Step onto a healthier alternative. MEET Rugs by Roo
Developing a new room concept is therapeutic for me. I enjoy all of the elements of pulling a room together; designing a functional layout, scouring sources for unique furnishings, adding architectural details and combining unexpected elements that capture the personality of those living in it. This is the same for nurseries and kids’ rooms.
One of the most fun elements of pulling a concept together is an area rug! Whether you are looking for a soft texture to ground the rest of the room, or using the rug as a statement-like art piece, a rug can really finish the overall look and tie everything together. Not only that, the soft resilient fibers of an area rug provide a cushioning effect and excellent orthopedic properties providing a soft landing for your littles’ crawling knees, those little tip overs learning how to stand and walk, and during everyday play time. Infants, elderly and even pets benefit from the non-slip aspects of carpets. And in the event of a fall, the soft resilience of the carpet or rug lowers the risk of injury. Because of the large amount of time they may spend directly on a rug, we need to make a careful choice.
Tundra White Woolable Area Rug - These neutral options are not kid specific, so they’d work beautifully in a kids room or living room!
A highly important part of my process is understanding what products are made of, how they’re made and ensuring the selections I present to my clients are the safest they can be - resulting in a low-tox indoor environment. I’m constantly looking at the products I source. Just like reading a nutrition label in a grocery store, it’s not that easy and can be a scavenger hunt to find healthy furniture and décor for my home and my clients.
While this low-tox journey is important, I understand it can also be challenging. So, when I come across brands that are taking the right steps toward offering healthier alternatives, I love to share them with you!
Meet Rugs by Roo.
Rugs by Roo was founded by Sandy Wong. Sandy struggled with finding kid and pet-friendly rug options. Throughout her tireless research, she came across more and more brands offering an amazing selection of kid and pet-friendly rugs that had a powerful social mission. The only problem was that these brands were not available in North America. This AH-HA moment jump started Rugs by Roo. Unlike rugs that are produced on large scale, each rug they carry is handmade by an artisan who took time and care to make it. The designer is often also the owner. They vet not only the brand but are also selective in the collections within each brand that are carried in their store. And quality, sustainability and craftsmanship are just as important as the design appeal.
Through this vetting process, they ensure that each vendor meets their criteria:
No child labor is used in the making of the rugs
Transparency with the materials used in the making of each rug down to its fibres, dyes and glues
High quality, durable, washable materials without the worry of ruining it
a curated online shop
Their online shop is curated with children in mind; making sure the rugs not only withstand the chaos little ones can make, but also that kids enjoy spending time on them as well.
I really love the ability of finding so many great brands on one site, which makes for an easier selection process! They have a great collection of rugs from brands like Lorena Canals, Oh Happy Home!, Ferm Living and Organic Weave - whose rugs are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified, Goodweave certified, all-natural and handmade. Discover these certifications and more in my free resource: 5 Tips for Making Your Nursery Safer. Below are a few Organic Weave options that would work well in a kids’ space.
The Washable and Woolable collections by Lorena Canals are also great options, providing a cozy vibe thanks to their natural color and rich, plush texture. The Autumn Breeze rug is a favorite of mine. It’s not only made from 100% natural materials, but it has a recycled cotton backing and is dyed from natural, non-toxic dyes. That’s a trifecta of low-tox, eco-rug love!
Tips for Selecting the Perfect Rug
DURABILITY: Your rug considerations should be area specific. Keep in mind how much use each space will get. Higher traffic areas would benefit from rugs with a shorter pile that will not crush as quickly over time.
SIZE: Nothing is as out of place as a rug too small for the space. A good rule of thumb is to select a rug that extends a foot or so beyond your main furnishing arrangement. This creates a nice border for your furniture and helps to ground these zones.
STYLE: Your rug choice needs to coordinate with the other room elements. Are the furnishings modern or traditional, are you using pattern elsewhere? Use this flooring element to tie everything together and help complete your overall look.
MATERIALS & QUALITY: Look into the materials of the rug. Is it made of synthetics and adhesives that can offgas? A healthier rug is typically made of natural fibers, does not use toxic adhesives or any applied treatments such as stain resistance and flame retardants. What is the rug quality - was it handmade or mass produced?
CERTIFICATIONS: Look for an organic certification or eco-label, such as GOTS or Green Label Plus from the Carpet and Rug Institute which ensures that the rug has low-VOC emissions. The Goodweave Label certifies that no child labor is allowed in the production of the product.
Having a go-to shop for healthier, beautiful options definitely makes your rug search a more pleasant and fun experience. Take some time to browse through the collections at Rugs by Roo to see for yourself. You’ll be happy you did!
And if you’re looking for help creating a healthy nursery or playroom for your little one, let’s chat and see if we’re right for each other. I can’t wait to meet you.