Carpet
Textile floor covering with pile attached to a backing.
A carpet or rug is a textile floor covering, usually made of a pile layer attached to a backing. In Europe, the pile was traditionally wool, but since the 1900s, cheaper synthetic fibers like polypropylene, nylon, and polyester have become common. The pile often consists of twisted tufts that are heat-treated to keep their shape. Though the words carpet and rug are frequently used the same way, rugs tend to be smaller and not fixed down. Since the 1800s, fitted carpets—including wall-to-wall carpeting that is permanently installed—have become more popular. Carpet flooring offers cushioning for sitting or kneeling, and it provides better sound and heat insulation than tile or stone. Carpets are versatile and often feature patterns and motifs. Thanks to technology, inexpensive mass-produced synthetic carpets are widely available, alongside more costly hand-knotted wool rugs. Carpets can be made through several methods: weaving, needle felting, hand-knotting (as in oriental rugs), tufting (where pile is inserted into a backing), flat weaving, hooking (pulling wool or cotton through a sturdy fabric’s mesh), and embroidery.
In the United States, carpets are commonly manufactured in widths of 12 or 15 feet (3.7 or 4.6 meters), while in Europe, widths of 4 or 5 meters (13 or 16 feet) are typical. For wall-to-wall carpeting, different widths are joined with seam tape or sewn together, then fastened to the floor over a cushioned underlay using nails, tack strips (called gripper rods in the UK), adhesives, or sometimes decorative metal stair rods.
The term “carpet” first appeared in English in the late 1200s, meaning “coarse cloth,” and by the mid-1300s it referred to a tablecloth or bedspread. It comes from Old French *carpite* (“heavy decorated cloth, carpet”), from Medieval Latin or Old Italian *carpita* (“thick woolen cloth”), possibly from Latin *carpere* (“to card, pluck”). The Latin word was introduced in the 1200s by Florentines from the Middle Armenian *կարպետ* (carpet). The meaning shifted in the 1400s to floor coverings. Historically, carpet also referred to table and wall coverings, as floors in European interiors rarely had carpets until the 1400s. The word “rug” first appeared in English in the 1550s, meaning “coarse fabric,” from Scandinavian origins (compare Norwegian *rugga* “coarse coverlet,” Old Norse *rogg* “shaggy tuft,” Proto-Germanic *rawwa*). Its meaning evolved to “coverlet, wrap” by the 1590s, then “mat for the floor” by 1808.
Woven carpets are made on a loom similar to woven fabric. The pile can be plush (cut pile) or Berber (loop pile). A newer style, cut and loop carpeting, combines both. Many colored yarns are used, allowing intricate patterns from predetermined designs, though some weaving methods limit pattern accuracy. These carpets are often the most expensive due to slow manufacturing. Countries like Turkey, Iran, India, Pakistan, and the Middle East are well known for woven carpets. Flatweave carpets are made by interlocking warp (vertical) and weft (horizontal) threads. Oriental flatweave types include kilim, soumak, plain weave, and tapestry weave. European types include Venetian, Dutch, damask, list, haircloth, and ingrain (also called double cloth, two-ply, triple cloth, or three-ply).
Knotted pile carpet (formally a “supplementary weft cut-loop pile” carpet) has structural weft threads alternating with a supplementary weft that rises at right angles to the weave. This supplementary weft is attached to the warp by one of three knot types to form the pile. The shag carpet, popular in the 1970s, is an example. Hand knotting is most common in oriental rugs and carpets; Kashmir carpets are also hand-knotted. Pile carpets, like flat carpets, may be woven on a loom, using vertical or horizontal looms. Warp threads are set up on the loom frame before weaving begins, and several weavers may work together. A row of knots is completed and cut, then secured with one to four rows of weft. The two main knot types are symmetrical (Turkish or Ghiordes) and asymmetrical (Persian or Senna). Contemporary centers of knotted carpet production include Lahore and Peshawar (Pakistan), Kashmir and Mirzapur and Bhadohi (India), Tabriz (Iran), Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Northern Africa, Nepal, Spain, Turkmenistan, and Tibet. Turkmenistan’s national flag features a vertical red stripe with five carpet guls, reflecting the importance of carpets in its culture. Kashmir and Bhadohi are known for hand-knotted silk or wool carpets.
