If you’re anything like me, the more choices there are, the harder it is to make a decision. This is especially challenging when it comes to farmhouse style rugs. Joanna Gaines makes it seem so easy, but to me–not so much. What we do know from Joanna is that a neutral palette is crucial to a successful modern farmhouse interior–so it only makes sense that we err on the side of caution and go neutral in the rug department. That doesn’t mean color is a total no-no, it just means you need to be a bit more selective on where you incorporate it. Unfortunately, the decision process doesn’t get much easier considering there is such a wide variety of farmhouse style rugs to choose from. Perhaps talking a bit about rugs, in general, will at least help you understand the best choices for a modern farmhouse interior.
In my opinion, the five best rug choices for a farmhouse style home are wool, jute, sisal, seagrass, and something made from polypropylene, viscose, or polyester. The first four are what we call natural fibers. The last few, however, are not–but we’ll talk about that later.
Natural fiber rugs are wonderful. Not only are they environmentally friendly, their casual elegance can blend in with any design style. Here’s a quick rundown on the natural fiber rugs mentioned above:
- Wool: Sustainable, durable, fire resistant, spill resistant, and vibrant when dyed
- Jute: Exceptionally soft, but not typically durable enough for high-traffic areas
- Sisal: Very tough and durable, but easily stainable because of its absorbency
- Seagrass: Non-porous, full of texture, stain-resistant, durable, and easy on bare feet
Although polypropylene, viscose, and polyester are synthetic fibers, they still have some excellent benefits. They are durable, inexpensive and easy to maintain. When it comes to rugs, they tend to have soft, luxurious look with notable high luster. They also hold bright colors. They are naturally mold- and mildew-resistant and easy to clean. Because they are more sensitive fibers, however, rugs made of these materials are best used in lower-traffic areas.
As mentioned earlier, we know farmhouse style revolves around a neutral palette–but an area rug can be the perfect way to add a splash of color if you don’t have much in the space. Recently, Joanna branched out and created her own collection of area rugs that you can check out on our website. It’s a gorgeous collection and there’s no doubt you’ll find something that will work perfectly in your farmhouse home.
