Buying a carpet for any room in your home is going to be a significant investment. Finding the right flooring for your home isn't merely a matter of choosing a color or pile that appeals to you. You're also going to need to think about brands, pricing and whether or not soft floors are necessarily the best choice to make.
In this buying guide, we will look at some of the more commonly overlooked points in carpet buying. We will also compare and contrast popular brands to help you make the best choice.
When Carpet is Not the Best Option
While this guide was written to help you understand what to expect when it comes to buying carpeting for your home, there may be a few reasons to consider an alternative. Not all homes have carpets laid throughout. It is not always a matter of aesthetic or comfort, either. There are hardwood, vinyl or tile options available which may be more appealing to you for various reasons.
Do think about dust and allergens. There are plenty of soft furnishing choices out there which promote allergy protection. However, you will need to vacuum carpeting regularly to remove dust mites and their eggs. Many people prefer buying hardwood or vinyl flooring because it's easier to maintain, and can offer fewer health risks. However, it's not necessarily as safe.
While these are all valid points to be made in either direction, there are more than a few soft flooring standards which are designed to compete directly against hard or vinyl flooring. Therefore, we greatly recommend you continue to look at the broader market and to read on to learn more.
You may also like: Carpet vs Hardwood Flooring
Buying Guide
Let’s consider some of the main factors you’ll need to bear in mind when shopping for new carpeting, before moving on to prices and brands.
Pile Density
While a deeper pile or more luxurious design will work well in a private bedroom, consider rooms of your home which are likely to see more traffic. For these rooms, you will need closely-knitted fibers for durability. The smaller the gaps are between the fibers, the more chance it will have of withstanding years of use.
However, softer and deeper piles may be considered safer for families as there is greater cushioning. There are, however, types of material which offer both durability and comfort, which we will look at in detail below.
Types of Material
While we have considered what you should look for when buying, you should also acquaint yourself with some of the more common types of soft flooring available to you. Here are just a few types which can be expected to see on the market, along with a table to break down their features.
Type of Material | Ease of Cleaning | Stain Resistance | Durability | Affordability | Comfort Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Polyester | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Nylon | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Wool | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
Polypropylene | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
Triexta | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
1. Polyester
A common material, polyester is preferred by many people since it looks good and easy to clean. However, a good polyester carpet will also need plenty of care and maintenance.
2. Nylon
Nylon surface is extremely easy to clean. It's incredibly soft to touch and super-durable. It is an excellent choice for family rooms. Nylon tends to be the mid-range option across all options.
3. Wool
Natural fibers have the best looking. Wool is incredibly durable and, again, very easy to clean. It is considered a more premium option in terms of pricing, though it is generally budget-effective.
4. Polypropylene
This type of material is man-made and famous for its durability and suitability to intensive use. Polypropylene fights back against stains like any other – they simply won’t get ground-in. They are low-density and colorfast.
5. Triexta
As a man-made material, Triexta is tough and stains-resistant. It is one of the most resistant synthetic carpets on the market. However, it depends on how much you expect to pay.
Types of Style
There are also various styles available for you to choose from. Therefore, you will need to weigh up further pros and cons once you have chosen your desired material. You may see the following information while shopping:
1. Cut Pile
Cut pile carpeting is perfect for residential because of its construction. As the name suggests, this flooring consists of yarns and fibers which have their ends cut at an equal level. This helps to create a smooth surface, which is comfortable to walk across.
There are different types of cut pile carpet, which may include:
