With summer now on the horizon many people are looking to freshen up their rooms with a ‘summertime’ look. Here at Modern Rugs we have a superb range of rugs made from natural fibres which are ideal for the job. This article takes a look on why these rugs are so popular in the summertime and also looks at exactly what’s on offer.
Natural fibre rugs can be used in almost any room in the home, however they are mostly used in conservatories and kitchen areas, especially in the summertime. There are many reasons why natural fibre rugs such as jute, hemp and sisal are so popular in the summer months. Firstly, because natural fibre rugs are essentially made from plants they have the ability to give the inside of your home an ‘outdoorsy’ look and feel. As well as this these natural fibres are used widely in the homes of people living in warm tropical climates, so they instantly bring to mind sunshine and hot weather, something we brits love so much because it is always in short supply here! Yet another reason is that they are inherently hardwearing and easy to clean which is essential if it is going into an area such as a kitchen where you are likely to get food and drink spillages. Also in the summer you will most likely get some extra household traffic in these areas as people walk in and out of the garden.
Natural Fibres
Modern Rugs offers natural fibre kitchen rugs in a variety of materials, but before we look at the ranges on offer we will look at the fibres themselves and where they come from.
Sisal is a tropical plant due to the fact that it requires sun and a temperature of above 25°C to grow. The largest producer of sisal in the world is Brazil followed by Tanzania.
The plant (pictured below) is typically around 250cm in height and can produce up to 250 leaves in its lifetime. In order to create the sisal fibre that is used for making rugs a machine called a decorticator is used to squash and beat the leaves from the sisal plant. The fibre is then left to dry (usually in the sun) before being cleaned and packed into large bales (pictured below). These bales are then sent to a number of manufacturing facilities across the world to produce a variety of products from rugs to ropes.
Jute is a water-fed plant and therefore tends to be grown in climates which are both hot and have a large amount of rainfall. The majority of the worlds jute is produced in India and Bangladesh. The actual fibre is taken from the skin and stem of the crop. A process called ‘retting’ and ‘stripping’ is used to extract the fibres from the plant. Jute fibre has a very wide variety of uses, second only to cotton, and can be easily blended with other fibres making it even more versatile. Jute has been used in the carpet and rug industry for many years due to its strength, durability and colourfastness.
Hemp is of course synonymous with cannabis, they are after all one and the same! However the uses for this plant go far beyond that of smoking it which include biofuels, food / nutrition (in the form of hemp seeds), and the use of hemp fibres for producing ropes, sacks, paper, carpets, rugs and much more. As with Jute ‘retting’ is used to separate the hemp fibres from the plant. Hemp fibres are very strong and can be up to 450cm in length. Almost all countries in the world produce hemp with France being the largest producer in the EU.
Our Ranges
Out of all the natural fibre rugs we sell sisal is by far the most popular. Our sisal rugs come in three plain colours (Mocha, Linen and Cream) in three rectangular sizes and a hall runner. Each features a cotton border and because these rugs are usually laid of a hard floor they also have a rubber anti-skid backing to prevent them from moving. Prices start from just £49.
Our online shop also has a selection of jute rugs in plain and patterned designs. As well as being stunning to look at these rugs are very tough and durable. Available in two sizes with prices starting from £84.
For one of the most luxurious natural fibre ranges around you have to see our hemp rugs. Renowned UK rug designer Ron Binkers created these beautiful designs which are produced with real hemp and New Zealand wool. These are genuine premium quality designer rugs that have an amazing and unique appearance. Prices start from £279.
Finally, we now offer several ranges including ‘Fancy’, ‘Chalet’ and ‘Super Sisalo’ which give the look of natural fibre but are produced from man-made materials. This allows more versatility in the use of design and colours. There are a variety of sizes and prices start from just £34.
So with this amount of choice you’ve never had a better excuse to smarten up your home for the summer.
