Picture this: You’re walking about your dreamy thatched-roof cottage deep in the English countryside. Just outside the window, the sun is beginning to set over the rolling hills. The sheep are all bedded down for the night and a fire has just been started in the living room. As you get ready to curl up on your slouchy, overstuffed roll-arm sofa, you slip off your shoes and walk across the living room.
Let’s stop here—what did you picture yourself walking over? If, like me, you’ve ever stayed at a cozy British inn or drooled over a book chock-full of dreamy British cottage interiors, then you might have pictured that perfectly nubby tan carpeting that seems to be everywhere in English homes. If you didn’t, allow me to introduce you to the secret weapon British designers use to make every living room and bedroom feel cozy: wall-to-wall sisal carpeting. Below, I’m diving into what that carpeting actually is, why the Brits love it, and how you can bring the trendy look stateside.
What Is Sisal Carpeting?
You’re likely familiar with sisal and jute rugs, but did you know they can also be used as wall-to-wall carpeting? These natural, woven carpets are less expensive than wall-to-wall wool carpeting but still provide the same durability and timeless look.
Both jute and sisal constructions are popular, but sisal is often preferred amongst designers, especially in high-traffic areas, thanks to its tightly woven construction that holds up better against daily use and lasts longer than softer jute.
Why Do the Brits Love Sisal Carpeting?
Sisal carpeting, a category of what the Brits call “fitted carpeting,” has roots all the way back in the late 1600s when luxurious wool carpeting first made its foray onto the English design stage. Years of trend cycles have brought the look in and out of fashion, but it wasn’t until the early 20th century that sisal carpeting took a strong foothold. Over the last 100 years, sisal carpeting has become synonymous with a luxe country life, never quite falling out of fashion in the way that colorful wool carpets did.
These days, sisal carpeting is the choice of Britain’s top designers such as our Country Design 100 honorees Rita Konig and Salvesen Graham. It provides a perfectly neutral palette on which to build—something at which British designers simply excel. This layered rug look has been trending lately as designers both in the United States and across the pond embrace a livable sense of everyday maximalism.
How to Bring the Cozy Look Home
There are many things to consider before installing sisal carpeting in your home, but the first—and most important—consideration is how hardworking you want your flooring to be. Nothing is as stain-proof as plain hardwood flooring, and natural, unprotected sisal is especially prone to holding onto errant drips and drops. If you plan on adopting the look, be sure to treat it with a sealant that allows liquid to simply bead on top so it can then be blotted away before settling.
Manufactured synthetic sisal is another popular choice, often allowing for better stain protection than its natural counterpart. Stanton Carpet and Sisalcarpet.com are both popular American manufacturers who specialize in both natural and synthetic sisal carpeting.
After installing, embrace the layered rug trend. Choose a graphic patterned rug—think something Scandi-inspired—over sisal carpeting for a pop of modern color, or channel the classics with a timeless Oushak.
And if you aren’t ready to commit to wall-to-wall carpeting, there are always sisal rugs from makers like Ernesta. If you’re looking for something a tad looser, try woven rush rugs that can be pieced together and replaced by hand (for not that much money) from retailers like Rush House. (To get you started shopping, here are some of my favorite rug sources.)
Anna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.
