Frieze Carpeting: Shag Remixed?

Can a remix ever be better than the original? It doesn’t often happen that way in music, but when it comes to carpeting, frieze carpet has definite advantages over its older cousin, shag.

Shag was the rage in the 1960s and 1970s. No modern home was considered complete without it. The plush carpet feels nice on bare feet, but it takes a lot of care. The long strands, which are twisted loosely and spaced less tightly than most carpets, lie in different directions when walked on. For that reason, homes were also incomplete without a “carpet rake.” Many a child had to rake the carpet as a regular chore.

Fast forward a few decades, and meet frieze, most commonly pronounced “free-say.” The informal, laid-back look and the plush, pamper-your-feet feel of this very popular carpet is similar to the short shag from years ago. In fact, it has reached the same “must have” status shag enjoyed back when.

But this remix has those who do chores in the home singing a happier tune. The yarns in a frieze carpet are more twisted than in shag, providing a curly, textured surface that resists foot prints and even vacuum marks. Frieze carpet is often recommended for high traffic areas because of its resilience – no raking required!

Construction Resources, Inc., carries this very up-to-date 70s throwback by manufacturers Mohawk, Shaw and Beaulieu. Samples in various colors are available at the Decatur showroom. For a showroom appointment, call 1-800-765-5129.