Why shag carpets are making a comeback in 2025

Shag is a deep or thick file type of carpet that was extremely popular in the 1960s and 1970s. According to interior style writer Megan Lasher, these carpets are coming right back into style.

A shag carpet has a pile that is at least half an inch high. Shag carpets are believed to originate from Flokati rugs made in Ancient Greece from goat's hair. They became common in Central Asia and Turkey, where they were bought by royalty for their palaces.

Shag carpets were revived in the 1960s and 1970s and often featured bright colours and quirky patterns influenced by the psychedelic hippie culture. Sales of these bright shag carpets declined in the 1980s as more minimalist styles became popular.

Megan Lasher predicts shag carpets will be a popular home décor trend of 2025, part of the move to a more maximalist style. However, plain muted colour shag carpets are also suitable for a chic minimalist look. Earth shades of brown and green, or neutral colour carpets make a style statement without being over dramatic.

Shag carpets are soft underfoot and make a room feel warm and cosy when relaxing barefoot. If you are not ready to replace carpets, Megan Lasher suggests adding one or two colourful shag pile rugs to experience the look and feel of this luxurious style.

Whether you favour minimalist or maximalist décor styles, shag carpets add luxury to any room style. A carpet retailer in Chester, Wrexham or North Wales will be able to show you their selection of shag carpets.

Tarkett launches new carpet range for care homes

Flooring manufacturer Tarkett has unveiled its "Preserved Treasures" carpet range for care homes and other retired living facilities.

The range of eight carpet patterns are designed to evoke memories. Four are on carpet tiles: Sacred Symbols, Sentimental Motif, Shifted Transition and Worldly Essence. The other four patterns are on Powerbond carpets: Shared Ritual, Nostalgic Blend, Familiar Reflection and Time Abstraction.

Powerbond carpets are the first in the world to receive asthma and allergy friendly certification. These carpets contribute to enhanced air quality indoors and are suitable for allergy and asthma sufferers, and people with respiratory issues. They have a moisture barrier that makes them suitable for pets, as well as service dogs.

The Preserved Treasures range is made for areas with high traffic. They are manufactured using 79% recycled materials and both the carpets and backing are recyclable. A barrier keeps moisture, mud, soil and other debris on the surface where it can easily be removed.

Paul Young, a Tarkett senior vice president, described the new range as:

"Beautiful, durable and easy to maintain, the Preserved Treasures collection delivers everything you want in flooring: elegance, endurance, comfort and performance—all made with healthy materials."

For 140 years, Tarkett has been manufacturing durable and innovative flooring. The company declares it is committed to designing sustainable carpets that have a positive healthy impact in indoor spaces. Ask a local carpet retailer in North Wales or Chester to show you their range of premium quality carpets and carpet tiles by Tarkett for commercial or residential use.

Common carpet installation mistakes and how to avoid them

If you are considering installing a new carpet, avoid these common mistakes if you are an inexperienced carpet installer. If you have never fitted a carpet or are not confident in your fitting skills, it's better to use a professional carpet installer.

Incorrect measurements

Before buying a carpet, measure the room's width and length. Add at least 10cm to the length and width measurements to account for waste. If you make a mistake and don't order enough carpet, you will need to purchase more to fill in the gaps.

Most carpets need to be cut to fit the room size and fit around doorways and alcoves. If you make a mistake in measuring how much to cut off, the carpet won't fit properly. If you have cut off too much, there will be unsightly gaps. Poor measurements can cause unnecessary waste.

Accurate measuring will prevent you from buying more carpet than you need. To ensure that you buy the correct amount of carpet, use a carpet retailer who will measure your rooms for you and then quote for the exact amount of carpet you require.

Improper carpet stretching

If a carpet is not stretched and secured properly when installed it may develop wrinkles after a while as it cannot expand and contract in response to humidity and temperature changes.

The best way to stretch a carpet when installing is to use a carpet power stretcher tool. A professional carpet stretching tool can cost several hundred pounds. You may be able to hire one or you can buy non-powered ones for a lot less. Alternatively, an inexpensive carpet knee kicker can be used.

Stretching a carpet requires some skill. There are YouTube videos that show you how to do it, but mistakes can still easily be made.

Improper pad installation

Both the carpet and the padding have to be installed correctly, otherwise the carpet will be uneven and have bumps or wrinkles.

Carpet padding or underlay should be installed on a clean subfloor and laid perpendicular to the direction the carpet is installed. Secure with padding adhesive or staples and use duct tape on the seams. If using tack strips, leave a half inch gap.

