What to Consider Before Investing in Carpet for the Home

Are you tired of waking up to a cold, hard floor every morning? There’s no reason why you have to be, as there are many wonderful options of carpeting that add style, value and warmth to the home. Carpet is available in an abundance of colors, making it easy to choose a neutral color for your bedroom, while opting for something bright and cherry for your kids’ rooms. Many people become overwhelmed when they see the range of carpet choices on the market, but with a bit of careful planning, you can choose a carpet that will complement your home, lifestyle and budget.

One of the first considerations is the style of the carpet. The style is generally influenced by the type of carpet that it is, as friezes are squigglier looking and cut piles more proper. But there’s more to style than what meets the eye. Since cut piles tend to have evenly cut carpet fibers, they tend to show more footprints or vacuum marks. Friezes on the other hand, don’t show these marks and may be a better pick for those who don’t get around to vacuuming as much. If you don’t want to deal with carpets that have longer fibers, opt for a Berber, as these fibers are much shorter and create a seamless appearance.

Color is another factor when picking out carpet for the home. Most people are quick to choose the color that they like best, only to find that it doesn’t transcend well for flooring. Generally speaking, people opt for neutral colors such as grays, beiges and browns. These colors look great with all types of decors and will allow you to change furniture or sell the home, while having the carpet still look suitable. An added bonus with neutral carpet colors is that they tend to hide dirt and stains well, making them ideal for high traffic areas.

Since carpet is known for being soft and luxurious and is the only flooring of this type, comfort is a key factor when selecting carpet for the home. This is why it’s important to feel the carpet samples and determine their comfort. However, keep in mind that higher density carpets will feel harder, while lower density carpets will be softer. You’ll want to find an ideal balance of quality, density and softness.

The type of carpet also influences the comfort level. For example, cut piles are softer than loop piles. Plush, especially higher end plushes, are the softest and most comfortable. Yet with comfort comes the concern of volatile organic compounds or VOCs. The “new” smell that is obvious when carpet is first laid is produced by these VOCs, which are known to cause allergy and asthma-related irritations. To limit your exposure to VOCs, also entertain environmentally friendly carpet for the home that is made from recycled materials.

Finally, it’s essential that the carpet you select is durable and long lasting. This is best achieved by the material of the carpet, as nylon and polypropylene tend to be the most durable. They are also treated with stain resistant properties that allow them to ward off stains. Acrylic and polyester are less durable and will wear easily, which is why they’re generally not used for carpets anymore. You can also count on loop piles being more durable, as there are no open ends that can pull or shed. Make the process of selecting carpet for the home stress-free and evaluate the factors that are most important to your home and family.