I’ll be honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of carpet. I guess carpet never reached the same level of popularity in France as it did over here! However, I can certainly see the many benefits this versatile floor covering can offer, and as a designer, I do specify it in some projects. Carpet is soft and warm underfoot and boasts excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties, often making it the go-to material for upstairs bedrooms.
Only in the past week, two separate friends have asked my advice on how to go about choosing a carpet so I thought I’d share my top tips on finding that perfect carpet.
1 - When it comes to carpet, you really get what you pay for
Head to the retail park or take a look online and you’ll see that carpets start at prices that will beat most floor coverings. Just checking on one of the major retailers’ website now shows me that you can get a square metre of carpet for as low as £4.99!
However, I find that with carpet, more than anything, it’s important to invest in a good quality product. If you don’t, you’ll end up replacing it after a few years. And more importantly (at least in my opinion), you’ll live with something that feels and looks, erm, cheap.
2 - Pick the right material for your needs
Carpets are made of either natural or synthetic fibres, and most often a mixture of both. Take time reading and comparing the products’ specifications as not all products will be suitable for heavy traffic areas or stairs.
Wool is soft and resilient, as well as naturally stain and flame resistant. It is a good option for spaces that will not suffer excessive traffic, and if your budget allows.
Nylon is a clever man-made fibre that is highly resistant to mildew, mould and moths, as well as sunlight. It is however subject to the accumulation of static electricity, so you will need to ensure the carpet incorporates metallic fibre to dissipate static electricity.
Polypropylene is a popular and economical material for carpets. It has good stain resistance but it flattens in high traffic areas or under heavy furniture. This can be offset by choosing a product with high density.
Acrylic is soft and resilient and compares quite well to wool. Like wool, it can however fade quite easily when exposed to UV rays and so might not be suitable for spaces with large glass areas.
Polyester resists fading and is soft. However, it isn’t the most resilient so you will need pick a carpet with a high density to offset this weakness.
3 - Pay attention to the construction method
Most residential carpets are tufted, meaning the tufts are pushed through a backing material using a kind of giant sewing machine. The tufts are then kept as loops or trimmed. When cut, those can be kept quite long (think shag pile of the 70s).
The backing will tell you a lot about the quality of the carpet. The higher quality it is, the more likely the fibres will stay in place for decades. Think of how your carpet needs to withstand years of vacuum cleaning. So whether you order samples online or visit a store,
make sure to check that backing!
Denier and ply are also characteristics you will need to consider. Denier is the thickness of the yarn, which is then twisted together several times to create the plies. The combination of denier and ply will define the quality and appearance of the carpet. More plies will result in a thicker, more padded carpet. A dense concentration of small denier, single-ply yarns is used for velvet plush carpet. Whilst super soft and luxurious looking, velvet plush will show every foot step, so you will need to consider whether this is a good option for your space.
4- Factor the cost of fitting
Whether you’re going for a cost effective polypropylene carpet or a more expensive blend of wool, it is likely the cost of labour to fit that carpet is the same. So again, think of how long you’d like your new flooring to last for and whether you’d be better off upgrading it to a higher spec.
The carpet retailer will be able to price the cost of installation for you, however it is worth getting a couple of additional quotes from independent trades people. If you go for a plant-based carpet, such as sisal, make sure the fitter is experienced in installing the product.
5 - Consider sustainable elements
Whilst they can be more expensive, carpets made of 100% wool are a green product. Being a natural product also makes it a lot easier to clean than a synthetic fibre.
Plant-based fibres have gained a lot in popularity due to their humble and natural look and are worth considering. The most common ones are sisal, seagrass, jute and coir. Sisal is the most durable of this group and is often combined with wool for added softness. Seagrass resists stains a little better than sisal or coir. Coir reacts to humidity and therefore might not be suitable for spaces with a high level of moisture.
Choosing a durable carpet is also a lot kinder on the environment. Too much carpet still ends up in landfill every year. I know it's sometimes hard to see how choosing a sustainable option can make a difference on global warming but interiors are the highest source of carbon
emissions in the world and every little helps.
6 - Go local
Your local carpet specialist is very knowledgeable and is here to help. But don’t just go by what a sales person might tell you. Instead, ask a lot of questions about its construction method and compare the specifications. Smaller stores are likely to sell collections from smaller, family-run (and often more ethical) manufacturers, and so it is well worth visiting a few places until you find the product most suitable to your needs.
7 - Underlays matter!
Do not scrimp on padding! The firmer the underlay, the less strain the carpet backing will have to endure. This is most important for areas of heavy traffic, including staircases.
8 - Consider an area rug instead
Still unsure? Don’t forget there is always the option of an area rug. Most carpet stores have a ‘build a rug’ service, meaning you can still get the benefits of a carpet but at a lower cost compared to a traditional rug (especially as rugs come quite hard to find past a certain size).
You could check https://www.crucial-trading.com/rugbuilder/start and https://www.naturalrugstore.co.uk/ for some high quality made to measure rugs.
I hope this has given you a good starting point. As with many interior finishes, the sheer variety of available products can quickly become overwhelming. Make a list of your priorities, based on what the space is used for and your design aesthetics, before you hit the high street so you do not get too distracted. Flooring is an important investment so make sure you take the time to research options. Happy shopping 😊
Until next time,
Delphine
I would love to hear your views and what carpet you went for in the end, so please leave a comment if you feel like doing so.
This is really insightful! Particularly like the break down of different materials. I'm in agreement with shopping local, there's something about a smaller specialist shop that helps you feel confident in what you are choosing is the right one. Larger retailers seem to just see the end sale in mind, in my opinion, of course.
Plus I have not regretted adding a higher quality (and thicker) underlay.