Sisalcarpet
  • Topics
    • Interior Design
    • Area Rugs
    • Wall-to-Wall Carpet
    • Hospitality & Commercial
    • Sustainability
    • Installation
    • Care & Cleaning
  • Shop
    • Area Rugs
    • Wall to Wall
    • Collections
    • Tiles & Planks
    • Commercial
  • Contact
  • About Us
    • Company News
sisalcarpet.com Blog

naturally beautiful performance flooring

Subscribe
  • Topics
    • Interior Design
    • Area Rugs
    • Wall-to-Wall Carpet
    • Hospitality & Commercial
    • Sustainability
    • Installation
    • Care & Cleaning
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • About Us
    • Company News
  • Hospitality & Commercial
  • Interior Design
  • Synthetic Rugs

Sisal vs. SynSisal®: Why Designers Choose to Upgrade

  • Christy Lesseig

Published December 2025 | Updated December 2025

Sisal has long been a favorite in British-inspired interiors, classic hotels, and retail spaces—a grounding, textural element with timeless appeal. But even a design classic has its limits: sisal wasn’t built for constant foot traffic, commercial cleaning routines, or unpredictable spills. Installed in commercial spaces, suddenly maintenance becomes the main storyline.

And when sisal can’t be cleaned anymore, shows signs of wear, or a scheduled renovation is coming up, it might be worth asking, “Is it time to replace sisal with something more durable?”

If you want to keep the sisal look you love while benefiting from better performance, consider our SynSisal®

At Curran, we’ve watched SynSisal® open new doors for designers who want the sisal aesthetic without the limitations. Durable, soft, stain-resistant, and made from ECONYL®, it’s redefining where the “sisal look” can go. Here’s why SynSisal® is becoming the go-to sisal alternative for hospitality, retail, office, and residential interiors.

  1. Reasons to Choose SynSisal® Over Sisal
    1. 1: SynSisal® Delivers the Most Authentic Sisal Aesthetic
    2. 2. Performs in High-Use Environments
    3. 3. Supports Sustainable, Circular Design
    4. 4. Backed by Decades of Expertise
    5. 5. Easy to Specify, Sample, and Install
    6. 6. Offers Consistency Across Every Installation
  2. Final Thoughts

Reasons to Choose SynSisal® Over Sisal

SynSisal® Astoria | Bark at Campanelle in London

1: SynSisal® Delivers the Most Authentic Sisal Aesthetic

No other synthetic carpet on the market captures the look of natural sisal as precisely as SynSisal®.

  • Five distinct woven styles inspired by classic sisal structures and seven elevated colorways
  • Refined, textural depth that mirrors the natural fiber look but without its limitations
  • Bespoke solutions, from large-format rugs to organic silhouettes, for residential, hospitality, and commercial spaces

SynSisal® supports clean, modern design across every environment—from open work areas to private suites—while offering designers complete creative control.

SynSisal® vs. Sisal: side by side, the sisal look remains. | SynSisal® Langley & Medina samples on top, natural sisal samples tucked underneath.

Is it time to replace your carpet? How long should carpet last?

In When to Replace Carpet: A Guide to Carpet Life Expectancy, we answer these questions plus offer guidance on choosing the best carpet material for your needs.

2. Performs in High-Use Environments

SynSisal® was engineered specifically for spaces where natural sisal struggles.

  • Contract-grade durability (Class 33) for heavy foot traffic and excellent fire safety performance (Class 1)
  • Solution-dyed ECONYL® fibers resist fading, stains, and wear
  • Flat-woven construction for long-term stability and easy maintenance

The result: a flooring solution that looks refined and stays refined, even in demanding spaces.

Wall-to-wall installation of SynSisal® carpet in hotel room
Astoria | Honey | @ The Bull Charlbury
SynSisal® Langley | Honey | © Christian Harder 2022 | @ThePinchHotel
Langley | Custom Oval Rugs | @ Design Well Spent, Jason Roehner Photography
Winthrop | Honey | @ Asher Water Street Tampa
Astoria | Mesquite | Brian Paquette Interiors
SynSisal® Winthrop | Mesquite | @milkymedia for Gibbon Architectural
SynSisal® Medina | Cedar | Studio Murnane
Astoria | Mesquite | @ Seasalt Cornwall
SynSisal® Astoria | Honey | Wall-to-wall Corridor
Medina | Cedar Organic Shaped Rug for Chandon
SynSisal® Langley | Bark | Retail Shop
Langley | Bark | Retail Shop
Astoria | Mink | Retail Shop

3. Supports Sustainable, Circular Design

Sustainability isn’t a feature—it’s the foundation of SynSisal®.

