For hundreds of years, rugs made of wool have been known for their high quality and resilience. Being synonymous with luxury, they are still a very popular rug choice for households, as well as in the construction and hotel industries.

Whether you’re thinking about buying a statement rug for your new property or replacing the old rugs in your house, those made of wool are a lifetime investment. Why? Because wool is a strong fibre with a lovely look and outstanding appearance preservation qualities. When maintained properly, it’s also highly durable and will serve the purpose for many years to come!

To help you decide whether a wool rug is what your space desperately needs, let’s examine the various types, benefits as well as important considerations to keep in mind when purchasing the ideal one.

Types of Wool Rugs

In terms of making good rug choices, you should select high-quality wool rugs, made with the proper manufacturing methods. However, generally speaking, there are two types of rugs made of wool: 100% wool and 80/20 wool mix. Depending on where and how the rugs are being used, both blends can subsequently be created as carpet tiles or in broadloom format, giving installation options.

100% or Natural Wool Rug

Since humanity first learned how to shear soft, fluffy wool from sheep herds, humans have been utilizing wool for floor coverings for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. A 100% wool rug, often known as a natural model, refers to rugs made entirely of this fabric.

String wool is the ideal type of wool to use in 100% wool rug manufacture. Many rugs contain both British and New Zealand wool, which can be found on sheep breeds in Britain and New Zealand.

In this regard, New Zealand wool is much softer and whiter than the British one, which makes it the ideal fabric for neutral or lighter shade ranges. British wool, on the other hand, is dense, robust, and has a distinctive texture. Merino wool from New Zealand is frequently considered to be of greater quality, but wool from other sheep breeds throughout the world can be just as good and frequently have their distinctive qualities.

80/20 or Wool Mix Rug

Wool rugs have inherent strength and don’t necessarily require the addition of another fibre to perform better, but in specific situations and for specific purposes, it’s frequently blended with other fibres, typically synthetic ones. 80/20 wool rug, also known as wool mix rug or wool blend rug, is the name for these variations.

For a variety of reasons, including to increase fibre flexibility, stain resistance, and durability, as well as to simplify dyeing and printing, manufacturers may opt to employ synthetic components in the yarn.

80/20 rugs are becoming more and more well-liked since they enhance their qualities by including synthetic fibres. Given all these, any homeowner or business owner would make a wise investment in a more resilient rug that had the same aesthetic and ergonomic qualities as 100% wool.

Important Considerations When Choosing a Rug

Length and Purity of the Fibre

The length of the fibre determines the strength of the wool rug. For that reason, the longer the fibre, the stronger the wool of your rug will be. On the other hand, getting a rug with shorter wool fibres won’t guarantee that it’s as strong as the wool carpeting is so known for. Moreover, you should make sure that the wool you choose for a rug is pure wool. Any flaws in the wool will be noticeable in the finished rug.

Colour of the Wool

You should also consider the colour when looking for the right rug for your space. The lighter the wool you select, the easier it is to achieve pure and uniform colour in your rug design. Many producers bleach their wool to brighten it. Although bleaching wool helps lighten it, it also weakens its fibres, resulting in a lower-quality finished product. Therefore if premium quality is your primary goal, stay away from bleached wool.

Spinning and Setting

To ensure that you will receive a finished high-quality rug you will be delighted with, it’s also important to pay attention to the manufacturing processes such as spinning and setting the wool.

The ultimate strength of your rug depends on the spinning of the wool or the number of times the wool is spun every yard or meter. The strength of the wool increases with the number of times it has been spun.

The final strength of the rug also depends on how the wool is placed. Wool yarns unravel when they aren’t set, weakening your rug because each fibre needs to function independently. However, when the wool is set, the yarns remain in place, allowing the fibres to bind and cooperate to produce a robust finished product.

Benefits of Using a Wool Rug

Strength and Durability

Wool offers exceptional performance because of its long-lasting toughness, inherent crimp, strength, and elasticity, which allows it to create a “bounce-back.” As a result, shadowing, tracking markings, and pile compression are greatly diminished. For that reason, rugs made of wool can preserve their excellent looks for many years, if not decades.

Dirt and Soiling Resistance

Wool is a fibre that is entirely natural and contains natural oils. These oils will repel other oil-based soiling and are resistant to dirt. Additionally, as wool is an opaque fibre, dirt won’t be as easy to spot, giving your carpet a naturally clean appearance. Most of the time, daily vacuuming will be enough to keep your rug looking nice.

Warmth and Comfort

Besides using it as a floor statement piece to give your dining nook a storage look, there is nothing cosier and more opulent than a wool rug’s warmth and comfort. During the chilly winter months, the wool functions as an insulator to keep your dining area and the rest of the house warm, making it an energy-efficient investment. Wool is also good at absorbing sounds and will protect the house from echoes and household noise.

Fall Friendly

Wool’s inherent coil and softness provide a cushion, guarding against major injuries from falls, whether they come from small children or elderly people. This is improved even more when a wool rug is laid over a high-quality underlay, which can additionally guard against falls and offer other advantages.

Hypoallergenic

Wool’s tiny scales will trap fine dust until it is vacuumed, reducing the amount of floating particulate in the atmosphere. Then, before it may irritate the skin, dust and debris will be removed with a high-quality vacuum cleaner. Wool is also a naturally “smart” fibre that can assist maintain a balanced environment in any home since it can collect humidity from the air and then release it again when the environment becomes dry.