Braided Rug Buyer's Guide: Wool, Washable, Jute and Indoor-Outdoor
Choose a wool braided rug for a living room or bedroom where softness and longevity matter, a washable indoor-outdoor braided rug for kitchens, mudrooms, porches and homes with pets, and a jute or cotton braided rug when you want a lighter, more casual look. The oval 20 by 30 inch and 2 by 3 foot sizes that dominate Super Area Rugs' braided range are accent sizes for sinks, doorways and bedside; a 3 by 5 foot oval is the smallest that works as a room rug.
Wool braided rugs
Wool is the traditional braided rug material and still the one to buy for rooms where you walk barefoot. Super Area Rugs lists several families. The Cherry Hill Premium Braided Wool Rug comes in multi-tone colorways such as Bombay, Seaweed, Butterfield and Graphite, and a Mocha Brown runner at 2 by 4 feet. The solid Braided Wool Rug line, described as premium quality and handmade in USA, comes in Black, Green, Blue, Red, Walnut Brown and Neutral Wheat Brown. The Pura Solid Soft Wool Braided Rug in Moss Green is the plainest of the group.
Wool resists crushing, hides soil and feels warm, but it is not the choice for a spot that gets wet regularly. Keep it to living areas and bedrooms, and vacuum without a beater bar to protect the braid.
Washable and indoor-outdoor braided rugs
For kitchens, back doors, patios and anywhere a spill is likely, the washable and indoor-outdoor braids are the practical pick. The Farmhouse Rug line is listed as washable indoor/outdoor, reversible and made in USA, in Blue, Red, Beige, Brown, Gray and Green. The Roxbury Braided Rug is described as having soft stain-resistant yarn and being great for kitchens, patio or deck. The Gemstone Braided Kitchen Rug line and the Sanibel Tweed and Portsmouth indoor-outdoor braids cover the same ground in different colorways, and the Hartford and Ridgewood rugs are further washable options.
Reversible is a real feature on a braided rug: flip it every few months and it wears evenly on both faces, effectively doubling its life in a doorway.
Jute and cotton
Jute braids such as the Red Rustic Farmhouse Jute Rug and the Green Rustic Braided Jute Rug, which is listed as eco-friendly and suitable indoor or outdoor, have a coarser, more textured look that suits farmhouse and coastal rooms. Jute does not like standing water, so use it under cover. The Blue White Hand Spun Cotton Braided Rug is a reversible half-circle kitchen rug, softer underfoot than jute and easy to shake out.
Shape and size
Most braided rugs are oval because that is how the braid naturally coils. Ovals suit round tables, sink areas and the foot of a bed. Rectangles such as the Sanford Rustic Braided Rug and the Woolmade Rounded Rectangle Braided Rug sit more neatly in hallways and in front of doors. Sizes in the range run from 20 by 30 inches, which is a doormat-scale accent, through 2 by 3 feet for an entry or sink, to 3 by 5 feet for a kids' room or a small seating area. The Lullaby, Juvi and Hipster rugs in 3 by 5 are aimed at playrooms.
A braided rug is thick at the edge, so allow a little clearance under doors, and put a pad under it on hard floors because a coiled braid can creep.
Matching pieces and a buying checklist
Most braid families are sold as a system. The Cherry Hill braid comes as a rug, stair treads, chair pads and baskets in the same Bluestone Multi colorway; Sanibel, Sanford, Pinecrest and Confetti do the same. If you want the kitchen chairs, the stairs and the hall rug to agree, buy within one family.
Before ordering, decide where the rug will live and whether it gets wet; that settles wool versus washable. Measure the spot and pick the size from the 20 by 30 inch, 2 by 3 foot and 3 by 5 foot options rather than guessing. Choose oval unless the space is boxed in by cabinets or walls. Add a non-slip pad for hard floors. And check whether the listing says reversible, because that is the single feature that most extends a braided rug's life in a busy doorway.
FAQ
Are braided rugs reversible?
Many are. The Farmhouse washable line is listed as reversible, and most flat braids can be flipped. Check the listing, and flip periodically to even out wear.
Can a wool braided rug go in a kitchen?
It can, but wool holds moisture and stains more than the washable polypropylene braids. For a sink or stove mat, a washable indoor-outdoor braid is easier to live with.
Why are braided rugs mostly oval?
The braid is coiled from the center outward, which naturally forms an oval or round shape. Rectangles are made by folding the braid back on itself.
More guides
- Do You Need a Rug Pad? When It Matters and Which Type to Buy
- Stair Treads Buyer's Guide: Sizes, Sets, Wool vs Washable and Installation
- Sheepskin Rug Guide: Single vs Double Pelt, Colors and Care
- Small Rug Sizes Explained: 20x30, 2x3 and 3x5 for Kitchens, Entries and Bedside