Published: Wednesday, 29th July, 2009 12:00pm

Choosing the right carpet

In recent times there has been a significant a movement away from wooden floors and a return to carpet. But before shopping for carpet you should identify which features to look for to ensure your final selection meets your needs and fits in with your quest for a particular look.

The floor is the largest usable area of the house. It is often overlooked when decorating a room as any major changes can be expensive. So it is also the one item of decor that is least often changed. In selecting a carpet and making a long-term investment it is important that you consider how long you expect your new carpeting to last.

Typically, carpet has a life expectancy of seven years, but many people replace carpet less frequently, instead relying on rugs and cleaning to prolong the lifespan of the carpet. It goes without saying that the type of carpet required of families with young children is different from the type of carpet selected by a retired couple with mature grandchildren.

Practicality

As with any other design choices it is important to consider the function of the space. Carpets, rugs and natural fibre coverings occupy the soft end of the flooring spectrum. These materials tend to be warm, comfortable, quiet and enclosing. Carpets are also energy efficient - many people express surprise at the increase in their heating bills when they replace a carpet with a wooden floor.

They are however impractical for hard working utility areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. Lifestyle and the function of the room or area will help determine what fibre, style, texture and special features should be selected.

It is important to consider the function of the area to be carpeted. Typically entrance halls, stairs and everyday living areas demand a carpet that can cope with heavy use in contrast to the lighter demands placed on a carpet in a bedroom. The wear and tear that the carpet has to endure ranges from coping with the effects of spilled food, drinks and other sticky substances in a family room or the attentions of a pet in a living room through to light use in a spare bedroom.

It is also worthwhile considering whether the carpet will be exposed to sun light as this will result in fading.

In this day and age allergies are prevalent and if any member of the family has one, it must be considered whether a carpet is the best choice for flooring cover. Pets and young children have a significant impact on the lifespan of a carpet so it is worthwhile considering their needs when making a selection; crawling infants require a surface that will not impact harshly on their skin while if you have a dog or cat, it is important to choose a carpet that will disguise dirt and can be easily cleaned.

Loops catch on pet nails, hurting the pet and damaging the carpet. To ensure that the carpet has a long life, remember that carpets with static electricity will attract pet hair. No carpet is completely static-free but the amount of static it traps can be managed by careful selection of density and fibre.

Density

Different grades of carpet are suitable for different locations. The density of the construction of the carpet relates to how closely the fibres are packed together. It is recommended that for light domestic use such as carpets in bedrooms carpets are usually up to 800grams per square metre. Formal sitting rooms experience light to medium domestic use and it is recommended that carpets are 875 grams per square metre. It is recommended that carpets that experience heavy domestic use, in living rooms, on stairs, landings and in halls, and especially in areas where there is a direct link to the outside are 1kg per square metre.

Colour

Although different densities may be suitable for different areas it is important to have continuity throughout the house and to achieve this you could perhaps select two types for carpeting. If you purchase a different style and colour of carpet for each room, the overall result will be chaotic. It is sometimes possible to obtain the same colour carpet in the different densities required. For a feeling of unity, think of the house, or at least each level of the house, as a whole. Use carpet as a backdrop for your colour scheme.

Bear in mind that you will probably change the decor many times over the coming years before you change the carpet. Your house will appear larger and more comfortable when there is continuity between rooms provided by consistent carpet. A neutral, medium-colour carpet shows less dirt than a darker or lighter colour. Medium colours, colour blends and patterns are best for disguising signs of use between cleanings. Carpets with a plain overall effect permit a wider choice of furnishings. If the carpet colour is neutral, furnishings and accessories can be used for colour.

Piles

In addition to density there are different pile types. Cut pile, in which the pile loops are cut to make tufts of yarn that stands upright, is smooth and matt. But it is important to note that because of its smoothness it can show footmarks or shading. Velvet pile is a smooth and is a soft version of cut pile. It is quite hard wearing and easy to clean, but again might show footmarks or shading.

Loop pile has uncut loops, patterns can be created by loops at different levels. Berber is a popular loop pile; it is made form natural un-dyed wool and makes for a good all-purpose carpet. Twist is a type of cut pile in which the fibres are twisted and set to give a tighter texture that does not fluff, nor does it show shading or footmarks. It is hardwearing and ideal for areas of heavy traffic. Shag pile refers to carpets with a pile up to 50mm long. It is suitable for only light use or decorative rugs.

Fibres

There are five main types of carpet pile fibres: wool, acrylic, nylon, olefin and polyester. Each company producing these has its own variants and trade names so use the generic name to determine the fibre content. Occasionally rugs and carpets are made from cotton, jute, hemp or sisal, but these fibres are not usually found in wall-to-wall, consumer carpet.

Traditional Oriental rugs are made from sheep or lamb wool. Modern Oriental-style rugs made from synthetic fibres do not have the life expectancy of the traditional wool rugs. Acrylic is much like wool in appearance. It resists abrasion, soiling and crushing but is susceptible to some pilling. Nylon is the most popular fibre (about 90% of residential carpets and 65% of all carpets).

Nylon is a good choice for all traffic areas because it is durable and static free, maintains fibre height, and resists soiling, staining, and mildew. Olefin (Polypropylene) is the next-best seller after nylon (about 80% of commercial carpet). These fibres are colourfast because the production process involves mixing polypropylene with dyes. Olefin works best in loop carpets such as Berbers. It is strong (resisting abrasion), mildew resistant, moisture resistant, and easy to clean.

Polyester has similar qualities but can fade with sunlight. Sisal, jute and hemp are grasses that can be made into inexpensive floor coverings generally limited to area or room-size rugs. Unless treated they can be flammable and subject to fading and damage from sunlight.

Sea grass is the smoothest of the natural fibres, which makes it most comfortable underfoot. Sea grass is tough, cheap and anti-static. The hard fibre is virtually impermeable, does not stain like other natural fibres and shrugs off dirt. Coir is a fibre that derives from the coconut husk, the standard version is cheap and hard wearing but it does stain. Jute comes from a plant native to subtropical regions of India. It is soft enough to be more than welcome in the bedroom, but will not stand up to the heavy wear and requires stain protection.

Finally proper care and maintenance of your carpet will extend its life and preserve its appearance for many years thus supporting your overall decor.

Next week - Paints uncovered - selecting the right type of paint

Interested in developing your interior design skills - Cavan Institute offers a full-time one year course in interior design accredited by FETAC. Contact Cavan Institute at 049-4332633.