A totally honest review with the pros and cons for what to know before buying jute rugs along with where to buy them on a budget.
Affiliate links are provided in this post for convenience. For more information, see my full disclosure here.
Just so you know, Robert makes fun of my rug addiction.
He says one day, when we move out of this house, we’ll have to reserve a moving truck entirely for my huge collection of rugs because we have that many. Like, almost every room in the house that many. (So I guess he’s kind of right but don’t tell him that.)
But the reason I love them is because they’re that sixth wall. Walls are fun to decorate, ceiling features can add tons of wow factor to a room. But a rug… a rug says cozy up and stay a while.
My favorite of all of the bajillions of rugs out there though… jute. I get questions about ours pretty much every day, so I thought it would be a good idea to devote a post to them for any of y’all wondering.
The first one we ever got was this NuLOOM chunky loop jute rug that I picked up on clearance, and ever since it arrived, I’ve been hooked.
It’s definitely not as soft as a shag carpet of course, but in my opinion, they are very comfortable. They almost feel like a foot massage with those nubby knots when I step on them. (And who doesn’t love that, right?)
They don’t feel like walking on prickly grass or anything like that if that’s a concern. But they’re not something I’d want to lay down on and take a nap either.
This olive green herringbone jute rug I picked up for the office earlier this year came from World Market during their big 50% off rug sale. And I love that it works perfectly for the military look we have going on in here.
With Olivia and Lola, the-dog-who-thinks-she’s-human running around, keeping them clean is a big priority. I usually can just hit them with the vacuum and everything comes right up. For spills (or icky toddler tummy bugs) I just follow these steps in this tutorial, and it’s good as new.
I will say though, they sometimes shed. For me, it was mainly when we first bought them and now it’s not so bad anymore. But the fibers do vacuum up easily. Since we have carpet, what fibers are there aren’t really noticeable to begin with.
If you have dark tile or hardwood, you might be sweeping a bit more than you would other types of rugs.
They’re perfect for just about anywhere in your house with kids and pets running around though because they don’t show dirt at all.
This striped jute runner I picked up on sale at Target a few months ago is great for having in our kitchen because even though I might end up dropping crumbs on it while I’m cooking, I can hardly ever tell.
I just run the vacuum attachment over it (the wand piece with the brush on the end), and it’s good as new. Plus, it still gives me a little bit of cushion while I’m standing at the stove on our rock hard floor.
Jute rugs sometimes have a weird smell at first too. Not a totally awful smell, just an earthy scent for the first day or two after you open them from packaging almost like rope or burlap has. So if you have severe allergies with dust and grass, these may not be the best option. But the burlapy smell goes away quickly.
If you’re a fan of eco-friendly decor though, jute rugs are definitely it, so you don’t have to really worry about chemicals lurking in them like the synthetic kinds.
The biggest reason I love them so much though is they are so easy to decorate around and change the rest of the room as much as you want. I know neutral is “in” right now, but neutral is also timeless and practical and makes redecorating so inexpensive. If you decide to incorporate a new color in your decorating scheme, these rugs can adapt to anything.
And if you have a room feeling stark and bland, jute adds warmth and texture and instant coziness. If you have an addiction to woven baskets all over your house, jute rugs are like having that basket look on your floor.
Once I added this jute and denim loomed rug to our dining room the other week, our space that felt a little unfinished before instantly felt cozy and inviting.
Oh, Lola approves too, just in case you’re worried how she has adapted to them. 😉 She hides in our dining room when she’s tired of Olivia chasing her around.
Whew! Okay. So that’s the skinny on the jute rug situation. Whoever knew such a crazy long post could come from just talking about a bunch of braided grass? But lo and behold, there it is.
They’re definitely not for everyone, but we’re officially big fans around here.
Are you a jute rug lover at your house too? And maybe need a giant moving truck to handle your collection? Feel free to share your own experience with them in the comments.
I love that round one under your dining table! I’ve been eyeballing it on Amazon ever since your post! My husband thanks you for my new mania:) I have those same exact pilliws ( the script ones on your couch) in my shop. They are quite populat!
Thank you! I’m soooo happy with it! I was looking for it on Amazon, where I originally bought it, and it looks like it’s sold out now. It’ll probably be restocked eventually though. They have them on Overstock.com too. Those pillows actually came with our couch nearly three years ago and I still constantly use them. 🙂 I can definitely see why they’re popular.
Never mind about the jute rugs…where did you get those adorable wedges??? LOVE! But seriously, I love the look of the jute rugs but I’m scared to try them because I have cats. I just assume they will scratch the heck out of them. Have you heard anything about that?
