How to buy the best carpet From picking out carpet samples to choosing the best underlay

Expect to pay from around £60 per square metre for an authentic woven carpet. They're made using traditional methods that date back to the 16th century.

They have a reputation for high quality and rich colours, and also tend to be durable. This makes woven carpets a popular choice for well-trodden areas that are regularly on show, such as hallways and living rooms.

There are two main types of woven carpet:

• Axminster carpets are made by weaving fibres in and out through the backing material. They're known for their intricate patterns
• Wilton carpets are made on a loom of the same name, which weaves the yarn in a continuous strand.

 Twists are smooth, hardwearing and practical, which makes them very popular. They don't show footprints or furniture marks, and are good at hiding dirt. They're a good choice for areas with lots of foot traffic and for families and pet owners. 

 As this carpet type has its fibres densely packed, there's less chance of it flattening, so you don't need to worry about vacuum lines. This also makes twist carpets a great choice for high-traffic areas, such as hallways, as they are very durable. 

If you’re looking for a carpet that is dense and luxurious, Saxony, which is similar to Shag pile, is a good option. The pile, which is longer than some of the other styles, can show footprints and flatten more easily than other piles, so is not recommended for areas that take more wear and tear, such as main rooms, hallways and stairs. But if you want to wake up in the morning and sink your bare feet into a deep pile, the Saxony is a perfect choice!

• Popular for bedrooms and dining rooms
• Provides additional warmth to homes
• The deep pile adds a sense of luxury

A hardwearing carpet that is well suited to busy rooms is the loop pile. It is made from heavier and wider uncut loops of yarn creating a more textured look and feel. It can add style to hallways, stairs and landings. If you’ve got pets and children, a patterned carpet would work well to help disguise stains. It needs less vacuuming, but the loops may get snagged by pets’ claws.

• The weave bounces back easily
• Contemporary and stylish
• Suited to both modern or traditional homes

Just like the name suggests, velvet carpets are soft and smooth to the touch and have an elegant cut pile finish. They are straighter than twisted yarns, with the cut ends at the top, creating a superb, velvety surface. Luxurious and soft to touch, they look well in many rooms, particularly bedrooms and formal rooms.

• A deluxe carpet combining comfort, richness and style
• Best suited to areas with low or moderate foot traffic
• Can be a bit more expensive than some other types of carpets

People are looking more and more to natural fibre carpets to reduce the impact on the environment. Materials such as wool, Coir, Jute, Seagrass and Sisal are stylish and hardwearing. Some fibres, however, have little resistance to staining, so it’s advisable to choose a practical colour for areas that are going to be heavily used.

• Good for the environment
• They help boost the economies of communities around the globe
• Hard-wearing and suitable for all over the house