I Bought the $600 “High Quality” West Elm Rug and I Have Zero Regrets

I am frugal to a fault, but one of the things I finally invested last year in was a beautiful West Elm rug. Rugs can be expensive, especially when you go up in size, so for years I purchased thin bargain rugs and rugs that were too small for my space, and they always disappointed. In an attempt to save money, ironically, I’ve finally learned that it’s much better to invest in something that will last ages. 

After much research and hesitation, I finally bought the West Elm Mini Pebble Wool Jute Rug in 8×10 and Natural/Alabaster. You could reasonably ask why, if I have a dog and two kids, would I buy a white rug? All I can say is love is love, and it couldn’t be helped. 

I practically squealed when it was delivered. Our bedroom had a too-small jute rug that had a hole in it for ages (my husband denies our dog had any part in creating the hole, but clearly she was at fault). The size of our old rug made the room feel small, unfinished, and choppy. It was placed under the bed, but wasn’t large enough for all four legs to rest on it. All that to say, a change was long overdue. Even though the 8×10 size we bought was $599, it was the right investment for us. Depending on the size you need, the cost would go up or down.

The West Elm jute rug is handcrafted in a Fair Trade-certified facility, and the wool and jute are from recycled or consciously grown materials as part of the brand’s sustainability efforts. 

The bobble texture is unique and still soft to the touch so it’s very comfortable under our feet. Shedding of the natural fibers is expected, but we’ve experienced very little in the first few months. The care instructions advise vacuuming on a low power setting without a beater brush, which I read after my ancient Roomba pulled a few fibers loose. If you have an older model of robot vacuum or if your upright vacuum has a beater brush, don’t make my mistake! 

The rug is 1.2” thick and heavy, which helps it lie flat and prevents the dreaded bunching, of which I am painfully familiar. I skimped on the thin rug we bought for our guest bedroom, and — while I love the pattern — it is never completely flat, even with a rug pad, no matter what I do. If I were to ever regret our new West Elm rug, I could just look in the guest bedroom at the bunched-up rug and remember the wasted money. 

That doesn’t mean that we skipped out on a rug pad, though. Our new rug lies flat even without a rug pad due to its weight, but we still use one to protect our floors and keep it in place.  

The lesson I’ve learned is that even “affordable” rugs can cost hundreds of dollars. Don’t spend money you could be saving for a rug you deserve, like one that is the right size for your space, or one that won’t bunch up or trip you on your way to the couch. My frugal heart has a hard time spending so much money all at once, but I’ve never regretted the purchase of a high-quality rug. 

Now excuse me while I train my dog to walk around my West Elm beauty. 

Buy: Mini Pebble Wool Jute Rug, 8′ x 10′, $599