Carpets!

[SittHakim]

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.

The most important thing is actually the underlay. Buy the best you can afford, it will make a real difference (my uncle is a floor layer).

Also try the independent shops.

I hate wool carpets, when they get damp they smell like wet dog, and they do attract moths and carpet beetles.

I also hate static carpets.

I rather like sisal type ones though.

Before you choose a carpet you need to choose whether you will be working for the carpet.... or the carpet will be working for you.

IE being a slave to the cream carpet? Or letting carpet do it's work and buying good old fashioned quality carpet that can withstand wear and tear and still look good Etc.

Yes sisal ones too....v hard wearing.

Top tips we got given when buying carpets after a renovation...

• get the best underlay you can. It's this that makes the carpet soft and bouncy
• avoid wool. Hard to clean and stinks when wet
• avoid long pile, especially in high traffic areas. It squashes quickly and looks very worn.
• avoid loop pile. Loops come apart, again difficult to clean
• shorter piles with decent underlay is the way to go with kids and pets. Easy to clean!

Go to a small local carpet shop and ask for their advice.

Borrow some samples and take them home. You'll want a carpet that will last as it's a real pain to change it. They come in different grades - your local carpet shop will advise you. Pick a neutral shade that goes with your furniture; light colours make the floor look bigger, dark shades make it look smaller.

We've just chosen a new carpet for our main downstairs, rooms so know how valuable this advice is!

sisal hard though.

how about some decent laminate? and then you can choose some nice rugs (not so committed, and you can change them etc).

But I agree the whole process of interior decoration is exhausting. I spent about 2 months choosing the right laminate. I don't understand anything about flooring so it took ages. My advice is go to a few places. It is time-consuming but after a few consultations at shops etc. you will gradually know what you want!!!!!!! don't rush the process though ....

And definitely get samples to take home. The colours look different in shop lights.

We've always bought a good quality 80% wool carpet. Never had a problem with smell and it's lovely and soft to walk on.

Definately agree about getting a good underlay. It also extends the life of a carpet.

I’ve got various shades of grey in most rooms except kitchen and dining room. Goes with everything. X

Laminate looks nice, but is cold to walk on, noisy and doesn't insulate as well. It just isn't as nice imho.

Get 80/20 carpets (80%wool). They clean easily and wear well. Buy a plain neutral colour - goes with every decor.
Always had carpets - never had moths eat them.
Avoid synthetic/nylon - you might get static shocks. (At least I do).
Avoid dark carpets - show up every flake dropped on them - bits of thread etc. Dark also closes in your room.

And get polypropylene, it’s washable. I used to swear by wool twist carpets but the stink when wet.

I was looking at carpets at an independent shop. He said he sold at cost with a fixed mark up for fitting so didn't care whether I bought an expensive or a cheap carpet. Said you used to need wool, but that good synthetic was much better now and was longer lasting and more stain resistant.

He pointed me to a variety of moderately priced carpets that seemed really super. Haven't yet had anything fitted though so obviously it could just be talk.

We've some wool carpets and some polypropylene ones. I prefer wool. Our wool carpets have aged better and I've never noticed a smell The polypropylene carpets (which were expensive) have a weird slippery, sweaty sensation when I walk on them with bare feet

1. Get the best underlay you can afford - something like Cloud 9.
2. Go for 80/20 wool and nylon as it gives a great balance of softness and durability. Don't go for 100% wool as it will wear out quicker. The nylon content will make it more resilient. (Btw, I've never had carpet moths. Touch wood).
3. Go for a wool twist in a short enough pile that it doesn't shade from your footprints walking on it.
4. I personally dislike any patterned carpets. I would always go for plain and add patterns in cushions/curtains/wallpaper. (Selling a house with patterned carpets will put off many potential buyers should you need to sell).
5. I agree with a PP that blues and/or greens are a good choice as they are calming and relaxing colours so will aid sleep. What about a mid to dark duck egg blue?
6. If you are having different colours in different rooms, make sure the colours flow into each other. Your senses shouldn't be jarred by the change of colour when you open a door. If in doubt carpet in the same colour throughout.
7. Borrow samples.
8. Independents and Department stores aren't generally more expensive (for the same carpet) than places like Carpetright but you get much better service.
9. Enjoy the luxurious feel and look of your beautiful carpets.

I'm a fan of polypropylene. The revolution brand are about £6 sqm, cheap and cheerful good for about 5 years of heavy use.

God you've brought back a horrible memory! A few years ago we had our hall stairs and landing carpet redone on an insurance claim (long story) When it came to choosing a new one I chose one that I thought was pale gold. Once in it was mustard 😳 it was vile. Lived with it for a bit then moved! New people assumed we'd inherited it and said how horrible it was 😂

I was given a sisal carpet many years ago , It it isnt soft to the touch I dont like the colour much ( brown ) It was free and I have concrete floors so I was very grateful and by god its tough , it looks the same now as it did when it was put down .
I wouldn't recommend it for a bedroom or living room but for stairs and halls it would be great .

We got a rich, strong colour, no pattern, for the hall and the stairs, where the traffic is heaviest and likely to be grubbiest. I love the colour - every time I come home I feel like my house is giving me a hug.

Upstairs is carpeted throughout (not bathrooms) in innocuous bland cream, but everyone chose a bright rug for their room. Because the floor is bland, everyone got to choose the colours for their walls, too, so all rooms are decorated differently. But the carpet flows through everything.

Definitely get the best you can afford. This is a once in a couple of decades purchase, if not longer. I have never had any issues with moth, and have always had good woool carpets. Agree, also, that it's worth going with an independent shop. Ours quoted less than both Carpetright and John Lewis, and their quality and service were perfect.

Thanks, this has all been really helpful, and our cat will be grateful. (I hate sisal too, we inherited some of that in our old house!) Fortunately we have a couple of independent shops near us, so we'll try them first. I don't think anything will talk DD out of a long pile carpet, but it's her room so I'll let her have it.

It looks really nice when you have the same colour carpet in every room - it makes for better ‘flow’.

Our local independent carpet shop was really good to help us narrow down choices - eg we have cats, heavy footfall etc.

Also recommend 80/20 mix. And if not getting patterned - get something with a slight fleck - stops every little thing showing up.

I was surprised at how expensive patterned carpet is - 2 to 4 times more expensive (.on average) than plain.

Seriously? I had no idea - hate patterns so haven't really been looking at patterned options (I was tempted by stripes for the stairs, but the stairs open out into a big space at the top and stripes would be too much there).

I like the idea of the same carpet throughout, but think we're going to have to make an exception for DD's room!

My cat has trashed my new carpets I don’t need to worry about moths!