Selection of Carpeting Samples

What used to be a blank canvas for the rest of the room is coming to the fore, with fresh hues, daring patterns and textural weaves. ‘New technology means the variety of carpets is much greater than 20 years ago,’ says Charlie Clark, champion of Fun On The Floor carpet campaign. ‘These days you can make a real style statement underfoot.’ ‘The right floor covering adds warmth and personality,’ adds interior designer Danielle Proud. ‘Beautiful carpet also evokes a feeling of luxury – think boutique hotels.’

Don’t forget the comfort factor – however many cushions you scatter, floorboards will never match up to carpet for low-level lounging. Consider, too, that carpet creates a sound barrier, it’s safe and non-slip when kids are around, and also provides another layer of insulation, which can in turn lower your winter fuel bills. So forget boring beige and stamp your personality on your home with a daring shade or sumptuous shag pile (yes really!). Carpet is back.

Contemporary color and pattern

‘Wallpaper has enjoyed a huge renaissance, but just papering a feature wall can look a little dated now,’ says Danielle Proud. ‘Carpet and bold pattern on the floor is definitely the next big trend.’ Darren Clanford, creative director at Ryalux, agrees. ‘There has been a complete colour revolution,’ he says. ‘Whereas carpet used to be the last consideration, now people are thinking about their floor covering first. Unexpected colour or a simple stripe makes all the difference.’

KEY TRENDS • ‘We’ve seen a massive resurgence in red,’says Darren. ‘From pure scarlet to cerise, red can look really opulent.’ Alternatively, why not cosy up for winter with rich berry and jewel-like shades, such as aubergines and teals, in deep, luxurious finishes?

• Fresh and contemporary, a colourful Paul Smith-style stripe is a failsafe way to bring pattern into your home. Stripes can also be used to change perspective, elongating or narrowing a space.

• Turkish or Persian-style carpets add a touch of the exotic, or be brave with a bold, geometric design taken from original Sixties David Hicks prints, made to order from The Carpet Library

• It is possible to get carpets digitally printed with your own design, but it can be expensive if you have a large area to cover. Another innovation involves cutting shapes and patterns into carpets and jigsawing in a design in a different shade. Contact carpetworkshops.com for information.

• If you can’t track down a specific shade, then why not get your carpet colour matched? ‘Ryalux can create carpets in completely bespoke shades to match anything from a fabric swatch to your favourite pair of shoes,’ says Darren.

New neutrals and wonderful weaves

Rather than standard beige, opt for a more modern look with one of the new neutrals. ‘Think Calvin Klein colours,’ says Danielle Proud. ‘Choose minks, nudes and velvety taupes, or even deeper browns or darker greys.’ Textures add a different dimension to carpet, too, creating depth of colour and a pattern in themselves. ‘Very small loop pile carpets that emulate the ever-fashionable plant-fibre floor coverings are still going strong,’ says Michael Turner, general manager at Crucial Trading. ‘However, today’s chunky carpets and variable pile heights are a world away from the traditional wool twist.’

KEY TRENDS

• Ultra-comfy underfoot, shag pile is even sexier the second time round. Seventies-style, long-pile carpets add a luxurious touch, and work particularly well in bedrooms. Use them to create a cosy feel in family rooms, dens or TV rooms.

• Go to extremes with texture. XL yarns (very wide: see image two, above) create amazing surfaces that are brilliant for the boudoir. ‘There are some really thick, tufted carpets with yarns that are the width of a cigarette, sometimes even bigger,’ says Martin Long, managing director of The Carpet Library. ‘These can be loop piles that create a chunky effect, or be cut to reveal a contrast colour running through the centre.’

• ‘You don’t have to have the same carpet throughout the house, but think cohesively,’ says Lorna Haigh, marketing manager at Alternative Flooring. ‘Why not ring the changes by laying a chunky carpet next to a flat weave?’

• Stop press: white is a feasible carpet option, thanks to clever advances in cleaning and care (but you can also make a striking statement with hide-all black).

Thoroughly modern plant fibers

Plant-fibre floorings come in a whole host of incarnations, from naturally fine jute to strong seagrass and coconut husk (coir).

