Wool - One of Our Best Natural Resources

My favorite textile has always been wool, both for its beautiful texture and wide versatility. In these times of earth friendly products and taking advantage of natural resources – wool is the perfect choice for many of your decorating needs!

There are many natural advantages of wool and it can be used for many design projects. Some of my favourite uses are upholstery, drapery and of course area rugs. Check out these great felted wool faux stone ottomans!

Shape Retention
The natural elasticity of wool fiber allows it to stretch up to 40% beyond its original length and return to its original size. Therefore, it’s a great choice for upholstery and carpets since they will bounce back from body pressure or furniture crush.

Water Repellant & Stain Proof
Wool fibers repel water and stains due to a unique membrane covering the fiber core. Spills will remain on the surface, allowing the liquid to be blotted up with a clean and dry cloth.

Easy to Clean
The natural membrane found on wool fibers allow for easy cleaning. This membrane prevents dirt and dust from sinking below the surface, permitting regular vacuuming to keep items looking clean and new.

Fire Safe
Wool has many natural safe characteristics, including flame retardant, high ignition temperature, low flame spread and the ability to self-extinguish.

Improves Air Quality
Wool naturally resists static and mildew – static by wool’s natural moisture retention up to 30% and mildew by its naturally low pH. Wool also improves and maintains indoor air quality by absorbing contaminants without re-emitting them into your environment.

Natural Insulation
Wool works as a natural barrier against noise and an insulator for heat or cold. For example, a wool rug will absorb the sound and noise level within your room and wool drapery will insulate your windows and keep the temperature consistent within your room.

Quality Control in Living Room Basics - Rugs

Last week we discussed sofas and what to look for when buying a quality piece. Today we are going to discuss Oriental rugs. Keep in mind that wool contemporary rugs would follow these same standards.


Oriental Rugs
Quality Oriental rugs are usually made from silk, wool or a combination of the two. Wool is resistant to wear and tear and retains its appearance for years to come. Silk is softer underfoot than wool and has a wonderful, luxurious sheen. But it stains more easily and may flatten with heavy traffic.


A handknotted Oriental rug should have a base of either cotton for wool version or silk for a silk version. The base is made up of the warp (horizontal strings, which extend to become the fringe at either end) and the weft (vertical strings). Individual strands are knotted tightly onto the warp and weft by the carpetmaker.


A key measure of a rug's quality is the knot count, measured by the square inch. Flip the rug over and count the knots: a good rug should have at least 100 knots per square inch; a high-end silk rug can have as many as 1,000. There shouldn't be any gaps between knots. The higher the knot count, the denser and more durable the rug will be. If you can't make out any knots and the fringe appears to be stiched on, the rug is most likely machine made. A good quality rug should have even colour with no faded spots.