If you feel like your home needs a new look, replacing worn carpeting can make a dramatic improvement. New carpeting creates the foundation for your decor and furniture. It makes a style statement to all your guests. Before choosing carpet, think beyond color and pattern. Although it is important to choose an appealing design, there are other key factors you should consider.
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Consider the Purpose
Think about the most practical choice to fit your individual situation. If any rooms you plan to carpet are used in heavy traffic lanes or in children's play areas, it's important to choose a durable product. Look at the tag on the underside of the carpet to find the type of material, how it was made, warranty, stain resistance, and the brand name. When it is time to pick out a color and pattern, avoid light-colored carpeting as medium and darker colors tend to hide stains. On the other hand, if rooms are small lighter colors create the illusion of more space.
If you are a homeowner planning to downsize and sell within a year or two, your carpeting choice will probably focus on a different purpose. You want to appeal to a large pool of buyers so do not choose your bold colors that may not to be to the majority of peoples tastes. Try browsing through home improvement magazines to get ideas on the latest trends. Instead of finding your favorites, your priorities shift to impressing perspective home buyers. The color should be neutral and co-ordinate with your décor and furniture. When home buyers notice the new carpet, they should be able to picture their family enjoying a game on the plush rug.
Think about Going Green
Many young professionals planning to build a new home focus on going green. If you are concerned about the environment, there are green carpet choices available. You can check out brands using recycled materials in the manufacturing process. There are also renewable resources used for carpeting. Bamboo is one of the most popular choices for environmentally friendly flooring. Bamboo grows and multiplies at a rapid rate. If you want to verify a green carpet, some brands list environmental ratings as well as ratings for other components such as durability, stain resistance, pile density, and type of material. There is not a universal rating program for carpeting in the US.
Check out Fiber Type
It's all about the carpet fiber when it comes to the quality of a carpet. Nylon carpets tend to be most durable while polyester and polypropylene (olefin) wear out sooner. Carpets are often made from a blend of fibers. Another fiber-related aspect of carpets is the difference in the way it feels. Some carpets seem to be soft while others feel more abrasive. The differences are due to the density of the yarn and the number of carpet twists. Higher quality carpeting consists of durable fiber and carpet twists woven tightly and placed close together.
Higher density usually means a higher price while the thinner tufts are less expensive. Another factor in the texture of a carpet involves the length and type of cut. There are different ways to construct carpeting using loop methods or cut pile. Shag carpeting is an example of a bigger loop with longer fibers while Berber features more density with level looped pile. Fibers can be cut uneven, cropped close or man other styles. It all depends on your taste.
Styles of carpet feature different textures. Four of the most popular styles include frieze, plush, cable, and Saxony. There are pros and cons with each style depending on your needs. For example, the uneven frieze carpet looks more informal while Saxony's long fibers give a look of plush luxury. Walking on the rug smashes the fiber down and ruins the look.
Today's market offers a wide variety of carpet patterns, colors, styles, and materials. You should be able to find a quality carpet suited to your taste and lifestyle. Before you make a decision, you should talk to a professional carpet expert who can advise you on carpet pads and recommend the best type of carpet based on your needs.