Why a Wool Accent Rug is Superior to Other Accent Rugs

Wool rugs were once, and still are, staples in the lives of many nomadic peoples the world over. Because they constantly moved from place to place, making it impractical if not downright impossible to have a floor in their homes, they made thick rugs as covers for the bare earth. These rugs provided warmth and a level of comfort that compared to the bare ground was day and night.

Understandably, rugs have always been held in high regard among these people (Turks are a great rug and carpet making people) and beautiful designs have evolved to be handed down from generation to generation to be hand woven into these functional works of art. As an item of trade, they were also made to be of high quality and pleasing design. Even today, the middle east is a premier source of high quality, unique rugs. Artisans still do the work in fundamentally the same way as before, on wooden homemade looms. The quiet rhythms of the countryside lend themselves to the process, and one-of-a-kind rugs, often of designs belonging solely to the maker, are still produced the old-fashioned way.

Wool is still the most common and preferred material for rugs these days, even with the proliferation of synthetic fibers like acrylic, nylon, and polypropylene. Though it is a natural fiber, wool is naturally fire resistant and also discourages dust mites- great for people with allergies. Wool also repels water and resists staining, making it great for use in the home.

By far the most abundant source of wool is sheep, though this differs as you move from one region of the world to the next. For instance, in the middle east, where sheep are plenty and have been the main herd animal for centuries, sheep’s wool is the most common. In this region of the world, they are used for everything from milk and meat to rugs and even the felt lining for tents. But head to different areas and you might find people making rugs out of goat wool. In Central and South America, llamas and alpaca are the pack animals of choice and thus you have wool made from the fur of these animals in that region.