An old new trend

Natural fibre flooring has been available in Ireland for only a relatively short time but it has been used in Japan, Mexico, India and China for thousands of years. Manufacturing improvements have made it far more durable and it can last a lifetime. The weaving is now done by machine so it is tighter and more stable, and a backing on the flooring gives the fibre some stability.

More than one variety

People often assume that all natural flooring is made from one type of fibre but there are different varieties, including coir, sisal, seagrass and wool. These make up 99 per cent of natural flooring sold. Jute, which most people associate with natural flooring, accounts for very few sales.

Coir blimey

Coir and sisal have the same durability despite their different properties. Coir is made from coconut fibre so is fairly coarse and has a rustic look to it. It comes in natural tones and sun-bleaching it gives paler colours.

Woolly specks

Wool flooring is different to carpets in that it is woven. It comes in natural colours although some of them incorporate wests of colours in which the base of the flooring is natural and a colour, such as red, is added across the loom to create red specks.

Dust busting

People often complain that dust particles fall through this type of flooring and are impossible to vacuum up again but nowadays most of the flooring is backed with latex which prevents the particles going through to the floor - it is great for people with allergies.

Seagrass and sisal

Sisal is made from a plant similar to the yucca and is much finer and smoother than coir and looks smarter on the floor. This has the biggest range of colours because it is easier to dye. Seagrass is smooth and just comes in its natural colour which can be green or yellow depending on the crop. For this reason you need to order it all in one go to get a consistent colour.

Anywhere goes

Natural flooring can go almost anywhere in the house, including the stairs, although seagrass tends to crack where it bends over the steps after a while in the way that any grass would if it were dried and bent. There is a myth that coir goes shiny after a while and may be slippery on the stairs, but it's not true. It can actually improve after a while as it compacts and settles into the stairs so it looks neater than it did on the day it went down.

Rugs and runners

Now that timber floors are very popular there is much more demand for custom-made rugs and runners as opposed to fitted flooring that covers all of the wood. These rugs can cover huge areas and come with a matching or contrasting border in jute, cotton, tapestry, leather or suede. Runners on the stairs can leave a lot of the wood showing on either side while reducing noise.

Naturally versatile

Because this type of flooring comes in natural hues it doesn't take over a room and for this reason it is easy to change your interior without changing the flooring as well, which you often have to do with carpets. Natural flooring has a warmth to it and suits both contemporary and traditional interiors.

Keeping up appearances

Natural flooring is not suitable for kitchens. It can take a few splashes in the bathroom but won't withstand saturation. Natural flooring doesn't need a lot of upkeep although it should be vacuumed often to keep dirt from building up and any spills should be wiped up while still wet rather than being allowed to dry in.

Get a good fit

It is crucial to have natural fibre flooring fitted properly. This type of flooring has got a bad reputation because it has been fitted badly and people have seen poor examples of it. Check that your supplier has a good fitting service. Underlay is vital because without it the flooring won't fit very well, it will feel dead underfoot and won't last as long. Often the wrong adhesive is used and the legacy of bad workmanship is that the flooring starts to fray around the edges and moves around.

Totally natural

These floor coverings are manufactured from natural, non-toxic products, from the fibre top to the vegetable based latex backing. They are also made from renewable sources. The latest type of natural flooring is made from nettles in Nepal. It has a beautiful velvety texture and comes in three colours: silver grey, beige and charcoal. It's tufted and sits on a backing that binds it all together.

John Keegan is director of The Natural Interior, The Mill, Mill Street, Dublin 8. Tel: 01-473 7444

Emma Cullinan is editor of Select magazine