Flooring is a MAJOR decision because it covers a big area, you walk on it every day and it usually absorbs a big chunk of your reno budget. It’s also the first element we choose when designing a room (and house) – so everything else builds from there.
Flooring is literally the base of the space which sets the tone for the rest of the interior design decisions ... and colour is one of the first things we choose. You too should be able to articulate if you want light, medium or dark flooring pretty early on in the design process by taking inspo from a vision board.
Which type of flooring is best? Bamboo, carpet, tiles, vinyl, laminate, solid timber, engineered timber or polished concrete? There’s a lot to consider! I will break the topic in small posts, so the information is easier to digest. Let's start by talking about carpet.
As always, the best choice for you depends on the style you’re going for, the lifestyle you lead (kids, pets, high-heels) and, of course, your budget! In this topic, we’ll walk you through the many options out there, their pros and cons, and some other things to consider before making a decision. Let’s get into it!
TIP:
WANT A BIGGER HOUSE BUT CAN’T AFFORD AN EXTENSION? CHOOSE LIGHT-COLOURED FLOORING INSTEAD OF DARK – IT WILL MAKE THE HOUSE APPEAR LARGER
CARPETS
As much as I love hardwood floors, I can’t go past the feel-good factor of carpet in bedrooms. I wouldn’t do a whole house in wall-to-wall carpet but a bedroom? Definitely. Who doesn’t want to wake up in the morning and put their feet on a lovely, soft surface rather than a cold, hard floor? Enough said.
PROS
A huge range of colours and textures.
• Feels soft and warm on your bare tootsies.
• Makes a room feel cosier and adds a bit of insulation.
• Shhh … it’s quieter than other flooring because it absorbs sound.
• Better at limiting bumps and bruises for little ones who are playing ninja warrior.
CONS
Argh! Stains! Carpet can stain, which makes it hard work if you have pets, kids or red wine drinkers in the household. And yep, you can choose fabrics and brands that are more stain-resistant than others, but there’s only so much they can withstand.
• Watch out for a visible ‘walk track’ in carpeted areas that get well-worn, like hallways, thanks to constant foot traffic.
• Carpet can become a dust trap, which isn’t great for allergy sufferers.
Different types of carpet
WOOL – As with clothing, 100% wool carpets are a natural, premium, high-quality choice. If you put wool in your house is because you want a natural fibre and the large loop style feel beautiful underfoot. Wool isn't scratchy (yeah!) BUT it is not as stain-resistant as synthetic fibres. If you can enforce a ‘shoes off’ policy in the house, your kids aren’t toddlers anymore, and you don't have any pets, wool would be a great choice.
POLYESTER – A synthetic fibre that’s less expensive and not as durable as nylon, but still really soft underfoot.
TRIEXTA – This new kid on the block is considered as durable and good-looking as nylon, but it’s softer and more environmentally-friendly (as all innovative products should be). This clever guy is made from 37% renewable polymers and it emits fewer greenhouse gases than other synthetic fabrics when it is being made. It’s also more stain resistant as it does not absorb moisture. So, any spills literally sit on the surface and you just need water to clean them up. And, for all these benefits, you’ll be glad to know it’s also very competitively priced.
SISAL – A super-strong natural fibre that looks great and is hard-wearing … but also a bit scratchy underfoot. We prefer using sisal rugs rather than wall-to-wall sisal carpet.
NYLON – Strong, tough, durable, stain-resistant and cheaper than wool. It’s a synthetic fibre that is designed to withstand lots of foot traffic and it comes in loads of colours.
BLENDS – As the name suggests, and just like clothing, this is when wool and nylon are blended together to get the best qualities of both fibres at the best price.
Pile: cut or loop?
LOOP PILE has looped fibres, which can give a more relaxed look. This also won’t show footprints or wear and tear as easily as cut pile.
CUT PILE has fibres that stick straight up, which can give a more plush, formal look although it will also show footprints and vacuum tracks. If the fibres are long, this is called Frieze.
TIP:
DON’T FORGET TO BUDGET FOR UNDERLAY. IF YOU’VE ORDERED A HIGH QUALITY OR SOUND-REDUCING UNDERLAY THIS COST COULD STING IF YOU’RE NOT EXPECTING IT.
The type of carpet that works best for you will depend on your budget, personal preference and durability requirements. When the time comes to buy, you might want to buy a little bit extra and keep any off-cuts, just in case you ever need to replace a section. And don’t forget to always lay your carpet last in the renovating process.
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