Deciding whether to buy a wool or silk rug is one of many decisions you will have to make before buying a rug. Both are fabulous to look at but each type has its own unique characteristics that may make it more or less suitable for you.

Taking into consideration these 5 major differences between wool and silk rugs will help you make a more informed decision.

Cost

Wool rugs come in a wide price range, starting from a few hundred dollars going up to thousands of dollars. The price of each piece depends on various factors, from the type of wool used, where it is sourced from, the type of dye used and of course the knot count used to create the piece. If you decide to buy a wool rug, it is a good idea to set a budget first so that you can then look for something within that price range.

Silk rugs are very much more expensive because of the amount of labor that goes into the manufacture of the silk fibers. All-silk rugs cost much more than rugs that contain a blend of wool and silk.

Material

Wool in its natural form is thick and dense with a matte appearance. These characteristics are transferred on to the finished wool rug.

Silk, on the other hand, is thinner, flimsier and has a shiny appearance. The finished silk rug takes on these characteristics.

One way to distinguish between the two is that wool rugs are thicker and denser. They also lack the sheen that is so distinctive to silk rugs. Wool rugs also have a lower knot count as compared to silk rugs because of the thickness of the fiber.

Durability

Wool is a harder material than silk. With their dense, strong pile, rugs made of wool are so much more durable than their silk counterparts. You can place your wool rug in a high traffic area without your heart missing a beat every time someone walks over it. You could never do this with a silk rug. Silk fibers are extremely fragile. If you are looking for a rug for a much-used room, one made from wool would be the better choice.

Wool is also more resistant to spills, fire, stains, and dust mites.

Caretaking

Caretaking for both rugs involves light vacuuming on a regular basis, nothing more. Excessive cleaning at home will damage the fibers of the rug. You have to be even more careful with cleaning your silk rug as the delicate fibers can get easily damaged.

Getting your wool or silk rug professionally dry-cleaned on a regular basis will help to dislodge stubborn dirt and debris, remove stains and give your rug a fresh clean look without damaging it.

What Each Type Of Rug Is Best Suited For

A wool rug is definitely the better option if you are looking for a rug to place in a high traffic area or under heavy furniture such as your living room sofa or dining table. Silk rugs would get prematurely damaged if used for similar purposes.

Both wool and silk rugs are great choices if you are looking for a rug to use for decorative purposes, as a wall hanging or to place in a little-used corner of the room. A silk rug will look more stunning but it will also cost you more.

The ultimate decision on whether to buy a wool or silk rug will depend on your budget, where you intend placing the rug and how much time you will spend on its maintenance.