The words seagrass carpet have a very romantic and exotic ring to them. The images that come to mind are of calm waters, cool underwater greens, blues and blue-greens, possibly in a dark setting, right? At the very least, seagrass carpet evoke a natural source.

The seagrass carpets natural colors range from browns to grays and tans. They are great camouflage for the dirt that can be tracked in and are therefore excellent in areas with a lot of traffic such as entryways, patios and porches. Seagrass carpets are also good a number of areas around the home for other characteristics than their ability to hide dirt. They can endure the heaviest amount of foot traffic and are extremely sturdy, coping well with vigorous sweeping, vacuuming, and beating (should you still perform the age-old practice of beating the dust out of your rugs). Seagrass carpets are also pretty much stain-resistant as the fibers they are made of Further, it is virtually stain-resistant, as the fibers they are made of do not absorb liquids: this is why they are very rarely dyed as the dye cannot be absorbed.

Seagrass carpets are also popular for their lustrous gloss and luminosity, which can remind you of the reflective undersides of grass blades.

The natural fiber used to make seagrass rugs grows in vast paddies in the coastal wetlands of countries such as India and China. Specialist supplier explains that during the growing season, the paddies are “flooded with sea water.” Seagrass carpets are cheap to produce and therefore relatively cheap to buy. They are one of the most versatile types of floor coverings, and come in many appealing weaves that include designs such as the “seashore” weave (rowed fibers with alternating fiber tie downs), the “sea basket” (fibers thatched in squares), “sea bass,” “sea breeze,” and “seashell” designs (which are symmetrical styles of herringbone mesh).

When designed for indoor use such as dining or living area, seagrass carpets feature various types of borders stitched on for a great visual effect, using materials like leather, tapestry, wool, or a cotton rim. They also come with reinforced backing, or padding, to increase traction and longevity. The underside is commonly made of jute, glued on with a natural, chemical-free adhesive, or latex.

Seagrass carpets look and feel as natural as and area rug can, especially as they are rarely treated chemically to make them ‘stain-resistant’. This is as close as you can get to those underwater growing green and blue grasses!