The Coronavirus Pandemic that spread rapidly throughout the world caused a dramatic shift in the way people shop. People moved, almost instantly in a lot of cases, to shopping for the items they need for their home online. Items which were previously purchased from brick and mortar stores such as beds, sofas, coffee tables and decorative pieces were all purchased from online stores due to the fact physical stores had to close.

Other items that are now purchased online much more than they were in 2019 are decorative pieces like rugs, cushions, curtains and other decor items within the home. As an online rug retailer that's been in business since 2012, we have substantial experience when it comes to shopping for rugs online. One of the most common questions our team are asked is "what are the different types of rug?" This is an important question. Different rug types suit different uses and rooms in the home, so it's important to make the correct decision to ensure you are 100% happy with your purchase.

With all of this in mind. We created this blog post to give you all the information you need to know about the different types of rugs that are available to purchase online.

1) Wool Rugs

Without a doubt, wool rugs are one of the most common types of rug available to purchase online and in-store. They have a brilliant property which means they're able to control humidity in their surroundings, making them a great option to control temperature no matter what environment you are in. Are you in a cold environment? Great, wool rugs can help keep your home warm and comfortable! Or do you live in a warmer environment? A wool rug type will be able to keep hold of the cool air in your home and make it more comfortable. Wool rugs are anti-static, anti-bacterial and anti-allergic, meaning they are a great option for almost anyone!

Wool rugs can typically be used in areas of high foot traffic, such as living rooms, as their fibres have the ability to quickly regain their original shape. Something that other types of rugs struggle to do as well. But we shall cover this a little later.

View our amazing range of Wool Rugs.

2) Cotton Rugs

Cotton rugs are an incredibly popular type of rug when it comes to the home, and specifically bathrooms. They are known for their amazing resistance to high temperature environments and good insulative qualities. We say they are a popular choice for bathrooms because they have a brilliant way of absorbing moisture. Cotton rugs are also great for use within other rooms in the home such as living rooms, bathrooms and even in a home office. They do not accumulate static electricity so there's no risk of electric shocks! A huge bonus! Another great bonus of using a cotton rug in your home... Depending on the size of the rug, it may actually be suitable for use in the washing machine!

It's incredibly common to find cotton rugs that are a blend of cotton and a synthetic material such as polypropylene or polyester. This makes cotton rugs available at a lower price point. However, if you are looking for the quality of a 100% cotton rug, then these are readily available to be purchased online too!

3) Jute Rugs

Jute rugs are incredible, and rapidly growing in popularity, when it comes to choosing a type of rug! Jute is a natural material that provides a whole heap of rigidity and stability, meaning they're amazing for adding a natural look and feel to your home without having to sacrifice in quality. One thing to note here... Jute rugs are not highly recommended for high foot traffic areas such as living rooms, kitchens or hallways because the natural fibres within the rug may deteriorate more easily than other types of rug.

It is recommended for dry, indoor areas so a perfect place for jute rugs could be your home office! The key here is to place it somewhere it's not going to be stepped on regularly, but will be seen really easily.

4) Sisal Rugs

Are you looking for a rug that looks like jute, but more hard wearing and able to be placed in areas like your living room, bedroom or hallway? Then a sisal rug is the option for you! Like other plant fibres, sisal rugs are highly resistant to wear, they do not create static electricity and they insulate really well against sound and temperature. However, it does differ from other fibres such as jute as it is slightly rougher in feel and lighter in colour.

Sisal rugs are absorbent, which means they are not recommended for outdoor use or use in very humid areas. Given their endurance and durability, they are absolutely ideal for high traffic areas within the home! Step on them as much as you want and the fibres will not deteriorate. I myself have a sisal rug in my hallway and it is absolutely spectacular!

5) Polypropylene Rugs

Finally we come to the first synthetic fibre rug type on our list. Carpets made from polypropylene are known to be incredibly resistant to wear and flattening, they don't absorb water, and are incredibly suited to high traffic areas. So, when we take this material and make rugs in it, we really cannot go wrong! Polypropylene rugs can really be used in any area of the home, indoors or outdoors and it does not matter about the amount of foot traffic within the area it's placed down in.

Polypropylene rugs are one of the most used rug materials in the world now. This is down to the fact it is cheap to manufacture, cheap to export and suited to almost all areas within the home. All of this means we are able to produce cheap rugs that don't lack when it comes to quality! Interested in one of our cheap rugs? Check them out here.

6) Polyester Rugs

Polyester rugs combine characteristics of various types of fibres to create a very popular type of rug. They are very durable, which makes them brilliant for being placed in areas with high amounts of foot traffic. They are incredibly pleasant to touch, which makes them well suited to bedrooms and living rooms and they are relatively cheap to make, which means a lower purchase price than our customers. Here's a fun fact, most shaggy rugs or high pile rugs are actually made from polyester.

Depending on the type of rug you choose, and the size of the rug you have purchased, some polyester rugs may be able to be placed in the washing machine. This is dependant on whether or not they are made of 100% polyester however, as some rugs are made using a combination of polyester and polypropylene or cotton.

7) Acrylic Rugs

Acrylic is a synthetic fibre, but it is actually incredibly similar to wool in terms of look and feel. Similar to polypropylene and polyester in construction, acrylic rugs are perfect for high-traffic areas within the home due to their hard-wearing nature. Acrylic rugs really are the perfect option for someone looking for a wool rug, without the price tag of a wool rug. Acrylic rugs are perhaps the perfect option to be placed in areas where the rug will see a lot of sunlight, thanks to the fact withstands light very well and will not fade easily. Many people who purchase acrylic rugs tend to place them in the living room of their home. You do not need to worry about the sun shining on it often, and it can perfectly emulate the feel of wool.