Design Tips for Synthetic Sisal
Unlike natural fibers such as sisal and seagrass, our synthetic sisal collections—TEC, Heather, Synthesis, Bolon and Anywhere—can withstand exposure to moisture and extreme climate variations. We recommend these weaves for high-traffic areas or places where they're likely to get wet.
There are some differences between the collections and their recommended usage—click or scroll down for more information:
Choosing a Style
With five collections—and nearly 80 colors—to choose from, our synthetic sisal offers a lot of style options. TEC, Heather, Synthesis and Bolon are all Scandinavian imports, featuring flat-woven vinyl in a range of patterns, from neutral to vibrant. All three have a solid (but thin) latex backing. Because of these weaves' low profiles (they're less than 1/8" thick), they're great in places where a door needs to swing open and closed.
The Heather range weaves together complementary hues to mimic the shade variation inherent in natural fiber floor coverings. Synthesis is similar, but with many more colors and a contrasting black weft (in woven carpet, the yarns running crosswise between warp yarns). Bolon offers the greatest variety of patterns and colors—if you want bold stripes or saturated color, this Swedish collection is for you. There are some limitations on where you can use Bolon—see below.
Finally, if the look you're after is "imitation sisal," with lots of shade variation and textural interest, then take a look at Anywhere. It's boucle-style weave mimics the texture of our Basic or Planta natural sisals.
Placement Indoors
Every one of our synthetic sisal weaves is durable and impervious to moisture—ideal for those areas exposed to spills or dampness (or anywhere natural fibers shouldn't go):
- kitchens
- bathrooms
- covered porches
- basements
- stairs
- by hot tubs or saunas
- entryways
- mudrooms
Of course, we've seen all of these weaves used in living rooms, home offices and commercial spaces, too. It's up to you!
Placement Outdoors
Basically, if you plan to use it outdoors, choose TEC, Anywhere, Heather or Synthesis. Anywhere was developed for use outdoors. UV stabilizers make it fade resistant in sunlight. It's also extremely hard-wearing and resists the growth of mold, bacteria and mildew.
All four of our woven vinyl collections—TEC, Heather, Synthesis and Bolon—can get wet and are easy to clean. But if you need something for your porch or by the pool, we recommend choosing Heather or Synthesis: in addition to being impervious to moisture, both of these weaves have an exceptionally high rating for color-fastness, meaning they resist fading, even in direct sunlight. (Over time, the Bolon weaves will discolor if exposed to direct sunlight.)
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