How to Select Carpeting for Your Home

Is it time to purchase new floor covering? Let’s take a walk through the basics of how to select carpeting.

Types of Carpet Construction

You should first consider whether you want a tufted or woven construction in your carpeting. The majority of carpeting is tufted or made of machine-punched yarns held together by adhesive and banding. You should get between five to seven years wear out of this construction.

Woven carpeting is made on a loom and can last anywhere from 20 to 30 years. However, you pay for longevity; this type of construction will cost more than tufted carpeting.

Types of Carpet Pile

Pile is the yarn that makes up the carpet. There are three main  styles of pile from which to choose.  Sheared pile is called “cut pile”; pile left intact is called “loop pile”.  Pile that is a combination with some yarns being cut and others remaining loop are called “cut-and-loop pile.” Once you run your hand over a piece of carpeting, you should be able to tell the difference.

There are short velvet piles and longer plushes. The deeper the pile, the more luxurious:, however, shorter pile carpeting is easier to maintain.

Carpet Seams Should Be Invisible

Most carpeting comes in lengths of 12 and 15 feet. If your room is larger, your installer will have to piece the carpeting together giving you a seam.  Both the texture and color of your carpeting as well as the lighting and furniture placement in the room will determine the visibility of your seams. Some carpeting seams better than others so it’s a good idea to ask your retailer which carpeting will minimize seams.

Carpet Padding Can Differ

Carpet wear can result in crushed pile and ground-in dirt.  Padding can reduce some of this and absorb sound. A harder carpeting can be damaged by a very cushiony padding which might enable shoe heels to puncture the carpet. Your retailer should know and recommend the appropriate padding for your carpeting.

Carpet Quality

An investment in good quality, wall-to-wall carpeting will give you a good return when you sell your home. You want to select a carpeting that has a good pile density and tighter twist construction even though this may be more expensive.

Carpeting Color

It’s always a good idea to bring a sample of the carpeting you like into your home so you can see how the lighting and your other furnishings affect the color.  Keep in mind that the sample is not going to exactly match the color of carpeting you will buy because it’s not cut from the same roll you are buying.

Installed carpeting always looks lighter than the small sample you see in the store. The color of your carpeting can give the illusion of a larger or smaller room; lighter making a room look larger; darker making a room look smaller. Darker carpeting will absorb more light, too.  If you are considering a move in the near future, select a neutral-colored rug that has universal appeal.

Carpeting Stains

You know someone will eventually have an accident and spill wine, coffee, or salsa onto your carpeting so it’s wise to check out the level of stain protection and the warranties your carpeting carries. Generally, as the quality of the carpeting improves so does its stain protection and warranties.

Professional Installation Matters

Wall-to-wall installation of carpeting can be tricky so it’s best to hire professionals who have the right equipment, knowledge, and experience to do so.  You don’t want your carpeting rippling three months down the road.

An investment in quality carpeting will mean that your floor covering will stand the test of time. Do your research and select a carpeting that is not only beautiful but durable.

Interiors Revitalized is a full-service home staging, model home merchandising, and interior design firm located in Jacksonville Florida.  In addition to Jacksonville, we serve the St. Johns, St. Augustine, Orange Park, Fleming Island, and Fernandina Beach areas. Contact us today at 904.625.2214 to discuss your home staging or interior design project.  We’ll make that first offer your best offer!

To receive more daily home staging and interior design tips, please “Like” our Facebook page.

Contact us today at 904.625.2214 to realize your dream room.