  • Woven with ECONYL®, a regenerated nylon made from recycled fishing nets, fabric scraps, and post-consumer waste
  • Lower environmental impact compared to conventional synthetic flooring that depends on virgin petroleum, thereby conserving natural resources
  • Promotes circularity by giving waste materials a new life

It’s a contract-grade material that aligns with thoughtful, responsible design.

ECONYL® ifinity loop showing CO2 savings

4. Backed by Decades of Expertise

Curran has specialized in natural-fiber flooring since 1990, working with commercial designers, global hotels, and luxury retail brands around the world.

  • SynSisal® reflects three decades of experience in the natural flooring category
  • Developed in partnership with generational European mills known for precision weaving
  • Trusted by internationally recognized retailers and award-winning hospitality spaces
  • Earned top industry recognition, including an iF Design Award 2025 and finalist in the 7th Annual Gray Design Awards

SynSisal® brings the heritage of natural sisal together with the innovation of a performance fiber.

SynSisal yarns on a weaving loom

5. Easy to Specify, Sample, and Install

We make the process seamless for specifiers, designers, and procurement teams.

  • Free samples and sample books for project presentations
  • Stocked in both the U.S. and Europe for efficient lead times
  • Expert installation guidelines and designer support
  • Competitive trade program for studios and commercial clients

From sampling to install, SynSisal® is built to fit smoothly into your workflow.

SynSisal® assorted sample swawtches

6. Offers Consistency Across Every Installation

One of the biggest challenges with natural sisal is variation—dye shifts, texture differences, and inconsistencies from roll to roll. SynSisal® solves this with precision manufacturing and solution-dyed yarns.

  • Uniform color and texture, even across large or repeated installations
  • Reliable dye lots for multi-room or multi-property rollouts
  • Predictable performance and appearance over time
  • Ideal for hotel corridors, brand-wide updates, or chain retail locations

For designers who need repeatable quality—and for properties that maintain a consistent visual identity—SynSisal® delivers confidence and control.

winthrop in mink | astoria in bark | winthrop in mesquite | medina in harvest

Final Thoughts

Sisal’s organic texture and tonal richness make it a beloved design element, adding warmth and depth to both classic and modern spaces. But when the environment calls for durability and easy upkeep, natural sisal can fall short. If you’re ready to refresh your space while keeping the look you love, SynSisal® offers the perfect solution—timeless style with contract-grade performance, comfort, and cleanability.

Ready to see how SynSisal® performs in your own projects?

View the collection, order samples or explore case studies from designers who’ve made the switch.

Share
Share
Pin it
Christy Lesseig

Christy is the Flooring Content Specialist at Curran and sisalcarpet.com. She writes about flooring products with a focus on design and sustainability. For 5 years, her blog posts, technical guides, and product descriptions have led customers along the path from purchasing to maintaining their flooring investments. Her favorite natural flooring? A sisal rug, of course.

You May Also Like
View Post

Coastal Calm: The Bainbridge House

  • November 2025
View Post

Timeless Texture: Designer Kerry Moylan Transforms Her Sixth House Library

  • October 2025
View Post

How to Use Texture in Minimalist Design with Kristen Ziegler

  • September 2025
View Post

Designer Favorites: A Curated Rug Guide for 2025

  • September 2025
View Post

FLEXIBEL™: Modular Carpet for Commercial Spaces

  • September 2025
synsisal organic shaped rug in living room
View Post

Why SynSisal® Outperforms Other Synthetic Sisals in Every Category

  • March 2025
View Post

What size rug do I need?

  • January 2025
Bowen Clove area rug from Terasa under dining room table
View Post

2025: Rug-Style Forecast

  • January 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

sisalcarpet.com Blog
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
naturally beautiful performance flooring | © 2026 Sisalcarpet.com LLC

Input your search keywords and press Enter.