subject: How to Choose the Best Carpet for Your Space [print this page] How to Choose the Best Carpet for Your Space
Selecting the right carpeting for a room is not only an essential element of design, but it is key to the functionality of the room as well. With the many styles, textures, and color varieties available today, one can easily become overwhelmed. There are a few key consistent factors that will guide you in knowing how to choose the best carpet for your space. Room function, decor preferences, and affordability are all important to keep in mind when selecting carpeting fiber, style, and quality. Let's take a closer look at each of these.
There are several different types of fibers used in constructing carpeting, but the most popular choice by far is nylon. One of the most stain resistant carpets available, nylon carpeting not only feels good on your feet, but it is an extremely practical choice for families with small children or pets. Another widely used rug fiber is wool. With many individuals leaning more towards using organic and natural products in their homes, wool carpeting has become a popular option. Not only is it more durable, but is softer as well. The disadvantages of wool are that it this material is significantly more expensive and it is difficult to clean, as fibers trap stains. For obvious reasons, this would not be a good choice for a child's room or family room. Olefin is another option and is a practical choice for commercial grade carpeting as it is highly durable, but not especially comfortable on bare feet.
Styles of carpeting are also an important factor in selection. Cut pile is used to create everything from the casual to the luxurious and refers to the fact that the fibers have been cut to create certain effects. Alternating the length of the fibers in a textured cut pile helps to hide prints in the carpeting, making it popular for high traffic areas. A more level pile cut is used in creating the formal plush styles typically found in bedrooms. The Berber style refers to carpeting created by looping the fibers making it stronger and more wear resistant. This style has become extremely popular in high traffic areas such as family rooms and hallways. The Frieze style is the wild child of the bunch. With crazy, twisted fibers that have no set design as to direction or form, this hearty style is one of the most durable carpeting styles.
Lastly, the most important factor in knowing how to choose the best carpet for your space is quality, and the most important aspect of quality is density. This refers to how closely its individual fibers are to one another. The higher the density, the better the quality and the more the carpeting will resist wear. It also creates a much more cushioned and lush feel. The best way to check the density is by checking to see how easy it is for you to push the fibers aside to get to the actual backing of the carpeting. Thick, dense fibers will make it difficult for you to access the backing which is a good indicator of high quality density. Also, check the ends of the fibers. Quality carpeting uses fibers that have been twisted and set so that there is no fraying or fuzziness at the ends of the fibers. And lastly, consider the pile height. The taller the fibers stand from the backing, the higher the grade. These tips should help you in choosing carpeting that serves the function and style of your space, while maintaining high quality and great affordability.
