Textured carpet is a popular choice for homeowners, but knowing the textured carpet pros and cons can help you ensure you’re investing your money into a carpet style that works for your home and lifestyle. In this blog, we’ll cover everything you want to know about textured carpet, including how it differs from other types of carpet, the textured carpet pros and cons, and more.

What is Textured Carpet?

Textured carpet is one of the three main styles of carpet – Berber, plush, and textured. Textured carpet is a style of cut pile carpet, created by combining the durability of Berber carpet with the softness of plush carpet. This design is ideal for families as its design creates a durable yet comfortable carpet.

The yarn used to create textured carpet are swirled into spirals that are cut to different lengths and laid at different angles. A heating process is used to press the swirls down, which creates a more durable carpet style. Because of the heating processes used to make textured carpet, synthetic materials like nylon and polyester are commonly used. 

What’s the Difference Between Textured Carpet and Other Types of Carpet?

Berber is the most durable of the different types of carpets. It’s manufactured with loops, meaning the yarn is sewn into the backing and left uncut. Plush is the most popular type of carpet, though it’s not as durable as other types of carpet.

Other common types of carpet include twist, which can be coarse or tufted, and has a firm feel to it. Saxony and velvet are types of carpet associated with luxury. Saxony is made of long, fine, densely packed fibers but shows indentations easily. Velvet carpet is made of straight fibers packed densely together. 

Our Homeowners Guide to 3 Main Carpet Styles talks more about the different types of carpet and covers some common questions people should consider when choosing a carpet style. 

Textured Carpet Pros

  1. Heavy objects (think furniture) are less likely to leave dents in the carpet
  2. Less likely to show footprints or tracks left from a vacuum
  3. When treated, textured carpet is stain resistant and easier to clean than other carpet, making it kid- and pet-friendly
  4. Available in a variety of colors and designs to fit your style and decor 
  5. An affordable carpet option
  6. More durable than other types of carpet, making it suitable for moderate to heavy foot traffic, yet still soft and comfortable
  7. Textured carpet is less likely to soak in liquids, so odor is less prevalent

Textured Carpet Cons

  1. Poorly constructed textured carpet can easily snag
  2. Certain chemicals and synthetic fabrics used in textured carpets can affect your allergies
  3. If untreated, textured carpet is less resistant to fire

Is Textured Carpet Hard to Clean?

Textured carpet is often easier to clean than other types of carpet, but just like with any carpet, you need to use the right supplies and techniques or that stain can end up even worse than how it started. In general, common carpet stains are water-based, so they’re easily removed with a mix of water and other household supplies. Learn how to clean carpet by hand, focusing on five common stains (red wine, coffee, fruit juice, urine, and pet hair) in our how-to guide.

While textured carpet is one of the easier carpet styles to maintain, we recommend having your carpets professionally cleaned at least once a year. Spot-cleaning your carpet by hand when messes or spills occur is important, but an annual deep cleaning will not only have your home smelling fresh, it will also prolong the life of your carpet.

Where in Your House Can You Use Textured Carpet?

Textured carpet can be used almost anywhere in your home you’d typically place carpet because of its durable, yet comfortable design. Because most textured carpet is stain-resistant, as well as easy to clean, it can often be found in rooms and areas of your home you spend the majority of your time in. These rooms include children’s bedrooms, play rooms, living rooms, and hallways. Because of the different colors and designs textured carpet comes in, it can easily complement the decor in any area of your home.

How to Decide if Textured Carpet is Right for You 

You’ll have to consider your needs and preferences when choosing if textured carpet is right for you. However, there are a couple things we recommend people consider when choosing carpet.

  • What Thickness of Carpet is Best?

Thicker carpet types are often the most durable as there are more fibers supporting our weight as we walk across carpet. The most durable carpet is Berber, while plush is considered the most comfortable carpet. For families who don’t want to sacrifice durability or comfort, textured carpet is the perfect thickness.

  • What Rooms Are You Carpeting?

Bedrooms are often carpeted, as well as family rooms and playrooms. While bedrooms are often carpeted with plush carpets, textured carpet is a popular choice for family rooms and playrooms as it provides a soft place for families to gather while still withstanding high traffic and messes. 

It’s important to note that you don’t have to stick with one carpet style or design throughout your whole home. You can choose textured carpet for your living room while choosing plush carpet for your bedroom. Or maybe you want textured carpet throughout your house but want the color or design to differ based on the room. With the many types of carpet and designs to choose from, you have options to fit your style and all of your needs.

If you’re still on the fence about textured carpet or want to discuss how the textured carpet pros and cons relate to your carpet needs, visit our Wexford, PA showroom or contact our team to learn more. Floor Concepts provides local flooring solutions to greater Pittsburgh, PA and the North Hills, free in-home measurements and estimates, and worry-free installations.