The Best Qualities of Carpet

Material

• The best choice of carpet material has much to do with where and how the carpet is used. In high traffic areas or rooms that see a lot of use, like family rooms, nylon carpet can offer the best resistance to crushing and abrasion. It does not resist sunlight well, however, and so may not offer the best qualities for rooms open to bright sunshine during large parts of the day, according to Colorado State University specialists K.R. Trembly Jr. and K. Williams. Polyester may be the best choice for such a room. Wool gives a soft, expensive feel to a room, but only has fair abrasion resistance, and so is the best choice for a living room that does not see heavy use.

Pile Height

• Carpeting with longer pile height has a luxurious look and a thick feel. This is the best type of carpeting for bedrooms or living rooms where comfort is important. It may show footprints and crushing more in heavily used areas of the home. Textured styles help to avoid this problem.

Pile Density

• Pile density is the number of tufts per square inch of backing. The higher the number of tufts, the better the density. High density carpeting wears better and so is better for areas that see a lot of family use. High density carpeting will not allow the backing to show through in worn areas.

Stain Resistance

• Carpeting can be treated with a number of chemicals that help it to resist stains. Carpeting with these qualities are best in homes with small children or pets. Stains do not penetrate into the fibers and are easily removed from the surface of the carpet.

Carpet Vapors

• Many types of carpeting contain chemicals that create "gassing out" or emission of odors that can be annoying to some people and unhealthy for sensitive individuals. The adhesives used in carpeting can also give off these gasses, according to the Hometime site. If you have members of your family who are sensitive to these types of substances, the best type of carpeting for you is one that does not emit volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs.