Picking The Right Carpet

Woven

Weaving pile yarn and backing fabric together is the traditional way to make carpets. Woven carpets keep their appearance and last a long time but are pricier than tufted carpets. The two types are Axminster, which is patterned and Wilton, which is often plain but can contain up to five colours.

Tufted

Most carpets are tufted; they’re quicker and cheaper to make, which is done by inserting pile yarn into backing fabric and adding another backing layer. Tufted carpets have a more limited range of patterns and colours than Axminsters.

Fibres

Picking the right fibre for a room is the most important thing to consider to prevent your carpet from wearing out too soon. Fibres are natural or synthetic and can be used together in carpets.

Wool

This is the most widely used fibre. It’s easy to clean, will retain its colour and appearance for years, and is naturally flame resistant.

Carpets with wool feel luxurious, especially in a high pile.

Synthetic

Nylon is very hard-wearing and is good for areas with heavy foot traffic. It’s often used as a 20% blend with wool for added durability. Polypropylene is cheaper than nylon for blends. It’s stain resistant and durable, but may flatten quickly and is flammable.

Polyester wears well but it also flattens quickly.

Textures

Carpets come in a wide range of textures that affect feel, appearance and performance.

Shorter pile such as twist and loop wear better and are easier to maintain than longer pile, such as shag and saxony but aren’t as luxurious. Avoid loop textures if you have pets with claws.

Underlay

Underlay improves the feel, heat and sound insulation of a carpet and can increase its life by up to 40%.