Best carpet for your home: Styles and brands

Key points

• Consider how much wear and tear your carpet will see when choosing a fiber and pile type.

• Cut piles are generally more comfortable but will show stains and footprints more readily than loop piles.

• Nylon and Triexta are good fiber options for homes with children and pets.

Consider several factors when determining the best carpet for your home, including how luxurious you want your flooring to feel, the wear and tear you expect it to see (think children and pets), and how diligent you want to be with cleaning. The best carpet for you will depend on your priorities.

For instance, a Saxony carpet provides a dense, plush feel that’s great for bedrooms but stains easily and shows footprints, making it a better choice for an adult bedroom than a kid’s room or shared living space. Meanwhile, looped carpets are durable, stain-resistant and easy to clean, so they’re among the best options for areas with heavy foot traffic or where children play.

When deciding on a carpet brand, also consider the carpet’s warranty and the brand’s color and pattern options. For example, Milliken Carpet is one of the best brands for customizability with 14 product lines, but it doesn’t offer the longest warranty; meanwhile, Home Depot’s Lifeproof Carpet offers a lifetime warranty on stains but has a more limited range of styles.

Below, we explain the different carpet types, the most popular styles and colors, and the best brands on the market to help you spruce up your living space.

Which carpet type is best for you?

There are five carpet types to consider for your home, primarily differentiated by the shape and length of the carpet piles. Carpet piles fall into two categories: cut piles and loop piles. Cut piles extend upward from the base of the carpet, while loop piles extend up and back down and don’t have exposed ends. The best one for you will depend on your lifestyle and your comfort and style preferences.

Saxony (plush)

A Saxony carpet — also called a plush carpet, a velvet pile carpet or a velour carpet — is a luxury option with cut piles. Saxony carpet is very dense, creating a plush feeling underneath your feet.

“Saxony carpet is the most traditional cut-pile carpet, or plush-style carpet, with soft fibers [and] an elegant and lavish feel underfoot,” said Sean O’Rourke, national director of merchandising for Floor Coverings International, a flooring design and installation company based in Norcross, Georgia.

“The fibers or pile are weaved very densely together and closely packed from a soft carpet fiber, and the pile height is usually one-half inch or less,” he continued. “Saxony carpet is often installed in bedrooms and more formal sitting areas and will often show footprints and vacuum marks.”

Saxony carpet can stain easily, so it might not be ideal for homes with children or pets or in rooms where messes are more likely.

Textured

Textured carpet uses varying pile lengths, thicknesses and designs to create unique surface textures. This carpet type has cut piles, so it can sometimes show footprints and vacuum lines, depending on the length of the piles.

Textured carpet has been around for over 25 years and never goes out of style.

Sean O’Rourke

“Textured carpet is constructed similarly to a traditional Saxony-style carpet, but the fibers are more kinked or twisted in different directions,” O’Rourke said. “They reflect light differently so that if you move your hand over the surface, there is very little shading or color difference, [and] it doesn’t show footprints or vacuum marks as readily. Textured carpet has been around for over 25 years and never goes out of style.”

Friezé (twist)

“Frieze-style carpet is similar to a textured carpet, but the yarns are even more twisted or ‘kinked,’ giving it a more relaxed style,” O’Rourke said. “Frieze carpet can be either low- or medium-profile for ease of maintenance and durability to ultra-thick styles that give it a shag feel for comfort and style.”

The fiber’s twist helps the piles bounce back after compression, so this carpet won’t show footprints or vacuum lines as readily as other cut-pile options. The twist also helps reduce staining. The shag carpets popular in the 1970s are classic examples of friezé carpets.

Looped (Berber)

A looped carpet — also called a Berber carpet — has looped piles rather than cut piles. The loop helps add resilience to the carpet fibers, making them highly durable and stain-resistant. They’re also easy to clean and won’t show footprints or vacuum lines. However, the piles can snag, so they might not be ideal for areas with pet activity.

“Loop-pile carpets can also incorporate loops of different heights, which can create patterns in either geometric or floral/free-form,” O’Rourke said. “Loop-pile carpets can also be sheared at different levels that create a carpet style called LCL, [or] level-cut loop, that adds another twist to loop-style carpets.”

Sculptured (cut-and-loop or pattern)

A sculptured carpet features cut and looped piles to create distinct surface patterns. This is more common for area rugs, as you’d have to commit to a permanent pattern on your flooring. Sculptured rugs tend to hide dirt well, and footprints and vacuum lines won’t be as obvious as they would on carpets with only cut piles.

“Sculptured carpet is an ‘older’ style, and LCLs have taken over this style as a patterned carpet,” O’Rourke said.

What factors affect a carpet’s quality?

Fiber type, density and padding all contribute to a carpet’s quality. A carpet’s quality will affect its ease of cleaning, durability and comfort.

