Carpet Choices for Every Room

Most people associate carpet flooring with older décor styles from the 60s and the 70s, or with pictures from ancient castles complete with grand foyers. Compared with modern flooring materials such as hardwood, carpets may seem a bit out of date for today’s homeowners. But that’s no longer the case. Carpet companies are now revamping their collections and offering carpet options suitable for any home size and type. Consult any flooring guide and they’ll tell you that carpet floors are always one of your best options, no matter what your style, budget and preferences are.

The great thing about carpet flooring is its variety. Now that carpet manufacturing has become a lot faster and easier, more and more designs have been made available, from plain solid colors to eye-catching designs and patterns. There’s also a wider variety in materials, so you can choose from cheap synthetics to more luscious all-natural fibers, whatever suits your pocket. There’s really a lot of choice—it’s all a matter of finding a piece suits your needs. If you’re not sure which carpets to choose, here’s a quick room-by-room guide to help you get started.

Formal rooms

Modern designers have started working the formal look into smaller homes, particularly in the kitchen. Formal rooms give your home a touch of elegance and allow you to experiment with different styles. Carpets work well for these spaces because they soften the look of the room while maintaining the formal atmosphere. Modern methods of rug making allow for smoother, more streamlined carpets, which fit better into the sleek lines commonly associated with formal room décor.

A good type to try is a Saxony carpet. Originally a brand name, Saxony carpets have come to mean any carpet made with a cut loop pile. The carpet is woven in a series of loops, which are then sheared off to even out the surface. The best Saxony carpets have a very dense weave, so they’re very soft and easy on the feet. The tight construction also makes them quite durable, perfect for high-traffic areas such as formal dining rooms.

Living rooms

Carpets also work well for living rooms, not surprisingly because of their soft, warm feel. Adding a plush carpet to any room instantly makes it more cozy and welcoming. Most carpet types can be used in living rooms, although it also depends on what the room is used for. If you have a large family, the living room is likely to be a high-traffic area, so it may be a good idea to get tips for carpet care from your dealer or manufacturer.

Consider getting a carpet with a patterned design to help camouflage dirt. Otherwise, if you have kids or pets, you’ll find yourself cleaning up muddy footprints every day, which defeats the purpose of a high-end carpet. Solid-colored carpets can work if there are only two or three people in the house, as it’s easier to control how much dirt comes in. Look for a carpet with a thick, springy pile—they’re less likely to flatten out from footprints.

Kitchens and workrooms

Kitchen carpets may seem impractical, but if you think about it, it does make a lot of sense. Most people spend their time in the kitchen on their feet—cooking, doing dishes, cleaning up the counter. Carpets make it easier on your feet while protecting the floor from spills at the same time. Obviously you can’t use delicate cotton or wool for heavy kitchen use, but most materials can work as long as you have a good carpet underlay.

Polypropylene is one of the best materials for kitchen carpets. Made from synthetic, plastic-based fibers, it’s made to resemble the look and feel of softer, more natural materials. That way, you get the same softness and comfort without the high maintenance. Colors and patterns are also quite varied, since the construction is all synthetic. With proper care, a polypropylene carpet can keep looking like new and maintain its color and texture for several years.

Bedrooms

The bedroom is where you can really indulge, since it’s low-traffic and you don’t have to worry about durability or weave. With bedroom carpets, you can pick any color, style, and pattern you want, and choose a material based on comfort rather than longevity. You can also choose to have wall-to-wall carpeting or just cover part of it, depending on the size of your room. If the space is large enough, consider getting an oriental or Persian carpet—these are among the most attractive in the market and they’re sure to add class and elegance to any room. You can place them in the middle of the room as a centerpiece, or at the foot of your bed if you have the space to spare. Modern manufacturers use more durable fibers and treatments, so they stay soft and comfortable even with years of regular use.

Most experts agree that home design is best done from room to room. When you think about it, it does make sense: since each room has its own purpose, you have to plan them out separately and ensure both style and function for each one. It may sound like a lot of work, especially if you have a big space to work with. But like any other task, it’s really just a matter of planning and creative thinking. With a few quick tricks, you can come up with an overall design that’s both stylish and practical, and perhaps most importantly, well within your budget.

Start by choosing a good flooring material for every room. Don’t be pressured to choose just one material for the entire home—it’s a lot easier, sure, but you probably won’t get the same quality and performance. If you want to keep things uniform, however, try using carpets—they’re varied enough to serve different purposes, but since they’re basically the same construction, you still have a unifying element to tie them together. Make sure to choose materials suitable for each room’s purpose—your dealer or manufacturer can help you compare different carpet types.

Lighting design should also be among your main concerns. Some rooms, such as the kitchen and workrooms, naturally need more lighting than bedrooms and living rooms. As much as possible, plan it out so that each room has a combination of ambient and task lighting. If you have big windows, take advantage of them and open them up to provide natural lighting and heating. If there’s a good view, all the better—just frame it with decorative curtains and you’ve got an instant focal point!

Finally, choose a color scheme that works with each room’s purpose. You can use a different combination for every room; for example, you can have a bright, sunny kitchen and a more elegant contemporary design for the living room. Tie the colors together with neutral-colored fixtures, such as white door and window frames or dark wood cornicing. Don’t be afraid to experiment with colors—you never know when you’ll come up with something great!