In our present house we have kelims on a wooden floor, and now we are moving to a house where the sitting room will be carpeted. Is there a particular type of carpet that works best under rugs?

When you walk on a rug laid over carpet, the carpet pile flattens and, as it springs back, the rug moves with it. There are proprietary rug underlays designed to check this tendency, and these are readily available where carpets and rugs are sold, but they are not always the answer. An informed choice of carpet will help. If you prefer a pile carpet, choose one with a dense low pile but, better still, select a tightly woven, low-loop pile carpet. Carpet makers that supply these include Victoria Carpets; Crucial Trading, and Abingdon Carpets, 01495 246220.