Choosing a rug or carpet for your home can be hard, and there’s more to it than just picking your favorite color and pattern, or even getting the size right. (Want to get the size right? Check out this blog on rug sizes!) You need to consider pile heights!

Whether you are installing wall to wall carpet, or choosing an area rug for your room, you want something both functional and aesthetically pleasing, but with thousands of options out there, how do you pick the best one for your home?

The first step to choosing the perfect area rug or carpet is to *ignore* color and pattern, forgetting about all those cute rugs you’ve pinned online, and figure out exactly what you need from this new rug purchase.

Functionally, what does this rug need to do?

 

What does it need to support in your household, and what does it need to withstand? For example, does it need to be super soft for the kids to tumble and wrestle on during playtime? Does it need to be easy to clean, and be able to stand up to pets? Will you walk on it daily, often wearing shoes, or will it be safe from dirt and food and therefore just needs to be a deliciously plush place to sink your toes on a cold winter night? 

This is where knowledge of pile heights and pile styles comes into play! Below you can find a quick guide to heights and styles to help you get you on your first step to purchasing your new carpet or rug. 😀

 

Let’s Explore Pile Heights!

 

So what is a pile height anyway, and why does it matter? The term “pile” refers to the thickness of your rug or carpet.

Pile heights range from Low to Plush, and the choice will affect how durable the carpet is, how easy it is to vacuum, and how your home “feels” by either adding lots of texture and making a room look warm and cozy, perfect for bare feet, or creating a clean and modern look with a tight, low pile that won’t hide cheerios and Legos. Pile height also comes into play when you have a door that needs to swing open over the rug – will the door clear the rug, or will it catch on it (so annoying!)?

NOTE – Pile height isn’t the only factor in your rug or carpet feeling “soft” – the rug pad *under* the carpet or rug can also have a huge influence on that sinking feeling folks like in an inviting rug.

 

1) Low Pile: Less than 1/4” Thick

A lower pile will be the easiest to clean and tends to be the best choice for high traffic areas (think about your vacuum running over the textile – a lower pile won’t get ruined by the intense suction and friction from the vacuum). This low pile Crate and Barrel rug might be great for an entryway where you have low door clearances, or a dining room where you want to be able to easily vacuum up crumbs!

Low pile rugs also include the category “flat” or “flat weave” rugs. This covers all those gorgeous Kilim rugs that are so popular in midcentury and eclectic design right now. Just watch out for low quality low-pile or flat weave rugs. Too flat and they tend to buckle and bunch up really easily, creating a slip or trip hazard. If you get a rug that doesn’t like to stay put, be sure to consider a carpet pad underneath it (which is also a great way to extend the life of *any* carpet, not just flat weave.) This Kilim rug from Design Within Reach would be a perfect addition to any Midcentury, boho, or eclectic room!

 

2) Medium Pile: 1/4″ – 1/2″ Thick

There is a lot of variation in “medium pile height” rugs, but in general they tend to be a great middle ground for something that gives you a little bit of a plush feeling while still allowing you to regularly clean it. Remember that note above when choosing rugs: Will your door be able to open over the rug easily? This affordable area rug with a 1/2” pile from allmodern.com will still be easy to clean but will give more softness underfoot than a low pile rug, not to mention add bold richness to your bohemian bedroom or living room!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3) Plush Pile: 1/2″ – 3/4″ Thick

Plush rugs and carpet is perfect for sinking your feet into, but does not hold up as well to high traffic or frequent cleaning. This West Elm rug may be the perfect pile height to have in your bedroom or a reading corner, but maybe not in an entryway. Of course, if it’s small enough, you might be able to pick it up and just shake it out over your balcony, but if you are looking at plush wall to wall carpet, avoid it for those high-traffic areas.

 

4) Shag Pile: Thicker than 3/4″

Shag rugs are super fun and add so much luxurious texture to a room, but you pretty much won’t be able vacuum it, and if you do, *don’t use the beater bar!!* The fibers will get caught in the roller, and the texture of the rug will get destroyed (like if you try brushing out curly hair). That said, if you have a low-traffic room, or are choosing a rug you can pick up and shake out, have fun with these rugs, like this one from Overstock! There’s no substitute when you want that hit of awesome texture!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you take the time to decide what kind of functionality you need from your rug first, you’ll be able to filter out hundreds of options that wouldn’t be a great fit for your home, and then you can move on to filtering by size, fiber, weave, and price, and *then* finally pick the perfect pattern and color for your design style with confidence that your new rug will not only look great now, but for years to come!

 

May your home always be Cozy & happy!