Whether you're Building or Renovating, theres's always a long list of decisions to make, and despite the Looks often having the final word, it's actually the Function and Practicality that should always be given priority as we sort through all the finishes and products on the market. Carpet is one of those important decisions, with so many options available, but before choosing what it's going to look like, we should consider how it will perform, and what we expect from it. Carpet feels so nice underfoot, it's great to insulate from cold floors, and of course it's a great option to help diminish noise in the bedrooms and perfect to absorb echoes in particular rooms like the home theatre. So, where do you start from when choosing carpet?
Here is a quick Treble of Practical Design Tips:
Function - For high traffic areas like staircases and hallways, selecting a pile that is resistant to wear and tear would be appropriate (in the image above we opted for a loop pile as it wont flatten as easily as a plush or twist pile) And if you have young children who may bring food and drinks in their bedrooms, perhaps a synthetic choice would be the option that's easier to clean. However, no matter what kind of carpet you go for, it will always benefit from the prompt cleaning of any spillages and frequent vacuuming.
Performance - One important tip is to give great attention to the underlay, whose hidden presence is essential to the performance of any quality carpet, I always use the bets underlay even on the most basic carpets, as it adds greatly to how it will perform over time. Did you know that FlooringXtra offers a 100% recyclable underlay?
Looks - Instead of stopping the carpet at the door of a room, covering an entire floor with the same product will increase the sense of space there, thanks to the seamless flow as you move from one room to the next, and if you're renovating, it's the perfect choice to unify differing existing floor finishes into one continuous one.
In the recent renovation of a heritage listed home in Manly, the owners wished for a high performance carpet to use on the staircase. They were also after natural materials and a contemporary look, that would suit the style of this grand home. From the vast range of options at FlooringXtra, we chose a 100% wool carpet, with a high loop, which added a beautiful texture to complement the finishes we'd already chosen. We continued the same carpet on the whole upper floor, gaining a sense of continuity and adding a touch of contemporary style against the classical finishes, like the high skirtings and ornate ceilings. The result is one that makes you want to get down on your hands a knees as it looks so rich and inviting! Have a look at the short video below for some home improvement ideas.
Carpet is a flexible product for our flooring, which comes in a wide range of options to suit the needs of any family. Before you make any final decision about your carpet choice, my advice is to firstly visit the FlooringXtra website to take a look at their extensive range, and then visit one of their many stores in person, where they'll provide you with free and expert advice on which product is best for your needs and why. For this historic renovation, they were the perfect choice!
James Treble is an ambassador for Planet Ark and firmly believes in sensible purchasing, recycling and creative re-purposing. James has three decades of accumulated experience in the Building Industry, Real Estate and Interior Design and regularly shares his knowledge and experience in adding value to properties through effective design & styling. Watch his free videos on YouTube, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram for more free information.