The four main types of carpet: explained

When shopping for a new carpet, it’s easy to decide on your budget and the colour you’d like but many shoppers overlook one of the other most important features to consider; the type of pile.

The style of a carpet can make a big difference to how well it functions in different areas of the home and for its intended use, from durable hallway carpets to something that’s soft and fluffy underfoot. So, it’s crucial to understand what type of carpets are out there so you can choose the perfect style for your needs.

Loop pile carpet

Loop pile carpets are one of the most popular styles because they are so hard-wearing. The fibres form a single, hooped strand which makes the carpet particularly durable and excellent in areas of the home that experience high volumes of traffic, such as hallways and living rooms. It also has natural colour variations in the pile which means any stains or spillages are more easily hidden. Due to the looped nature of the fibres, this type of carpet is not always suitable for homes with pets, especially cats, as their claws can pull out the loops.

Twist pile carpet

As the name suggests, the fibres of twist pile carpets are twisted together, rather than looped, to create a soft even pile that's both soft and durable, ideal for all areas of the home. Its durability makes twist pile carpet perfect for hallways, stairs and main living rooms while the wonderfully soft, family-friendly surface also works well in children’s play areas and bedrooms as well as living rooms and dining rooms.

Frieze carpet

This type of carpet uses lush, long fibres that curl in many directions to create a soft, attractive surface that exudes luxury. While frieze has a high level of durability, it's particularly well suited to those rooms of the home where comfort is key rather than areas of high traffic. That’s because the long fibres that characterise the frieze carpet can make it difficult to clean and lots of heavy footsteps can eventually lead to the flattening of the pile.

Plush pile carpet

Plush style carpets, sometimes known as a velvet-cut pile, boasts a longer length fibre than other types of carpet which makes them incredibly soft and comfortable underfoot. Suitable for low-traffic homes and rooms, the luxurious feel of the plush pile carpet is particularly popular for creating cosy bedrooms and wonderfully sumptuous living rooms.

Once you’ve decided which pile carpet is right for your needs, pop on down to your local Carpet Barn store to pick out your perfect style. From budget-friendly to high-end luxury, we have a huge variety of carpets for you to choose from and our friendly, experienced team is always on hand to help you find the floor covering of your dreams.