With so many different types of carpet available, it can be overwhelming when deciding which one is right for your home. Our carpet buying guide will take you through the different types of carpets and how to choose a carpet for your room.
What to Look for When Buying a Carpet
Choosing a carpet goes beyond just aesthetics. It’s essential to consider factors such as the amount of foot traffic, the room’s function, cleaning requirements, and longevity. When buying a carpet, think about whether you want a soft and luxurious feel (like Velvet pile), something practical for high-traffic areas (such as Twist or Loop pile), or a sustainable natural fibre like Sisal. Durability, maintenance, and style should all factor into your decision.
This section will guide you through everything you need to know before buying a carpet—from fibre types to colour choices—so you can confidently pick the best option for your home.
What are the different types of carpet?
Twist Pile
traditional in style, Twist pile carpets are a popular choice for many homeowners due to its durability and softness. Created by yarn twisted together and then woven into the carpet backing, Twist (Also known as cut pile) carpets are available in a variety of pile depth and a huge range of colours, making this a great option for all areas of a home, particularly high traffic areas. Fibre options include Wool, wool mix and man-made.
Loop Pile
Loop piles offer a modern-day alternative in the world of carpets. To create this more textured aesthetic, they weave yarn fibres into the backing fibre and leave them as a whole loop, instead of tufting them like a twist pile. Loops can vary in size, from low level (ideal for high traffic areas), to soft, chunky, large loops (perfect for bedrooms). Loop Pile carpets are suitable for all areas of your home including stairs and high traffic areas. Predominantly available in Wool or Wool mix and in a huge array of colourways.
Whilst loop piles feel lovely underfoot, due to its construction, it is worth considering that any pets could claw or catch the loops with their paws. In this case, a twist pile carpet maybe better suited to your furry friends.
Velvet Pile Carpets
Similarly to the Twist Pile, a Velvet pile consists of densely packed, typically shorter pile with a smooth texture for a soft luxurious look and feel. The comfortable, sumptuous feel underfoot makes Velvet piles well equipped for areas like Bedrooms requiring a cosy texture. The ‘Shading effect’ associated with Velvet pile is formed when the pile sits in a different direction creating lighter or darker areas. This is often considered a desirable characteristic, enhancing the carpets visual appearance, but should be taken into consideration if you are requiring a more uniformed look.
Best Type of Carpet: A Room-by-Room Guide
Many customers ask, “What is the best type of carpet?” The answer depends on the intended room. Here’s a quick guide:
- Hallways & Stairs: Durable Twist pile or patterned loop carpets that resist wear.
- Bedrooms: Soft Velvet pile or plush wool carpets for comfort.
- Living Rooms: Wool mix or faux sisal for aesthetics and practicality.
- Children’s Rooms or Playrooms: Bleach-cleanable man-made carpets for easy maintenance.
This room-by-room breakdown helps you choose the right carpet based on usage and design goals.
Natural fibre flooring
Sisal, Seagrass, Jute & Coir are all natural fibres that are grown for their strength and durability, with the added benefit of being biodegradable. Being plant-based and organic, Sisal carpet is created from the agave plant. It grows quickly, needing little water and is a highly renewable resource.
Seagrass is a very soft natural fibre; it offers durability but is also soft and comfortable to stand on even after years of use. Both Seagrass and Jute fibres are often used in rope making which demonstrates their strength while still offering comfort.
Coir, derived from the husk of coconuts, is a highly durable fibre that makes it a sustainable and renewable resource.
All the natural fibres have a distinctive, textured surface, providing a unique aesthetic to a room. Natural fibre flooring requires specialist fitting and is not fitted like a traditional carpet – Our team of experienced fitters are well equipped with handling this flooring type.
Faux Sisal
A relatively new addition to the market, faux sisal is becoming increasingly popular due to its strength, durability and ability to clean. Faux sisal is crafted from man made fibres and is designed to imitate the structure of real sisal. The considerable benefit to this carpet is that it is bleach cleanable, making it great for areas that may attract a high volume of stains or marks.
Faux sisal offers a cost-effective alternative to natural fibres and fits like natural fibre flooring.
How to choose colours or patterns?
Our vast library of carpet choice in our showroom means we can cater for all styles. Here are the key factors to consider when choosing a colour, pattern or texture of your carpet:
Plain or Patterned?
Plain carpets offer a timeless look and make it simple to coordinate with other patterns or textures you may want to incorporate in your room. The simplicity makes plain carpets a safe and adaptable choice for your room or style. The colour choice available is vast, making it easy to find a colour to suit your interior style.
Whilst plain carpet may be the most popular choice, stripes have seen a huge resurgence and are particularly effective on stairways and landings, as being high traffic areas, these are the more common areas where marks can occur. Herringbone is also a very popular choice, often found in Natural fibres or loop pile cuts.
Patterns can create a focal point in your room as well as hiding marks. If you want to add a statement or feature to your lounge or bedroom, there are many floral, geometric, or even tartan designs to choose from. Patterned carpet are more commonly found in cut pile, as design shapes tend to hold more easily. They also work well on staircases, adding a bold and interesting look. You can view our favourite patterns and stripes from brands like Alternative flooring & crucial trading in our showroom.
Colour
Darker colours are great for high traffic areas as they are more forgiving when it comes to hiding stains or marks. Darker or bold colours can help create a feature or focal point in a room.
Opting for lighter colours can brighten a room and make it feel more spacious. Soft, light colours create a sense of calm, ideal for areas like Bedrooms. Lighter colours maybe better suited to rooms with little natural light, as the light colour can help reflect light.
Neutral colours are most popular as these offer versatility when coordinating into your scheme.
The term ‘Berber’ is used to describe any carpet, whether cut pile or loop, that has a speckled effect. Having this colouration makes it renowned for its durability and ability to mask stains.
How to Choose the Best Carpet for Your Home
When choosing a carpet for your home, start by assessing the needs of each individual room. For example, high-traffic areas like hallways and staircases benefit from durable, darker-toned Twist or Loop piles, while bedrooms often call for a more plush and cosy feel like Velvet pile.
If you have pets or children, man-made fibres (such as polypropylene or faux sisal) may be more practical due to their stain resistance and ease of cleaning. Meanwhile, living rooms and lounges can offer more flexibility—mixing style with function. Your lifestyle and home layout will help determine the best carpet to buy for each area.
How durable are carpets?
A carpet’s lifespan can vary depending on factors like foot traffic, material and maintenance. Higher quality carpets including thicker fibres and better construction will inevitably last longer.
Material & Maintenance
Man Made fibres (polypropylene) are bleach cleanable, making them ideal for stain-prone areas, even in a commercial setting.
You can clean wool or wool mix carpets using the ‘blotting method’ instead of rubbing, along with wool safe cleaners. Avoiding harsh chemicals on wool will help preserve the fibres life span and avoid damage.
Natural fibres like sisal or seagrass require specialist cleaning for major stains, though you can blot smaller spots with a cloth. Avoid excessive water on Natural fibres as this can cause damage.
You may want to consider a stain repellent treatment on your Natural fibre prior to laying the carpet to preserve its lifespan. The Crucial Trading sisal & seagrass ranges come with a free Intec Stain repellent treatment making this range great value and extra durable!
For Twist pile carpets, consider using two ply yarn carpets. Two ply yarn consists of two twisted strands rather than one, making it more durable and is likely to retain its appearance better.
All carpets benefit from regular vacuuming, particularly in high traffic areas to prevent dirt and dust from settling into the fibres will help preserve the life expectancy of the carpet. Avoid using beater heads or brushes on loop pile carpets as this can sometimes lift the pile. Address stains and spills immediately to prevent them from setting and becoming harder to clean.
Sisal and Wool Mix Carpets – Are They Right for You?
Sisal and wool mix carpets combine the best of both worlds—natural fibre durability with added softness and warmth. These blends are excellent for eco-conscious buyers who still want a bit of luxury underfoot. Ideal for stairs, hallways, and living spaces, they offer better stain resistance than pure sisal while maintaining a textured, modern aesthetic.
Ask our team about the latest sisal and wool mix carpet styles from Crucial Trading and Alternative Flooring.
Carpet Moths
Manufacturers now treat most carpets for moth resistance before creating them. With moth resistance and regularly cleaning hard-to-reach areas, you can keep moths at bay.
Man-made carpets or natural fibres like sisal do not attract moths, which makes these a good alternative solution if carpet moth is a concern.
Carpet Buying FAQs
Q: What is the best carpet to buy for high traffic areas?
A: Twist pile and loop pile carpets made from wool or man-made fibres are ideal for high traffic zones due to their durability and resistance to matting.
Q: How do I choose a carpet if I have pets?
A: Man-made fibres or Twist pile carpets are usually better as they are claw-resistant and easier to clean. Avoid loop pile if your pet’s claws could snag the loops.
Q: What to consider when choosing carpet for bedrooms?
A: Go for soft, plush textures like Velvet pile for comfort. Lighter tones can make the room feel more relaxing and airy.
Q: Is there a difference between buying a carpet and a rug?
A: Rugs are not fixed and can be moved or layered. Carpets are installed wall-to-wall. Our buying guide applies to both but focuses more on fitted flooring.
How Dible & Roy can help
Whether you prefer a soft and plush cut pile or a natural appearance from fibres such as Sisal, by understanding the features and benefits of each type of carpet, you can make an informed decision to choose a flooring option that will provide comfort and style for years to come.
Our showroom carries samples from leading brands such as Crucial Trading, Alternative Flooring, Brockway Carpets, Riviera Home, Jacaranda Carpets, Penthouse and many more. We offer a free sample loaning service so you can choose carpets in the comfort of your own home. Our free local measuring service gives you peace of mind when ordering your carpet. Our professional fitting team, a father and son duo, have collectively 70 years’ experience in fitting all types of carpets.
For all enquiries, give us a call on 01225 862320, email sales@dibleandroy.co.uk or fill out our contact us form.
Bradford on Avon Showroom
Monday to Friday: 8am – 5pm (4pm on Fridays)