I have been putting off doing this post for a long time. Rugs are by in large one of my most asked about home accents, specifically if I can recommend a rug that doesn’t cost a lot. I always find this to be much more complex than it should be. Firstly because I really (and I mean really) don’t love a lot of cheap rugs. Don’t get me wrong I am all about budget pieces and live for a good Home Goods haul, but when it comes to a rug synthetic fibers tend to look and feel cheap which I can’t stand. Secondly, we all have a different interpretation of budget. Many of you are looking for me to suggest an 8×10 or 9×12 non natural fiber rug for under $400 – it seems crazy, but that can be hard!
Luckily, there are a lot of good options out there now. So many more than I saw even a year ago. If you are going to purchase a synthetic fiber rug (i.e. polypropylene, rayon, etc.) I recommend looking for more of a low pile. They can be camouflaged quite nicely if the pile isn’t too chunky. I also recommend veering towards something with more of a pattern. When you purchase a synthetic Moroccan style or a solid colored shag it can be more obvious that it isn’t real wool and sometimes appear shiny. These also tend to shed like crazy and can unravel easily. In this post I will be rounding up some of my favorite cost effective options that look vintage or wool and of course some of my go to natural rugs because they look great and tend to be very affordable.
Another great way to incorporate a pretty rug is to layer a vintage over a natural fiber. Even the two together can be cheaper than a wool rug. I got this vintage Turkish rug at a flea market for $300 because it was on the smaller size and placed it over a simple jute! You can see more on my vintage sources here and here.
Chrissy,
I am wondering about your experience with the World Market bleached jute rug. Looking to put it in our bedroom. Have you had any issues with the color darkening? Thank you.
Jill
Hi Jill!
I didn’t have any issues with the color darkening. I love it because it is a very soft jute, but this one does shed quite a bit. Because it is a softer touch the weave is a little more relaxed. However the shedding did stop after a month or so – once it flattened some. Hope this helps!
I love this post! Thank you for sharing.
I have a question: What’s a good laying rug ratio in terms of size? For example, should I purchase an 8 x 10 jute rug with a 6 x 9 natural fiber rug? Or 8 x 10 jute and 5 x 7 fiber?
Thank you!
Morgan
Hi Morgan,
Thank you! I typically will layer a vintage rug over a natural fiber and they tend to have odd sizes. I like at least 4″ showing on the sides if not more so you get the full effect of layering. With an 8 x 10 I would go for more of a 5 x 7 or 4 x 6.
Love the round up. I totally agree on your rug stance! xo
Thank you Jamie!!