How To Choose From The Four Main Carpet Types

Choosing a new carpet doesn’t need to be an overwhelming experience if you’ve got expert advice to hand.

According to Cormar Carpet Company, most homeowners know their budget and colour of choice but often don’t consider what style of carpet they’re looking for or even need.

“When deciding on a new carpet it’s important to understand all the options available,” said David Cormack, Marketing Director at Cormar. “Most residential carpets generally fall into four categories which can help narrow down your search. Each carpet style has features that make it suitable for certain areas of the home or for those with a young family or even pets.”

So, whether you’re looking for something soft and plush under your feet, a floor covering which won’t have you in tears every time something is spilt or a practical, economical carpet, our carpet buying guide will help ensure you’re not ‘floored’ when you go carpet shopping.

Loop pile carpets are great for creating a classic, rustic, country style or providing a more contemporary look. Loop pile carpets are usually made in a choice of plain coloured, textured or level pile surfaces, as well as striped designs.

Whilst loop pile carpets made with durable European and New Zealand wool are capable of standing up to heavy traffic, it should be noted that loop pile carpets don’t always work well with pets and especially cat’s claws, or abrasive shoes as these can pull out the loops. Care should be taken when vacuuming not to damage the carpet fibres, Cormar recommends using a cylinder vacuum with a suction head instead of an upright with a beater bar and brush.

Natural wool carpets with tempting textures make the floor a real feature, adding the contemporary look of modern flooring with all the warmth and comfort of wool. Try Cormar’s Malabar Two-Fold collection in colour “Husk” to create this look (as shown above).

In making these carpets, the yarn is twisted, usually using two ply, then cut to produce an even pile surface that’s very practical but also looks attractive. Polypropylene also has a greater resistance to colour fading than most other types of carpet.

Cormar’s easy clean range of 100% polypropylene carpets are dirt and stain resistant and bleach cleanable, making them also the perfect choice for those with four-legged family members - and with prices starting from £16 per sq m, they are an extremely cost-effective floor covering. 

Sampling is the perfect way to initially see how a particular carpet or colour matches in with the rest of your home décor and importantly, how it looks in natural light. Order up to three free carpet samples here.