How to Choose the Right Carpet for Your Home
Installing new carpet is a bit like choosing a spouse: You look for a ?match? that will suit your lifestyle and interests, while offering comfort and support. Beauty is a plus, especially since you?ll see your carpet every day. Choosing wisely is important ? we only get so many chances at brand new carpet, and the wrong decision could have lasting repercussions. So how to choose the right carpet for your home is an important question. Start by considering the following:
Design
Are you carpeting one room? If so, a bold color or pattern might add interest and make a statement. If, on the other hand, you want to carpet your whole house, consider a more subtle look, so as not to overwhelm your senses or create a loud patchwork effect. A simple pattern and understated hue usually has more staying power. When you feel like indulging a whim or taking a risk, it?s best to stick with a low-commitment area rug or a casual fling with some throw pillows.
Texture
There are two ends of the texture spectrum. On one end, there?s loop pile, which can be thick and knobby or closely curled depending on the length of each uncut loop. Cut pile, on the other hand, is exactly what it sounds like ? the loops are sheared, creating lengths as varied as a shag carpet to a close crop. While it?s hard to say what texture will be best for you, it?s useful to consider your lifestyle and location. For example, if you live in or around the Wilmington, NC area, you probably spend a lot of time at the beach, which means you also spend a lot of time each summer vacuuming sand from your floors. In that case, a plush pile, rather than a tight Berber-style carpet which can trap sand in its fibers might be the way to go. If you share a home with dogs and cats, cut pile is better for their claws, which can get caught in shaggier options.
Durability
For most people, carpet ? like marriage ? is an investment. It should stand the test of time and resist fraying and fading. Some of the ways to ensure a long and lasting relationship with your carpet are to pay attention to things like:
pile weight (the higher, the better), material (wool was once the best choice, but advances in synthetic fibers have helped to add longevity without compromising the look and feel of carpet), and good quality padding (every relationship needs a solid foundation).