The Complete Guide to Choosing Natural Fibre Flooring
Everything you need to know before choosing sisal, seagrass, jute, wool or coir for your home.
Cyclone Sisal
Whether you're renovating a single room or building your dream home, the flooring you choose will influence how your home looks, feels and functions for many years to come.
Natural fibre flooring has become increasingly popular with Australian homeowners, architects and interior designers because it offers something synthetic flooring simply can't replicate—natural texture, warmth and timeless character.
At Natural Floors, we've specialised in natural fibre flooring for decades. Every day we help South Australian homeowners navigate the differences between sisal, seagrass, wool, coir and jute, ensuring they choose a flooring solution that suits both their lifestyle and their home.
This guide answers the questions we're asked every day and will help you confidently choose the natural flooring that's right for your space.
Why More Australians Are Choosing Natural Fibre Flooring
Natural fibres offer:
Sustainable, renewable materials that are eco-friendly.
Beautiful organic texture that adds depth and warmth to a room.
Timeless appeal that complements almost every interior style, from coastal to contemporary.
Excellent durability when the right fibre is selected for the right space.
Low-VOC & non-toxic living: Unlike many synthetic carpets that "off-gas" chemical odours into your home, natural fibres offer superior indoor air quality from day one.
Naturally hypoallergenic properties: Fibres like sisal, seagrass, and jute don't harbor dust mites, pet dander, or pollen, making them an ideal choice for families, asthmatics, and allergy sufferers.
Character and individuality that synthetic, mass-produced products simply can’t match.
Rather than becoming the feature of a room, natural flooring provides a sophisticated foundation that allows furniture, artwork and architecture to shine.
This guide brings together the questions we're asked every day to help you make an informed decision.
Sisal
Sisal is one of Australia's most popular natural flooring choices.
Made from the Agave Sisalana plant, sisal is prized for its refined appearance, beautiful woven textures and impressive durability.
Best suited to
Living areas
Hallways
Stairs
Dining rooms
Home offices
Why homeowners love sisal
Elegant woven appearance
Wide range of textures and colours
Excellent durability
Creates a sophisticated, timeless look
Hypo-allogenic
Low-VOC considerations
Things to consider
Sisal performs best in dry internal environments and benefits from regular care to keep it looking its best.
🌿 Natural Floors Advice
If you're looking for one flooring option that balances beauty, durability and timeless style, sisal is often our starting recommendation. It's one of the most versatile natural fibres available and suits a wide variety of Australian homes.
Seagrass
Seagrass offers a completely different character.
Naturally smooth with a subtle sheen, it's incredibly durable and well suited to busy family homes.
One of its unique characteristics is its natural waxy coating, which provides greater resistance to everyday spills than many people expect.
Ideal for
Busy family homes
Living rooms
Hallways
Coastal homes
Adelaide Hills and beyond
Benefits
Extremely durable
Beautiful natural colour
Naturally stain resistant
Easy to maintain
Hypo-allgenic
Low-VOC considerations
Things to consider
Its natural colour range is more limited than sisal, but many homeowners appreciate its authentic appearance.
🌿 Natural Floors Advice
If you have children or pets, seagrass is often one of the first products we recommend. Its natural durability makes it an excellent choice for busy households.
Wool
Wool has long been regarded as one of the world's finest flooring fibres.
It offers exceptional comfort underfoot while providing natural resilience and insulation.
For many homeowners, wool delivers the perfect balance between luxury and practicality.
Best suited to
Bedrooms
Living rooms
Formal spaces
Benefits
Soft underfoot
Excellent insulation
Naturally resilient
Beautiful texture
Low Voc considerations
Things to consider
Wool is a premium flooring choice that rewards homeowners looking for comfort and luxury.
🌿 Natural Floors Advice
If comfort underfoot is your priority, it's difficult to look past wool. Bedrooms, retreats and formal living spaces are where it truly shines.
Jute
Jute is one of the softest and most relaxed natural fibres available, loved for its casual texture, earthy appearance and beautiful organic character. Made from the stalks of the jute plant, it brings warmth and a natural, understated elegance to interiors.
Its softer feel underfoot makes it a popular choice for low-traffic areas where comfort and aesthetics are the priority. Jute works particularly well in coastal, contemporary and relaxed Australian homes, pairing beautifully with timber flooring, neutral colour palettes and natural materials.
Best suited to
Bedrooms
Sitting Rooms
Home Offices
Formal spaces
Benefits
Soft underfoot
Warm and natural appearance
comfortable underfoot
compliments relaxed, coastal and contemporary interiors.
renewable natural fiber
Low VOC considerations
Hypo- allergenic
Things to consider
Jute is softer than sisal and seagrass, making it better suited to lower-traffic areas where comfort is more important than heavy-duty performance.
