Step into the soft side of decision making
When choosing carpeting for your home, it's easy to get caught up over things like color, style, and (most importantly) how it will feel beneath your bare toes. Those features are definitely important, but there are more factors just as worthy of your consideration and budget. Whether you’re looking for a type of carpet that can be used all throughout your home or you’d like a different flooring scheme for each room in your home, here’s what you need to know about how to choose carpet.
No pressure, but there are nearly a dozen different things to consider when it comes to choosing the right carpet for your home. Here’s what you should be thinking about as you browse samples at the carpet store.
Carpets can be constructed from natural fibers like wool and cotton or synthetics like nylon, olefin, and polyester. Synthetic carpets are less expensive than natural, but every material has its pros and cons. While your budget is important, pay special attention to durability and stain-resistant properties, too. The good news is that with such a wide selection available on the market today, you’ll have no problem finding something you like in your price range.
Speaking of budgets, are you looking to carpet the entire house in one go or just go room by room? Either way, get out the tape measure. Carpet is priced per square foot, and the national average cost of carpet installation is $3 to $11 per square foot.
You might save some money if you DIY it, but keep in mind that local carpet installers can do it more quickly and accurately. If you do the work yourself, be sure to read installation guidelines closely so that you don’t risk voiding your warranty.
Durability should be top of mind when it comes to any type of flooring, but this is especially true with carpeting. When shopping, keep in mind the foot traffic patterns in your home and choose accordingly. For example, it’s fine to choose a soft, fluffy carpet for a bedroom or guest room, but you’ll want to pick something with a shorter pile that’s more durable for high-traffic areas, like your living room, hallways, and especially stairs.
Keep in mind, too, that human feet aren’t the only traffic to consider. If you share a home with pets, you’ll need to choose a pet-friendly carpet that can withstand wear and tear from paws and claws.
It goes without saying that carpet isn't a good flooring match for moisture-rich areas like the bathroom, basement, and laundry room. But you’ll also need to consider that accidents do happen, and you’ll need a carpet that can withstand mold and bacteria growth.
While sun-filled rooms are normally a good thing, those strong rays are known to fade furniture and carpet over time. If the rooms in question have lots of windows—and especially if there are skylights involved—then shop with an eye toward carpets that are fade-resistant.
Cleaning your carpet on a regular basis helps prevent dirt and debris from building up on the fibers. Your carpet will look great and last longer if you make cleaning it routine.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that carpet isn’t nearly as easy to clean as hard flooring. But that doesn’t mean you have to pull out a carpet steamer every time there’s a small spill, either. There are many flooring materials that can give you the look you want with uncomplicated maintenance. If you have pets or plan to entertain often, simple maintenance is a must-have feature in your new carpet.
Any type of home improvement project should be backed by a warranty for its performance and installation, and your flooring is no different. New carpet often comes with a wear warranty of upwards of five years, but don’t make any assumptions. Ask the carpet manufacturer or your installer to confirm what is and what is not covered by the warranty. Should any manufacturing or installation defects present themselves, you’ll want peace of mind that you can get your carpet fixed or replaced without a hassle.
Density simply refers to how compact the carpet fibers are. The closer they are, the more dense the carpet is, which is a good thing when you’re looking for a carpet known for its durability. An easy way to test a carpet’s density is to take a sample square and bend it backward. A denser carpet won’t fold back as easily.
If you’re the only person walking the floors of your home, then you have carte blanche to choose whatever style of carpet you like. But if you plan to welcome a partner, entertain friends, grow a family, or have pets, then you’ll need to choose a carpet that can keep up with it all (especially those last two).
For high-traffic households, you’ll need a sturdy carpet with stain resistance that can stand up to footprints, paw prints, and the spills, stains, and occasional mishaps associated with everyday life.
The carpet fibers aren’t the only feature that will determine how soft a carpet feels beneath your feet. In fact, there’s a feature that goes even deeper beneath your feet that matters—the padding. While you fortunately don’t have to worry about what the padding looks like, you will need to choose the right type of carpet padding for your space. For high-traffic rooms, you’ll want something that softens the carpet beneath your feet and provides some soundproofing, especially if the room in question is on an upper floor of your home.
Pile is the term for the loops and strands in a carpet. The lower the pile, the tighter the carpet, which is good for high-traffic areas and rooms with lots of furniture. But if you’re looking mainly for aesthetics and texture, you might want to choose a deeper-pile carpet for its longer, taller fibers.
There are many styles, textures, and colors of carpet, but which one is right for you? Once you’ve considered all the other features you want in a carpet, you can lean into what is arguably the most fun part of shopping for carpet and other finishes.
Thanks to advances in manufacturing and technology, chances are you’ll be able to find the right combination of performance and aesthetics in your new flooring. However, it’s always a good decision to go with a darker color carpet in high-traffic rooms because it’ll hide dirt and stains better over time.
Buy 10% more carpet than you actually need in case you make any mistakes or need to repair the floor in the future.
If you’re an experienced DIYer, you might relish the thought of installing your own carpet. But keep in mind that there’s a warranty at stake with your new carpet, and if it’s installed incorrectly, you could void any chance of getting the manufacturer to repair or replace it for free. For peace of mind, call your local carpet installer for price quotes instead of setting off on a DIY. A pro will also give you the proper guidance as to what carpet will work best for your home.
