Installing carpet in a room is a great way to dramatically alter the room’s appearance. With a new carpet, a room can appear larger or smaller, more casual or extra-formal. Of course, with so many different flooring options available, it is important to know what you’re getting into when carpeting a room.
One of the most important carpeting basics to consider is color. The color of your new carpet will affect how you perceive the room in which it is placed, as well as alter your interior design choices. If your room is small, and you want to make it look bigger, try to stick with light-colored carpet and paint. Conversely, if your room is large and you want it to appear smaller, dark colors are your friend. If you plan on selling your home in the future, choose neutral colors, as they will help potential buyers envision their decor in the room.
When carpeting a house, you will want to consider the different types of carpet and how they will interact with your living style. Loop carpet is good for areas where small items are likely to be dropped on the floor, but the loops may snag at seams and transitions to other types of flooring. When carpeting stairs, it is likely that the carpet backing may be visible at the bend, depending on how thick the pile is.
Carpeting basics to consider aren’t limited to color and texture. The quality of the carpet purchased will directly affect how durable the carpet is. Higher quality carpets have denser pile and tighter twist construction, which make them more durable. More important than a quality carpet, however, is a quality carpet pad. Carpet pad is what makes the flooring soft and comfortable to walk on, and can increase the lifespan of the carpet itself.
While these are only a few carpeting basics, they are a good starting point for your carpet shopping experience. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to ask your carpet salesperson for clarification before settling on a carpet.