🌿 Natural Floors Advice
If you're creating a peaceful bedroom or retreat, jute is a wonderful choice. For busy family living areas, we'd generally recommend considering sisal or seagrass for their superior durability.
Day-to-Day Care & Cleaning
Caring for natural flooring isn't difficult, but it is different from standard synthetic carpet. Because these fibres are organic, they are highly absorbent and don't like getting drenched with water, steam cleaners, or harsh liquid supermarket detergents, which can cause shrinkage and permanent water-staining.
To keep your floors pristine, follow these general cleaning rules:
Vacuum Regularly: Use a vacuum with strong suction, but turn off the rotating beater brush (especially on chunky weaves like jute) to prevent fraying the edges of the fibres.
Act Fast on Spills: Never rub a liquid spill. Immediately blot it with a clean, dry white towel or paper towel, working from the outside of the spill inward.
The Seagrass Advantage: Remember that seagrass has a natural waxy coating. If you catch a spill quickly, it will often bead on top of the weave, giving you plenty of time to blot it away before it sinks in.
Premium Protection & Spill Management
To make caring for your floor effortless and give you total peace of mind, we supply and recommend two industry-leading solutions directly from our showroom:
Decorgard Stain Protection
Prevention is the ultimate insurance policy. Before your flooring is installed (or immediately after), we can treat it with Decorgard. This premium, specialized sealant coats the individual fibres without altering their look, feel, or breathability. It acts as an invisible shield, dramatically slowing down liquid absorption and giving you the crucial extra time needed to safely blot away accidental spills before they can stain.
HOST® Dry Extraction Cleaning Kits
When life happens and a spill does manage to sink in, we highly recommend the HOST Dry Extraction Cleaning System over any wet alternative.
The Power of Micro-Sponges: The HOST system uses millions of natural, moist, organic "micro-sponges." These eco-friendly granules are brushed through the weave to safely dissolve, trap, and absorb grease, dirt, and tough spots at the fibre level.
Zero Liquid Damage: Because the micro-sponges hold and strictly control the cleaner, moisture never runs into the backing of your flooring, completely eliminating the risk of shrinkage or water marks.
No Downtime: Once the micro-sponges are vacuumed away, your floors are left spotlessly clean, fresh, and 100% dry and ready to walk on immediately.
🌿 Natural Floors Advice: We keep both Decorgard treatments and HOST Dry Extraction Cleaning Kits readily available for our customers. Pop into our Newton showroom to discuss protecting your new floor or to grab a HOST spot-cleaning kit to keep in your cupboard for emergencies!
Which Natural Fibre Is Right for Your Home?
Rather than asking:
"Which natural fibre is best?"
We encourage our customers to ask:
"Which natural fibre is best for the way we live?"
Consider:
Do you have children?
Do you have pets?
Is this a high-traffic area?
Would you prefer softness or durability?
Is the room formal or casual?
Do you want a coastal, contemporary or classic look?
The answers to these questions will often determine the right flooring more than colour or texture alone.
Why Professional Installation Matters
The finest flooring deserves exceptional installation.
Natural fibre flooring requires experience, precision and attention to detail to ensure seams, joins, stairs and custom borders are finished beautifully.
At Natural Floors, installation isn't simply part of the process—it's part of the product.
Our inhouse experienced installers understand the unique characteristics of natural fibres and take pride in delivering a finish that enhances your home for years to come.
Why We Always Recommend Ordering a Sample, Booking a measure or coming to see us in Newton.
One piece of advice we give every customer is simple:
Never choose natural flooring from a computer or phone screen.
Natural fibres change throughout the day as light moves through your home.
Colours appear warmer in some rooms, cooler in others, and texture becomes much more noticeable once you can see and feel the product in your own space.
That's why we encourage every customer to order samples before making a final decision.
It's one of the easiest ways to choose with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is natural fibre flooring durable?
Yes. When the right fibre is selected for the right environment, natural flooring provides excellent long-term performance.
Which natural fibre is best for families?
For many busy households, seagrass and selected sisals are excellent choices thanks to their durability.
Can natural flooring be installed on stairs?
Absolutely. Natural fibre stairs are one of our most popular installations and create a timeless architectural feature.
Should I order samples first?
Absolutely. Seeing natural fibres in your own home is the best way to compare colour, texture and overall feel before making your final decision.
Ready to Explore Natural Flooring?
Every home is different, which is why we believe choosing flooring should never feel rushed.
Whether you're considering sisal, seagrass, wool, coir or jute, our experienced team is here to help you make the right decision with confidence.
Visit our Adelaide showroom, order samples, or speak with one of our specialists on 08 8363 2828—we're always happy to share our knowledge and help you create a home you'll love.
