What is carpet?

Carpet is a textile floor covering, designed to provide warmth, comfort, and softness underfoot. It can be made from different natural or synthetic materials selected for their unique properties, like stain-resistance or durability. There are various types of carpet, which all have a particular look and feel. There are so many styles and colours of carpet, it can feel hard to choose! A good quality carpet can last for years, and the trick is picking what type of carpet is best for your needs. Thanks to our many years of flooring expertise, we can help you decide if carpet is the right choice for you, and if so, which one is best for your home.

TYPES OF CARPET

The main types of carpet are saxony, twist, woven, loop (also called Berber), and velvet. These fall into two categories: tufted and woven, which are so called because of how they are made.

How is carpet made?

Carpet-making is a traditional skill that’s been around for centuries. All methods begin with the yarn itself being spun and dyed, then each type of carpet is made in a slightly different way to create its distinctive look and feel (what we call the pile). If yours has flattened, have a read of our guide on how to lift up your carpet pile.

Using a tufting machine is the quicker and more modern way to make a carpet. To make a tufted carpet, the yarn is threaded through the primary backing, then pulled by a looper underneath until it’s the right pile height. For cut pile carpets like saxony, twist, and velvet, the looped yarn is cut and separated at the top to create a lovely soft texture. In the case of loop or Berber carpets, the yarns are left as a loop, which makes them a bit firmer and stronger than a cut pile carpet. The secondary backing is then attached afterwards.

Woven carpets are made on a loom in the traditional way. The yarn is woven all the way through the backing, creating a strong hard-wearing carpet that feels firm underfoot. The two types of woven carpets are called Axminster and Wilton, whose special production methods allows for the creation of incredibly detailed and colourful patterned carpets. However, there are many patterned options for carpets that are not just woven.

WHAT IS CARPET MADE FROM?

Carpet is made from different types of yarn including wool, polypropylene, nylon, and a blend of different materials.

Order free samples

What type of carpet is best?

There’s no carpet that’s better than the rest; they all have their pros and cons. It’s a bit like Cinderella’s glass slipper - the best type of carpet is the one that’s the right fit for your home and your needs! The first thing you need to consider is what room the carpet is being fitted in as this will determine what type of carpet you choose. Certain carpets are classed as heavy use so they’re a better option for high traffic areas in your home like stairs and hallways because they’re more hard wearing.

Across the different carpet types, you’ll find varying degrees of softness, texture, density, firmness, durability, and stain-resistance – as well as a wide range of price points. There are hundreds of carpet colours to choose between, and all our carpets have a completely unique look depending on the type you choose. For example, a grey saxony carpet is soft and luxurious, whereas a grey Berber carpet feels more rustic and relaxed. A cream twist carpet is perfect for a modern living room, whilst a cream wool loop carpet would work well in the lounge of a period property. The possibilities are endless!

There are also a variety of different carpet tog ratings to choose from. Carpet tog is the unit of measurement used to let you know the thermal insulating property of different types of carpet –, how warm it can help to keep your room. Carpet tog rating tends to range from 0.70 to over 3.00 – the higher the tog rating, the better it will retain heat and the warmer your room will be. The type of flooring that you pick will influence the tog rating: the denser and the heavier the weight of the pile of your carpet is, the higher the carpet tog value will be.

What are the benefits of carpet?

There are so many benefits to having carpet fitted in your home – there’s a good reason it’s been the top floor covering for many years!

Affordable - Overall, carpet costs less to fit than hard flooring like laminate, Luxury Vinyl Tiles or wood.
Warm - It helps to insulate the house and it’s also cosy underfoot
Comfortable - The cushioned surface is lovely to walk on.
Quiet - It helps reduce the sound of noisy feet by absorbing ambient sound in the room.
Safe - You’re less likely to slip and fall, especially if you spill something.
Stylish - Carpet ties the room together with other soft furnishings.
Versatile - Plenty of colours and styles to suit all tastes and budgets.
Flexible - Carpet can disguise imperfections in uneven subfloors.
Easy to maintain - Compared to a real wooden floor, most carpets require little more than a weekly vacuum (and sometimes, an annual deep clean - but don't worry, just have a read of our guide on the best carpet cleaners) to keep them looking fabulous.