Aw thanks! I love them too. 🙂 I got them at TJ Maxx for $15. They have them at Macy’s too, but they’re sold out. http://fave.co/2bFi11f We don’t have a cat so I can’t say from first-hand experience, but I just looked it up and several forums with cat owners say their cats love their jute rugs. They can scratch them up all they want and it doesn’t really make a difference. Apparently the jute/sisal can withstand the clawing unlike other rugs. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/good-questions-604-105080
We have a cat and a jute rug and it hasn’t been an issue 🙂
Good to know! Thanks, Ashlea!
I have to know where did you get your shoes??? And thank you for sharing about jute rugs. I have a question. Do you have any suggestion about quality but afforable couches? I have been searching and searching. Thanks!
Haha! I got my shoes at TJ Maxx on clearance for $15. I just found them at Macy’s, but they’re sold out. :-/ http://fave.co/2bFi11f For couches though, I really love the IKEA Ektorp ones with the slipcovers. I’ve heard nothing but great things about them, and they’ve been on my wish list for a while. Our current couches are from Ashley Furniture from the Alenya Collection and we really love those too. They’ve held up well, considering we have a 3 year-old and a dog, and they weren’t pricey at all.
Just bought one for the familyroom and a huge fan.
Yes! They’re the best!
We share the love for rugs, particularly the jute/sisal ones. They wear like iron,are so low maintenance,and look great with any decor. I have eight total,and I LOVE them.
Thanks for sharing your lovely home. I look forward to your posts,and enjoy how you and your hubby work together to make this house your home.
Blessings!
I’m absolutely a huge jute rug lover! Dining room, living room, and sisal in the entry hall and runners in the hallway. When I stayed with my friend in Switzerland for July I even converted her over and we went to Ikea (may or may not have been four different times) and she ended up with new jute rugs for her living and dining room too;)
Yes! I love yours in your house, Krista! You can rock those rugs. 🙂 Good for you converting friends to the jute side. Haha!
Love your house and always look forward to your next post! The jute rugs in the house are very pretty. I may have to check some out for my own house! By the way, your dog is super adorable! What kind of dog is it?
Thanks, Tara! We’re not totally sure what breeds she has in her, but we think part Yorkie, part Schnauzer. She’s all snuggles though. 🙂
I finally broke down and got one for under the dining table. I resisted because, little kids. But I’m so glad I got it because it was what the room was lacking and what instantly made it look finished (even though it still isn’t). The crumb issue hasn’t been that bad and the ones there don’t even really show. IKEA baby! The quality was good and I couldn’t beat the price.
Yeah! They’re so awesome! I’m definitely going to have to check out the IKEA ones next time I go. Clearly, I’ve been missing out.
I have a big jute rug from Pottery Barn under my dining table and it drops dirt out of it still (after several years). I have to move it, vacuum/sweep and mop, replace…the rug pad is now grey instead of cream…I think I need to try washing the pad (not sure I’m supposed to)..all this despite my weekly vacuuming of the rug…I don’t know why it’s still dropping so much dirt out of it…..anyone else have that issue? It’s on wood floors in the dining room. I probably won’t buy another one even though I love it.
I have this issue, too. Not sure why they are full of dirt. Mine also still sheds. Like crazy. I have the fibers all over my house and on my wood floors. I LOVE the look of jute, but the fibers drive me mad.
I agree with you. I loved the look so I purchased 2 from World Market for my family room and under kitchen table. They are constantly shedding so I am constantly sweeping! You can even see the dust particles flying in the air when the sun shines in. Finally just bought a different rug for family room but have not changed it out yet because I just love the look of the jute rug!
Oh no! That’s surprising from Pottery Barn! I haven’t had that big of an issue but maybe someone else will chime in if they found something that worked for them?
I recently bought two from Wayfair….love the look but I’m concerned with the discolor in of my dark laminate wood. Anyone have any suggestions?
So I am completely obsessed with your blog. We recently purchased a much larger house and I am so overwhelmed redecorating it. I am all about deals, diy and the farmhouse look so obviously I was hooked on your site. After reading and taking diligent notes on like every room I realized you are in Charlotte! We are in Asheville and my sister is in Charlotte so it is a small world 🙂 My question: where do you start when coming up with a design for a completely blank room? It is making that first big move that I am struggling with pulling the trigger.
