Carpet Styles Through The Ages

Carpets have existed since almost the dawn of man, giving our feet some solemn comfort in our downtime. Carpet styles through the ages have changed ever so drastically over time. The term comes from the Old Latin phrase, “carpita” which literally means ‘to pluck’. Over the years the terms carpet and rug have both become interchangeable with one another. However they are not the same. Carpeting is supposed to go from one end of a room to the other, stretching to all four corners nice and snug. A rug simply covers a portion of the floor in a room.

There are many types of carpets. Starting with the woven type; this is the most typical and common of all the carpet styles. Produced from a loom, woven from cloth, this type comes in two styles of its own. The first is plush and the second is Berber. Plush styles are cut from piles while Berber carpets are woven. There is even a style of woven carpet which combines the two into one. Even though these are the most common they are also the most expensive.

The second carpet style is called Needlefelt. A more technologically advanced design, Needlefelt types are produced from synthetic fibers which are attached through electrostatic charges forming a durable layer. These are usually used by major companies and other places of heavy foot traffic such as doctor offices, retail outlets and even hotels.

The third carpet style is called Knotted. A knotted pile rug is a series of weft threads which are alternated with a supplementary weft thread that rises up from the carpet surface and forms a weave. This form of carpet was very popular in the 1970s.

The fourth is called a tufted carpet. By using a hessian weave these carpets are injected into another cloth background. Today this is how most modern carpets are manufactured. There are other styles as well which are composed of flatweave, a plain weave, a tapestry weave and European flatweave.

Carpets have even gone through many materials over the years in which they have been woven from; such as nylon, polypropylene, wool and wool-blends, polyester, and acrylic. The wool and blends are by far the most durable of all the materials from which rugs are woven. However in modern times, nylon has become the most common material for a woven carpet. Since nylon can be dyed almost any color and even given a stain resistance coating, making nylon the most common choice.

By: Mark J Gregory

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Mark Gregory is writing on behalf of Rivendell Carpets, who offer wood flooring bristol and floor tiles bristol