Carpet fiber type

There are four primary types of synthetic carpet fibers — nylon, polyester, Triexta and olefin — and most natural carpets are made from wool. Other natural materials that are less prevalent include jute, silk, cotton, sisal and seagrass.

• Nylon: Nylon is durable and well-suited for high-traffic areas, as it won’t show footprints easily. It stains relatively easily but is easy to clean and requires little maintenance.
• Polyester: Polyester is a soft material that makes for a softer, more luxurious-feeling carpet. Polyester isn’t crush-resistant, so you’ll quickly see footprints and lines from vacuuming.
• Triexta: Triexta is a polyester made from polytrimethylene terephthalate that combines the benefits of nylon and polyester. It’s softer than nylon but more crush-resistant than polyester. Triexta “is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water-based liquids and is inherently very stain-resistant,” O’Rourke said.
• Olefin: Olefin or polypropylene is softer but not as crush-resistant as nylon. You cannot dye the fibers, but they don’t fade as quickly when exposed to UV light. It’s relatively easy to clean and resists staining.
• Wool: Wool carpets are all-natural and can stand up well to heavy foot traffic. They’re soft and easy to clean but stain easily. Also, wool is prone to mold and mildew growth if it gets wet.
• Other natural fibers: You can buy carpets made from other natural materials, including jute, silk, cotton, sisal and seagrass. Cotton and silk are relatively easy to clean and stain-resistant but require much maintenance. Jute and seagrass resist staining but can easily wear and fray with heavy traffic.

“Wool and jute are ‘natural fibers’ and represent a relatively small part of the overall market and typically are more expensive than man-made fibers, like nylon and polyester,” O’Rourke explained.

“Nylon is made from long-strand polymers, can be dyed in a limitless number of colors and offers great stain resistance and overall durability. [Nylon] has lost ground over the last 10 to 15 years to polyester, which now offers all of the characteristics of nylon but at a lesser cost,” he said.

Fiber density

Fiber density measures how many fibers or piles a carpet has per square inch. Along with face weight and padding, it determines how cushioned the carpet feels, with higher density ratings leading to a plusher carpet. Higher fiber density also tends to make a carpet more challenging to clean, as tightly packed fibers will readily hold on to dirt.

“The feel of a carpet is a combination of fiber type, construction and pile height,” O’Rourke said. “Very dense pile construction in a low profile is very durable but provides a less comfortable feel, while a medium to higher profile in a medium density will provide a very luxurious feel underfoot.”

Under-carpet padding

Under-carpet padding is exactly what it sounds like — a cushion that your carpet installer will place under your carpet. Thicker padding makes the carpet feel softer and more comfortable to walk on but might not hold up as well to heavy foot traffic as a thinner cushion.

“All residential style carpets need a padding in order to perform correctly,” O’Rourke explained. “Padding generally comes in one-fourth-inch to one-half-inch thickness, with thinner profiles being used for ultra-low-profile styles and some level-loop wool carpets.”

According to O’Rourke, as much as 90% of carpets have a padding thickness of 7/16 inch or 1/2 inch. The padding’s density can range from 4.5 pounds to 10 pounds.

What are the most popular carpet colors and styles?

While carpet is not currently the most popular flooring material, the following styles and colors will keep your living space comfortable and trendy.

Neutral grays

A high-quality carpet can remain under warranty for 20 to 25 years, so choosing a neutral gray color is a safe option. You can always accentuate with area rugs and other decor to bring intrigue to your space, but sticking with neutral colors on a gray palette will ensure you don’t outgrow those bolder colors before your carpet reaches the end of its life.

“Neutral colors are still by far the most popular colors,” said O’Rourke, “and with the new manufacturing capabilities, neutral doesn’t have to be a single color. LCL-styled carpets have gained traction and can layer in a pattern-on-pattern with a mix of neutrals, or even a more defining bold color to augment the pattern.”

Earth tones

Earth tones, such as light brown and cream, are also popular color options, as they are unlikely to go out of style, similar to neutral grays. Slightly darker earth tones can also help hide stains.

Carpet tiles or planks

Carpet tiles and planks consist of individual sections of carpet that a professional installs separately. These have traditionally been popular in commercial real estate, but they’re becoming more prevalent in residential spaces due to how simple it is to repair or replace single sections.

Friezé carpet

Friezé carpet is trendy today, much like shag carpet — a close relative of the Friezé style — was in the 1970s. It provides a unique texture and a less traditional look than a cut-pile carpet. Friezé carpets in unique, bold colors are especially popular.

Plush carpet

Plush carpets remain popular in high-end homes, especially in bedrooms, offering comfort and a sense of luxury. Plush carpet stains easily and shows footprints and vacuum lines, so it’s not as prevalent in shared spaces or high-traffic areas.

