How to choose the right carpet for your home
Nothing can compare with the feeling of carpet. There may be many other types of flooring that are more practical, easy to care for or cheaper, but when it comes to a feeling of luxury, great sound absorption and overall warmth and comfort, carpet is impossible to beat.
But with the huge variety of materials, styles and designs on the market, it can be tricky to find the perfect carpet for your home. If you are going to invest in carpet, you want to make sure it looks as good as the day it was laid for a long time to come. Check out our tips for choosing the right carpet for your lifestyle, taste and budget.
1. Do your homework
When you are in the market for new carpet for your home, it pays to take your time. Let’s face it, the cost and upheaval of getting new carpet laid means that you won’t want to go through this every year! This means you need to choose a carpet that is right for your chosen space, in a colour and design that you can live with for a good while, and one that will not take more looking after than you can manage. So, do some research into materials, pile, underlay and maintenance before buying.
2. Don’t break the bank
Carpets come in all types of price ranges, but not every area of the home needs a top of the range carpet. Some areas of the home that see more traffic will require a good quality, easy to maintain carpet, especially if you have kids or pets, but in little-used guest rooms or a study you can get away with a more budget-friendly option. Don’t forget that as well as the cost of the carpet, you may need to pay for underlay and the cost of laying the carpet, so check what the price includes.
3. The matter of maintenance
Always match your chosen carpet to your lifestyle or circumstances, not the other way around. If you have a busy lifestyle, you won’t want to spend hours vacuuming your carpet or worrying about marks left by furniture. People with pets or young kids, or those that like to throw a party, may decide that paying a little extra for stain-resistant carpet is actually a good idea. And if you have a room where people tend to come in from outside, you may want to decide on a patterned style that hides footprints. Always ask about cleaning and maintenance requirements before you commit to buying a new carpet.
4. Carpet comes first
If you are planning an overhaul of part or all of your home, it is a good idea to decide on your choice of carpet first, before deciding on paint, wallpaper or other decorative items. Carpet colours and designs can have a big impact on your space, making it look larger and brighter, or smaller and more intimate as required. As a rule, big designs and bold colours will make a space feel more enclosed, while small patterns and neutral colours will give a feeling of space.
5. Think of your health
Although carpets are great for the majority of people, there are some people for whom carpet is not the best choice of flooring. People with dust allergies, for instance, will be better served by hard flooring such as timber, hybrid, bamboo, laminate or vinyl. If you decide that you can’t have carpet, a hard floor with occasional rugs can still provide warmth and comfort underfoot where it is needed.
Lastly, make sure you view your new carpet in person. There is simply no way that the internet can give you a true reflection of the look and feel of your chosen carpet. While it is a great tool for doing your homework, comparing prices and getting quotes, once you are ready to make a definite decision on your carpet, try to go and see it in a store so you will be 100% happy with your investment when it is installed in your home.
For a great selection of carpets in different styles, materials and colours, check out your nearest Carpet Court store, where the friendly and experienced team will be able to answer any questions you may have to help you find the perfect carpet for your home.