What is woven carpet?

Combining time-honoured manufacturing techniques with hard-wearing materials and striking patterned designs, a woven carpet is the traditionalist’s choice for all-round longevity.

What is woven carpet?

Woven carpets have been regarded as the pinnacle of carpet making for over 400 years, owing to the meticulous skill and length of time required to produce them. Although expensive, they were seen as an investment, but this was back in a time when people stayed in the same house all their lives, and a carpet for the family home was expected to outlive even the family themselves! Modern carpet manufacturing techniques have created an abundance of different carpet choices these days, but for many, a woven carpet will always be the hallmark of a good quality, comfortable and affordable carpet.

How do you make a woven carpet?

It takes a lot longer to make a woven carpet than a saxony or twist carpet. This is because woven carpets are made by weaving the yarn all the way through the backing, resulting in a carpet with a firm, dense ‘barefoot’ feeling. The most common woven carpets are Wilton and Axminster carpets, and both have different production methods to give them their distinctive looks.

Types of woven carpets

There are a couple of different types of woven carpets available on the market, the most popular being Axminster and Wilton. Each have their own benefits and are actually made in different ways.

Axminster carpets are created by weaving the cut tufts of yarn (sometimes multiple yarns) directly with the backing fibres to create a strong and robust structure. This allows for colourful and intricate patterns to be created with immense precision, making Axminster carpets the perfect choice for those looking to add striking designs to their home.

Wilton carpets, on the other hand, are made by weaving the uncut yarn continuously into the carpet backing. Once this is complete, the yarn can be cut to make a cut pile carpet or left as a loop. This means Wilton carpets can offer a greater range of textures and finishes, but in a smaller number of colours.

Order Free Carpet Samples

Are woven carpets good for heavy use?

Both manufacturing techniques create high quality, durable and thick woven carpets that can withstand heavy footfall, making them tough enough for commercial properties like hotels, restaurants and pubs. Think of a grand stately home you’ve seen with an ornate floral carpet – that’s probably the original woven carpet! Or a 5-star hotel with a tartan carpet throughout – only a woven carpet could hack the pace of all those visitors (and the pattern will hide a number of sins). And if you want to improve on perfection, pair a woven carpet with a felt and rubber crumb underlay for an unrivalled performance and comfort underfoot.

Woven vs tufted carpets

There are two main ways that carpets are manufactured – they can either be woven or tufted. We discuss in greater detail the difference between how these are made in our carpet guide, but here, we want to focus much more on the pros and cons of each.

Woven carpet has many advantages, the topmost being that it’s incredibly durable because of how it’s made, and it’s one of the more traditional looking carpets which means it never really goes out of style! Tufted carpet is more of a modern carpet, with long strands that can either be cut, to create pile carpets like saxony, twist, and velvet, or looped to create loop or Berber carpets.

Woven carpet has to be made on a loom, which means it’s both sturdier because of how it’s woven together, but also more expensive, because it requires skilled workers. Tufted carpets can be created in a much quicker and more modern way using machines, which makes it cheaper, but also less likely to hold together for a long time.

Pros and cons of woven carpet

We’ve labelled above some of the amazing benefits of woven carpet, – however, there are a couple of disadvantages to woven carpets, so here is a side-by-side for comparison:

Pros

Has stain resistant properties.
Pile bounces back so doesn’t easily show footprints or vacuum patterns.
Very durable in high traffic conditions.

Cons

Doesn’t have the same softness as cut pile carpets like saxony.
Tends to be quite expensive due to the way they are made.

Just like with any flooring material, there are different pros and cons that can help you decide if woven carpet is right for you. If you need any more information or would like to try some samples in your home, make sure you pop into your nearest Tapi store to speak with one of our amazing flooring experts.

How much does woven carpet cost?

Woven carpet prices vary depending on how much or little you would like to spend. You’ll often find that the more you spend on a carpet, the more choice you’ll have when it comes to colours, designs, widths, and qualities. Our cheapest woven carpets start from £29.99 per m2 and with fitting £5.50 per m2, it costs around £425 to carpet a small 3x4 metre room (not including underlay, door bars, and grippers, or additional fitting costs). Take a look at our collection of woven carpets online, then head to your nearest Tapi store to get a quote for your new carpet.