What are the best carpet brands?

In addition to choosing the right fiber material, density and padding options, you’ll want to choose a high-quality brand that matches your expectations for comfort and durability.

DuPont Carpet

DuPont has a strong history of developing innovative products, such as synthetic fibers used in numerous industries, including carpet manufacturing. To be clear, DuPont does not make its own carpets but supplies its trademarked fibers to carpet makers, who then produce them.

DuPont’s textile fibers division was synonymous with its Stainmaster fiber for many years, but this division and the Stainmaster brand were sold off in 2004 to Koch Industries and then again in 2021 to Lowe’s. Today, SmartStrand Sorona is one of the company’s widely available options.

Prices for DuPont carpets will vary depending on the type and your retailer.

Dream Weaver

Specializing in nylon and polyester fiber carpets, Dream Weaver offers a wide range of styles and colors. All carpets have stain protection and 15- to 25-year stain and fade resistance and texture retention warranties.

Bob Shaw founded Dream Weaver’s parent company, Engineered Flooring, in 2009. Shaw is the former CEO (and a member of the founding family) of Shaw Industries, a leading flooring manufacturer in the United States.

Dream Weaver doesn’t sell direct-to-consumer, so prices will vary based on your retailer.

Lifeproof Carpet

Lifeproof Carpet is a Home Depot-exclusive product, much like Stainmaster is exclusive to Lowe’s. The brand is manufactured by Mohawk specifically for the home improvement retailer.

As the brand name suggests, Lifeproof carpet includes a lifetime warranty for stains and a limited 25-year warranty for wear. That peace of mind makes this a great option if you have children and pets in your home or want to install carpet in a high-traffic area that needs something robust.

Lifeproof Carpet costs between $3.14 and $11.19 per square foot, including materials and labor. Prices reflect installation from a Home Depot technician.

Shaw Carpet

Shaw is one of the largest flooring manufacturers in the world, and as of this writing, it has a massive selection of over 360 carpet styles available on its website. This might be the best option if you want something more unique in style, color or pattern.

Shaw carpeting ranges widely in price, depending on the quality, density and material, with prices between $1.39 and $12.29 per square foot for the materials only.

Mohawk Carpet

Mohawk is a major flooring manufacturer with a few different carpet product lines.

• SmartStrand: Marketed as easy to clean, stain-resistant and highly durable for pets
• UltraStrand: Marketed as highly durable and crush-resistant, so it won’t show footprints or vacuum lines easily
• EverStrand: Made from recycled material and remains 100% recyclable; Ideal for those who prioritize sustainability
• Pet Premier: Made from recycled material and resists stains well
• Air.O: Made from recycled material and 100% recyclable; Also hypoallergenic and ideal for homes with people who have allergies.

Milliken Carpet

Milliken is a fabric and textile manufacturer established in 1865. It has 14 collections ranging from solid colors to textured and unique prints. Milliken might be your best option if you’re looking for something more customizable.

Its warranty coverage isn’t as extensive as you’d get from some other brands that are intended for heavy foot traffic and stain resistance. You get a two-year manufacturer’s warranty and a five- to 10-year limited warranty on most of its products for stains, physical wear and soil resistance.

Andersen Tuftex Carpet

Anderson Tuftex is a brand offered by Shaw Floors. The brand offers over 100 unique designs made from nylon, polyester or a blend of the two. Many of the colors and patterns are more traditional, but numerous textured options are available.

Depending on the specific carpet you choose, you either get a 10-year limited warranty, a 20-year limited warranty or a 25-year limited warranty that covers defects, stains and soiling. The Pet Perfect product line from Tuftex has the longest coverage and is a good option if you have pets.

Tuftex carpet costs between $3.49 and $13.29 per square foot for the materials alone.

Karastan Carpet

Karastan is another brand manufactured by Mohawk. Karastan offers over 120 carpet styles, each of which is available in numerous unique color options. These all fall into 5 product lines:

• Kashmere: Resists soiling and staining and features high fiber density
• Kashmere XTRA: Luxurious density and unique designs; Backed by additional warranty for pet protection
• SmartStrand: Resists soiling and stains and is durable
• SmartStrand Silk: Resists stains and soiling and features a higher density than the SmartStrand link
• Wool: Natural and sustainable wool carpets

Karastan doesn’t sell its carpet direct-to-consumer, so price will vary by retailer.

What’s next?

To choose the best carpet for your home, think about how much physical wear your carpet will see, the risk of spills and leaks on or near the carpet, and whether or not pets or children will put your carpet at greater risk.

Next, consider the cost per square foot to choose something within your budget. Speak with a local carpet installation expert about the installation cost per square foot to ensure you get an accurate, all-inclusive price.

Finally, think about comfort and aesthetics. Choose a fiber type, color and pattern that will suit your taste for years to come.