Thank you, Rachael! That truly means a lot to me. 🙂 And yes! We love the Charlotte area. And my husband and I actually went to Asheville for our honeymoon at Biltmore years ago. We’ve always loved that town. As for where I start on a design, that’s a good question. I should probably write a post about it. 😉 But generally, I decide what our needs are for the space: how much storage we need, how much seating we need, and decide how to arrange the room to be functional. Then focus on the pretty stuff after the function is figured out: paint colors, curtains/pillows/rugs, etc. I think the biggest step is figuring out your style first and the rest gets easier. I wrote a post about finding your style if that helps: https://www.blesserhouse.com/2015/07/how-to-discover-your-decor-style.html
I just discovered your blog and am OBSESSED! Love your style, and all of your tips on designing on a budget! Cant want to follow along (and obsessively go back and read all your posts 🙂 ) Just thought Id comment and say Hi! By the way, your home is BEAUTIFUL! We are moving into a boring builder grade home this fall and I cannot wait to come back here for design inspiration 🙂
Thank you SO much, Ashley! You don’t know how much that means to me. 🙂 So glad I could help! And congrats on the new house!
Good to know about jute and cat(s)……planning to buy jute June of next year and have 4 lady cats that are indoor during the night and outdoor during the day. Never have any issues with them and household furnishings. Love the center pillow. Do you know what it is made out of? Cotton, acrylic, wool or ?
This is a great post! I’m looking for a new rug for my living room. Thanks!
Yay! Glad to help, Melanie!
I love the round rug under your dining room table! The jute and denim make a really cute combination! I hope it’s not sold out- I would love to get one for our dining room.
Thanks, Mary! I love it too. Just checked and it’s back in stock right now.
I am a huge jute rug fan! My collection is continuously growing 🙂 I haven’t had this issue because we have vinyl floors but I’ve read where jute rugs can scratch your floor if you have hardwood or linoleum and don’t use a rug pad underneath the jute to protect the flooring! Just thought that’d be a good point to make in case anyone is under those circumstances 🙂
Ohhh I didn’t know that! We don’t have hardwood or linoleum so haven’t experienced that issue. Thanks for the heads up.
I have a couple small ones in our kitchen that we got from Kohl’s when we got married, I love them! Just wondering what size do you have in your living room? We installed laminate hardwood in our living room last summer and I still haven’t found a rug that I just love for in there. We are the type to lay around on the floor so a jute one might just be the route to go.
Yes!!! They’re awesome! The one in our living room is 8×10. Generally, 8×10 is the standard size for a living room rug.
I love this! Thanks for the great tips. This may be JUST what my kitchen is missing.
Yay! Glad to help, Chelsea!
I have a couple of jute rugs (8 X 8 and 8 X 10) that have been rolled up and stored for a year. I just bought a house and am planning on the big unroll ceremony. I know the edges are going curl up. How can I get them to flatten out?
I had a little trouble with our round rug curling up when I first rolled it out. I had to spend about 15 minutes stretching it so that it would flatten out. They might take a day or two to flatten, but just give it time. I’ve found that they’re not quite as stubborn about curling up as other types of rugs are.
Hello! I love your house 🙂 I have wall to wall carpet as well and my question is… how do you keep the jute rug from bunching up with heavy furniture on it? I’m having this issue and I don’t know what to do?!
Hello! I love your home 🙂 I also have wall to wall carpeting and my question is…how do you keep the jute rug from sinking in with heavy furniture on it? I’m having this issue and I don’t know what to do?!
Thanks, Veronica! We haven’t really had an issue with it bunching up. But you can use a rug-to-carpet pad underneath to keep it from moving around.
Is the color of the chunky loop jute bleach?
Hi Lauren! No, ours is just the natural color, no bleach.
I just bought my first jute rug, like you my first one is the NuLoom chunky one! I am so in love with it!!! I now actually just ordered two more, one for the kitchen and one for our entry! I also purchased them for their timelessness in the decor and because they are super durable!! They are so beautiful and cozy my house right up!
Aren’t they awesome?! I love how easy ours are with a kiddo and a dog running around.
Can we get a picture of the other side of your cabinets? I like the idea of just putting a sign above the cabinets, but then if I did that, i would have an awkward cabinet with nothing there… any suggestions?
Thanks!!
Hi Ashley! You can see more angles of that side of the room in this post: https://www.blesserhouse.com/2016/07/modern-farmhouse-kitchen-makeover-reveal.html
Mine got wet and the water stain never went away! But I do like them.
Okay, jute rugs really are pretty. However, if you have serious allergies – to grasses, for example, be really careful about having one in a bed room. I used a jute rug to make a fun headboard for our bed and had a terrible allergy reaction.
Is your chunky loop jute rug the one called the Maui chunky loop jute rug in natural? I found what looks like the one in your picture on USArugs?
I just got a jute woven rug.
It was love at first sight… but now that it’s home I feel like it’s a bit prickly. We usually walk arpund bare feet. Does it get softer or will it stay like that and hurt our feet?
I really want to keep it.??
Thanks for the post! We have all real hardwoods in our new home so i do have a concern about scratching them- as one other poster mentioned. Anyone have real life experience with this? And i LOVE your coffee table. Where is it from?
