By Kim J. Gifford

It used to be that mom would scold you for tracking grass onto her floors, but today the trend is towards bringing the outside in. Many homeowners are relying on seagrass, sisal, jute and other natural fibers as floor coverings in the home.

Although creating floor coverings from natural fibers is hardly new ó the Egyptians, for example, wove mats from bulrushes ó a growing environmental consciousness in home decor has led to an increasing popularity over the last few decades. Sisal, made from the Agave plant found in subtropical climates such as Brazil, Mexico and Africa, took off as a floor covering in the 1970s. Today, improvements in quality and color have contributed to the design potential and the expanded use of this and other natural fibers.

The Benefits of Fiber

Natural fiber floor coverings are favored for their durability as well as flexibility in accommodating most decorative styles. The simplicity of such fibers not only complements the clean, sleek lines of modern furniture, but also blends in well with antiques. As Floorbiz.com suggests, natural fibers may serve as a ìunifying background for a mixture of old and new pieces.î

Their texture provides a visual point of interest in a room without competing for attention. The dyes, stenciling and hand painting sometimes used on sisal floor coverings can transform seemingly contemporary design elements into testaments to country charm. And unlike more pretentious Persian or Oriental accent rugs, natural floor coverings seem equally at home in both formal and casual settings.

The Green Factor

Itís also about the ìgreenî factor. Natural fiber floor coverings provide an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic carpeting. Natural Home Magazine points out that natural fiber floor coverings are ìrenewable resources, are biodegradable and can be purchased without dyes.î

Fibers such as sisal and coir are great choices for allergy suffers who are frequently discouraged from using carpeting in their homes. Not only do these specific fibers repel dust mites, but natural floor coverings help regulate their environment by absorbing and releasing moisture with changes in humidity. Sisal rugs are also known for their anti-static quality.

Sheila Trask, a homeowner in Bethel, Vt., chose a jute floor mat for her porch to provide a natural barrier between her familyís feet and the pressure-treated floor.

The Challenges of Fiber

Marissa Nolen, a representative of sisalcarpet.com, admits that products such as sisal are more expensive than plush carpeting, but are less expensive than custom handmade rugs. Although some customers comment on cost, she says, ìWeíve also had designers purchase our rugs as placeholders for clients who were waiting for custom rugs being made in Tibet who were tickled by how inexpensive our rugs were.î

Another complaint about natural fiber floor coverings is their comfort level. Although innovations in manufacturing and new flatter weaves have improved comfort in recent years, natural fiber floor coverings are never going to offer the softness of traditional carpeting.

Sisalcarpet.comís Web site admits that installing sisal can be very expensive and challenging, especially in wall-to-wall applications. They recommend either using natural floor coverings as accent rugs or choosing a rug that is a few inches smaller than the size of the room to still achieve a wall-to-wall look.

Certain fibers, however, cannot be installed wall-to-wall. Although attractive for its price point, 100 percent coir, for example, warps easily in humid climates. Some manufacturers will weave coir and sisal to maintain the look of coir while making it more manageable and less temperature sensitive. Regardless of the type of fiber, experts recommend allowing a natural fiber floor covering to become acclimatized to its surroundings before permanently laying it.

Maintenance

Most natural fiber floor coverings absorb liquid and are not easy to clean. Regular vacuuming removes dust and dirt. Protective sealants help increase resistance, but are not a guarantee against stains. Since most natural fiber flooring is sensitive to moisture and humidity, it is not the best choice for areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, poolsides and porches. Seagrass, however, does not absorb liquids as quickly and is a better choice for these rooms. Some companies also manufacture synthetic fibers such as Bolon sisal, which have a similar look but are more durable in these areas.

Types and Applications

The choices may seem overwhelming. Bindings are becoming more intricate and fancy and rugs come in a variety of unique shapes and sizes such as octagons, squares and half circles. Although handpainting and stenciling of sisal was popular a few years ago, today the trend is toward solid weaves in colors such as wine, sapphire, olive and butter yellow. Seagrass, sisal and coir are among the more popular fibers, but other choices include jute, hemp and even paper. Here are some options: