Choosing carpet

From The Home Guide - your renovation and building resource

Carpet can add so much style, warmth and comfort to your home. Choosing which carpet is best for you can often be a daunting decision when confronted with such a large array of carpet styles.

Your carpet plays a major part in the total interior ‘look’ you’re trying to achieve. It should work with your décor, with your lifestyle and family situation. Most importantly you should love the choice you make.

Colour

Colour is the key decider for many people when choosing between carpet styles. Here’s some things to note:

• Darker colours will make a room feel smaller and cosier

• Lighter colours create a sense of space and light

• Make sure you take a sample home and look at it in both daylight and under artificial light, and in different areas of the room

• Carpet can appear up to 20% lighter when laid on the floor so what appears dark in a sample may end up looking more mid-tone when installed.

Style and Texture

There are three different types of construction, all with different features.

• Cut pile carpets – A cut pile carpet generally has a more luxurious feel than other styles of carpet. Cut pile carpets can vary from a resilient hard twist (which has the equivalent of a ‘perm’ to hold the twist in), to a softer plush pile (where the fibres stand up straight) or a deeply sensuous shagpile. Cut pile carpets do show footprints more readily which can vacuum out, but are also subject to a condition known as ‘shading’ or ‘pemanent pile reversal’ where areas of pile bend and catch the light differently. This is a standard characteristic of cut pile carpets and you need to be aware of this before you buy – it is not a manufacturing fault. Plush pile carpets (which have a soft velvety feel) are particularly prone to this whereas hardtwist cut pile carpets will show much less. There is no way of predicting how much a carpet will shade once it is laid, and theories abound as to how it occurs – but no solution has ever been found.

• Loop pile carpets can offer a classic or casual look depending on the style – level loop pile or textured loop pile where there is a variation in the height of the loops. Loop pile carpets are easy care, don’t show footprints and are particularly suited to busy homes or those with young children. But be aware that some loop pile carpets – particularly ones with uneven loop heights can be attractive for cats and dogs to get their claws into.

• Cut and loop pile carpets combine aspects of both of the above – the cut pile contrasting with the loops to create a distinctive pattern which will retain its crispness on the floor. A mix of textures here creates added interest and (depending on the pattern) can range from the boldly dramatic to a classic and tailored look.

Quality

The weight and grading of the carpet are the most reliable indicator of the carpet’s ability to perform well, irrespective of the style. Carpets graded Extra Heavy Duty contain more fibre per square cm – and being denser will last longer. Generally speaking, the heavier weight the carpet is the better quality it will be.

Price

Quality really does pay for itself. If you’re planning to stay in your home for any length of time, you want a carpet that will last the distance and still look great in five or ten years, not shabby after two. So while price is a critical decision factor, you need to be confident that saving a few dollars now, won’t lead to disappointment in the very near future.

Fibre choice

Both wool and synthetics have their advantages and disadvantages. Wool is a natural fibre that breathes helping create a drier and healthier indoor air environment. It acts as a natural humidity regulator – keeping your house warmer in winter and cooler in summer. It can absorb up to a third of its own weight in moisture without feeling damp or cold, and it releases the moisture back into the air when the atmosphere dries out. The temperature variations between summer and winter with wool carpeting are much less than with man-made fibres, ensuring it doesn’t get overly hot or cold.

Wool carpet is easy care and most spills can be cleaned up if they are attended to promptly. Solution-dyed nylons are the most stain-resistant but no carpet is completely stainproof and all come with certain stain exclusions. Synthetic carpets that are not solution-dyed are unlikely to carry stain-resistant warranties.

Wool as a natural fibre will exhibit some fading over time, especially in areas exposed to strong UV light. Synthetic carpets that are not solution-dyed can also fade. We recommend the fitting of UV protection to windows and doors if you do not have solution-dyed nylon carpet.

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