The trend’s revival couldn’t have been timed better for the return of carpets. Look out for Turkish- and Persian-influenced designs in jewel tones. Turkey Red by Axminster, £54 per square metre; axminster-carpets.co.uk

3 ABSTRACT

Forget Meg Mathews’s pub-carpet look in Supernova Heights. Instead, think of pattern as bold, abstract designs. Jardin Japonais, £543 per square metre; sofarsonear.com

4 RUGS

For those scared of doing the wall-to-wall fit, huge rugs can have just as much impact. Matilda rug, from £1,770 to order; gyer.co.uk

5 COLOUR

New dyes mean near-neon shades are available — perfect for a statement floor. Key colours include cerise and tangerine, complemented by neutrals, from nude to dove grey. Audrey Sunrise, £91 per square metre; crucial-trading.com

HOW TO GET IT RIGHT

Jargon buster

* Twist piles usually have a rough, knobbly appearance.

* Velvet pile is ultra smooth and luxurious.

* Loop piles look bumpy — a little like sisal — but are made using softer yarns. Loops don't mix well with cat claws.

* Saxony is a deep shag pile. Think Austin Powers’s bedroom. Not great for hallways as the pile will flatten.

* Wool is the traditional and most commonly used carpet fibre; it is soft, keeps its colour and is naturally fire-resistant.

* Carpet often comes with a percentage of polypropylene, nylon or polyester incorporated. These are stain-resistant and make the carpet easier to clean. As a rule, the higher the wool content, the better quality the carpet.

Before you buy

* Expect to spend a minimum of £20 per square metre, including underlay, for a decent carpet.

* Always buy new underlay. It can prolong the life of your carpet by up to 40%.

* For halls and stairs, you need heavy-duty carpet. An 80% wool, 20% nylon mix should be tough enough.

* For carpeting stairs, check that the pile is suitable — loops are not, as they are slippery; neither are deep shag piles, which will show “bald” patches where they bend.

* Get your room measured by a professional to avoid fitting disasters.

* Never try fitting carpet yourself: it requires great skill — and a bad finish will ruin the whole room.

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