Creating that environmental-friendly atmosphere in your home can be achieved through the materials you desire with ease. One of the most important factors to consider is the floor finishing.
Also, you would like to consider what type of eco-friendly material you want to put on it. Asides from rugs, there are other equally advisable alternatives you can consider for your floor decoration. Some of the most advisable alternatives include Hemp, Sisal, Seagrass, jute, coir, cork, and bamboo.
Hemp Rug
Hemp rugs give you several advantages over traditional rugs. This has made it common and a popular choice among decorators and homeowners. The hemp rugs are made from woven hemp grass. This is otherwise known as the mountain grass.
Hemp is usually found in large quantities in the Chinese highlands. The hemp rug materials are pesticide-free woven rug with renewable characteristics. They are usually easy to maintain and are a natural floor covering fibers.
The hemp woven fabric is also referred to as super fiber . This cannabis Sativa naturally woven material is gotten from the herbaceous plant. This alternative rug material is a better anti-bacterial material, and it is better than a majority of the other natural materials. This makes it highly resistant to any form of rot, mold, or mildew.
The hemp rug also provides an unbeatable source of heat during winter and even a cooling option during summer periods. Aside from this, the hemp rugs are easy to clean and maintain. Dirt does not hang to them. Hence, you can look up do-it-yourself cleaning practices to maintain your hemp rug material.
Features Of Hemp Rug
highlighted below are some of the critical reasons you should consider going for the hemp rug option
- Low maintenance
- Highly resistant to bacterial
- Light-weighted
- Highly durable
- Quality thermal insulation
Sisal Rugs
Is sisal eco-friendly? Another great alternative to synthetic rugs is the sisal fiber floors. Sisal is derived from the long green leaves of the cactus plant. This alternative is a strong natural fiber well known for its durability and thickness.
The sisal rugs are long-lasting if they are correctly taken care of. Stains rest on the surface of the rug and require some trusted techniques to get these stains off.
The sisal material is very environmentally friendly. It is a biodegradable material. No fertilizer nor pesticide is required for the cultivation of the Sisal fibers.
Due to the high durability offered by the material, the Sisal rugs are great in areas of your home like your hallway.
Features Of Sisal
Some of the exciting reasons associated with the sisal include
- Strong and durable with the ability to stretch
- Great for its insulation properties
- Highly repellant to bacterial damage
- Requires some level of maintenance
- It is a biodegradable material
- Affected by moisture and saltwater
Seagrass
As the name entails, the seagrass rug is environmentally friendly materials gotten from the sea. These rugs are a healthy choice when looking for a natural area rug alternative.
The seagrass materials used in making the seagrass rugs are easy to harvest and fast-growing material. This ultimately makes them a much sustainable flooring material.
Aside from all the above listed, the seagrass rugs are usually stylish rugs. They are also very sustainable and durable. These seagrass materials are originally gotten from India. When it comes to cost, the seagrass materials are pocket-friendly materials that you can get.
In larger quantities, these seagrass materials are gotten from the Chinese paddy fields. These large harvested plants are interwoven into strong strips of textures and dimensions that pass as synthetic rug alternatives.
With the seagrass fiber, it is best not to spread it in areas where there is a high rate of movement. This is due to its slippery features.
Features Of Seagrass
Some of the characteristic features of the seagrass include
- A smooth and natural waxy coating
- Minimal watermarks and stain
- Thick fiber texture
- Impermeable to water
- A great pick for home insulation
- It is waxy and can get slippery
- Requires a level of maintenance to prevent mold forming
Jute
Why is jute considered environmentally friendly? This is also well known as Hessian. They are long vegetable spun fibers to become coarse strands. This is usually the material for making the burlap fabric.
Jute is another excellent example of natural fiber rugs. Often, these are handwoven natural rugs using the hessian and some other plant fibers. The resultant rug is usually a beautiful natural home decorative texture rug.
The Jute is gotten from the bark of the well-known whitish Jute plant. These plants are mostly grown in Indonesia. They are popularly referred to as the Corchorus capsularis.
