Like your favorite sweater, carpet is soft, cozy and practical. Because carpet fibers hold heat, this floor surface insulates up to 17 times better than other surfaces, reducing energy bills. It's quiet to walk on, durable, nonslip, and overall a great value. Carpet comes in so many colors and surfaces that it can fit most any design style. Not ready to commit to wall-to-wall carpet? Add a rug for a dose of color, pattern, and softness. Rugs are also ideal for defining certain spaces, such as seating areas, and covering worn or damaged spots.

Carpet Glossary

Frieze and pile and loop, oh my! We decode common carpet terms.

Density. The closeness of the yarns in a carpet. Denser pile translates into better quality.

Fiber. The basic material in a carpet, fiber is either manmade (nylon, polyester, polypropylene/Olefin, acrylics) or natural (wool, sisal). There are five fiber types:

1. Nylon. The most common fiber, nylon is durable and resilient. When treated, it offers good stain resistance and camouflages dirt. It is prone to static, however.
2. Polyester. This hypoallergenic fiber is resists fading, withstands stains, and offers a variety of textures and colors. Some fibers are recycled from plastic bottles. However, it is susceptible to crushing.
3. Poypropylene/Olefin. This carpet stands up to sunlight, bleach, and stains, but it is less resilient, which can cause crushing. Color selection tends to be limited.
4. Wool. Along with lending a luxurious look and feel, wool purifies indoor air, inhibits dust mite and bacteria growth, and possesses inherent hypoallergenic properties. It is the most expensive type of carpet.
5. Acrylics. Known as man-made wool, acrylic fiber offers the look and feel of wool at a lower cost. It resists static, moisture, mildew crushing, and stains. However, it is not durable enough to withstand heavy traffic.