Floors We've Fallen For - Carpet
Flooring is one of the most significant design decisions made for any room or home, and it can be tricky to know what type of flooring to choose. Flooring is not just a large investment, but the options are endless. Floors can have a huge impact on the overall feel and longevity of your home.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been sharing what we’ve learned about flooring, the pros and cons for each flooring type and floors we love right now. This week is all about Carpet!
carpet
soft and warm underfoot
Carpet is the top choice for floors here in the UK. It’s not hard to see why - it’s warm, soft, and cushy underfoot. We love to use carpet in bedrooms, as stair runners, and lounge areas - especially if they are in basements with cement sub-floors (which can be very cold!).
Although we discourage using carpet in high traffic areas of the house and opt for rugs on hard floors instead, it's important to see where carpet could be used for all its benefits. It is soft, comfortable, warm (physically and visually), it helps dampen sounds/echoing in a room. There are lots of colours and patterns to choose from, and it is cosy for kids to play on. However, remember staining is more likely (although there are lots of carpets with stain-resistant finishes available), wear patterns are usually more visible over time than on hard surfaces, and it can look/feel cheap if you don’t select a good quality carpet.
Also, bear in mind that carpet naturally produces and traps dust - those with allergies could benefit from doing away with carpet or opting for a low-pile twisted variety.
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If you love these runners but feel they are too bold or patterned for you, then why not opt for a patterned weave? In essence, this means the construction of the carpet is in a pattern but without additional colours. The result is much softer but adds much-needed interest.
The example below is a great option for bedrooms. It' has a low, twisted pile so you can layer rugs on top for a more sophisticated and cosy look. Alternatively, carpets recessed in to hard floors in selected areas can provide all the benefits of a rug but without the trip hazard.
“Simultaneously luxurious and versatile, and would enhance a formal sitting room as much as a zen yoga studio. Carpets help to soften and ground the space.”
pros
Soft
Comfortable
Cosy
Child friendly
Variety of options
cons
Easily stained
Can look cheap
Can wear/tread over time
Can be snagged or pulled if a longer pile is chosen
use for
Childrens bedrooms
Cosy rooms
Basements
Stair runners
For the reasons mentioned above, we are doing away with all carpet in our next home except up the stairs. Our allergies (including asthma) will hopefully thank us for it. We will still include some vintage rugs to provide the warmth and softness needed for the more relaxing and cosy spaces in our home.
We firmly believe that hard floors can be child friendly and warm if installed and selected correctly. If you’re stuck then why not get in touch to see how we can help?
Sources, From Top to Bottom:
Carpet main image by Shaw Floors via our Pinterest Board.
Carpet sample images by Stanton Carpet via their website.
Stair runners clockwise: Mushroom pattern by Mountain West Interiors, Stripe runner by Hartley Tissier, Edged runner by Roger Oates Design and Chevron with lights by decorpad, all via our Pinterest Board.
Sisal swatches via Pottery Barn.