It is sometimes also referred to as one of the eco-friendliest natural materials for rugs in the world. This is evident in its biodegradable and recyclable characteristics, which goes hand in hand with its organic nature.
The Jute is also known to be softer and more beautiful looking when compared to the other known natural fibers. The Jute is also best used in a room with less traffic.
Features Of Jute
Listed below are some of the most essential features of the Jute natural fibers
- Due to its recyclable and biodegradable properties, Jute is considered to be environmentally friendly
- Sometimes referred to as the golden fiber due to its silky golden shiny look
- Cheapest produced fiber. Hence, it fits right into your budget
- High tenacity
- Heat insulation property
- Low thermal conductivity
Coir
Coir materials are natural fibers that are gotten from the husk of the coconut. These 100 percent natural products are popularly used for various home supply products. It is used mostly in the production of entrance mats and rugs.
You must have come in contact with the unrefined Coir material at one point or another. It is the hard-internal covering and the outer covering of the coconut itself.
Usually, this fullness of everything natural is gotten from Indian coconut husk fiber. This is softened in seawater. The coir is known for its rich and resiliency. The coir natural materials are well used for rugs and carpets.
These are strong and tightly woven materials. The coir materials are also known for their low maintenance features. You would still like to vacuum clean it periodically to maintain its clear and fine exterior.
Interestingly, this coarse textile is made by first removing the husky inner part of the coconut shell. It is then softened with seawater.
These fibers are then dried and made into woven rugs or carpet, preferably. This material is then used for a resilient floor covering. Although this material is not recommended for every room in your house, it is still an excellent rug material all the same.
Cleaning a coir rug requires a few steps. Cautiously scrape the stained area using a dull knife. You could also use a nail file. For soot kind of stain, use a vacuum cleaner.
Features Of Coir
Some of the distinctive features of coir include
- Thick and strong interwoven rug material
- High abrasion resistance
- Saltwater damage resistance
- Water and moisture resistant
Cork
These are contemporary and environmentally friendly area rugs. They are made of a combination of cork and natural fibers. These natural fibers include linen, recycled kinds of cotton, etc.
These are some of the most innovative ways used by contemporary internal décor to bring form and function into your space. Be it home or workplace; they are specially made to create an atmosphere of comfort that can be stood in.
These materials are natural area rugs which are still famously used for kid’s room. It is also a modern area rug used for the workplace and home.
Cork flooring is also one of the ecologically friendly alternatives to rugs and carpets. This resilient material is also a sound insulator. Additionally, it is also easy to clean and maintain.
Gotten from the bark of cork trees during the harvest period, you can expect this material to be available once every nine years. This makes it one of the most sorts after floor covering materials.
Features Of Cork
Listed below are some of the characteristic features of the cork material
- Elastic properties
- Resilient
- Buoyant
- Impermeable material
- Natural fiber which makes it ecologically acceptable
Bamboo
Bamboo is well known for its availability and its biodegradable characteristics. This environmentally friendly material is very sustainable, and they thrive in production even without any pesticides.
Due to its grass properties, bamboo is known for its quick growth rate almost immediately after harvest. Using bamboo as a floor surface, you get a strong and highly durable material. This is very durable and is not affected by moisture.
The bamboo floor surface is mostly used as the flooring for the kitchen and the bathroom. Comparing it to other flooring materials, bamboo is easy to install.
Features Of Bamboo
Some of the hard to miss characteristic features of the bamboo include
- Unparalleled strength
- Mould and Mildew resistant
- Excellent fire-resistant qualities
- Durable with low maintenance
What To Avoid?
Even as rugs are made mostly from synthetic materials, it is important to note that artificial silk and polyesters are cheaper to purchase. These are of lower quality, but it is not environmentally friendly.
It is also a good point to note that synthetic rugs have to be treated with synthetic chemicals. These chemicals have the potential to outgas your home. This is also harmful to you and the environment.