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Nothing beats the sense of comfort and luxury that a carpet provides. It offers a safe and cosy surface where your kids can play without injuring themselves, and where your pets can dose off without feeling cold.
It can be challenging to select the right carpet for your house because there are so many various colours, textures, and styles to pick from. Some materials are hard to maintain, some cost a lot of money, while others can even be harmful to your health. If you choose a bad rug, it might fade and deteriorate quickly, or show stubborn stains that you can’t take off even after many washes.
Here are five important carpet-buying suggestions to consider that will help you choose the best one for your home.
Make Sure It’s Low Maintenance
Hard-surface floors are relatively easy to maintain. All you need is the occasional sweep and mop. On the other hand, the typical wall-to-wall carpet is more challenging for you to clean. For this reason, I suggest that you stick to a low-maintenance synthetic plush carpet that’s resistant to stains and bacteria. All you need to keep these rugs clean is the occasional vacuuming.
Soft synthetic carpets are perfect for both high-traffic hallways, and delicate areas like your kids’ bedroom. They’re soft and cosy for your little ones to play on, while also being durable enough to withstand years of persistent foot traffic.
Your choice of carpet style and material can also have a significant influence on upkeep. Choose textured rugs to mask foot traffic and vacuum cleaner trails. High-traffic spaces are especially difficult to shop for, as they collect dirt easily and endure a lot of abuse. Go for synthetic high-density loop rugs in areas with high traffic to make cleaning easier.
Consider the Different Styles of Carpets
Carpets come in many different styles:
- Frieze;
- Plush;
- Textured;
- Saxony.
These descriptions refer to the pile, the visible surface made of yarn tufts that have either been folded into loops, cut against the grain, or both. Although each design has a unique appearance, you shouldn’t worry much about it. Instead, think about how well a certain carpet type fits with your way of life.
For instance, a thick frieze or synthetic plush carpet made of continuous fibre loops has a thick, velvety, and soft pile that’s tightly coiled and made to endure a lot more wear and tear. These rugs are both resilient and conceal footprints, mud, and stains, making them ideal for high-traffic areas or rooms where children often play.
However, out of the two, the frieze, which is a modern uptake on the shag carpet, is considered more informal than the more sophisticated plush. Much like these two, the textured is a cut pile carpet type that’s smooth and made up of dense fibres of varying heights. Although it’s as fit for high traffic areas as the plush, it’s less soft, it can snag and would require replacement sooner.
Saxony is another popular material, but it’s most effective in places with less traffic, as it’s more difficult to clean. The strands used in carpet-making are cut at various heights, which makes them reflect light. As a result, tracks and dirt are harder to see on thicker and flatter rugs. Therefore, high-traffic areas benefit greatly from this kind of carpeting.
Get the Ideal Colour
The hardest aspect of choosing a rug is often the finish because there are so many different colours and designs to choose from. Selecting hues that go with the general ambience you want to create in each space:
- Try cream or tan hues in cluttered spaces as light colours may make tiny spaces seem bigger and more open;
- If you have too much colour in your space, neutralise it with a soothing grey hue;
- For a tranquil, serene environment, use cold blues or greens;
- To make a vast area feel cosier, use warm reds or golden hues;
Consider whether you want your rug to stand out or blend into the backdrop before choosing a colour. If you want your walls, furniture, or artwork to stand out, a neutral rug will help them do so.
Textured rug patterns, as well as dark hues or patterns easily conceal stains. Stick to patterns in the same colour range to make your flooring coordinate with other patterns in a space. Rug tiles help to add a border around the room’s perimeter.
If you plan to place your rug under direct sunlight, consider getting one with a fade warranty!
Choose the Right Provider
You can buy a rug in a range of different locations, including carpet showrooms, flooring firms, furniture shops, big-box retailers, and even online. Whichever option you choose to go for, make sure that you pick a respected business that mainly focuses on carpeting.
A high-quality carpet retailer will provide a wide range of products in different materials to suit your needs. They will also have a reliable customer support team that will help you select the ideal rug for your space.
Are Carpets Better than Area Rugs?
Lastly, look at the pros and cons of wall-to-wall synthetic plush carpet or any of the other styles, and area rugs before making a choice. The major benefits of carpeting include its warmth and softness underfoot, sound absorption, and fall protection. However, unless it’s easily cleaned, it can harbour dust mites and other particles that might be a concern if any family member suffers from allergies or asthma.
On the other hand, area rugs are easily portable and available in a range of colours and designs that help you make a statement. The biggest disadvantage of these rugs is that they demand pretty decent flooring because they expose most of it. Perfect if you have gorgeous wood flooring, and if not – you’ll at least need a floor that is in decent condition. Area rugs also pose tripping hazards, which is another major drawback.
