There are many elements to take into consideration when planning to purchase carpet.
Some questions to consider:

• How will the room be used, what is its function?
• How formal/informal is the décor?
• Is the traffic/activity in this area light, medium, or heavy?
• Will young children and/or pets frequent this room?
• Does this room have direct access to outside?
• Is this room small or large?

Knowing the answers to these questions will help your designer narrow down appropriate options for you, and advise you on what you do (and don't) want to use in your home. These are some of the numerous elements that will affect the type of carpeting you choose.

Below are some of the common terms you will want to be familiar with in terms of carpet construction, which will greatly influence your carpet's quality.

• Durability is the measure of how long your carpet will look and feel good. Ideally, carpet will retain its original texture and appearance for years to come. Durability depends on finding the right balance of the three important factors defined below:
• Fiber
  During carpet manufacturing, natural or synthetic fiber is converted to yarn and tufted, or locked into a backing to form the pile or surface that you walk on. There are four major types of carpet fiber - nylon, polypropylene (olefin), polyester, and wool- the most popular being nylon. Ideal for carpeting, nylon is a man-made fiber that is wear-resistant. Its properties allow for a very wide range of colors and color blends and the newest fibers offer the look and feel of wool, but with much less maintenance and expense. All Stainmaster carpets are made of 100% premium nylon fiber with soil and stain protection not found in other fibers.
• Twist
  The twist of the fiber is the way the fiber filaments are spun into yarn, and how the yarn is in turn twisted upon itself. Twist is usually locked into the fiber with a steam or heat setting. The tighter the twist, the more the carpet will resist changes in appearance and texture. All Stainmaster carpet construction is conducted under strict twisting specifications.
• Density
  Density describes the amount of pile in the carpet and how close the tufts are to one another. In general, the more dense the carpet, the better the quality is. Check density by pressing your fingers on the carpet and trying to reach the backing. It will be difficult to reach the backing of a very dense carpet. With the tufts facing outward, bend the carpet into a U shape to see how much of the carpet backing shows. The less backing you see, the more dense the carpet.