Your Budget Friendly Non-Toxic Rug Roundup
Well if this just wasn’t the most fun blog post to research and write about! I’m all about doing the leg work to provide you guys with a succinct an easy to navigate tool for sourcing safer products, and that includes the items in your home!
I have to admit, I’ve put off purchasing a new non-toxic rug for YEARS now - partly due to cost (we have what we call a sink fund that we deposit into monthly for the purchase of big items like these) and overwhelm and not knowing where to start. It wasn’t a top priority for us to make a safer rug swap, but it’s always been on my list!
Before we dive into my favorite rug finds, let’s chat a little about why rugs can be an issue.
Like any textile or product you’re bringing into your home, there’s always the change that you’ll be introducing chemicals of varying strengths and toxicity levels depending on what the item is made of. With things like mattresses and rugs, you not only have to be wary of some synthetic fibers, but you also have to be wary of flame retardants and other chemical used in the rug making process.
So what is a person to do?? It’s confusing, and hard to navigate all these options yes, but my motto is always: progress over perfection, and do the best you can with what you have.
Can you buy a perfect rug? I’m absolutely sure you can. One with all organic materials, no synthetics, absolutely no chemical footprint, hand tufted, and the works. Absolutely. Will that rug cost you? YES, YES IT WILL.
If you’re looking for the perfect rug and don’t have a budget in mind, this might not be the post for you. This post is all about finding rugs that minimize toxic load but also don’t break the bank, and here’s how I shop for that:
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1) Shop online at pretty much any place that sells rugs.
Yes, this might sound weird, but you can really shop any place that sells rugs and filter by materials (which I’ll outline below). Don’t limit yourself to only stores that claim to be “non-toxic'“ or “green” - you can take advantage of incredible sales when you don’t limit yourself!
2) Filter by “natural” or “wool” when it comes to materials.
Most online retailers are going to allow you to filter rugs by material. While I myself prefer 100% wool rugs, you can also search for more natural materials like cotton, jute, sisal, etc.
3) Read the descriptions to clarify the true makeup of the rug.
You’ll want to dig deeper, as some rugs may show up in your filter but be a very low percentage when it comes the material you’re looking for and can often times be paired with other toxic materials.
4) If you really want to ensure the entire rug is toxin free - chat their support.
You can generally confirm any questions you might have (about backings, treatments, etc.) with customer support. So if this is of utmost importance to you, take the time to check!
5) Shop in-person at outlets.
Truthfully, this is how we got two of our INSANELY AMAZING 100% wool rugs from Pottery Barn. At full price, there was no way we would have been able to afford a rug of this quality, but we saved, and hunted, and scoured, and found exactly what we wanted at 60% off!
6) Scour Etsy.
You can find beautiful items like real Turkish rugs made by small businesses on Etsy. It may be more of a hunt, but you could also end up with a beautiful hand made item!
7) Shop known holiday sales.
Oftentimes the best savings you can find for things like rugs and mattresses occur around big holiday sales (Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4th etc.). If you can wait, think about putting off these purchases til then!
8) Create a sink fund for big purchases.
In our monthly budget, we contribute a small amount to what we call “sink funds” these are special funds we set aside to make big purchases that we need to make within the coming year or so. Having a budget and then splitting it up evenly over the course of months or years, will allow you to save responsibly for the exact item you’re looking for. That’s what we did and it was so worth the wait!
9) Do the best you can, and if all else fails make sure you off-gas outside.
If all else fails, and a non-toxic rug just isn’t in the cards right now, try off-gassing your rug outside in the sun for a day or two to minimize the release of toxins in the home and to use the sun to help you rid as much of the chemical smells as possible. Do the best you can with what you have!
10) Read the reviews!!
You can get some stellar rugs at a great price with a little digging, but my top suggestion is read through the reviews and know what you’re getting!
If you want a plush, hand tufted rug with a high pile and and dye free, make sure you read to see what others have said about the product. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been disappointed because what I thought I was getting, wasn’t what was delivered. Most of the times, you get what you pay for and that is totally fine as long as you know that going in!
For instance, I’m totally fine with a thin, low pile rug that is more decorative for under our dining room table or under our bed - we won’t be rolling around on it too much, and it’s really just for looks. However in our living room I wanted a more plush option as I knew we’d spend a lot of time on it wrestling and laying around!
No right or wrong answer, just know what your needs are and what you can expect!
11) Get a rug pad.
I never used to purchase rug pads, and what I found is that not only do they extend the life of the rug, help keep it in place, but they also add a little extra padding to a more thin rug. Definitely throw in the rug pad!
So now that we’ve talked about what to look for and how to find your best option for non-toxic rugs, like chat some of my favorites!
Best Boho Chic Rugs
Blue Medallion Tassel Rug - Love shades of blue and anything with a Persian style print!
Best Neutral/Minimal Rugs
Best Rugs for Kiddos
Best Bold/Patterned Rugs
Tell me, what are your rug finding tips and tricks?! What did I miss?! You can see all of my top budget friendly non-toxic rug picks in one place too if you’d like! You can also stay up to date with my non-toxic home decor picks and my non-toxic bedroom finds as well!
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