A Brief History of Residential Carpets From Ancient Times to the 21st Century

When it comes to a Carpet Store Atlanta residents may be seeking to replace the material in one room of the house or they might want a brand new home carpeted. They're looking to compare possibilities in color, texture and patterns, and come to a final decision.

Ancient and Early History

Historically, people have used fabric on their floors for centuries, but wall-to-wall carpeting did not arrive until the 20th Century. Large rugs functioned as carpets, even in ancient times when people used animal skins with fur on the floors.

Faster Manufacturing Leads to Changes

As carpet was increasingly made of wool, wealthier men and women could afford to carpet big areas of square footage this way, enjoying the softness and the insulating properties. Rugs were crafted by hand or in slow-paced manufacturing processes. The 1700s saw impressive strides in weaving mill equipment, so that carpeting could be produced much faster and at lower prices. This made it available to many more consumers.

Wall-to-Wall Carpeting

The 1950s were an ideal time for wall-to-wall carpeting to become available. The housing boom after World War II ended led to a huge market for this new option. Millions of square yards of the material were being sold nationwide, with a home's living room being the main focal point. Now, about half of the flooring sold in the United States each year is wall-to-wall carpeting.

Advantages of Synthetic Fibers

Synthetic fibers, such as polyester and nylon, were a later addition to the carpet manufacturing process, with much of the material still being made of wool until the 1970s. In the 21st Century, about 90 percent of carpeting sold in the United States is made of synthetic materials. The fabric is substantially easier to clean than the old wool carpeting was, and it resists stains remarkably better. With wool carpet, a puppy's accident might be a permanent feature, resulting in the need to keep the space covered with a basket of magazines or a piece of furniture. When homeowners visit a Carpet Store Marietta has available, they can understand a bit of the history surrounding the material they plan to order at a shop such as Flooring Atlanta.