When it comes to choosing the perfect luxury carpet for your home, it’s always wise to tread carefully. It’s not always the case that the best-looking choices are of the highest possible quality, so it’s important to know what you’re looking for when transforming your stylish abode to ensure you lay a carpet that will be up to the job.
A good carpet won’t just look beautiful – it will be durable and long-lasting, too. But with so many different varieties to choose from and so many other considerations to take into account, it can be difficult to know where to start.
The room in which you’re planning to lay your carpet and the level of footfall it will be exposed to will make it a little easier to narrow down your options. If you’re carpeting a bedroom, for example, then you can afford to opt for something a little more luxurious – a nice, thick pile will feel decadent under your feet when you climb out of bed each morning, and with limited wear and tear, it will stand the test of time. In the living room or the hall, on the other hand, your carpet will need to endure a little more through-traffic, so in areas like these, a denser, tighter, low-pile tuft will serve you better.
The key points to consider when choosing your carpets are the thickness, resilience, weight and material. The quicker a pile springs back when pressed with your fingers, the more resilient it will be. Also take a look at the underside of the carpet to see how the tufts are spaced apart. The further apart they are, the less resilient the carpet will be under pressure.
The density will depend on how closely knitted the fibres are, so pay close attention to this, too.
Choose an optimal pile fibre
There are a variety of different pile fibres to choose from, the best quality of which tend to be sustainable and natural materials. As with most things in life, you’ll get what you pay for, and in a luxury home, nothing less than the finest will do. Wool is resilient and highly durable, as well as being an effective insulator, so it will keep your home feeling warm and cosy in the winter months as well as looking the part year-round.
Many all-purpose carpets are a wool mix, and are comprised of 80 per cent wool with 20 per cent man-made fibres, such as polypropylene. Although these are good all-purpose carpets, they don’t quite measure up with the all-natural alternative, and while fully polypropylene carpets are hard-wearing and resistant to stains, they certainly don’t look or feel as good as their pricier and softer natural counterparts.
The same goes for polyamide, also known as nylon, although it does tend to be available in a wider array of brighter hues and colours that can’t be reproduced in wool.
Know your pile types
The two most common pile types available in the UK are woven and tufted. Woven carpets, such as Wiltons and Axminsters, are made through traditional loomed methods, and offer a high-quality finish. They are also one of the top-end options available, making them the perfect choice for your luxury abode.
Even so, tufted piles remain the most popular, and can be looped, cut or both. Quicker and simpler to manufacture, the most popular varieties include hard-wearing ‘twist’, which has been lightly twisted together to create a one-way pile and is a good choice if you have a pet in the home, as it minimises the appearance of animal hairs. It’s also great for high-traffic areas, like the stairs or hallway.
A shagpile or a saxony is a lavish and extravagant choice which is perfect for the bedroom, where footfall is minimal, while flatter varieties such as Berber or flatweave work best for stair runners, halls and landings.
The right underlay for the job
Carpet underlays are another important consideration, and act as a shock absorber, adding cushioning underfoot for additional comfort. A heavy duty underlay is well worth the investment and will extend the life of your carpet no end, ensuring that it wears evenly and stays at its best for as long as possible.
For areas that are subject to extra through-traffic, opt for an underlay which offers good acoustic qualities – and opt for the highest possible tog for the best level of insulation.
A beautiful carpet will lay the foundation for a stylish luxury home with ease, and armed with the right knowledge, you’re bound to make the right choice. With a few careful considerations, each room can be transformed, adding warmth and cosiness for winter, and an air of opulence all year round.
