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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Carpets!

63 replies

SittHakim · 15/06/2019 21:55

How in the name of heaven do I choose new carpets for a whole floor of a house? We've had the builders in for months (I want to say years) and they have ripped everything out and we're starting with a clean slate which I now have to decorate from first principles. I have no idea how to choose carpets: I always seem to have inherited acceptable ones from the previous owner of the houses I've lived in. If I buy wool ones, will the moths eat them? If I buy polypropylene ones will I spend my whole life getting static shocks? And why are they all beige or covered in disgusting patterns?

All tips welcome for a clueless householder! If I had the cash I would pay an interior designer to sort this stuff, but I don't, so I can't.

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Hairyheadphones · 15/06/2019 21:59

It’s so hard! I recently looked for stair/landscape by carpet, went to a few shops without finding anything a couple of times! Finally found a few I thought might be ok.

Go to a carpet shop that will allow you to take samples home, my local one lets you take while books if needed! They look so different in the shop to at home.

Hairyheadphones · 15/06/2019 21:59

Landing not landscape!

Haggisfish · 15/06/2019 22:01

Oh god I feel your pain. I feel like this about the whole interior design process. I’ve never bought new carpets and I’m 43!

bridgetreilly · 15/06/2019 22:01

Definitely buy wool. In general with carpets, you should get the best you can afford. They will not only last longer but be more comfortable.

Original poster
SittHakim · 15/06/2019 22:04

Some of the not-wool ones in the local carpet shop cost a small fortune, hence not really knowing what the best I can afford is...

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SavoyCabbage · 15/06/2019 22:06

I agree that it's really hard. Overwhelming.

Don't go to a big shop like carpet right. They know nothing compared to the local independent shops.

We've just got wool carpets but the non-wool ones are absolutely everywhere now. You will have to go and feel them and like Bridge says, get the best you can afford. Ones where the tufts are closer together are the best quality.

Original poster
SittHakim · 15/06/2019 22:06

Haggisfish, I'm 45! It's obviously the age of having to give in and buy carpets.

I'm so fed up with this renovation now. I've chosen all the bits for the bathroom and the tiles don't look quite right now they're in place, so they're going to annoy me for ever more. I don't want to have the same experience with the carpets, but I'm just confused and depressed after an afternoon looking in carpet shops.

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Original poster
SittHakim · 15/06/2019 22:07

And if I do buy wool, how do I keep the moths out of them?

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Seeingadistance · 15/06/2019 22:09

Oh, I love carpet shops! Not that cheap one in Paisley though, where I found a pile of dog poo (I hope it was dog poo!) in between two carpet rolls. Envy < not envy.

Quality carpet shops! Lovely carpet shops!

If you have a particular budget then that will narrow it down a bit to start with. Remember to cost in good underlay as well.

If you have cats then go for cut pile as they'll snag loop pile with their claws.

Get samples, take them home, look at them in different lights, and feel them too! Staff in smaller, independent carpet shops tend to be more knowledgeable and helpful, although the bigger stores can be good as well.

Colour-wise - what are you drawn to, and what would go with what you already have?

Look at Pinterest for ideas, or Houzz.

sackrifice · 15/06/2019 22:12

OOh I bought a carpet earlier this year.

Top tip buy the best underlay you can. We bought stripy carpet and although it was in the spare room ive slept in there ever since as i love it better than the main bedroom now.

SavoyCabbage · 15/06/2019 22:12

Moths! Why would moths get your carpets?

Original poster
SittHakim · 15/06/2019 22:13

We don't have anything at all - whole top floor has been gutted and remodelled, so we're starting from bare walls and floors. So I don't have anything to start from. Walls probably white, because I can't bear to do the whole choosing business with paint colours as well and end up with something I don't really like.

I can't bear Pinterest, it just adds to the feeling of being overwhelmed.

We do have a cat, so that's a useful tip, thanks, Seeingadistance.

I hate beige with a passion. I don't like anything as much as I hate beige, but blues and greys are good. DD likes green (but I've said she can choose her own for her room, so that's one thing that's not my problem).

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Original poster
SittHakim · 15/06/2019 22:14

Moths got our carpets in our old house, SavoyCabbage - it was all a bit grim, we had a bad infestation and really struggled to shift them. Haven't had any in this house, but I'm a bit tempted to get carpets made of something they definitely won't eat just to avoid tempting fate.

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Seeingadistance · 15/06/2019 22:14

I've never had trouble with moths eating wool carpets, but then I have cats (see earlier reference to cut pile v loop pile) and they catch and eat moths.

Personally, I prefer wool. Synthetic carpets are definitely better than they used to be, and the dearer ones won't give you shocks, but wool just feels better.

Original poster
SittHakim · 15/06/2019 22:15

The moth infestation was before we had the cat, so it may be that she'd keep them at bay.

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SavoyCabbage · 15/06/2019 22:17

ShockSounds awful. It's probably not going to happen to you again but I can see why you would want to avoid them.

Seeingadistance · 15/06/2019 22:17

Ah, well, yes, if you've already had moths, then I understand not wanting to go through that again.

Look at the more expensive synthetics then, (to buy in a sale). I think that the shorter, denser pile synthetics feel more like wool than the longer pile ones which look and feel more artificial.

stucknoue · 15/06/2019 22:18

Moths ate my wool carpet, came back from holiday and were infested with the larvae - but Lakeland lavender moth repellent has kept them at bay, however only one room, rest of house is hardwood floors

FusionChefGeoff · 15/06/2019 22:19

I was recommended an independent carpet / flooring guy who came to ours with a van load of books / samples and really quickly helped me narrow down what I actually needed. I also had never bought a single carpet but I'm really, really pleased with the end result.

Have a google and see if there's anyone like that locally to you.

Original poster
SittHakim · 15/06/2019 22:20

Underlay is a good tip, I won't skimp on that!

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Original poster
SittHakim · 15/06/2019 22:21

FusionChefGeoff, that's a very good idea - we did that when we had some chairs needing reupholstery, and it was great: we could look at the fabric samples next to the chairs. I didn't know there was anyone who did it for carpets.

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InterchangeableEmma · 15/06/2019 22:25

Green is favourite colour but it's very, very hard to get right in interiors. It can go more sorts of wrong than almost anything else.

Why not just go with wood or that fab modern Lino stuff throughout? Let DD choose a green rug or green paint/wallpaper for the walls, something like that.

If you must have carpet it'd be hard to go wrong with a mid anthracite grey throughout.

dudsville · 15/06/2019 22:26

We have synthetic. We needed something we didn't have to be careful with. This is easy to clean and stain proof. It doesn't give static electricity! I've had wool. Our choice was down to a question of lifestyle.

kidsmakesomuchwashing · 15/06/2019 22:26

John Lewis do wonderful carpets

Original poster
SittHakim · 15/06/2019 22:28

We need carpet, sadly, with the best and thickest underlay money can buy: DD (8 years old, small, light) sounds like a herd of water buffalo when she's moving around upstairs, so wood floors would be a disaster.

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