When I was a kid, I remember visiting my auntie's home and her living room couch was protected by mismatched floral bedsheets.  I don't recall what her couch actually looked like because I don't believe I ever saw it.  We were also told that if we wanted to sit on the couch, we had to sit in the centre of the cushions rather than on a crevice in between two cushions.

Now, with kids of my own, they have permission to sleep, crawl, walk and even jump on our fully naked living room couch.  While we do get the raised eyebrows from time to time when guests observe this rather mischievous behaviour, I on the other hand feel quite proud that our kids can enjoy their home with freedom and ease.  #LetKidsBeKids has been at the forefront of how we created our living space.  Combining fun and function is definitely attainable with the right mindset and a few helpful pointers.

In this article, I share 5 things you want to consider when shopping for a kid-friendly rug for your living space.  It doesn't have to be boring, or complicated, or expensive, or stressful.  It can actually be enjoyable!

5 things to consider when shopping for a kid-friendly rug:

1.  Natural Materials

When selecting a kid-friendly rug for your home, the first thing you'll want to consider is the material it's made from.  Rugs made from natural fibres such as wool or cotton are typically softer and more comfortable for kids to play on.  Don't forget that you'll be spending time on the floor with them too, so you definitely want something that feels supportive and cushioning. 

Synthetic materials like nylon or polyester are often supportive during the initial 3 months of usage but will very quickly flatten due to the nature of its fibres.  Synthetic material fibres do not bounce back easily once suppressed, which is why the lifespan of a synthetic rug is typically less than 3 years.

2.  Avoid Sprays and Chemicals

Synthetic rugs are often sprayed with harsh stain resistant chemicals to keep them looking new for longer.  Research has shown that these chemicals can have adverse health effects, particularly on young children who spend a lot of time playing on the floor.

Wool, on the other hand, is a fibre that has natural stain-resistant properties.  Lanolin is a natural substance found on sheep wool that causes water or spills to pool on the top of the rug rather than having it be absorbed into its fibres.  This makes for easy clean-up and avoids the need for unnecessary sprays and chemicals.  Wool is also a more eco-friendly choice.

3.  Washability

If your home is anything like mine with three kids and a dog that sheds throughout the year, washability may be at the top of your requirement list.  All the rugs in my home are machine washable, and they get washed once every 3 to 6 months.

A rug can get dirty due to various factors such as foot traffic, pet hair, food droppings, drink spills and accidents (big and small).  Rather than needing to burn the rug every time your child performs an accident on it, a washable rug gets thrown into the washing machine, making it simple and mess free.

Washable rugs are also cost-effective since they do not require frequent professional cleaning, which can be expensive.  Professional cleaning services typically start at $300 per rug.  Investing in a washable rug can provide both convenience and cost savings in the long run.

4.  Initial Shedding

Rug shedding is a natural process that occurs when fibres loosen from the rug's surface.  Understanding how rugs are made will help with understanding why rugs shed.

Shedding most commonly shows up in hand tufted rugs, particularly when they are new.  In a hand tufted rug, the tops of the pile are trimmed with a pair of sheers to give the rug an even surface.  The shedding is a result of the trimmings that have not been thoroughly removed during the production process.

Hand woven rugs, on the other hand, have minimal shedding due to its flat-weave surface.  Hand knotted rugs also have a low shedding rate as each piece of yarn is tightly tied by hand, creating a tightly packed pile where minimal wool fibres can escape.

When there are children under the age of 3 in your household, we recommend going with a low shedding rug to avoid them ingesting wool fibres.  A low shedding rug would be a handwoven wool or a hand knotted wool rug.  Cotton rugs are also a great option due to their low shedding rate.

5.  Versatile Design

While rugs decked out with cute cartoon characters or emojis may be a fun rug for the child's play area, the child may get bored of the design 3 or 5 years down the road.  Part of our sustainability mission is to promote rugs that are timeless in design.

When shopping for a rug for your home, consider designs that are versatile enough to work in any part of your home.  A well-made rug is an investment piece that can be passed down from generation to generation.  Don't go for what's trending right now.  Go for a design that you know you will love and cherish for many years. 

My kids play by the foot of my desk while I'm working, and sometimes they may hang out with dad on the living room floor.  What I realized is that getting a kid-friendly rug for their bedroom wasn't enough.  It was important to have kid-friendly rugs throughout the home.

The materials, chemicals, design, shed rating and washability are important factors to consider when selecting the perfect rug for your space.  With the right selection process, you can ensure that the rug is not only durable and reliable, but also safe and free from toxic chemicals. 

Now that you know what to keep an eye out for when shopping kid-friendly rugs, now tell us:  what type of rug do you have in your home?  Type it in the comments below so others can better inform their decisions after reading this blog post!