Carpets have accompanied man for many thousands of years. Be it skins to protect the feet from the cold floor or later the hand-knotted decorative carpets from the Orient, which decorated floors and walls. Carpets were and are ubiquitous. Nevertheless, there was a time when carpets lost popularity. This was especially the case when the topic of allergies caused by house dust went through the media. This article will therefore get to the bottom of the statement, whether the carpet has its best days behind it or is more popular than ever. Then the advantages and disadvantages of carpets are explained and the latest trends are discussed.
Facts
According to Stiftung Warentest, 1.5 billion square meters of living space in Germany were covered with textile floor coverings in 2007,[1] an impressive figure. However, in order to make an assessment of the popularity of carpets or rugs, the sales of the carpet industry are considered below. In 2017, sales in the German carpet industry experienced a slump from 792.15 million euros to 616.92 million euros.[2] A decline can thus be seen in recent times. However, only the future will show whether this will last. However, for the period from 2008 to 2017, sales are steadily in the range of 600-830 million euros. Another statistic lists the sales of the carpet manufacturing industry in Germany, i.e. also of export carpets.[3] Here, sales increased from 909 million euros in 2009 to 1.017 billion in 2014. It is estimated that sales will increase to 1.044 billion by 2020. This confirms that carpets are still a perennial favorite today, continue to enjoy great popularity, and continue to be given a permanent place in interior design. So the question of whether carpets are long outdated, can be answered with “no”. Now arises the question of the pros and cons of carpets and, of course, the latest trends.
Also in the office area large surfaces are used for sound insulation and more cozy atmosphere | CC0 by pexels.com
Advantages and disadvantages of carpets
The most obvious advantage is that carpets add a certain coziness to a room and give a pleasant feeling of walking. Especially the high-pile carpets are extremely soft, but accordingly also high-maintenance and offer dust mites an optimal habitat. In addition, carpets are easy to install and are considered warm to the feet and soundproofing. They can also be credited with reducing the risk of injury. On the one hand, carpets provide secure footing without the risk of slipping, and on the other hand, depending on the pile height, you fall a little softer on carpets. In addition, if the carpet is cleaned well and constantly, it can certainly help with allergies to house dust, as it is able to bind dust particles, so they no longer swirl around in the air. In addition, carpet is usually considered to be easy to clean. Of course, this depends largely on the quality and type of carpet. Basically, the maintenance of a carpet consists of regular vacuuming and deep cleaning at longer intervals.
The main disadvantage of a carpet is its sensitivity to stains and dirt. The famous red wine stain is just one example of many here. The sensitivity and the associated intensity of care depend, as already mentioned above, on the material, quality, place of use or purpose. Caring for a carpet in a household with small children and/or pets is more difficult than caring for a carpet in a household with one or a few people. Another disadvantage is that especially high-pile carpets are mite-friendly and therefore rather unsuitable for people who react strongly to dust mites. In addition, very few carpets are resistant to high continuous loads, such as tile or stone floors.
Advantages and disadvantages of carpets summarized:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| – Coziness- Pleasant walking feeling- Foot warm and sound absorbing- Binds dust particles- Generally easy to clean | – Sensitive to stains and soiling- Mite friendly- Wears out quickly depending on foot traffic. |
Carpet trends
Vintage-style or used-look carpets are particularly in vogue.[4] Hand-knotted carpets in particular have been popular again for some time, as customers are placing more and more value on individuality and special carpet sizes. Oriental carpets are also on the rise again in this context in the upper price segment. When it comes to design, unobtrusive and restrained concepts dominate. The choice of colors is also rather natural, in delicate shades of green, gray and earth tones. Whereby red and blue are also among the latest trends. The situation is similar when it comes to the choice of materials: Here, too, the trend is towards natural fibers such as hemp, jute, wool or goat hair. Basically, short and medium pile carpets are more popular here than long pile carpets.
Conclusion
The carpet is undergoing a transformation in Germany. If in the past it was used as a practical and cozy flooring in almost every living room and bedroom, nowadays it serves more as a decorative furnishing element to beautify the room. The penchant for individuality plays a major role here. Carpets serve to complete individual living and furnishing concepts. The aspect of coziness plays a rather subordinate role here. However, the popularity of the carpet remains unaffected, only the function of the carpet has changed, especially in the higher price segment. So carpets are far from obsolete, but still experience a high popularity, which will continue.
[1] https://www.test.de/Teppichboeden-Billige-halten-nicht-1548798-2548798/
[2] https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/253906/umfrage/umsatz-der-deutschen-teppichindustrie/
[3] https://de.statista.com/prognosen/400160/herstellung-von-teppichen-in-deutschland-umsatzprognose
[4] https://www.domotex.de/de/news/artikel/selbstlaeufer-welche-teppiche-bei-kunden-angesagt-sind.xhtml
Cover image: CC0 by pixabay.com
