Carpet adds warmth and comfort to any room while simultaneously muzzling sound and insulating the floor, as well as concealing food or pet stains on its surface. Carpeting a room can instantly improve interior design.
Interior designers typically recommend choosing neutral carpeting colors. Bolder or brighter hues should be reserved for other, less costly elements of decor such as paint. While carpeting offers limited choices of hues to select from.
How to Measure
One of the main ways people get taken advantage of when carpeting a room is due to not knowing exactly how much carpet is required – this is often due to irregular room shapes with recesses, chimney breasts, or alcoves present that make an estimate difficult.
Measure each section separately before adding them up so you can calculate how much carpet will be necessary. Working with an expert retailer or professional installer requires them to see your measurements for each section so they can order enough carpet.
Carpet is usually sold in 12-foot lengths, so make sure your measurement encapsulates this length. However, different styles may come with different widths so when taking measurements make sure to factor them in too. An easy way of doing this is using a ruler or tape measure to record both length and width measurements of your room – then adding several inches onto either side will guarantee enough room for installation without unnecessary joins.
Pile Height
Your choice of carpet pile height depends on the intended use of each room in which it will be placed. Carpet with shorter, denser fibers work better in high-traffic areas as it resists matting and shows less dirt accumulation; longer fibers may provide greater comfort underfoot, but require more frequent vacuuming sessions and may trap allergens more effectively.
Pile height also determines the style and texture of carpeting. A cut-and-loop style uses yarn sheared at uniform or variable heights to form patterns on its surface that create unique textures, designs, or textures on top of it.
Patterned loop carpets can help hide footprints and vacuum marks, making them ideal for high-traffic family rooms. Level loop carpets feature uniform fiber height that works for most areas while multi-level pile styles use multiple colors with various loop heights for an added textured effect.
Shag pile carpets provide luxurious underfoot comfort, making them the perfect addition to bedrooms or living spaces. However, this style may be susceptible to matting and show footprints and vacuum marks more easily; therefore if you have children or pets it may be wiser to opt for low-pile options with dense short fibers instead.
Pile Styles
When selecting carpet for a living room, pile style should be given equal weight as color or pattern when choosing carpet piles. Different carpet piles have differing resilience levels that depend on how you plan on using your room; as such, their performance depends upon which style is the most suitable choice.
Low-pile carpet features short fibers that look flat and dense, which makes it perfect for high-traffic areas because it can withstand lots of footfall. Plus, its easy maintenance makes it an excellent choice in rooms prone to becoming dirty quickly.
Medium pile carpet features fibers with taller piles than low pile, creating a softer experience when walking on it and holding up well against moderate foot traffic and dirt accumulation. This option makes an excellent addition to family rooms where entertainment will occur on a daily basis.
Loop pile carpets feature carpet fibers that remain undamaged to give a unique textured appearance and feel. There are two styles of loop pile carpets: level loops have all of the loops at equal height for a uniform look while multi-level loops offer different heights to create an eye-catching patterned design effect.
Density
Before purchasing the appropriate carpet for your room, carefully consider your goals for its function and aesthetics. A knowledgeable carpet professional can guide you in selecting a rug tailored specifically to meet those needs.
To determine how much carpeting you require, it’s a good idea to make an outline of the room with pencil and tape measure. A computer program may assist with calculations, though this may not be necessary as an experienced flooring professional will help determine exactly how much carpet you require without needing one.
The face weight of a carpet is often misinterpreted as an accurate indicator of its quality; the density rating, however, provides more accurate readings. This measures how closely together the fibers are tufted into the carpet backing. Calculating it requires simply multiplying face weight by 36 and dividing by pile height; higher numbers reflect longer-lasting carpet.
Fibers
Carpet face fiber selection will have an effectful influence on its texture, color, and performance in any given space. There are both natural and synthetic varieties to consider for their own unique benefits for carpeting a room.
Wool is an exquisite natural fiber, boasting a luxurious feel, durability, stain resistance, and greater soil concealment than synthetics. Although more costly, its quality stands the test of time.
Nylon is an economical fiber with numerous styles and constructions available for it, such as frieze, textured shag, and loop cut loop (LCL). Nylon also possesses excellent strength, resilience, and durability characteristics that make it suitable for dyeable designs.
Polyester (also referred to as PET) is an affordable synthetic that’s both soft and affordable. Resistant to water-based stains and simple to maintain, PET may fade in direct sunlight but remains an ideal material choice.
Polypropylene is a solution-dyed synthetic material that resists water and stains but may become stained due to overwetting or improper maintenance. While less resilient than nylon and lacking its color retention capability, polypropylene remains environmentally friendly.