- first_use_in_English
- late 13th century
- original_meaning
- coarse cloth
- shift_to_floor_covering
- 15th century
- common_modern_materials
- wool, polypropylene, nylon, polyester
- typical_widths_in_US
- 12 or 15 feet (3.7 or 4.6 m)
- typical_widths_in_Europe
- 4 or 5 m (13 or 16 ft)
- dominant_yarn_constructions
- polyamides (nylons) and polypropylene
Lore & Background
The term carpet was first used in English in the late 13th century, meaning 'coarse cloth', and by the mid-14th century referred to a tablecloth or bedspread. The word comes from Old French carpite, from Medieval Latin or Old Italian carpita, possibly from Latin carpere 'to card, pluck'. The Latin word was introduced in the 13th century by the Florentines from the Middle Armenian word կարպետ (carpet). The meaning shifted in the 15th century to refer to floor coverings. Carpets can be produced through various methods. Woven carpets are made on a loom, with pile that can be plush (cut pile) or Berber (loop pile). Flatweave carpets interlock warp and weft threads. Knotted pile carpets use supplementary weft attached by symmetrical (Turkish) or asymmetrical (Persian) knots. Tufted carpets have pile injected into a backing material. Hooked rugs are made by pulling strips of cloth through a sturdy fabric. Embroidered carpets use stitches on a cloth base. Needle felt carpets are produced by felting synthetic fibres with barbed needles. In Europe, pile was traditionally made of wool, but since the 20th century synthetic fibres such as polypropylene, nylon, and polyester have been used as less expensive alternatives. Nylon is one of the most common materials for carpets, with both nylon 6 and nylon 6-6 used. Nylon can be dyed topically or in a molten state, prints easily, and has excellent wear characteristics. Due to its broad availability and lower costs compared to natural fibres, it is widely used in industrial and commercial carpeting.
Reader's Guide
Carpets have been significant as floor coverings since the 15th century, evolving from coarse cloth and table coverings to fitted, wall-to-wall installations. Their importance lies in providing cushioning, sound and heat insulation, and decorative versatility. Technological developments have made inexpensive mass-produced synthetic carpets widely available, alongside more costly hand-knotted wool rugs. The shift from natural to synthetic fibres in the 20th century transformed the industry, with nylon and polypropylene dominating commercial production. Carpets are manufactured in standard widths and installed using various fastening methods. The distinction between carpet and rug remains fluid, with carpet often referring to wall-to-wall or high-quality finished pieces, while rugs are smaller and loose-laid. The legacy of carpet production includes both industrial methods and traditional handcrafts such as hand-knotting in regions like Turkey, Iran, India, Pakistan, and the Middle East. The cultural importance of carpets is exemplified by Turkmenistan's national flag, which features five carpet guls.
Did You Know?
- The term carpet was first used in English in the late 13th century, meaning 'coarse cloth'.
- The Latin word 'carpet' was introduced in the 13th century by the Florentines from the Middle Armenian word 'կարպետ' (carpet).
- The two main types of knot in knotted pile carpets are the symmetrical (Turkish or Ghiordes) and asymmetrical (Persian or Senna).
- The national flag of Turkmenistan features a vertical red stripe containing five carpet guls.
Founding & Early Struggles
Rose Blumkin, a Belarus-born entrepreneur known as Mrs. Her initial capital was a modest $500 borrowed from her brother, while her husband Isadore continued managing their existing secondhand clothing shop. The early years were financially precarious at times; the Blumkins even had to liquidate their own household furnishings to settle a debt. Mrs. B. distinguished her operation by pricing products below every other furniture retailer in the area. This aggressive strategy backfired temporarily when larger competitors pressured suppliers to cut off the Mart. Rather than capitulate and raise prices, she traveled to source inventory from vendors across the country, maintaining her underpricing advantage. This tenacity laid the groundwork for a business that would eventually span multiple states.
The Buffett Deal & Mrs. B's Legacy
B. sold an 80% stake in the Mart to Warren Buffett for $60 million in what amounted to a one-page handshake agreement. Notably, Buffett conducted no audit of inventory or financial records; his confidence rested on his personal shopping experiences at the store and his regard for the Blumkin family. Mrs. B. explained her decision as a practical move to prevent her children from quarreling over the business after her passing. Remarkably, she continued working her customary 70-hour weeks, navigating the floor on an electric scooter. Buffett later remarked that pitted against top business-school graduates or Fortune 500 CEOs with equal resources, she would outperform them all.
Expansion & Growth
What began as a single Omaha location grew into a multi-state operation. NFM president Ron Blumkin initially told Buffett there were no plans for further expansion. By 2011, that stance had shifted, and the company announced its fourth and largest location in The Colony, a far-north Dallas suburb.
Scale & Store Operations
The physical footprint of NFM's locations is staggering. The Kansas City store, situated across from the Kansas Speedway, has attracted visitors from across the United States, functioning as much of a tourist destination as a retail outlet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Carpet?
Carpet is a textile floor covering built from an upper pile layer bonded to a backing, and it is generally larger and fixed in place compared to a loose-laid rug.
What does Carpet do for a room?
It cushions footsteps, dampens noise, and adds thermal insulation, often serving as a decorative focal point through woven patterns or motifs.
When did Carpet first appear in the record?
The English word dates to the late 13th century, where it originally described a coarse cloth, and only by the 15th century did it settle into its current meaning as a floor covering.
What is Carpet typically made of these days?
Modern carpets most commonly use wool, polypropylene, nylon, or polyester as their primary fiber, produced through methods such as weaving, tufting, or hand-knotting.
How wide does Carpet usually come?
Standard roll widths in the United States are 12 or 15 feet (about 3.7 or 4.6 m), while European rolls typically measure 4 or 5 meters (roughly 13 or 16 ft).
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