The two most popular choices of carpet today are the

loop pile and cut pile. Loop pile has individual

strands of yarn pulled through the backing of the

carpet twice, which creates a small loop.

The cut pile has the loop cut at the top, leaving

tufts of yarn that stand straight up. Cut pile is

normally more durable than looped pile. Cut piles

come in many styles, such as shag, textured, saxony,

and velvet. Loop pile choices include berber,

cable, or sisal. For high traffic areas, loop pile

is an excellent choice.

One of the factors with choosing your carpet is the

cost. Even though there is nothing more luxurious

than having wool carpeting in your home, most of us

can't afford wool. If you are able to afford wool

carpeting you'll find that even though it costs more

to install, it will prove to be far more superior

than any other type of carpeting. There is no man

made carpet fiber that come close to the durability,

rich look, or even the feel of wool - which can also

last for 30 years or more.

Acrylic carpeting is very similar to wool, and

sometimes referred to as man made wool. It is

resistant to moisture, fading, mildew, crushing, and

staining, although it isn't recommended for high

traffic areas.

Nylon carpeting is also popular, as it is recommended

for high traffic areas. Nylon is one of the most

expensive types of synthetic fibers, although it

is still cheaper than wool.

Olefin is a low cost carpet material, often used for

indoor or outdoor carpeting. Olefin is colorfast

and strong, very easy to clean. One of the draw

backs to olefin is that it can easily be crushed.

Another consideration you'll have is the color and

patterns of the carpet. Light carpeting colors

help to create a spacious effect, making the room

appear to be larger. Light color carpets will of

course, show much more soil than dark colors.

If you have pets around the house or little kids,

dark colors may be your best bet. There are many

different varieties of dark colors, which is great

for those interested in style. Dark colors are

ideal for stains or pets, as they don't show soiled

areas near as much as light colored carpets.

If you end up selecting light colors around pets or

little kids, you'll find yourself having to work

twice as hard to make stains less noticeable. It

would be easier and also smarter to select a dark

color and make it easier on yourself.