I have one hand tufted wool rug, and after 5 years it still sheds a bit. I just bought a hand knotted wool rug that doesnt shed at all. Polypropylene rugs have come along way but still dont have the feel and warm of a wool rug, but they are very durable and I would think wont hold odors as much as wool and would be easier to clean.

I think just the opposite....once a poly rug is stained it might be more difficult to clean. Basing this solely on man-made vs natural materials in clothing, also from personal experience with wool rugs and carpet.

Some of the poly rugs I have seen on GW have really surprised me with respect to color and pattern and reported quality from owners. I have been looking for a runner for our library stairs and the length I need is quite expensive in a wool hand knotted rug, especially as I mean to upholster it on the stairs by cutting off one end and letting the other end extend beyond the stairs about four feet along the hallway. But for some reason I am reluctant to order a poly rug, just not sure how I feel about the whole idea of it.

I have two polypropylene rugs from Macy's I bought 8 years ago. The one in my living room is about 9x13. I forget how much I paid, but I think it was closer to $700 than $1K. It gets lots of foot traffic and cats lounging and tearing around. Also cat vomit.

That being said, I just now put my nose right up next to the busiest spot and sniffed. Nothing remarkable.

I spot clean when necessary, using either Folex or a foam spray. It's a dark pattern and nothing shows except crumbs, etc. that get vacuumed up.

The only problem with this rug is the pattern is kinda meh and I think I'd like something different. Also, to me, the polypropylene doesn't have the same feel underfoot as wool. It's more of an upright pile. It's not uncomfortable, but there's a difference.

Maybe the texture has improved.

Thank you all!

The kids do sit on the rug a fair bit though I'm not sure they care all that much how it feels. But they also build with blocks and the flor tiles are flat enough they can build on them. Any thoughts on a replacement rug material that would allow them to continue to build with blocks on the rug? Or maybe that has more to do with pile and such than actual material. I'm not sure it's crucial because the rest of the house is hardwood with no rugs (we all have dust mite allergies) so they could just build in a different spot.

Not a fan of tufted wool rugs at all. Had two at one point and got rid of them-they seemed to look as though they had lots of pulls in them after a while (dogs?), you know, little tufts of wool popping up all over the rug - so not attractive even in the junk room where I ended up moving them.

Our one polyproprylene rug which I bought to replace the tufted rugs, was great. Easy to clean. Colors were wonderful. It was soft and pretty. It is now in my son's living room and looks pretty good for being 15+ years old! Oh and it was low pile enough that I think the kids could easily build on it!

Thanks everyone! The only wool rug I have ever owned did shed quite a bit. I'm sure if I could afford better quality (hand knotted?) that wouldn't be such a problem.

I found this rug on Overstock. It's polypropylene and dirt cheap.

Here it is in a very not-expert moodboard for the room.

Another overstock option, very brown for a room with a lot of brown already, but I am planning to paint my coffee table a color. . . . Seems like it would hide dirt and golden retriever hair pretty well.

And option number 3 from overstock, also polypropylene.

I don't know if I would go with the wool tufted again after experiencing our LR rug. It still sheds horribly after several years and the cats can pull up threads. The poly rug I bought for my first condo around 2000-2001 is now in our BR and still looks great. It was JCP and was originally around $500 but I got it on clearance. I am not sure how JCP is now. I think like many others a lot of their home stuff ha gone downhill.

Both rugs get steam cleaning by Stanley Steemer 2-3 times per year.

I like the geometric print rug, but I think the other one will work well.

I bought the wool one from a rug and furniture store.

Ooh, I really like #3!

Dh really likes number three as well and neither of us has the bandwidth for prolonged decision making processes right now, so number three it is!

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the help.

I have your first option in brown- the Courtyard rug-- and occasionally use it in our sunroom. I love it, but it doesn't feel like an indoor rug to me. It's more like a patio rug.

#3 is my favorite! Great choice :-)

This thread is pleasing to me. I was feeling a little second tier with my poly rugs and it's gratifying to know others are enjoying theirs so much.

I like #3 too. I think it plays well with the vintage charm you've maintained in your remodels.

After a really bad experience with a wool hand tufted rug, I wont buy one again. I'm really enjoying my poly rug. And also the indoor outdoor rug in my family room!

Number three has been ordered. Thank you all!

Great! I've looked at the Safavieh vintage rugs at my local HG, but by the time I made up my mind, they were gone.

#3 was my choice as well! I was going to add that I never really considered the propylene rugs but a few people on this forum shared some of the ones they have in their homes and they looked really super good. (They had gotten them at esalerugs and I have been toying with ordering a runner in my kitchen from them.)

More power to you for making a decision so quickly and I am sure you will be happy with it.

After years of purchasing lovely wool rugs & with two fur babies, I have switched to polypropylene rugs. Their visual appearance have really improved and there are many available for less than $400 on Overstock. Check Nourison for some nice styles. If they need to be cleaned you can take them out and use a pressure washer hose on them. I have the same issue with my FLOR squares. Even though they are nylon they stain and smell. Waste of money! There are from Overstock.

Oly, I really like your rug a lot! Polypro has improved so much from what it used to be! When - not if, but WHEN - Molly-cat finally finishes off the job she's intent on doing to the living room wool rug, I'm going to replace it with a polypro rug along the lines of yours. I am so tired of coming into the room after having just vacuumed, to find that she has shredded the rug some more and there are little tufts lying all over the place. She's a jerk. But she's cute.

Oly, where did you buy your rug?

I got it at Macy's but someone here posted that it was cheaper elsewhere. I wish I could remember the thread. Mine was $99. It looks way better than a $99 rug!

It's called:

Momeni Voyage Serapi Navy 3'11" x 5'7" Area Rug

Macy's is sold out. An image search brought it up many places, but I couldn't find the actual rug on most of those sites. It did show up on Home Decorators as their Highcourt for $99 + $22 shipping (my size).

ETA: Oh, here it is in all sizes, with a 20% off button.
rugsale.com