–Melissa in Charlotte
Hi – I know this is an older post but where is your dining room table from?! Love it and the rug.
Hi Katie! I actually bought it on Craigslist, stripped the table top, stained, and painted the base. Here’s the post about it if you want to see the tutorial: https://www.blesserhouse.com/2016/08/weathered-oak-dining-table-makeover.html
Hello,
I just bought a jute rug for under my dining table. I am afraid the chairs, people moving them to sit in and out of them, will damage the rug. Have you had any issues? Thanks!
Iam considering a jute rug for under my table as well and have the same question as you. Does anyone have any experience with how the chairs slide in and out over the jute rug?
It really depends on the weave of the rug, I think. It’d be difficult with a loose weave, but we have a tight weave jute rug under our kitchen table currently, and we don’t have any trouble scooting chairs on it.
I know there are different types of Jute rugs. I am considering the Pottery Barn Wool & Jute rug for living room area in a new beach house that we just purchased. I have looked at so many other rugs and nothing has jumped out at me – I keep going back to the look of the jute rugs. Just really worried about staining. We all know accidents happen:). How is it removing stains from the wool jute rugs~ like red wine? Red wine ?
Hi Annie! I will say we just went through training with our puppy and we have one jute rug that is completely wrecked because of it. But I haven’t tried any of these tricks yet that might make it salvageable: https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Jute-Rug
I love the jute rug under the coffee table! May I ask where you found it??
The link is in the blog post, but it seems it is not for sale any longer. I did buy it on clearance many years ago. Sorry
Do you feel jute is ok next to the bed or is it too scratchy underfoot ?
I’ve found some to be nubby and not scratchy (and feel like a foot massage) and others that are more scratchy, so I think you’d really have to read reviews and/or feel them in person before buying. Seagrass is usually the worst offender with the scratchy feeling though.
thanks for the post! we currently have a jute rug in our living room (on hardwood) but it keeps slipping and sliding… especially with our pup constantly running, playing ball, etc. do you have any recommendation on rug pads? thanks, de
Great question. I generally use basic rug pads with nothing special or particular except to match the size. The only time I used something different was when we attacked the kitchen. I placed a foam pad for back comfort while standing at the sink. I did find this couple who shared some tips that you may find helpful.
https://www.chrislovesjulia.com/5-tips-keeping-area-rugs-exactly-want/
Just bought some darker colored jute rugs for my living room. Do I have to worry about the color fading onto my Berber carpet ? It’s a light color
Hi, Kay!! That is a It is stated that anything more than a spill or a spill that seeps all the way through may cause some color transfer. However, the rug resting on the carpet should not cause a color transfer.
I just purchased my first jute rugs (one and then another 3 days later…because I’m in love). I have a Roomba980 that I love just as much as the Jute rugs. I can’t say goodbye to either. The Roomba already went over the rug one time and some of the “end” fibers are pulled up. Is it safe to just “trim” them, or will that be the equivalent of pulling a string that causes an entire article of clothing to be ruined? Thank you for any help, or personal experience, with this.
I am so glad you love the rug!! I hate to hear that the fibers have come lose. EEEHHH, I would not trim it. There are tutorials on how to ‘cut’ a rug (hehe) but it seems to be for the purpose of resizing. If you decide to trim the lose strings please share your experience. But, I would not do so.
This article tickled me; I, too, have developed a jute rug problem. It started with two rather small ones, now there are 5, one that’s 10×14. We actually just got the large one today, and when we unrolled it I immediately thought it smelled of mildew. Horrified, I contacted Overstock to exchange it, and while I was waiting for a chat representative I thought I’d Google the issue – that’s how I found this page!
So, long(ish) story short, jute rugs led me to you! 🙂 I’m excited to now binge-read your website. It seems we may also have something else in common; I’m a Navy wife. I’m assuming your husband is, or was, military, based on the pictures of your office.
-S
Hi, Sumer!! Welcome!! I hope you were able to get the exchange or a solution you needed. And, yes. My husband served in the Marine Corps.
I’m looking to add some things to my home this spring. Rugs are one of those things that I want to add. As you said here, these types of rugs are quite comfortable and that is what I am looking for. I’ll just have to go and find some that I like and the pick from there.
I love, love the look of jute rugs too. I bought one for our tiled sun room to put under a table. My big issue was that the dirt goes through the rug rather than staying on top like other types of rugs and can be vacuumed out. I had to move the table around, roll up the rug to sweep and vacuum all the time. Maybe if I never looked underneath, it wouldn’t have bothered me but i eventually got rid of the rug. I wondered if I got one with a backing, if it might solve this problem for me. Any thoughts?
That’s definitely one of the downfalls of jute too. If you put a rug pad underneath, that should help. I totally agree. That aspect is really frustrating.