How to Choose the Best Carpet for Your Home

Are you a new homeowner and you face the challenge of making the right decision of carpet to use? Or you just want to replace your old carpet?

This piece of information will serve as a useful guide.

Carpets are produced from woven fiber and are mostly used for floor decoration. Aside from beautifying the home, carpets also absorb sound, preserve the room temperature, and prevent slipping due to the high level of friction on the surface.

Purchasing a carpet for your home can feel overwhelming because there are several types and designs to choose from. However, setting out a perfect plan for choosing a carpet is the best way to overcome any anxiety that may arise as a result.

 

Why Use Carpets?

The following are some of the benefits of using carpets for residential or commercial purposes.

 

• Easier to maintain

The maintenance of carpets is easier compared to other materials. All you need is a vacuum cleaner to get rid of dust stuck on the surface.

• Appearance

Carpeting is an excellent addition to beautify your home. The color patterns and designs make your home more attractive to visitors.

• Style

Do you feel you might not get a carpet design suitable for your home? Worry not, there are lots of carpet styles to choose from; the list is inexhaustible.

• Insulation

A carpet is a good insulator of temperature, so be assured that the atmospheric condition of the indoor environment where the carpet is being used is always preserved.

• Feel

How does it feel to lie on a cemented floor without any floor covering? "An apple a day keeps the doctor away”, they say – in this case, "the soft texture a carpet has keeps back pain and pain reliever away".

• Acoustics

According to research, a carpet is an excellent option when it comes to soundproofing. Padded carpets even make a perfect enhancer for sounds.

• Safety

Yearly, millions of home accidents are recorded across the globe. In America, about 2.7 million people die from falls or slips on their home floor, staircase, or bathrooms. Slip and fall occur on hard or tiled floors, but carpets are safer and are not slip-prone.

• Cost-saving

Carpets are relatively cheaper compared to other flooring materials. You will save a lot of money from hiring professionals to install or arrange them because you only need to spread your carpet across the room.

• Health

Apart from safety from slips, carpets are recommended health-wise because the surface serves as a trap for dust, dirt, and other contaminants – retaining them until they can be properly discarded.

• Sustainable

Advancement in technology introduced contemporary methods of recycling carpets. Old or worn-out carpets no longer have to be disposed of, they can simply be recycled into new ones or materials that can be used for other products.

 

How to Choose a Carpet

 Let’s have a walkthrough on the steps to take to get the most suitable carpet for you. Below is a guide that will help you to select the best carpet materials of your choice.

 

1. Budget

Analyze the price before you go shopping around so that you can have an idea of the estimated cost. This will aid narrow down your search. Also, make sure you measure the length and breadth of your room, including any bay windows, under-stair spaces, and door recesses that need to be fitted. Add an excess of at least 10cm to width and length measurements for trimming. You can use the same method to calculate underlay.

 

2. Carpet Texture

Choosing the right texture for your home is the most important thing when deciding. Considering the part of the home you intend to lay your carpet and the sort of pressure it will have to endure will help you to narrow down your options.

You can treat yourself to a bit of luxury in the bedroom where a softer pile will tolerate slippers or barefoot. But you’ll need something dense and tight in high-traffic areas like the sitting room.

 

3. Durability

Another important factor to consider in selecting a carpet is its durability. Ensure that you assess the durability of the carpet you intend to buy. Examine the thickness, resilience, material, and weight of a carpet’s pile.

This can be done with your thumb by pressing it firmly into the pile. If it bounces back as fast as you apply pressure with your thumb, it is dense enough, but if it doesn't recover fast enough, consider other options. It’s not the best for you.

 

4. Density

How dense your carpet is should be crucial to your decision making, especially if you intend to spread it in a high-traffic area such as the hallway or stairs.

How then do you know how dense the carpet is?

Density is determined by the closeness of the knitting from one fiber to another, rather than the depth of the carpet. Carefully examine underneath the material to see how much space there is between the tufts. Wide gaps mean the carpet will lose its elasticity more quickly.

 

5. Weight

After you might have selected a choice of fabric, make sure you observe the weight of the fabric on similar carpet styles. Weights are usually printed on the back of the material. Judging by the thumb rule, short and dense-fiber carpets have a longer lifespan.

 

6. Color

Color is another factor to consider. Dark colors work best in high traffic areas because they hide dust and dirt easily. Stains aren't obvious on dark carpet compared to other colors.

Alternatively, you could opt for a lighter shade for a bedroom. Sellers often permit the borrowing of samples; place the sample in your room to have an idea of how color will be influenced by light.

 

7. Expertise

Once you’ve made a choice that will enhance your modern living space, you need to ensure that the carpet is fitted with precision. A badly fitted carpet can harm the overall look of a contemporary room where everything is neat and tidy. This is why it’s always best to leave fitting in the hands of specialists.

 

Materials Used in Making Carpets

When making up your mind on the carpet to choose, it is crucial to have an idea of the materials used in manufacturing carpets. Some of the materials include woven nylon, polyester, olefin, and wool fibers. Each of these materials has its advantage over another material, and your selection depends on what you desire.

The most important factor to consider before purchasing a carpet is its quality and durability. While manufacturers will make claims of durability and quality, it’s best to look at how the carpet is produced and the materials used.

Carpets are one of the least expensive floor covering options available, typically selling for far less than tiles. There's, however, no doubt that they’re still a significant expense for most homeowners (and renters, if your landlord won’t cover the cost).

The following are materials used to make carpets.

• Nylon

Nylon, also known as polyamide, is the most durable carpet material available. Its slip-proof material makes it a first choice for homes with kids who entertain themselves a lot.

• Polyester

It is known for its attractive looks. Carpet designs are more elegant on polyester materials than any other.

• Olefin

Pronounced 'hole-fin', is a considerable option when it comes to its stainless texture and moisture resistance.

• Wool

Carpets are also made out of wool. This variety of carpets are soil resistant, have a longer lifespan, and look beautiful with designs. The major defect with this type of carpet is that it is prone to stains.

 

Conclusion

So much stress just for just selecting a carpet? You wouldn't want to start calling for a change or replacement a few weeks after spending a fortune on the floor designs of your home.

Ensure that you take your time and go through the steps to get the best result and emerge from the battle of carpet selection as a victor.

Explore all your carpeting options before making a decision. Ideally, check out homes, contemporary homes in showrooms, and interior design websites. Not all types of carpets are compatible with modern living spaces, but you’ll need to see them before you can conclude.