If you are remodeling your home or only looking to replace your carpet, you may find that the process can be a bit overwhelming. How do you know what material will be best for your home specifically? What colors are available for the various carpet styles? This post will discuss the different carpet styles and colors to help you make the best decision for your next carpet purchase.
There are dozens of carpet styles to choose from, and every few years, a new carpet style enters the marketplace. Things to consider when choosing a new carpet style include your current decor, comfort level requirements, carpet color, and durability. Common types that you may be familiar with include:
- Cut Pile
- Loop pile
- Level Loop
- Berber
- Saxony
- Patterned
- Sisal
- Textured
- Plush
- Frieze
- Multi-level loop
- Nylon
- Olefin
- Triexta
- Polyester
- Wool
- Acrylic
Carpets are way more advanced than they were 30 years ago. Today's carpets can be hypoallergenic, stain-resistant, and they can even have insulation properties. Continue reading to learn more about carpet styles, materials, and colors.
Here are common carpet styles and materials to consider.
17 Carpet Styles And Colors
1. Cut Pile
Cut pile carpet is one of the simplest types of carpeting available. It's often the most affordable carpeting option and has a soft velvety feel. It can range from $1 to $12 per square foot. Being that it's one of the most popular carpeting options, you can find it in a vast array of colors and styles.
2. Loop Pile
Loop pile carpeting can range anywhere from $1.50 to $13 per square foot. It consists of yarns that are evenly looped together and one of the most durable carpets you can purchase. Loop pile carpeting is more stylish than cut pile, though it isn't as soft and luxurious. It's perfect for high traffic areas in the home. You can find loop pile carpeting in a vast array of colors.
3. Level Loop
Level loop carpet and can range anywhere from $2 to $13 per square foot. It's also available in a wide assortment of colors as well. Level loop carpeting is made to stand up well in high-traffic areas such as doorways and stairwells. It can also be used to provide a soft landing area for children's rooms. Overall, it has a very tight and uniform look and semi-soft feel and can be one of the most durable carpeting options you can purchase.
4. Berber
Berber carpeting typically costs around $3.50 per square foot. It's a type of loop pile carpeting, and it's known for its contemporary and neutral look. Berber has a tight weave loop pattern, which makes it a bit tougher than other carpet piles.
It has a reputation for being durable and long-lasting, meaning that it's always in demand and can be found in a wide variety of colors. The most common colors are neutral tones, such as shades of gray and beige. Overall, Berber carpeting's texture is very dense, keeping it looking new for a long time. It's also a good carpeting option if you are looking for a stain-hiding solution for your floors.
5. Saxony
Saxony carpet Is one of the more expensive carpeting options, as it typically ranges from about $3.50 to $4 per square foot. It's another type of cut pile carpet that is made from densely-packed loops. However, it's surprisingly plush and very luxurious, giving a cozy yet formal look to any room. One of Saxony carpet's biggest drawbacks is that it shows stains and imperfections relatively easily, making them hard to hide. You can usually find Saxony available in various shades of beige, gray, and burgundy, though it can also be dyed as well.
6. Patterned
Patterned carpets can range anywhere from $1 to $13 per square foot. They're designed by combining level loop pile techniques with cut pile designs. These carpets can add a significant visual element to a room, as their patterns can make a room appear bigger than it is. They are also great for hiding footprints and imperfections, making them ideal for high-traffic areas.
7. Sisal
You can expect to pay around $2.50 per square foot for Sisal carpeting. Sisal carpeting is a type of textured loop pile that contains a striped pattern. It's known for its durability, and not it's softness, and its ability to hide stains and other imperfections effectively. It is not as popular as other types of carpets such as Berber and Frieze, but it's definitely worth taking a look at. Color availability may be limited to various shades of gray, beige, and brown.
8. Textured
Textured carpeting can cost anywhere from $1 to $8 per square foot. It can come in several different colors, the most common ones being gray, beige, and shades of red. The soft cushion-like surface is excellent at mask stains and footprints, making it perfect for high traffic areas and children's rooms. Commonly, most carpeting stores will have some form of texture carpeting on sale at any given point due to its super low cost and durability.
9. Plush
Plush carpeting can range anywhere from $3 to $12 per square foot. It is very popular especially in bedrooms as it feels wonderful beneath your feet, having a super soft and velvet-like texture. You'll also hear it refer to as "velvet" carpeting. Each yarn of this cut pile carpet is slightly twisted.
You can find plush pile available in various colors, from light reds, grays, and blues to numerous beige varieties. On the downside, plush pile isn't the best carpet to use if you have a room prone to stains, so it may not be the best option for children's rooms, stairs, or living rooms (it shows vacuum marks and footprints really easily).
10. Frieze
Frieze carpeting will run you about $2.38 to $3.50 per square foot. It's a type of cut pile carpet that's made from both short and tall yarn. The yarns are twisted together in several different directions giving the carpet a fuzzy texture. Frieze is often confused with shag carpeting, but it's a bit more uniform. It has a plush feel and can easily hide footprints, vacuum marks, and stains. On the downside, it can look a bit worn once it becomes flattened, making it less than ideal for high-traffic areas. It's commonly available in shades of beige, blue, and gray.
