Carpet and curtains are probably on the less glamorous side of home decor, however it’s one of the interior decoration elements we get most queries about. It seems there are a lot of readers out there who would like a bit of advice on the common floor covering.

In our old cottage James and I took the somewhat controversial decision to carpet over the beautiful slate floor in our living room. We’d deliberated for quite some time on whether to cover the stunning floor but finally plumped for a softer covering as we were desperate for a cosier room.
Two years on, I still get comments coming through on my own blog from folks all over the world voicing their opinions on our decision. Let me tell you Anon, from California, you’ve never experienced a Northamptonshire winter. Slate underfoot is far from toasty no matter how stylish is looks.

As you know we’re currently redecorating the master bedroom. As beautiful as all those white washed floors look on Pinterest I know I need some carpet in my life. As far as I’m concerned there’s nothing more snug than a good thick pile, and so the search for new flooring has begun. Now there are lots of different carpets out there and it can be downright confusing so together with Carpetright we’ve put together a handy guide to carpet buying.

What’s Your Style?

Loop Pile

Made from either a flat weave, level loop or multi-level loop pile, these carpets are great if you’re after a textured and rustic feel to your pad. Made from uncut loops of yarn they are great for high traffic areas due to their hard wearing properties.

Velvet

For a softer luxury look opt for the smoother cut pile of a velvet carpet. Patterned carpet usually has a smooth velvet finish.

Saxony

The daddy of carpets. If you’re after luxurious and soft carpet then this one is for you. As they can be tricky to clean due to their deep pile so better suited to bedrooms.

Twist

Another style for those after a rustic finish. A cut pile made from twisted fibres with a course textured finish. Available in plain or heathered (mottled) they are durable and practical making them great for busy areas in the home. This is the style I opted for in our last house.

As I’m planning on re-carpeting the stairs as well as all the upstairs bedrooms in the same covering I’m planning on going for a twist or loop carpet. As comfortable as it would be to go for a saxony style I’d prefer to go for something harder wearing. We’re currently considering Dakota Textured Carpet in Platinum or maybe the Sahara Berber in Granite Cobble.

Material

The prices of carpeting differs drastically dependent on the fibres used to construct your carpet. The composition affects both softness and durability.

Wool

Strong and durable. The more expensive material for carpets.

Polypropylene

Inexpensive, stain resistant though not as durable as its woollen counterparts.

Nylon/ Polymide

Usually blended with wool fibres to make the carpet even more durable.

Sisal

Natural carpet fibre from renewable sources making for an environmentally friendly option.

Consider What Lies Beneath

I’m also planning on splashing out on a super squidgy underlay to insulate the room and cushion sound. In our first house we neglected to invest in the underlay in our main bedroom and found the room was considerable colder than the rest and the floor covering was really flat, definitely not luxurious.

Expecting Spillages?

Now we don’t have any pets at Chez Coleman and as you know no small people either however I am so clumsy so invariably the carpet is likely to end up with some form of spillage on it. If you’re like me it’s a good idea to look out for stain resistant finishes; 100% polypropylene carpets can even be cleaned with a bleach solution.

Thoughts On Colour

A carpet is a pricey investment and it can be tricky to get a real sense of colour from a tiny swatch. I’ve previously paid a deposit to bring home a whole bunch of samples from the store to try them out in situ, sliding them underneath furniture to get a sense of how they’ll fit in the entire room. I’ve often found when I take this approach I end up choosing a shade darker than I originally anticipated.

So that’s a whistle-stop guide to all things carpet. Anyone else currently carpet shopping? Have you gone for wool or man-made fibres?

This post is sponsored by Carpetright