Insight

Purchasing carpet is a big decision, often one that has been saved for or thought about for some time, so it’s important to get it right. Hopefully it will be with you for many years to come, sometimes even decades. The right carpet has the ability to completely transform your home. If you’re wanting warmth, size or durability, we have something for you here at Just Carpets Auburn. Here, we have simplified the main areas that you may need to consider when choosing the perfect carpet for your home. 1. Your Lifestyle  2. Colour  3. Fibre 4. Style 5. Layout Your Lifestyle Your lifestyle plays an important part when trying to decide which carpet is the right one for you and your home. There’s no point splashing out on plush white carpet if you have a house full of children and pets. Here are a few common scenarios to consider:  Luxury – perhaps you’d like a luxurious look and feel to your home. Plush pile carpet is definitely the style for you! It’s beautiful and soft underfoot and creates opulence. Children and Pets – if you have children and/ or pets, you’re going to need a hard wearing, stain resistant carpet. We will be covering this in more depth in our next blog.  Entertaining – is your home used for regular entertaining? Parties on a saturday night or guests staying over? A combination cut with mid-to-dark tones would be worth considering.  Colour With so many colours and patterns to decide between sometimes this choice can seem very overwhelming.  Just Carpets can assist by recommending colours based on your home interiors and what you are trying to achieve.  Dark colours create a cosier feel to your home. Another great reason to choose a dark colour is to conceal stains and wear. This often makes it perfect for investment properties and large families. Lighter coloured carpets can create the illusion of a larger, airer home. There’s also something very calming about walking into a house with light flooring. If your home is tight on space a lighter carpet is a great choice.  Another option is for a subtle blend of two neutral colours which appear unified. This blend is great if you love to entertain, have pets or children yet still want a lighter carpet colour. It is very forgiving with stains.  Fibre Whilst carpets come in many different styles and colours, there are also many fibres to consider. We cover these below. With all types of carpets, there are some negative drawbacks which we also touch on for each fibre type. 100% Wool –Wool carpets like the name suggests, are crafted with natural sheep wool fibres. These beautiful carpets are warm, luxurious, plush underfoot and durable. For those conscious about the environment, this is a lovely, sustainable option. Wool carpets are known for their durability and resilience making them a good choice for high traffic areas as they are able to withstand the rigours of daily life. The natural properties of wool carpets enable them to be naturally stain and soil resistant. Lanolin acts as a barrier which minimises the risks of penetrating the carpet with permanent staining, meaning that most stains can be removed if treated in a timely manner. The downside to wool carpets is that as they are natural, they occasionally can cause some allergies to those who are very sensitive. Regular cleaning and maintenance can reduce these symptoms. Nylon-Wool blend –There are multiple wool blends on the market today. One of the most popular being Nylon / Wool. This mix is usually at 20% Nylon and 80% wool which means you’re getting all the feels of a wool carpet but at a slightly reduced price point. Nylon – Nylon carpets have been around for decades and are one of the most durable options available. Nylon is an artificial fibre which is incredibly popular for carpets. If you have a home prone to high foot traffic, Nylon fibre carpets are worth considering for your property. They rarely fade and will last the test of time. These are also a great affordable option, often 25% less than wool. We have a large range in store so please visit so our team can assist. The downside of Nylon is that the carpets are not as soft and luxurious underfoot. Polypropylene – This is another artificial fibre. Polypropylene is a highly durable material that is resistant to wear and tear making it a good choice for high traffic areas such as hallways and stairs. This type of carpet is resistant to stains, liquids and importantly mould and mildew. It is by far the most affordable option. Unfortunately polypropylene carpet is prone to fading after being exposed to sunlight for extended periods of time. It is also not as pleasant underfoot as natural wool carpets. Style When talking about style of carpet, we’re meaning the look and feel. Some examples include plush, berber, loop pile and twist pile but there are many others plus combinations. Plush – Plush pile carpets are very luxurious to the touch with some describing them as having a velvet feel. The pile is short and slightly twisted. They tend to show up footprints and vacuum direction but they’re beautiful to walk on (or to have a little nap on!). Loop Pile – Loop pile carpets are made with small loops all pressed together to create a carpet that is all the same height. These are great carpets for those with a busy household as they don’t show footprints, are extremely durable and don’t show stains as easily. Perfect for staircases and hallways. Twist Pile – These carpets are perfect for families with pets as they don’t show footprints and the loops aren’t as easily caught by small paws! Twist pile carpets are dense and more textured than plush carpets. Berber – This is a closed loop style of carpet originally made in North Africa. Traditionally made with two similar colours, it offers depth and interest to a room.