A major part of any indoor home remodeling project is typically new flooring. Carpet has been one of the most popular flooring choices for many years. Nowadays there are so many choices for carpet that you may not know how to choose. However, with a little research, you can easily find the perfect carpet for your home.
The first thing to consider is your budget. Like many other items, with carpet you get what you pay for. For the best quality carpet, you will want to budget for at least a mid-range price, or about $8 per yard. Spending less will mean that you may end up with an under-performing carpet that will need replacing much sooner. Always remember that carpet padding, accessories, and installation will add to the price of your carpet project, so don’t forget to include those items in your budget.
Next, think about the conditions the carpet will be exposed to on a daily basis. Is the carpet going to be installed in a high-traffic area, such as a foyer? Will the carpet need to stand up to food spills, as in a kitchen or dining room, or to a child’s messes in their bedrooms? Do you have pets that might make messes on the carpet?
The conditions your carpet will be exposed to daily will determine the type and color of carpet you choose. For an area where food spills, pet messes, or children’s messes will occur, you will need to choose a carpet that is highly stain-resistant and easy to clean, should spills happen. It would also be a good idea to choose a darker colored carpet for such areas. If a stain appears that you cannot get out of the carpet, it will be much less visible on a darker colored carpet than a lighter one.
High traffic areas such as foyers and children’s playrooms require a carpet that can stand up to a lot of wear and tear. In these areas, you should install a carpet with a denser pile; that is, one that has the individual tufts of the carpet packed closely together. Carpet that has the tufts spaced far enough apart to get a finger in between them without difficulty will wear out much faster, and this wearing will be very visible and unsightly. For high traffic areas, it is also a good idea to choose darker colors with stain-resistant properties, just as it is in areas that are likely to be messy.
Another newer option for carpeting that you should consider is carpet tiles. Carpet tiles are individual pieces of carpet that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle on the floor. Once the carpet tiles are installed and vacuumed, the seams are invisible. Properly installed carpet tiles look just like regular carpet from the roll that was installed in one piece. The major advantage to installing carpet tiles is the ease of repair. Should one tile become permanently stained, burned, or worn, you can simply replace it with a new one. Carpet that is laid all in one piece can also be patched, but often the patch seams will show, especially on carpets such as Berber.
With a little careful planning and thought, you can easily find the perfect carpet for your home. Don’t forget to shop around for the best price, especially if you are having the carpet installed as well. Always allow plenty of time for product arrival and installation if you’re planning to have new carpet by a certain date, especially on holidays. Your new carpet will add value and beauty to your home for many years.
