How to choose the right carpet

When it’s time for a change in your home, you need to know how to choose the right carpet.  With so many options available on the market now, here are some thing you should consider.

What is the best type of carpet?

The best type of carpet depends entirely on your household; if you have children and/or pets, how many people live in the house and how busy it is, your budget, allergies and how you would you like it to look and feel.  It is also important to consider where the carpet is going as some types of carpet are more suitable for the living room and others for bedrooms, depending on their durability.

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For the busiest parts of the house (those with the highest traffic) choose a durable, easy to clean and practical carpet that will stand the test of time and keep its appearance well.  It’s worth investing as you want a carpet that will last for years to come.

Nylon, polyester and wool are all durable fibres that can stand up to high footfall.  Manufacturers give usage ratings to their carpets so it is easy to see if they are made for light or heavy usage.  The texture of the carpet is important too; berber, loop and cut pile are all good choices for busy areas as they are strong and can maintain their shape. The pile of a carpet refers to how the loops of the fibre are attached to the backing of the carpet; these loops are then either left as they are or cut at a length and/or angle.

When you are buying a new carpet, have a look for the Tog rating as well – this calculates the thermal insulation, so the higher the Tog rating, the warmer the carpet will be.

Man-made fibres such as polypropylene, are great ‘family friendly’ fibres as they are highly stain-resistant.  They are also hard-wearing but have a softness as well, for the perfect floor.  Carpets that have been treated with Scotchgard or Teflon are a good choice as they will prevent stains from setting into the fabric.

If allergies are a concern, a carpet made from Nylon is the most effective allergy-controlling option.  Nylon repels allergens and has the added benefits of being a long lasting, durable carpet that keeps its colour and shape well.  Carpet with tightly woven strands is ideal for those with allergies as the fewer the strands, the less places there are for pollen to go.

For those rooms where you have the option of a luxury, opulent carpet, like adult bedrooms, wool is a popular choice with a style like saxony for a deep and lush pile, giving that indulgent feel underfoot.

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What colour is best?

There are a few factors to consider when choosing the choosing the colour; what room the carpet is for, who will be using it and how much light it gets.  For kids’ rooms, it is best to go for a darker colour when they are younger as it will hide the inevitable spills and stains better.  As they get older, lighter colours are more viable.  If you have pets you may want to have a darker carpet to hide dirty paw marks and pet hair; fleck patterns are a great option for hiding these as well.

Light colours make a room look bigger and brighter, but bear in mind that they will show up any dirt or stains, so they are a better choice in rooms that are not used very much.  Bright colours are cheery and welcoming but they may fade in a room that gets a lot of sunlight.  Very dark carpet can make a small room seem even smaller but are great in large rooms, especially media or game ones.  Neutrals like browns, greys and tan strike a great balance between bringing light and warmth to a room and hiding any dirt, which is why they are so popular.

If you want the best of both worlds, a patterned, striped or bright staircase or stair runner is a good way to bring character to your home while choosing a practical colour for the majority of your home.

If you are looking for an on-trend colour, soft, textured grey carpets will be popular, like this luxurious Elements London Wall Street Whisky Sour carpet (pictured left).

One of the two Panetone colours for this year is ‘Ultimate Gray’ and all of the colour predictions for 2021 include shades of grey. All neutrals like greys, browns and greige (a mixture of grey and beige) will continue to be in favour for the foreseeable.  Bold, bright colours are coming into style too, as people design their interior colour schemes to reflect their personalities with decadent, vibrant jewel toned carpets.

Can carpet be eco-friendly?

Yes, there are many eco-friendly carpets available. Wool carpets are a great option as they are durable, luxurious and improve indoor air quality.  Wool is a sustainable source which is renewable and biodegradable. Herts Carpets work with a number of wool carpet specialists like Axminster Carpets; they support The Campaign for Wool, raising the profile of wool as a natural, sustainable fibre.  Axminster Carpets locally source wool to further reduce any environmental impact.  Alternative Flooring also have a hand woven collection of wool carpets which is both ethically and environmentally friendly.

Other sustainable, natural fibres such as seagrass, organic cotton, jute, bamboo coir and sisal make wonderfully textured, luxury carpets which are becoming increasingly popular.

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Whatever you’re looking to achieve in your home, we can help with all your flooring and carpet needs. Contact us here to book a free estimate with our friendly and professional Herts Carpets team today!

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