They give a room a cosy, luxurious feel, are snug and comfy to sit and walk on, and can look super stylish…

The endless design possibilities, colours and show-stopping styles have led to a carpet revolution in recent months. Carpet is cool again – and there’s no bigger fan than Sarah Beeny herself. ‘I’ve always thought carpets are a smart move. A good-quality fitted one with a decent underlay provides fantastic insulation against cold air from the ground,’ she says.

A new carpet can change a room’s whole appearance, and colour and texture have a big part to play. The same basic rules apply to the shade of carpet you choose as they do for soft furnishings: a light carpet opens up a room, while a dark one makes it look smaller, but won’t show up dirt.

The History
The origins of carpet can be traced back to 6,000 BC when goats and sheep were sheared and their hair was spun and actually woven for floor coverings. It wasn’t until the 18th century, though, that carpet manufacturing got going, putting the small town of Kidderminster in Worcestershire on the map as the country’s carpet capital. 

Like much manufacturing in this country, however, it hasn’t been modernised and a lot of the carpet we now buy is from Belgium or Holland. They have had more recent investment in their machinery and can mass-produce carpet to sell it at a fraction of the cost.

Then, a few years ago, carpet use ground to a halt and suddenly it became a no-go area. Floorboards, designed to be covered up, were laid bare, sanded back to their original softwood glory and put on display. For years, carpet got bad press. It was held up as a cause of both germs and health problems and every upstanding home limited their use of it as much as possible. Now, though, it’s making a firm and glorious comeback.

The look obviously depends on how the carpet is made. Woven, such as Wilton and Axminster, which are actually methods of construction and not just manufacturers, are more durable and luxurious underfoot. Tufted carpets are cheaper to make and come in a range of finishes such as velvet, twisted or looped pile.

There are two types of woven carpet: Axminster is patterned, and Wilton tends to be plain but can be made with up to five colours. Axminster, Brintons and Ulster are particularly well-known for woven. Most carpet sold in the UK is tufted, a process whereby yarn is inserted into a ready-made backing fabric. These can be plain or patterned.

What Material?
Acrylic: A popular substitute for wool as it comes at a fraction of the cost. Good for use in wet areas as it’s resistant to mildew.
Nylon: Available in a large colour choice, this is durable, resilient to heavy traffic and stain resistant.
Polyester: Although synthetic, it looks luxurious when used in thick, cut-pile styles while also being stain-resistant and easy to maintain.
Polypropylene: Very durable, it can be used on patios or in utility rooms due to its strong resistance to any moisture or mildew. Easy to clean and colourfast, it is a popular choice for those high-activity areas.
Plant fibre: Sisal, coir, sea grass and jute look fantastic in the right room, and you have a choice of weaves and natural hues. However, they can feel rather rough underfoot.
Wool: A 100% kind is soft, dense and luxurious, though slightly less hardwearing than mixes. It’s also the most expensive choice.
Wool-mix blends: This not only gives the high-quality look and comfort you’d expect from wool, but you‘ll also get the durability of nylon.

bold, patterned or neutral? A plain carpet is safe, timeless and ageless and will suit any room or decorating style. It also gives you greater flexibility with wallpaper and fabrics and is easier to build schemes around – both now and in the future. It also opens up a room, and using the same colour throughout, either upstairs or downstairs, evokes a feeling of space and links rooms.

If you want a surface texture, such as the popular ‘natural look’ that replicates coir and sisal, then it has to be plain carpet.

Neutral shades are easier to plan your interior decoration around – both for what you want now and in the future. Plain, natural colours are clean and simple but these tend to show stains and marks easily and can be difficult to keep clean. Non-traditionalists like to blend these passive shades with bright wallpaper and soft furnishings.

Those who want to be calm without being dull, cool but not cold, opt for soft neutrals, gentle greens and natural hues, particularly in smaller areas where you want to develop a real feeling of space.

Warm, earthy colours that are fiery and passionate create a sense of real luxurious intimacy and are well suited to large rooms and those that are north-facing.

The long and short of it Twist, velvet, loop or patterned? With so many different textures and styles available, your head will be spinning. Here are your choices…

• Twist piles have a coarse finish.
• Velvet piles have a really smooth, luxurious appearance, such as suede. On a like-for-like basis, there is no difference in performance between a twist and a velvet pile. The only difference is purely aesthetic.
• Loop piles replicate the appearance of natural flooring such as sisal and coir. Remember that cats and any other creature with long claws and loop piles do not mix! They typically come in natural and neutral shades.
• Saxony has a pronounced sensuous feel with a deep pile. Very popular in bedrooms, these flatten, so they are not practical in high-traffic areas.
• A patterned carpet usually has a smooth velvet surface and is very hardwearing as well as striking. ● The more luxurious the surface, the greater care it will need. Shorter pile generally wears better than long, but doesn’t feel so good underfoot. It all comes down to personal taste, future plans and room usage.

Carpet care
From how to clean it to removing those stubborn stains…
The best way to prolong the life of your carpet is to vacuum frequently, especially in high-traffic areas. 

For all cut-pile carpets, an upright cleaner with an active beater bar to help loosen and lift soil is best. It’s advisable to use a suction cleaner on loop pile to minimise snagging.

Attacking spillages
Absorb the liquid by blotting (do not rub) with absorbent cloths or white paper towels, or scrape lightly to loosen a crusty stain. Scoop up soft substances with the dull edge of a spoon or vacuum loose particles that can be readily removed.

Sponge warm water onto the spill and blot with a sponge or cloth. Repeat several times, rinsing the sponge or cloth frequently. Take care not to over wet the carpet and do not walk on it until dry.

If the stain is still not removed, locate the substance on the spot removal guide – usually on the reverse of the carpet – and follow the directions carefully.

After wetting and blotting, place five to six layers of kitchen roll on the affected area and place a heavy book on top. Allow to dry over two to four hours. The kitchen roll will absorb any stain in the base fibres. For more cleaning tips, go to www.abingdonflooring. co.uk

Sarah says...
‘Being a big fan of carpet, I’m really delighted that it’s back from being in the trendy interiors wilderness. Some of the privately owned stores are able to supply carpet a lot cheaper than even the biggest chain stores.’

 Photographs: getty images