11. Multi-Level Loop
Multi-level Loop carpet can range in price but typically hovers around $4 to $6 per square foot. This type of carpeting has a very relaxed texture, and it's known for its durability. Multi-level loop carpeting has a very luxurious feel due to its high twisted loops, and it's best used in areas that don't have a lot of traffic. It's commonly available in shades of beige, red, blue, and gray. One of the biggest benefits of this type of carpeting is its ability to hide stains within its texture.
12. Nylon
Depending on the carpet's pile, nylon carpet and can run anywhere from $3 to $12 per square foot. Nylon is one of the most popular materials for carpeting. Not only is it inexpensive, but it has a relatively long lifespan, often lasting anywhere from 10 to 15 years or more. You'll typically find it available in a wide variety of colors from shades of blue, gray, beige, and red. In comparison to other synthetic carpets, it has commendable stain-resistance and is easy to clean. As far as comfort, it's fairly soft and is comfortable to walk on when barefoot.
13. Olefin
Olefin will cost anywhere from $2.40 to $3.50 per square foot. It's a synthetic material used to make carpeting that feels similar to wool--though it's more expensive. One of his most significant selling points is its high stain-resistance and durability, making it ideal for high-traffic areas. You can typically find it in a wide variety of colors, including blues, grays, and various shades of beige and red. Olefin is fairly soft but not as soft as other synthetic carpets, such as polyester and acrylic.
14. Triexta
Triexta is another synthetic carpet material. It's one of the more expensive synthetic carpeting options, as it typically costs anywhere from $2.30 to $4.50 per square foot. Triexta is durable and works well and high foot-traffic areas. Being that it's synthetic, you can typically find it in several different colors and patterns. It's also known for its stain-resistance, making it a suitable option for homes with pets or small children.
15. Polyester
Polyester carpeting will typically run you anywhere from $1 to $10 per square foot. It's one of the most budget-friendly carpeting options available. Polyester carpeting has a relatively short life span, but it is effortless to clean. It's also non-allergenic and can be treated for stain-resistance. Being one of the more popular types of synthetic carpeting, you can find it available in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
16. Wool
Wool is one of the most expensive carpet fibers; it typically ranges from $4 to $20 per square foot. You'll often find wool carpeting blended with acrylic, which allows it to have better stain-resistance and increased longevity. Wool carpeting is great for people who suffer from allergy issues, as it's typically free of allergy-inducing chemicals and sprays.
Depending on the carpet's grade (and if it's blended), wool carpeting can feel very plush when walked on with bare feet, or it can feel a bit rough. Common colors include beige, gray, and shades of red-- you can also get it dyed to any color you want.
17. Acrylic
Acrylic carpeting is fairly inexpensive for the most part. It will typically run you anywhere from $1 to $9 per square foot. Acrylic carpeting works great for high traffic areas or homes with pets and small children. It's also stain, static, and mold-resistant. Acrylic carpeting is very durable, making it an excellent choice for stairwells and door entry areas. You can find it available in several colors, including red, blue, gray, beige, and more. You'll also commonly hear it referred to as "synthetic wool" due to its soft wool-like texture.
What Style Of Carpet Is The Most Popular?
The most popular style of carpet is nylon twisted loop pile carpet, thanks to its durability, stain resistance, and strength. The most popular colors for this type of carpeting are neutral colors such as beige and gray. This type of carpeting is fairly inexpensive and can be found in most online or local carpeting stores.
What Is The Most Durable Type Of Carpet?
The most durable type of carpet is short pile carpet made of nylon. Not only is this type of carpet stain and fade-resistant, but it wears fairly well and has a long lifespan. It's also an inexpensive carpeting option. If you are looking for a carpet for high traffic areas or children's rooms, it may be worth looking at.
When Is The Best Time Of Year To Buy Carpet?
There are certain times of the year when the demand for carpet is low, making it add more affordable than other times of the year when demand is high. One of the best times to buy carpeting is during the winter seasons, right before or after the holidays. People typically remodel and purchase homes during the warmer months of the year, making the demand for carpeting go up.
During the colder months, many carpeting distributors often have a surplus of carpeting available, which means that there is usually a sale. Not to mention that salespeople are often looking for a quick commission right before the holidays, making them more amenable to discounts. When shopping for a new carpet for your home, it's best to check out local stores as well as online distributors for the best sales and discounts.
For even more information on this topic, check out this post: When Is The Best Time In The Year To Buy Carpet?
What Should You Look For When Buying Carpet?
When purchasing a new carpet, there are a few factors to note to ensure that you choose the best one for your home. The first one is the pile of the carpet, which refers to whether or not the carpet is looped or cut. This can affect the overall feel of the carpet. You also want to know the material that the carpet is made of. Common carpeting materials include polyester, acrylic, and nylon--nylon being the most popular.
You'll also want to know the carpet's weight and density, which will determine how heavy or thick it is. Thick carpets can feel a bit softer, making them more comfortable to walk on without shoes. And finally, you'll want to determine whether or not the carpet has been treated with any substances for stain or moisture protection. If you suffer from allergies or have other sensitivities, this is especially important to note.
Wrapping Things Up
We hope that this post has given you an idea of the numerous types of carpeting options available on the market. Before purchasing a new carpet, it helps make a list of the features you want to ensure that you find the best one to suit your needs.
Before you go, be sure to check out our other posts: