Choosing Carpet

Texture and Style

Most residential carpets made in the United States feature tufts of yarn stitched through a backing fabric. A latex coating sets these tufts in place and anchors them to a secondary backing. Tufts pulled through the backing can either be looped or cut, producing various textures. Here are the most popular styles:

Saxony: Level-cut pile is made up of closely packed tufts; luxurious surface good for formal settings.

Plush: Also called velvet; yarn is longer than a saxony, but is less dense; good for informal rooms.

Frieze: Twisted tufts that curl at the surface create a textured look that hides footprints; suitable for high-traffic areas.

Level Loop: Uncut pile contains loops of yarn of the same height; hides dirt well in high-traffic areas.

Multilevel Loop: Two or three levels of tufts form a random, sculptural look for informal and formal rooms.

Cut-and-Loop (or Cut-Loop): Higher tufts of cut yarn combine with lower loops for informal settings.

Fiber: Although the overall choice here is either synthetic or natural, several fibers are available in the synthetic category.