Learning the Lingo: Unravel the Real Words for Carpets and Rugs

Learning the Lingo: Unravel the Real Words for Carpets and Rugs

By Laura Winter  

Nothing gives a home that warm and fuzzy feel like, well, something warm and fuzzy under your feet. That's why we've devoted our latest installment of Learning the Lingo to all the wild and wonderful terminology of carpets and rugs.

Whether you're shopping for shag or just wondering what makes Persian rugs so posh, here's a look at all the words worth knowing, and the rich history behind this essential floor decor.

Rug vs. carpet

First, the basics: These words are used interchangeably, but there are real differences.

Rugs are any woven textile covering a floor; carpets run wall to wall. Rugs also have a longer history, dating back centuries; carpets were created in the postindustrial age, when these floor coverings could be made cheaply, all the better to cover up poorly made or underwhelming floors. Rugs are often sold as precious works of finely made art; carpets are, well, carpets, often sold in large home decor chains. That said, for the serious classic floor-covering connoisseur, Oriental “rugs” are technically called carpets, no matter the size or age.

Still with us? Good!

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Pile

Yarn that forms the top of your carpet or rug

This is the yarn that forms the top of your carpet or rug. Pile standing under 1/4 inch is called “low”; pile measuring 1/4 to 1/2 inch is categorized as “medium.” “Plush” pile ranges from 1/2 to 3/4 inch tall, while “shag” carpets must have pile that is at least 3/4 inch.

So which should you choose? That depends not only on how the rug looks and feels, but also where it's placed. High-traffic areas do best with short pile, which lasts longer and is easier to care for. Longer pile can feel more luxurious but shows track marks and is harder to clean (the longer threads can get sucked into a vacuum). And thick, white shag works best for 1970s bachelor pads.

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Saxony

Plush carpeting has a long pile that stands straight up.

Also called “plush,” this is your classic wall-to-wall carpeting with a long pile that stands straight up, like freshly mown grass. Sure, it looks and feels great, but the downside is that it shows footprints and vacuum tracks. That's why it tends to be used most often in less-trafficked, more secluded areas such as a bedroom.

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Textured

With textured carpeting, fibers are cut to uneven heights.

Unlike the high-maintenance Saxony, the textured carpet style hides dirt and is known as “trackless,” which means it doesn’t amply display footprints and vacuum tracks. Its secret: The fibers are cut to uneven heights, resulting in a weave that looks more casual and that can withstand more wear and tear.

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Looped

Looped, or Berber, fibers are sturdy and suited for high-traffic areas.

All rugs actually start out with yarn that's looped, or uncut—and in this style of carpet, it stays that way. Although not as soft under the feet, looped fibers are sturdy and well-suited for high-traffic areas, which explains why they're so common in commercial settings. They also do a nice job of hiding extra-large caramel macchiato spills. Trust us on this.

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Cut and loop

Cut-and-loop style can create intricate designs.

This style combines cut and looped pile to create eye-catching designs, from waves to squares to flowers and beyond. It's also known as “patterned” due to its visual appeal, but it doesn't come cheap, so it's saved for smaller rugs in areas where feet won't trample the intricate topography.

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Frieze

Frieze carpet can resist stains and track marks.

Pronounced “free-zay" just like the lettuce (no relation), this rug style boasts tightly twisted yarn that seems to curl in on itself. Most carpet yarn is twisted 3.5 to 5 rotations per inch; a frieze amps that up to 7 to 9 twists. This creates a more durable pile that can resist stains and track marks.

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Oriental

Hand-knotted beauties made in Asia

Remember in “Cleopatra” when Elizabeth Taylor, as the Egyptian queen, mailed herself by camel express to her lover Julius Caesar? (Of course you do!) She was delivered rolled up in an Oriental rug. If only Caesar had realized that the rug was the real prize!

These hand-knotted beauties, made in Asia (primarily Iran, China, India, Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, Tibet, and Nepal) take years to complete, and the intricate designs speak volumes about where they were made. Typically, more floral or formal patterns suggest urban origins; geometric patterns are more tribal. Plants, animals, and colors all have symbolic significance, from camels (wealth) to lotuses (purity). They can be made of wool, cotton, or silk.

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Persian

Tabriz rug

Persian rugs are the most famous subset of Oriental rugs, originating in the former Persia (now Iran), with the most complicated designs. Think you can afford $107,488 per square foot? Doris Duke’s record-setting 400-year-old silk Persian rug from Isfahan sold at auction in 2008 or $4.45 million. While “fine” specimens typically contain eight to 10 shades, the Duke piece has 14.

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Shag

Shag carpeting has pile that is at least 3/4 inches.

“shag” carpets must have pile that is at least 3/4 inch

All the rage in the psychedelic '70s, shag rugs have begun  a major comeback—although generally toned down in plushness and height from its Nixon-era heyday. According to Architectural Digest, the Kardashian sisters are major fans. Kourtney’s son Reign’s bedroom room has one, and Khloé can’t seem to have enough shag. She has it in her screening room, bedroom, and master closet. So if you want to be like the Kardashians, buy some shag. And roll around in it.

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Shedding

Shedding is normal for new carpets.

Is your vacuum picking up rather large tufts of your amazing new floor covering? That's called shedding, and it's much like what happens with a puppy or other furry pet. Sure it's annoying, but there's no need to worry that your new floor decor will end up with bald spots. Shedding is normal with new rug or carpet, when loose stray fibers jog free. It should stop in a couple of months, or at most about a year after purchase.

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Sprouting

Normal carpet sprouting

Borrowing from the plant world, this rug problem occurs when a tuft or loop of yarn juts out above its peers. If this is simply a single tuft or loop here and there, do not pull on it, as this will undo the knot and cannibalize your carpet tug by tug. Instead, just snip it down to the length of the rest of the rug.

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Crocking

Do you spot dye from a carpet rubbing off on your socks or anything else that strolls across it? That's called crocking, which means that a dye in the yarn is not colorfast and will stain whatever's in the vicinity. To test for crocking before you buy, rub a damp towel across the surface. If it leaves a mark there, it will on your floor and feet, too. Steer clear.