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Not all natural floorings are the same!
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If you’re searching for a flooring option that’s both stylish and eco-friendly, our Natural Flooring collection is the perfect choice. Natural fibre floors have a unique character and charm that can’t be replicated – they instantly add warmth, texture, and a touch of nature to any room. At Connaught, we offer a curated range of sustainable flooring materials including sisal, coir, jute, and seagrass.
Made from the agave plant, sisal is incredibly strong and durable. It has a textured, woven look that adds depth to your floors. Ideal for high-traffic areas like hallways, stairs (as a runner), and offices. Sisal can be dyed into various colours or come in its natural sandy beige. Keep in mind it’s a bit rough underfoot (great for robust wear, though maybe not for a baby crawling area). With proper care, sisal flooring can last for years and still look beautiful.
Coir comes from coconut husks and is known for its coarse, hearty texture. You’ve probably seen coir in doormats, but it also makes fabulous rustic-looking carpets and runners. It has a golden-brown tone and is very hard-wearing. Coir is excellent for entrance areas, boot rooms, or anywhere you want a true natural, rustic vibe. It’s slightly less flexible than sisal and usually comes in natural tones or simple patterns.
Jute is the softie of the group – derived from the jute plant, it has a gentler, silky feel and a braided or woven appearance. Jute rugs and carpets often have a lovely golden or light brown colour. Because it’s softer, jute is best suited for low to medium traffic areas like bedrooms or formal living rooms. It creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere (imagine a sunlit reading nook with a jute rug underfoot). However, jute is more absorbent than other fibres, so it should be kept dry to avoid stains.
As the name implies, seagrass is harvested from grasses that grow in sea marshes. The fibres are non-porous (they don’t absorb much), which makes seagrass naturally stain-resistant – a big plus! It has a smooth texture and a distinctive look with a slight sheen. Seagrass flooring usually comes in its natural greenish-tan hue which may mellow to a warm straw colour over time. It’s very durable and works well in high-traffic areas, but like other natural floors, it’s best in dry areas (excess moisture could potentially cause mildew since it’s an organic product).
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Natural floorings are gorgeous, but they do have their quirks. Our Connaught team is very familiar with all these materials and will provide honest advice on what works best for your situation. For example, if you love the look of jute but have a busy household, we might suggest using jute in a bedroom and choosing hardier sisal or seagrass in the hallway. We’ll also discuss maintenance tips (like using barrier mats at entrances for coir or regular vacuuming with a suction-only vacuum head for all natural fibres to avoid snagging the weave).
When it comes to installation, natural carpets and matting require skilled handling – and our fitters have plenty of experience. We will make sure to acclimatise the material properly in your home (letting it adjust to your room’s humidity before fitting) and use the right techniques to stretch and secure it without damage. Seams (if any) are carefully joined and treated for a seamless look. We can also install bound edge runners or area rugs in these materials, complete with stylish fabric borders if you desire.
Browse this section for real textures, close-ups, and style ideas to help you picture how the Natural flooring could look in your space.
LVTVery happy with the whole process. The LVT fitting was fast than i expected, and no mess left behind.
Natural flooring can work in family homes, but there are some considerations. The rougher textures (like sisal and coir) can be scratchy on little knees and paws, and they aren’t as forgiving with spills as synthetic carpets. However, they are very durable for foot traffic. If you have pets, be mindful that cats might find looped natural weaves tempting to scratch. Also, spills should be cleaned carefully (blotting liquids, using dry cleaning methods) to avoid staining. We often recommend using natural flooring in adult bedrooms, home offices, or hallways, and perhaps opt for a rug or a mix of flooring in play areas. We’re happy to advise based on your specific household needs.
The key is to keep it dry. Regular vacuuming is the best way to maintain natural fibre floors – use a suction-only vacuum (no beater bar) to avoid snagging the fibres. For spills, immediately blot with a clean, dry cloth. Do not saturate natural flooring with water or cleaning fluids; instead, use a barely damp cloth if absolutely needed, or a specialist dry cleaning powder/foam designed for natural fibres. We can recommend suitable cleaning products. Also consider using doormats in entryways to catch dirt before it gets on your natural flooring. With gentle care, your natural floor will age gracefully.
Yes, sisal and seagrass in particular are popular for stair runners or fully-fitted stairs. They add a dramatic, textured look to staircases. Because of their durability, they can handle the foot traffic. We will bind the edges or add rods for a runner to ensure they stay secure and don’t fray. Just be aware that natural fibre can be a bit slippery compared to carpet – having a runner (which shows some of the wood on each side) with stair rods can help hold it in place firmly and provide better footing. We’ll make sure your stairs are both safe and stunning.
Materials like sisal, seagrass, and coir are firmer and more textured underfoot than a typical carpet, yes. Some people love the foot massage feel of sisal, for example, while others prefer something softer like jute. One idea is to use natural flooring in areas where you typically have shoes on (hallways, stairs) or use rugs on top in places where you might want more softness (like a bedside rug over a sisal bedroom carpet). If you’re sensitive, jute would be the softest choice among these. We encourage you to visit the showroom and feel the samples barefoot to decide what’s comfortable for you.
These natural products can have slight colour changes as they age – it’s part of their character. For instance, seagrass starts with a greenish tint and mellows to a golden straw hue as it matures, which many find attractive. Direct sunlight can cause some fading on any flooring, so using window treatments to block harsh UV rays can help. Generally, you’ll notice the most change in the first few months as the material settles into your home environment, and then it stabilizes. The variation is usually gradual and doesn’t detract from the beauty. In fact, it often enhances the organic appeal of the floor.