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A great carpet adds more to a space than just color, pattern, or texture. Visually, it helps to ground furniture and define a space; functionally, it protects floors, absorbs noise, and provides plush padding underfoot. The right carpet will complement not overwhelm your décor.
Before you start browsing, start by measuring the room where the carpet is required. Ideally, the carpet size should be such that enough floor space is visible. As a general rule of thumb, find a carpet that can contain the major elements of a room or serve as a buffer between built ins.
Standard Carpet Sizes
Living Rooms
If your sofa is against a wall, ensure that at least its front legs and the front legs of the neighboring single seater/ armchair are on the carpet
In a large living room with a floating seating area, the carpet should contain all furniture, front and back legs, with space around
Typically, living area carpets are 5’ x 7’, 8’ x 10’, or 9’ x 12’.
Recommended Materials: Living rooms see a lot of life. If yours is a high-traffic area, pick a low-pile carpet in a durable material, such as a wool or jute
Dining Room
Use the table’s size as your point of reference
Whether circular or round, the carpet should extend at least 24 inches on all sides so even a pushed-back chair can still fit on the carpet
For a truly unified look, make the shape of your carpet match the shape of your table
Recommended Materials: A high-pile carpets can trap every crumb and trip up chairs. Choose a low-pile, generously sized dining room carpet in a durable material like hand-knotted wool
Bedroom
For a spacious room, opt for a large carpet that fits under the entire bed and night tables, with extra width on either side
For smaller rooms, the carpet should cover roughly ⅓ of the bed’s base; alternatively, try small area carpets on either side of the bed
Recommended Materials: In the bedroom, think soft—a thick shag blend or hand-tufted carpet paired with soothing, natural colors.
Kitchen / Entryway
Stick with a narrow runner or smaller piece (think 2’ x 3’ or 4’ x 6’) for these areas
Recommended Materials: Natural fiber and indoor-outdoor carpets are a great choice for the kitchen or entryway. They’re less likely to absorb spills, making them kid-friendly, pet-friendly and easy to clean
Carpets - Some Basic Terminology
Fiber:
Fiber refers to the material of the carpet
Single fibers are spun together to form 2, 3 or 4 ply yarn, which are attached to a woven back of the carpet
Pile:
The way a carpet fiber is attached to the backing
Pile height refers to the length of the material that makes up the pile, so the higher the pile is, the thicker and plusher the carpet will be
Yarn:
A strand of material comprised of fibers, used in weaving
Backing:
A fabric on the back of a carpets that helps it keep its structure
Not all carpets have a backing, Backing depends on their weave and construction of the carpet
Density:
It measures how closely packed the strands of fiber are to one another
The higher the density, stronger the carpet
Texture:
Texture comes from the style in which the fibers are looped, twisted or cut
This determines the look & feel of the carpet and plays an important role in determining how durable the carpet will be
Twist:
Refers to the number of times the fibers turn in a 1-inch length
Higher twist counts are typically more resilient and better resist traffic & crushing
Material Options
Carpet materials are generally divided into two types: Natural fibers & Synthetic / man-made fibers.
Natural Fiber: Wool
Wool is an all-around, designer-favorite natural material
It's not just super cozy—it's durable and has scales on the fibers that hide dirt, making it clean easily, and it's naturally fire-retardant
Wool carpet fibers contain lanolin, which is a natural stain repellent. For these reasons, wool carpets can be placed just about anywhere
Natural Fiber: Cotton
Cotton carpets are another soft option.
They're also easy to clean and affordable. So, if you're looking for a more budget-friendly natural fiber that can stand up to stains, cotton might be a good bet for you
The downside? Cotton doesn't hold up quite as well as the others, so you'll probably experience more wear over time than with other natural materials. And since cotton is moisture absorbent, you'll still want to take care of spills quickly
Natural Fiber: Sisal
Sisal carpets have a beautifully beachy, boho look, but they're also quite durable
They're great for high traffic areas since they're tougher and more resistant to wear
The only issue to note - since sisal carpets absorb liquids, they tend to stain easily when spills occur, so keep that in mind when you're considering placement—e.g., you might want to avoid the dining room or the kids' room
Natural Fiber: Jute
Jute is the softest of all natural fibers and have a fine texture
Jute is more resistant to stains than sisal
Jute carpets can be an ideal choice for bedrooms & study rooms
The downside? They are not hardwearing, so the carpets wear-out easily
Synthetic Fiber: Polyester
Polyester is a very affordable option that wears well and feels soft to the touch—especially if you purchase a polyester carpet with a thicker pile
Polyester carpets are moisture, stain, and abrasion-resistant, retain their color well, and are easier to clean
You may also find carpets that are polyester and acrylic blends on the market—acrylic is moderately priced and durable
Synthetic Fiber: Polypropylene
The most durable of the synthetic options, polypropylene carpets are a great option for busy homes with pets and kids
Polypropylene carpets are also quite affordable, and you'll often find that outdoor carpets are made with this material because it's UV, mildew, and stain-resistant
Synthetic Fiber: Viscose
Viscose blends, glamorous and soft underfoot, but are best suited for lower traffic room because they shouldn't have any exposure to moisture.