What’s the difference between a carpet and a rug?

The main difference between a carpet and a rug is that a carpet is fitted wall-to-wall, whereas a rug is smaller and can be moved about. (Although to make matters confusing, traditional handwoven rugs are sometimes called carpets!) There is also the option of a carpet runner, a combination of a rug and a carpet. Rugs and runners are a wonderful way of bringing colour and texture into a room or softening up solid wooden floors. Carpet runners for stairs and hallways keep the visual impact of wooden flooring with all the comfort of carpet. A stair runner is a strip of carpet fitted to the middle of your staircase, not as wide as your steps, leaving the wood of your stairs exposed. We offer a carpet whipping service at Tapi, where you can get any carpet from our collection turned into a made-to-measure rug or runner. This involves a process sometimes known as carpet edging, which involves overlocking the edge of the carpet with yarn for a highly professional finish all the way round your custom rug or runner. A rug is the perfect compromise if you’re not sure whether to go for carpet or smooth flooring – why not have both?

Order free flooring samples

Which room is best for carpet?

Because of its soft, bouncy texture, carpet is best for rooms where you like to kick your shoes off and go barefoot, such as the bedroom, the living room, or the stairs. Go for a super soft, deep saxony carpet in the bedroom if you’re feeling indulgent. A short pile twist carpet is good for the living room as it has that careful balance of comfort and durability. We love a hard wearing wool carpet on the stairs – it’s a classic look that will never date. Carpet is fabulous for a child’s bedroom, nursery, or a playroom – just make sure you choose a carpet made from a stain-resistant fibre like polypropylene, so you can clean off those sticky marks easily!

How much does it cost to carpet a room?

As with anything, you can spend as little or as much as you like on a carpet. There are hundreds of different styles, colours and textures to suit all budgets. Our cheapest carpets start from £5.99 per m2 and fitting from £5.30 per m2. Take a look at our collection of different types of carpets online, then head to your nearest Tapi store to get a quote.

If you’ve already chosen your ideal carpet from our amazing collection, and you’re not up for fitting it yourself, don’t worry, as we’ll arrange it all for you with our trusted fitting partners, who will take care of everything including removing your old carpet and fitting your new one perfectly. You just sit back and relax. Alternatively, if you're still struggling to decide which flooring to choose, why not take a look at our guide on vinyl vs carpet?

Post author

Jeremy Garrish Buyer Jeremy has 35 years of carpet industry knowledge

Book a Store Appointment

Book a Home Visit

Published: 02-03-2022

Learn more about carpet

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.

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 and could do with a little face-lift, then use this guide to help you fix some common repairs and cosmetic issues.

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.

Top tips for styling your coffee table

Do you want to make your living room a stylish haven? Start with your coffee table and this really handy guide to styling it perfectly.

How to dispose and recycle used carpet

Find all the information you need to properly dispose of and recycle old carpet, including the typical costs you could expect to pay.

What to use a spare room for: tips and trends

Find a purpose for your spare room with our handy guide – from top tips you can try or trends that you’ll love to follow, we’ve got all the inside knowledge on what to do with your spare room.

How to dress a table for Christmas

Discover Christmas table décor ideas that won’t cost a fortune in our guide to dressing a table for Christmas.

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

Looking for ways to decorate your home on a tight budget and wondering where to begin? Our guide is packed full of helpful top tips on ways you can make your home feel rejuvenated, for less.

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.

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 kitchen design trends

Looking to design a white kitchen? Discover the latest trends in modern and traditional white kitchen décor, colour palettes, and flooring options in this comprehensive guide.