Carpets come in many colours and texture, which make them an important decorative item for many households. Carpets can instantly up the interior’s level of comfort, and serve many functions in your home.
In fact, carpets are very characteristic in themselves. Besides their decorative purposes, they also have varying usage according to the kind of texture and materials they are made in.
Synonymous with comfort
Some home owners use carpets as show cleaners and place them at the doorstep for guests to leave their shoes on.
But if you are a person of high living standards, you should choose a suitable carpet according to your personal lifestyle.
In this article, let’s look into the merits of this comfy home item!
Temperature adjustment and comfort
For each season, you will need different types of carpets.
In winter, the icy tiles of the floor might not be very comfortable to the feet. Choosing a suitable carpet might be the alternative to turning on the radiator.
Cotton, polyester and polypropylene are the common raw materials for making warm carpets.
Beside giving warmth, carpets can also function to dissipate excessive heat in the summer.
The most traditional way of using the carpet to cool down is to lay a knitted mat. Silk, artificial silk, nylon and linen are the materials for making these ‘cool’ carpets.
Soundproofing
Soft carpets with an adequate thickness can function to absorb some of the noise made by footsteps in the interior.
Protect the floor from staining
Laying carpets around the dining table serves both a decorative and a protective purpose.
This is no foreign news to us: some types of flooring are less durable and more stain-prone than others.
Even fibreboard flooring can be easily stained. When a spilling accident happens, or when heavy metal objects hit the floor, flooring damage is almost unavoidable.
But don’t worry, carpets have come to rescue!
For non-waterproof flooring, you can even use waterproof carpets for protection. Besides protecting the floor, carpets can also effect to make the floor less slippery, and safer for households with children.
Common carpet materials
Different materials have different physical properties. Here is a simple breakdown.
Polyester
Polyester is a kind of synthetic fibre, which is derived from oil. It resembles linen and cotton.
This material has a high elasticity, and is not prone to shrinking and creasing. It can be stored easily, but is more likely to cause static.
Polypropylene/ PP
Polypropylene is a thermoplastic that can be reshaped with heat. It has a partially crystalline structure, and a texture resembling nylon.
Polypropylene is flexible, light and moisture-resistant. It does not get stained easily, and can preserve heat well. However, this material is prone to UV discoloration.
Nylon
Nylon is a traditional material for carpets. This material can be made into fibre and solid plastic.
It has a high durability and wear resistance, and is less likely to have lint problems. Besides being a good material for children’s clothing, nylon used to be widely adopted for military purposes.
Acrylic fibre
Acrylic fibre is a soft and flexible synthetic fibre, which resembles wool in texture.
Dyed acrylic fibre is resistant to UV damage. Since this material incurs a much lower cost than wool, it often is used to replace the latter.
However, heating process is necessary to soften this material. Its thermal properties pale in contrast to wool. Acrylic fibre is also a flammable substance.
Jute
Jute is a plant fibre which is soft, long and possesses a lustre. It can be knitted into high-strength and rough silks.
Jute is breathable and can regulate the interior’s humidity by absorbing and releasing moisture.
Silk
Silk is a knitted material made from the fibre of silk worm cocoons. As a well-known luxury material, silk fibre has a prismatic lustre.
Silk has an excellent thermal property, feels cool in the summer and warm and the winter.
Cotton
Cotton as an organic material is soft, elastic and warm. It has a comforting texture and is moisture-absorbent.
It also is hypoallergenic and not likely to cause static in a dry climate.
Wool
Wool is elastic and nice to the touch. It can absorb excessive moisture in the environment, which makes it suitable for different seasons.
Wool also does not cause static in dry climates.
Other carpet materials
Chemical fibre
Carpets made of chemical fibres are wear-resistant, anti-flammable and elastic. They also are resistant to insect infestation.
Mixed fibres
Mixed fibres usually consist of organic fibres like wool, that are chemically treated so that it is easier to maintain, has a higher moisture resistance and relatively lower price.
Conclusion
Carpets can easily transform your quality of life with its protective and aesthetic functions. A characteristic carpet can show off the home owner’s taste and easily cultivate a specific atmosphere in the interior.
