It’s easy to be fazed by the range of choices when it comes to making a decision about buying a carpet. Oprah Winfrey famously commented: ‘It’s much easier for me to make major life, multi-million dollar decisions, than it is to decide on a carpet for my front porch. That’s the truth.’ It may help to remember that your carpet will be an important part of your overall design statement. Carpets can help to create a warm, cosy feeling in chilly autumn and winter months, and a cool freshness in summer. With winter warmth in mind, Phil reminds us that carpets also serve as effective heat- and sound-insulators, making quality carpeting essential if you’re after the warmth we all want when it’s wet and cold outside, as well as keeping the noise down while the kids play upstairs. For this reason, Phil recommends investing in the highest quality carpet you can afford, adding: ‘Cheap nylon versions won’t wear well and can be disappointing; carpet tiles cost a bit more than wall-to-wall carpeting, but they might last longer and be worth the extra cost.’
Make the right choice
The type of pile and fabric you should choose depends on where you want to lay the carpet, the amount of traffic in that area and the types of activities you typically carry out there. Is it a room your children play in, for instance, or do you entertain and have meals in that room?
Here’s our checklist of the different kinds of carpet that are available to for your home:
Berber: with its loop pile construction type, the berber carpet is usually cheap, sturdy and durable and suits busy areas like offices.
Cut and loop: an alternative to the loop carpet, featuring both cut pile and loop pile for a more textured appearance.
Flatweave: this carpet’s pile is designed to appear flat and feel firm, so it will not show signs of flattening.
Loop: although a good option for busy areas, the loop carpet is not recommended if you have pets, as the construction can be pulled apart.
Patterned: this carpet is great at concealing stains, so use it in busier spaces such as a children’s playroom.
Saxony: with its deep pile, this carpet type feels more luxurious. However, it is trickier to clean, so it is best for your bedroom and other quieter areas.
Shag: as its name indicates, this luxurious carpet type boasts a shaggy appearance with longer tufts.
Twist: an ideal choice for busy areas like hallways and staircases, as stains and marks are less visible on its twisted fibres.
Velvet: although it comes with a bigger price tag, maintenance costs and a shorter life span, this is a luxurious option that will fit well in formal rooms where you might choose to entertain guests.
It’s worth bearing in mind the suitability of the pile fibre when placing your carpet—whether you’re opting for polyester, polypropylene, wool or nylon. Each is durable, stain-resistant and easy to clean, to varying degrees. However, wool remains the best option as it retains its appearance well, is flame-retardant and has natural insulation properties.
