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Selecting Carpet
USE
Think about how the carpet will be used before making any decisions.
Will it be in a formal or informal area?
How much traffic will move over the carpet?
Will the carpet be near an entrance where dirt can be tracked in?
How will the carpet fit your decor?
What kind of look or feel do you want for a room?
Choose types of fiber and types of carpet based on your use requirements.
TREATMENTS
Water and soil resistant carpet is treated with chemicals such as Scotchguard or Teflon to prevent fibers from absorbing stains. Carpet fibers should be treated with these repellents before the backing is put on the carpet for better protection. Interface Solenium, DuPont Stainmaster Plus, and Monsanto Wear Dated II are popular brands of stain resistant carpet.
Antistatic treatments resist static electricity from friction against carpets.
Acrylic or olefin (polypropylene) fibers are often used because of their low static level.
Footprint-free, trackless, or track-resistant carpets (usually level loop piles such as berbers) are tightly twisted and hide vacuum marks and footprints.
Crush resistant carpets (usually textured cut pile) have tightly twisted fibers to limit crushed fibers.
COLOR
There are no right choices when it comes to color. Consult home decor magazines for advice. Look at your surroundings to help choose a color range (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, or gray).
What colors and surfaces do the walls and furniture have? Generally, wall and carpet should have at least a little contrast in color. Take carpet samples home to get a good feel.
Keep the following general guidelines in mind. Darker carpets tend to show lint and dust, disguise dirt, and make a room seem smaller and cozier. Lighter carpets tend to disguise lint and dust, show dirt (except stain resistant carpets), and make a room seem larger.
Middle tones and multicolored carpets disguise lint, dust, and dirt. Remember that carpet fibers that are dyed before being attached to backing are more colorfast.
Depending on your decor, there is no rule that carpet has to be uniform throughout a dwelling.
COST
After considering the other more important factors, you can begin looking for a good price. Consider buying the best quality carpet you can afford for high traffic areas such as hallways, entrances, and stairs. Consider buying lesser quality carpet for lower traffic areas such as guest rooms.
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