For the most part, carpets fit into one of two styles: loop and cut-pile. These terms refer to the manner in which manufacturers attach the carpet fibers to the padding. As the names suggest, loop carpet has fibers that are attached to the padding at both ends, forming a loop, while cut-pile carpet has fibers that stand straight.
Level-loop
carpet is the standard form of loop fiber and has loops of identical height.
This style, especially high-density loop carpet, wears well and is easy to
vacuum; consequently, it is a good choice for high traffic areas in your home.
Unfortunately, level-loop carpet does not feel as soft as cut-pile carpet.
Alternative
forms of loop carpeting are multilevel loops and Berber carpet. Multilevel loops
have loops of different heights, which add a textured look to your carpet and
still wear well. However, they also hide dirt between the loops and are thus
difficult to vacuum. Berber carpets, on the other hand, have loops of especially
thick yarn (perhaps wool) and often have a very luxurious feel. The thick yarn
can snag, however, so save your Berber carpet for low traffic areas of your
home.
Cut-pile
carpet is generally more luxurious than loop carpeting, but it also retains more
dirt and crushes easier than loop carpet. Therefore, use cut-pile carpeting in
low traffic areas. Plush (or velvet) carpeting is the most formal cut-pile
option, and it has a smooth level.
If you
can’t decide between loop carpeting and cut-pile styles, you can have the best
of both worlds with cut and loop pile carpeting. As the name suggests, this
style has both looped fibers and cut fibers. This manufacturing tactic creates a
textured appearance but it is neither as luxurious as cut-pile carpeting nor as
durable as loop carpeting.