Forgetting carpet acclimation

If the carpet has been stored in a cold warehouse, and then delivered to a warm room, the changes in temperature may cause the carpet to be slightly smaller. This is why it is important to acclimatise the carpet by leaving it in the room, where it is to be fitted for 24 to 48 hours.

Lacking the proper equipment

Like most do-it-yourself jobs, using poor or incorrect equipment to fit carpets diminishes the chances of doing a decent job. You will need at least the following tools and equipment: utility knife, pliers, straight edge ruler, carpet knife, knee kicker, carpet stretcher and carpet tucker. It is best to use premium quality tools, but it will be expensive to buy them all if you don't have them. It could work out cheaper to use a professional fitter.

Improper seaming

If the carpet is stretched perpendicular across the carpet seam, it may cause the seam to be more visible. Instead, stretch the carpet parallel to the seam.

Make sure the seam edges are sealed to prevent them from unravelling. If using a seal iron, it must not be too hot otherwise the seams may be discoloured.

As carpets are sold in fixed widths, seams are inevitable in larger rooms. Try to position seams away from windows or intense light sources where they will be more visible. If possible, seams should be positioned in low-footfall areas where they are less likely to be caught in shoes.

Trimming mistakes

Poor trimming or cutting can cause gaps, uneven edges, or overlapping. Be sure to measure accurately and use a sharp, professional-quality carpet knife.

Carpet installation is not easy and requires several skills. The common carpet fitting mistakes listed here are only some of the many ways inexperienced fitters can do a poor job. Without knowledge and experience, it is not worth taking the risk of installing a carpet yourself. Instead, visit a local carpet retailer in Wrexham, Chester, or North Wales who will recommend a good carpet installer. Ideally, use a retailer that includes professional fitting at no extra charge when you purchase a carpet from them.

Professional fitters are experienced in even the most complex fitting tasks and will ensure that your carpet looks its best in your home or business.

Maximalist flooring ideas for 2025

Maximalist interior design is a bold and expressive style that layers vibrant colours, patterns and textures to create a visually rich space.

Some industry experts suggest maximalist décor is making a comeback in 2025. Several flooring ideas add a maximalist design to a room.

Large geometric shape luxury vinyl tiles featuring large diamonds, hexagrams or trapezoids in bright colours add dramatic style to large rooms and hallways.

Mixing carpet tiles of different bold colours creates vibrant checkerboard patterns that add visual appeal. You may choose to experiment with unusual colour pairings such as mustard and teal or burgundy with pink. If you prefer hard floor surfaces, install vinyl tiles in several colours, but when doing this it’s wise to use varying shades of the same colour. For instance, create a blue floor that changes from cool sky blue to dark navy.

For those who like the natural look of wood flooring but still want a maximalist feel, try parquet flooring using different dark and light timbers laid in chevron, herringbone or other dramatic geometric patterns that look almost three dimensional.

A simple way to add maximalist design to an existing floor is to use bold colours and patterned rugs.

Maximalist design works better in large rooms. In smaller spaces, however, use more subdued flooring designs featuring medium-scale patterns or fewer bold colours. Solid colour furniture works best with maximalist flooring. Homeowners can add texture with velvet or leather furniture.

Contact a local flooring retailer in Chester, Wrexham or North Wales for more maximalist flooring ideas.

Carpets are coming back in 2025

Over the past few years, many households have installed hard flooring and thrown their old carpets away. According to the interior design service website Decorilla, carpets are making a comeback in 2025.

The designers at Decorilla say the carpets that will be popular in 2025 have rich colours, bold patterns and are highly textured. Colourful geometric patterns and jewel tones add vibrancy to a room, whilst also adding a warm and cosy atmosphere. Decorilla advises using carpets in rooms where you want the emphasis to be on comfort such as bedrooms and living rooms. Use colours and patterns that go with the existing room shades, but let them create a new style layer that adds more interest.

Another design trend for 2025 is to mix flooring materials to highlight different areas of a room. Some schools do this to designate quiet areas from more active ones. In the home, for example, laminate flooring can be used to highlight a home working office space in a living room with carpets used in relaxing areas. Designer Paula Dixon explains the impact of mixed flooring:

"Mixing materials on floors introduces a layer of depth and visual intrigue … integrating these diverse materials creates a refined design that reflects a more considered approach."

To see the latest rich colour and bold pattern carpet ranges, contact your local carpet retailer in Wrexham, North Wales or Chester. If you have ditched your carpets for hard floors, it could be time to bring carpets back into your home again.