Carpet is an essential element of interior design, adding warmth, comfort, and style to any space. If you are recarpeting an existing home or building new, then you may be wondering which is better: wool or nylon carpet? The battle between wool vs nylon carpet is decided by the details and by what you want out of your carpet.
Each has its own set of characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. In this article, we’ll delve into the differences between these two types of carpet fibres to help you make an informed decision for your home.
Wool Carpet: Pro’s and Con’s
Humans have been using wool since 10,000 BC. It’s the original fibre that we used to warm ourselves and make our living spaces a little comfier, and for good reason – wool feels nice underfoot, is good-looking, eco-friendly, naturally fire retardant, resilient and has excellent elasticity, with a natural curl which helps maintain its “spring” even after years of use. Synthetic carpets can only create this artificially and will wear down over time.
Wool carpets have excellent colour retention, aging characteristics and are available in a huge variety of colours and patterns in both cut pile and loop pile. Wool’s colours mellow and enrich over time, creating a unique, timeless look and if maintained properly will last for decades.
The natural beauty of wool stems from the inherent complexity of the fibre itself, evolved to protect sheep, no matter the conditions. Because of wool’s unique properties, it can absorb 30-40% of its weight in moisture, which makes wool carpet an excellent dehumidifier, great for humid climates like Auckland. Wool is a fantastic insulator and naturally improves a room’s warmth and acoustics, helping your home stay quieter and cosier.
Because of its overlapping structure which helps repel dirt and keeps any water-based liquids on the surface, rather than sinking deep into the carpet, wool carpet is relatively easy to clean. On the downside, oily or greasy spills are much tougher to clean, and will need to be attended to immediately to prevent permanent staining. Wool carpet may also fade in direct sunlight over time.
Wool carpet is ideal for allergy and asthma sufferers as it does not promote the growth of bacteria, mould and mildew and deters the growth of dust mites – the single most common cause of asthma. Wool absorbs common airborne contaminants, like cooking fumes, deodorants, cleaning chemicals and smoke, which helps improve the air quality, helping to prevent allergies and respiratory problems, you can have a natural air filter in your home which can last 30 years!
Wool fibres are 100% natural, biodegradable and renewable. Our wool carpets in store are all made with NZ sourced wool, meaning when you purchase wool carpet you are supporting New Zealand’s intergenerational farming community.
Choosing a wool carpet, you can be rest assured that you are buying a eco-friendly product, reducing your carbon footprint and promoting sustainable living. Wool is a renewable material, where the wool is shorn from sheep annually and is biodegradable.
Nylon Carpet: Pro’s and Con’s
Stain and fade resistant, durable, resilient, as well as stylish and comfortable, solution dyed nylon (SDN) is a popular carpet choice for young families and busy households alike. With correct maintenance, SDN carpet will continue to look impressive for many years.
Nylon is an artificial fibre, that has become incredibly popular for carpets. It’s best quality is its extreme durability—nylon carpet can stand up to high foot traffic and the heaviest of furniture, due to the hydrogen molecules that make up its structure, it is able to quickly bounce back to its original state after compression (something known as “yarn memory”). The material can be stretched to over 33% of its original length for long intervals, and will still go back to its former shape when released, this is similar to wool but intensified.
The molecular makeup of nylon carpet is what makes it so durable, and also easy to clean. It will resist most stains, which makes it a great choice if you have kids or pets and you won’t need to be so diligent.
Nylon also resists dirt and dust extremely well (especially short-pile nylon), so is also a fantastic choice for allergy sufferers.
Colour pigments are added during the early stages of production and mixed with the fibre when it is in its liquid form. The solution dyed nylon fibres are then processed into yarns suitable for tufting into carpet. This means the colour is locked into the core of the yarn fibres prior to the manufacture of the carpet. This is why solution dyed nylon can retain its colour over time, even in areas exposed to sunlight or harsh lighting.
As far as disadvantages go, nylon isn’t quite as soft as wool, so won’t have the same feeling underfoot. It also doesn’t look quite as lush as wool carpets (especially thick shag piles).
The decision between solution-dyed nylon and wool carpet ultimately depends on your preferences, lifestyle, and budget. If you prioritise durability, stain resistance, and cost-effectiveness, solution-dyed nylon may be the better choice. On the other hand, if you value natural, luxurious fibres, want colour variety and are willing to invest in a higher-priced option, wool carpet might be your ideal pick.
Consider consulting with a professional carpet retailer, like Midway Flooring, to assess your specific needs and guide you towards the carpet fibre that aligns best with your lifestyle and design aspirations. In the end, both solution-dyed nylon and wool carpet can offer a beautiful and comfortable foundation for your living spaces, enhancing the overall ambiance of your home.
We had a chat with our expert representative from Feltex & Godfrey Hirst ‘Cherry Gore’ and asked for her opinion.
Your favourite feature of wool? This is the most natural fibre and I think the nicest fibre to live on, and most insulating.
Your favourite feature of SDN? This would be the most durable and fade resistance fibre.
Your favourite wool range? My Favourite wool range in a cut pile would be our 80 oz solid wool called ‘Grandiose’ and loop pile I would say ‘8th wonder’, this is a very neat chunky look.
Your favourite SDN range? My Favourite SDN would be our 55oz Ōkiwi Bay, this would be the best value for a luxury feel.
Featured Carpet (Top of Page): Feltex Grandiose Renaissance (Wool)
