Whether you’ve just bought a new home or fancy a change, a new carpet is a great way to add some aesthetic to your home. Make that cosy environment that everyone dreams of. A carpet in your home can transform the space from uninviting and cold into a warm and welcoming room. We all know there is no better feeling than walking on the freshly laid carpet; it provides safety for small children, comfort for all and can even make your home look more luxurious.
With the vast carpet marketing, the same question remains for every homeowner; how do you decide on the perfect carpet? It can be quite a complicated process, choosing the perfect style, the ideal pile for your home and the right colour, but our team here at QC Flooring have written this blog intending to help you work out how to decide on the perfect carpet for you and your family.
Choosing the wrong carpet can be a costly expense that most homeowners would prefer to do without, so finding the perfect carpet the first time is essential; once you have read our article, if you have any questions or queries, please feel free to reach out to our team. We are always happy to help you in any way we can. Having worked in the flooring industry for several years, we are confident you will get the help you need.
What Rooms Should Carpet Be Laid In?
When it comes to your home and which rooms you should lay carpet in, that is entirely your choice, but having worked in the industry for several years, we have seen that most homes go for the same. Generally, if a homeowner chooses carpet, it will be laid throughout the downstairs and upstairs, avoiding the kitchen and bathrooms. Using carpet in your kitchen or bathroom is not recommended for hygiene reasons and health and safety.
Sometimes homeowners will choose to have carpet throughout the upstairs of their home but choose a more modern flooring option such as wood flooring for downstairs; this is also common in homes with pets. The main areas in your home that will be subject to faster wear and tear if you have carpet laid are the stairs and hallways because they are high-traffic areas.
In rooms such as your bedroom, we would always recommend trying to go for a carpet that offers luxury; this is because it isn’t used as often as your living areas, not only that if you spend a little more on a more luxurious carpet, it is a nice feeling on a morning for when you get out of bed. Comfort should be critical when considering which rooms to install carpets in your home.
Consider the Size of the Rooms In Your Home
When deciding on a carpet, considering the size of the room is vital. For smaller rooms using a brighter carpet can make the room feel larger. Whereas a deeper colour may be a good option for a larger room, this will fill the space nicely whilst creating a cosy, homely feeling. If you have a decent size room with lots of natural light, consider a cream carpet; this will create that light, airy feel during the day and create a warm, cosy feel at night.
Patterns, whilst excellent in small portions and can add some aesthetics to any home, we recommend you avoid overdoing the bold patterns; a great alternative to this would be a feature wall. You don’t want to pull the eye towards the floor, making the room seem small and busy. With a vast selection of colours, designs and styles, you need to work with something that will suit your space; choosing the wrong carpet can be detrimental to the aesthetic of your home.
Popular Types of Carpet
The two most popular types of fibres for carpets are nylon and polyester. For a durable carpet, we would suggest a nylon fibre carpet. Whilst the prices can be slightly higher than other types, it is highly durable. This means that it will last a long time if looked after properly, saving you your time and money in the future. This carpet is great for families with small children and animals; constant traffic and deposit of dirt can easily be cleaned and protected with cleaning supplies found in the local supermarkets.
Polyester fibre carpets are also great at fighting against stains and hiding dirt, an excellent option for those with a smaller budget. These carpets are not as durable as nylon fibre carpets. If you’re planning to move shortly, this would be a great option; it looks great for a smaller price.
As you probably realised, choosing the perfect carpet for your house depends on several aspects, such as the size of the rooms, the types of fibres you prefer or the overall functionality of the products.
Nevertheless, you must not forget an equally important thing: try and have some fun when shopping for carpets or rugs; it’s an enjoyable process.
Choosing The Ideal Padding For Your Carpet
Choosing the ideal padding for your new home depends on personal preference. We would always recommend you spend a little bit more money on high-quality padding than settling for something of lower quality; by doing so, you will, without a doubt, save more money in the long run. To have a carpet that will last a lifetime, you need to make sure the foundations are correct; you will find yourself replacing the carpet every few years.