Post author

Jeremy Garrish Buyer Jeremy has 35 years of carpet industry knowledge

Book a Store Appointment

Book a Home Visit

Published: 16-03-2022

More to explore

The best carpet cleaning products

Are you looking for a cleaning solution for your carpet that fits your budget and carpet type? Check out our guide to carpet cleaners to find the right cleaner for you.

How to lift your carpet pile

We’ll take you through the different ways in which your carpet pile can be flattened, and then how to lift a carpet to make it look good as new.

How to reduce heat loss through your floor

Find out the different ways you can reduce heat loss through your flooring this winter with our tips and tricks.

What is a stair runner?

Stair runners aren’t just a stylish accessory for your stairs, they can also be a practical one.

What is sisal carpet?

Thinking about getting a new carpet and considering sisal? Check out our guide to ‘what is sisal carpet’ for everything you need to know.

What is a polypropylene carpet?

The luxurious feel of a natural fibre carpet – without the price tag! Polypropylene carpets are a popular choice for modern and traditional interiors alike thanks to their stylish looks and easy-to-clean practicality.

What is a wool carpet?

Today wool carpets remain a classic interior design feature for a reason – they suit both modern and traditional homes alike!

How to flatten a rug

We’ve come up with some of the ways you can get creases out of rugs and how to flatten a rug that’s been rolled or folded when it was delivered to you.

Best flooring for home offices

If you want to pick the best flooring possible for your new home office, then you’ll want to know all the options available to you! Read through our list of different flooring types and why they might be great in your space to help you make the right decision.

The art of layering rugs

We’ve got a host of tips that’ll help you become a legend in the art of layering rugs, from colour combos to the different layering techniques you can use in different rooms.

Top 5 features that will sell your home for more

Wondering if it’s worth investing in new home features if you want to sell soon? Find out how upgrading your home can actually help you sell for more!

How to create a cosy bedroom

Want to create a cosy bedroom in your home and need somewhere to start? The best place to begin is with our guide to creating the perfect cosy bedroom.

How to fix a squeaky floor

Find out all our tips and tricks on how to fix a squeaky floor in this helpful guide, from humidifiers to powdered graphite.

What is the best carpet underlay?

Are you hunting for the perfect underlay to go with your brand-new carpet and you’re not sure where to start? Our guide to finding the best carpet underlay takes you through all the different types of underlays you could choose between.

How to warm up a cold room in winter

Heat your home and warm up a cold room with our tried and tested tips.

How to prepare your room for new flooring

If you’re having the flooring in your home replaced, then you may not be sure of what steps to take to make sure your room is ready for new flooring coming in – our guide has all the steps you need to take to prepare your room for new flooring.

modern hallway and staircase with white and neutral Scandi style Christmas decorations

How to decorate your stairs for Christmas

Find out some of the different style ideas you could try on your staircase this Christmas to add some extra tinsel and baubles to your home’s festive flair.

How to repair a carpet

If your carpet is looking a little worse for wear, there are plenty of small fixes you can do yourself. Learn how to repair carpet and patch up damage.

How to uplift and remove carpet

Find the best way to remove old carpet on your stairs and flooring.

How to protect your floors at Christmas

Check out our guide on how to protect your floor at Christmas when you have family and friends visiting or you’re thinking of putting up a tree.

How to dispose and recycle used carpet

Find out how to properly dispose or recycle old carpet responsibly with our handy guide.

How to install commercial carpet

Discover how to install commercial carpets in your space with our comprehensive, step-by-step guide.

Top tips for decorating your home on a budget

Wondering what you can do to improve your home without spending a fortune? Read our top tips for decorating on a budget.

Best child-friendly flooring options

Our guide to child-friendly flooring is packed full of insightful information you can use to pick flooring for your family home that suits all your little one’s needs.

Parisian apartment with tall windows, wooden floor and antique furniture

How to embrace the Parisian interior design trend

Create the Parisian apartment style of your dreams by following all our tips and tricks to really embrace French style in your space.

How to incorporate marble into your kitchen

This guide will take you through the different ways in which you can bring incredible marble elements into your kitchen to give it a glamorous makeover.

How to hang a rug on the wall

Find out how to make rugs into unique wall art with our guide on how to hang a rug on the wall.

White and cream bedroom design ideas

This guide is packed full of ideas and inspiration for creating the perfect cream bedroom design or finding the best white bedroom flooring ideas for your space.