuss a little later. Cotton rugs are typically more causal and great for living rooms. The choices for a more formal dining room might be limited.

Viscose is often the go-to dupe for silk rugs because this fiber mimics the wonderfully luxurious feeling of silk. But buyers beware, any stain, even water, will permanently mark a viscose rug. These rugs are best kept in bedrooms that have minimal exposure to food and liquids.

Polypropylene is a synthetic material that is normally found in outdoor rugs, but has become extremely popular for indoor use due to the wonderful versatility and durability of this fiber. Polypropylene is stain resistant, easy to clean, and can stand up to heavy use. This is a great material choice if you have young children or pets. Polypropylene is highly flammable, so make sure any romantic candles are kept safely away from the rug.

Polyester rugs are not recommended for dining room areas, and are better suited for living rooms or outdoor areas. Although polyester can withstand heavy foot traffic, and has a soft texture, it cannot handle oil-based stains. Best to keep a polyester rug in non-food areas or outdoors.

Nylon rugs are best for high traffic areas, are easy to clean, affordable and have a nice, soft texture. Unfortunately, nylon can absorb stains and cannot be machine washed so they work better in living rooms or outdoors, rather than dining rooms.