First, let's talk about what carpeting is. I have often heard people use the words "carpet" and rug" interchangeably and while this may be attributed to regional dialects, within the design world a carpet is a floor covering that stretches from wall to wall while a rug is something smaller that floats within a space. We can talk about rugs in a future post, but for now, carpet is where we are!
So, if you want to explore the idea of carpeting, it's good to know where carpeting can and cannot go. Since the concept of carpet is something warm and soft underfoot, it is ideal for the private spaces of your home, such as bedrooms (where we are most always barefoot), perhaps family rooms (again, where we may be barefoot), and offices. However, carpet should not be used in kitchens (for the obvious reason of spilling and cleaning), and carpets should never be used in bathrooms (for the obvious reason of hygiene). And while it is often used on stairs as a runner--either tacked down or with elegant brass rail hardware--carpet is not a good choice for high traffic areas like entryways and hallways. Since these spaces get a lot more daily use, the carpet in these areas can wear faster and become stained much quicker. Hard surfaces are the better choice for these spots.
A carpeted bedroom however can give a wonderful sense of luxury and pleasure. There are so many types of carpet. How do you know what kind to invest in? Ask yourself how plush you want the carpet to be. There are two main types of carpet.
--Loop pile (this includes Berber, level loop, and multi-loop carpets)
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| Berber |
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| Level loop |
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| Multi-loop |
--Cut pile (this is what used to be referred to as "shag" carpeting and includes velvet, Saxony, textured, and frieze carpets)
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| Saxony |
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| Textured |
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| Frieze |
When loop pile carpets are made, the fibers come up from the bottom--or backing--of the carpet and then back down again, creating a closed loop. The loops on Berber carpets can be very tight, giving the appearance of something woven. Level loops offer a bit of cushion and multi-loop carpets can be a mixture of high and low loops, making the carpet appear to be "sculpted." Tighter loops like Berbers wear best as the fibers do not stick up for them to become crushed or matted. However this carpet style can feel a little bit industrial.
Cut pile carpeting is more sumptuous and can offer a plushness that is delightful. When the carpet fibers come up from the underside of the backing material, they are cut instead of returning into the backing. A Saxony carpet has fibers placed together in a dense arrangement and cut as evenly as possible. Some types of textured carpets have a construction where the fibers are twisted before they are cut giving them a more casual appearance and a longer wear life. You can look for the TPI or "twists per inch" on the carpet information which should tell you about its quality: generally carpets will have 3-6 twists per inch but frieze carpets can see up to 7 or 9 twists per inch.
Two other factors determine the quality of a carpet and should be examined when deciding: density and weight.
--Density refers to how many fibers are in a pile and how tight the fibers are; generally, denser carpets are more durable. Bend the carpet sample into a U-shape and see how much of the backing is visible. More backing means less quality.
--Weight is an indicator of density, as it is measured by square foot. The higher the weight, the more fiber per square foot, the more dense and durable the carpet. Again, this information should be shown on the back of the carpet sample when choosing and buying.
This leaves the material from which your carpet can be made. There are a lot of different materials, but they are basically broken down into natural or man-made fibers.
--Natural fibers include wool and silk which is blended with other fibers. Wool however is the only natural fiber that is fire-resistant because of the presence of lanolin. It also resists stains. is considered eco-friendly, and has an excellent wear life.
--Man-made fibers include:
a) Nylon--The most popular choice of man-made fibers but needs to be treated with a stain resistant product. It does have a long wear life and is good in higher traffic areas if you wish to use it.
b) Acrylic--Seen as an inexpensive alternative to wool, acrylic is stain resistant and easy to clean, fade resistant, and water-repellant but it is less durable than wool and can become fuzzy over time.
c) Olefin--Resistant to moisture, mold, and mildew with medium durability.
d) Polyester--Stain and fade resistant and durable but make sure you get a good quality carpet with maximum density and weight so it lasts a long time.
Things to consider when choosing a material include the foot traffic of your space, and whether children or pets (this means dirt and staining) are going to be on the carpet.
I hope this helped take the mystery out of carpet.
Happy designing!
