80:20     The 80% wool 20% nylon mix provides the softness of wool combined with the strength of nylon creating the perfect carpet yarn.

Axminster     Ulster Carpets is one of the world's leading manufacturer of Axminsters, a way of making woven carpets that offers great pattern definition. Most Axminster carpets are patterned.

Berber     Traditionally berbers were made from natural-coloured wools, but what we refer to these days as a berber is a heather with a 'homespun' appearance.

Heather     Carpet yarn made from more than one fibre colour, giving a flecked, multicoloured effect.

Pile     The pile is the bit you stand on. 'Total pile weight' refers to the amount of yarn used to make the carpet. Deep-pile carpets feel more luxurious, while more rows of yarn are harder-wearing.

Tufted     Tufts of yarn are punched through a backing membrane and secured by latex. Tufting is a less time-consuming, and therefore less costly process than weaving, but it does mean the construction of the carpet isn't as solid.

Twist     A type of carpet that uses yarn with a higher twist than usual, to create a textured surface.

Velvet     Straighter than twisted yarn, with the cut ends at the top, giving a soft, velvety surface.

Wilton     The oldest method of weaving, offering limited colour choice but a variety of textures. Ideal for producing textured plains.

Woven     A process where the pile and backing yarns are woven together, offering unrivalled strength and stability. You can spot a woven carpet by the warp and weft threads on the reverse. Both Axminster and Wilton carpets are woven.