Viscose is often used as an affordable substitute for silk, but it's typically used as more of an accent fiber mixed in with another synthetic or natural material
Synthetic Fiber: Nylon
Nylon carpets can be very strong and durable, since they don’t flatten as easily as polyester or polypropylene
They are also highly resistant to stains and are easy to clean
Synthetic Fiber: PVC
Vinyl carpets are a great alternative to traditional carpets and come in a variety of different styles and shapes
PVC carpets are extra-durable, easy to clean, non-slip, flat and are great for high traffic areas
However, they are not the best choice if you are looking for something soft underfoot
Weave of Carpet
Hand Knoted
This is a time-tested, time-intensive manufacturing technique in which carpet fibers are tied by hand on a loom
The meticulous process results in heirloom quality and built-to-last construction, but expect a higher price point to match
Hand-knotted carpets make a great choice for any area of the home
Hand Tufted
Tufted carpets are created by cutting off the tops of loops of yarn to create a flat, plush surface; the tufted pile is attached to a latex backing
These carpets are a budget-friendly alternative to a hand-knotted carpet and come in a wide variety of styles.
High-pile carpets often referred to as ‘Shaggy’ are a much thicker style and will feel warm and cozy underfoot. Shaggy carpets enjoy enormous popularity for their luxurious looks for living spaces and bedrooms
Tufted carpets are prone to shedding (especially when you first unroll them), and they may require regular vacuuming
Flat Weave
Refers to a style of mat-like carpets without pile
Flatweaves come in a variety of materials (wool, cotton, and synthetics are common) and are very durable, but they don't come on any sort of backing, so a carpet pad is highly recommended
Since flatweave carpets are reversible (the pattern is visible on both sides, so you can flip them), they work especially well in high-traffic areas like entryways, family rooms, and playrooms
Machine Made
Power-loomed carpets are woven on a loom by a computer-controlled machine which gives them precise designs
Like tufted and hooked carpets, power-loomed options are made with threads that are pulled through the carpet's backing.
These are generally the most affordable as well as being quite durable, they are a great choice for any room
Hand Woven
Materials are woven together by hand to create a strong construction
Hand woven carpets have a flat finish, making them ideal for busy, high-traffic rooms
Significance of “Pile” in Carpets
Pile refers to how the loops of fiber are attached to the carpet backing
The “pile” of a carpet is a point of reference for the density, or thickness, of a piece. There are 2 main types:
Low-pile carpets: These carpets have shorter fibers and loops (think flatweaves), making them best for high-traffic areas such as the kitchen.
High-pile carpets: These carpets have taller, looser fibers (think shag or Moroccan carpets), making them plusher and more ideal for the bedroom or living room
Looped Pile
Also referred to as Uncut Pile
By leaving the entire loop of the yarn intact on the carpet’s surface, this technique produces a highly durable carpet
They are traditionally made with 100% wool but can also be found as an 80% mix with nylon or polypropylene
Loop pile carpets can be one of two types, level loop piles or multi-level loop piles. For multi-level loop piles, loops of different lengths are combined to add texture
Berber Loop Pile
Berber carpet is a tufted loop pile and named after the tribes in Africa and Asia who first devised the technique of threading yarn though the backing fabric to create small loops
These days, the loops are made from either wool, nylon, polypropylene, or a blended mixture to produce either a level or multi-level finish
Cut Pile
Cut pile is a style of carpet where the exposed fibers are sheared off. This typically produces soft, inviting, easy-to-clean carpets
Different styles can be created by changing the angle of the shearing that slices the loop, or by using different treatments on the thread before and after it is inserted into the backing
Textured / Twist Pile
The term textured-cut pile refers to a form of cut-pile carpet in which the fibers are of uneven lengths
They are also twisted into spiral strands using a special steam treatment that curls the individual strands so that they remain kinked
This style is also called "trackless" because it doesn't show footprints and other marks on its surface
Frieze Cut Pile
The term frieze-cut pile refers to a carpet in which relatively long cut fibers are twisted together and kinked, causing them to curl erratically across the surface of the carpet
This highly durable style tends to hide dirt and wear and is suitable for high-traffic and commercial settings
Cut and Loop Pile
A sculptured carpet has both looped and cut-pile fibers, which creates height and texture variations in the surface of the carpet
These carpets are sometimes known as cut-and-loop or patterned carpets
The different fiber cuts are sometimes arranged in geometric patterns, giving the carpet a three-dimensional texture. The different fiber cuts can all be the same length (level cut-and-loop), or they can be at different heights (textured cut-and-loop)
Plush
Velvet pile carpet types are also known as ‘velour’ or ‘plush’, and will give you a luxury feel which is super-comfortable underfoot
The surface pile is level, between 5mm and 10mm long, which is then sheared to give it a smooth finish
Plush carpets are ideal for a room with light traffic such as a guest bedroom or formal lounge
More Tips
• Vacuum the carpet regularly in one direction – not back and forth
• Immediately blot accidental spills with a clean, absorbent cloth
• We recommend a periodic professional cleaning
• Turn regularly for even wear and to help prevent uneven fading