Pile height

Flatweaves and low, dense piles are practical in dining rooms, hallways and busy spaces. Chairs move easily over them, they are simple to clean and they sit neatly under doors.

A medium pile offers comfort underfoot while holding a design clearly. It suits living rooms and bedrooms, and is the height of many hand-knotted rugs.

High, shaggy piles are soft and relaxed, but they can blur fine designs, trap crumbs and crush under furniture. They are best in bedrooms and quiet corners.

Pile leans slightly in one direction. From one end a rug looks deeper and richer; from the other, lighter and more lustrous. Vacuum with the pile, and look at a rug from both ends before deciding how to place it.