Who's Who... Know Your Carpet Types

It's BAAAAAAAACK. According to Domino wall-to-wall carpet is back in a BIG way. Here's a quick glossary to help you tell your Saxony from your Shag...

Materials

Naturals like jute, sisal, coir. They're really tough and as such work well for high traffic areas. But they're rough on the feet and are the very devil to clean.

Nylon, durable and available in a squillion different colours; Nylon is often treated with stain repellents, making it relatively easy-care.

Polyester, soft, washable and often made from recycled materials, polyester wears quickly.

Wool, the classic, lasts for practically ever, and acquires a soft, 'lived in' look with wear. Naturally soft and springy, Wool loves your feet back. But expensive? Yup.

Styles

Plush or Saxony thick, extremely soft and squishy, saxony carpet is made of cut pile. It's a more formal and traditional look.

Loop or Berber a flat weave made from looped yarn. Works well for a minimalist look.

Frieze, a term for texture or a type of saxony carpet where twisted yarn has been used to create pattern and depth

Shag, long cut pile in a loose weave. Shag pile has that funky retro thing going on.

Underpadding

The trick to longevity and cushiony softness is choosing the right underpad for your carpet. Deep pile carpets like saxony or shag call for a thicker underpad while lower profile weaves like berber or sisal need a thin tight underpad.

So now you know!

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October 05, 2008
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lilybee's blog (184 posts)

About Me: I'm Erin and decorating for dirt cheap is my thing. The curbside, cragislist and the dollar store are my shopping locations of choice and there's...

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