You won’t be able to see the padding when the carpet has been laid, but you will be able to feel the difference thicker padding will provide; the support and extra cushioning are second to none. Generally, you will find that underlay padding for carpets is made of rubber or; this is concealed in the subfloor in a way that improves the finished flooring.
Another great reason to choose thicker padding for your carpet is that you can benefit from its insulation, especially with the ever-growing energy bills; this is nothing but a good thing. Finding the proper carpet padding is crucial to ensuring your carpet will last a long time.
Do Not Spend Your Budget All At Once
When you are searching for the perfect carpet for your home, you do not want to buy the first carpet you see that you love; you need to spend time shopping around for the perfect carpet. You need to make sure you find something that looks aesthetically pleasing in your home and does the job you need; for example, if you have dogs, you will need a sturdier carpet than if you do not.
One of the best things you can do when choosing a carpet is to compare budgets, spend the time looking at a range of manufacturers and carpet styles, and then compare the cost of each one; by doing so, you will be able to draw up a budget from your findings.
Another way to spend your budget wisely is by choosing carpets for each room on an individual basis; for example, if you are looking for a carpet to go in a family room, finding something that is stain resistant would be worthwhile, whereas carpets for rooms that are not regularly used can be cheaper and lesser quality.
Buying a carpet is a considerable investment for several reasons, mainly because they are expensive. Still, if you can invest a little bit more into your budget, you can rest assured it will last you much longer than a cheaper alternative.
Do You Understand How To Assess Carpet Quality?
When it comes to buying the perfect carpet for your home, you need to understand how to find good quality carpets in a shop, you can do this without becoming an expert, but it is always wise to have a good understanding of the product you are going to purchase before you set on the decision making.
When it comes to shopping for your carpet, our team would recommend you ignore the face weight of the carpet; we would recommend you look further into the carpet in terms of how it has been designed, what pattern the pile has been installed and also the thickness of the carpet. Often, carpets are sold based on pile weight, which is incorrect. Just remember, higher weight does not mean higher quality carpet.
Confidently Decide Which Carpet Is Perfect For You
Style
This is the first thing you need to decide, what style of carpet you would like, there are thousands of options available on the market today, but they can be thinned down into only a handful of categories, with the three most common being; cut pile, loop pile or cut loop pile. This should be the first decision you make when searching for a brand new carpet for your home.
Quality
Try not to choose your perfect carpet based purely on how it looks; sadly, appearance can be quite deceiving when it comes to a high-quality carpet. You need to consider how this carpet will look after years of wear and tear, not how it looks brand new in your home.
Thickness
Have you considered thickness when you have been thinking about your new carpet? Many homeowners even forget to consider how thick they want their new carpet, but it comes to hand when looking at the different available pile heights; it also comes down to your padding thickness which we have discussed previously.
There are two rules that you should stick to when considering the thickness.
- Carpets for living spaces should be synthetic and have a lower pile than other areas in your home because you want them to be long-lasting and durable. Your living room is a high-traffic place where spills and mess can happen; having a carpet like this will make it easier to maintain.
- If you choose a carpet for your bedroom or a room that is not as regularly used, we recommend something a little bit more luxurious because it will stay in good condition for a long time. Less foot traffic means the pile will not be crushed as easily.
Contact QC Flooring For More Help On Finding The Perfect Carpet
QC Flooring would love to help you choose the perfect carpet for your home. Our team is experienced in helping clients find the best flooring solution for their needs and budget. We offer a wide variety of carpets, including pet-friendly and stain-resistant options. Don’t know where to start? No problem!
Contact us today for a free consultation, and we will be happy to help you find the perfect carpet for your space. Our team are passionate about flooring, whether carpet, laminate, tiles or any other material. All you need to do is speak to our team today; we are always more than happy to help you in any way we can.
