Not all carpets are made the same way, and the method decides how a carpet looks, feels, lasts and costs. These are the three constructions we are asked about most.
Hand-tufted
A hand-operated tufting gun pushes yarn through a backing cloth, which is then locked with latex and finished with a cloth lining. It allows great freedom in colour, texture and scale, and it is faster than knotting, which makes it a favourite for custom hotel and residential designs.
Hand-knotted
Each knot is tied by hand on a loom. The process takes patience and skill, and the result is a very fine, long-lasting rug with crisp detail. Hand-knotted pieces are usually chosen as statement rugs where craftsmanship is the story.
Woven Axminster
Axminster carpets are woven on a machine that places tufts in pre-planned sequence, so complex multi-colour patterns can be repeated precisely. They are well suited to large areas such as hotel corridors, ballrooms and casinos.
Which one should you pick?
- Choose hand-tufted for bespoke designs and flexible budgets.
- Choose hand-knotted for heirloom-quality feature rugs.
- Choose Axminster for high-traffic, large-scale projects.
Still unsure? Share your space, usage and design idea with us and we will recommend the construction that fits best.