Undoubtedly the most versatile of the bunch, robust sisal can be dyed in myriad modern shades, and woven into highly decorative and sophisticated patterns, such as herringbones and Jacquards. ‘We’re seeing a shift from the ubiquitous basket-yellow colour,’ says Lorna Haigh. ‘Now we have dramatic tones, such as dark browns, black, greys that look like woven steel, stripes and metallics that have a really lustrous feel.’

If you want the look of plant fibre, but find that sisal is still a little on the scratchy side, sisool combines sisal for strength and wool for softness. Or for something completely different, paper flooring has an elegant matt appearance and is surprisingly strong and durable.

CARPET QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Which carpet should I use where? Areas of heavy traffic, such as hallways and living rooms, will require a much harder-wearing carpet than a bedroom. Think about whether kids or pets will be in the room, and whether there is direct access to the outside.

How do I set a budget? ‘Expect to pay as little as £20 per sq m for a good-quality carpet that will keep its appearance,’ says Rupert Anton, marketing director of The Carpet Foundation. ‘But don’t forget to include the cost of fitting and underlay.’

Do I need new underlay? ‘Yes, even if it appears in good condition,’ says Rupert. ‘Underlay increases a carpet’s life span by up to 40 per cent. It also improves the feel underfoot and increases heat and sound insulation. Manufacturers may not accept a complaint if either old underlay has been used or none at all.’

Who will install my new carpet? Your retailer will give you a quote and recommend a specialist fitter. Always employ a qualified installer, as not only will they ensure the carpet looks good, they will be used to negotiating access points.

What about asthmatics and allergy sufferers? Independent studies have shown there to be no link between carpets and allergies. Airborne particles can trigger asthma, but carpet actually traps dust, which can then be vacuumed up. It’s also not an ideal habitat for dust mites, which can cause allergies, and stringent legislation ensures that carpets have very low VOC levels (the compounds that cause indoor air pollution).

How easy is it to keep a carpet clean? Mop up any spills immediately by blotting with kitchen paper or a dry cloth. Don’t rub the carpet or over-soak the stain, but use warm water, working from the outside in. If the stain persists, call in a professional.

Head to The Carpet Foundation and Fun on the Floor for lots more advice about choosing and buying carpet.

Carpet Jargon

• Twisted pile is created from yarn that has been twisted tightly together. The loops are then cut to achieve a textured appearance. Twists come in the widest variety of colours, shades and prices.

• Looped pile is durable and practical. The loops can be made at either a uniform height, or different heights to form a textured pile. Sometimes both cut and loop pile is combined for a more dramatic, sculptured effect. It’s very good at maintaining its appearance throughout a long lifetime.

• Velvet or velour pile carpets have a very smooth finish – perfect for bedrooms.

• Saxony carpets have a dense, cut pile made with longer tufts than other styles; often used in living rooms or bedrooms.

• Shag pile is an extremely luxurious carpet made the same way as a twisted pile, but with extra-long tufts for a shaggy look

Berber Carpeting is difficult to clean

Carpet like all durable goods has a “lifetime”. After a period of wear cleaning is simply not enough and it becomes time to replace your carpeting. Many factors come into play at this point.

• Expense – carpeting can be expensive
• Ownership – is this your carpeting or in a rental unit
• Inconvenience – ripping out the old carpet and replacing will take a day or two out of your schedule
• Health – new carpeting “outgasses” for as many as 4 years after replacement, and while some like the “new” smell, others can be highly allergic to it. “Green” carpeting is now available from a number of carpet manufacturers.
• Colors – if you replace the carpeting you may want to go with more updated colors, which mean you may need to paint or remodel as well.

These are decisions everyone has to make when it comes to carpet replacement. Choosing the “right” carpet is not as easy as selecting a “pile”, “color” and installation date or is it? Make sure you fully understand the pros and cons of the above considerations.  The final consideration of course is usually money.

There is so much to know and the easy way to learn the “How To’s” of this business is not to rely on the Carpet Sales Guy (Who is going to make his/her commission no matter what you purchase) it’s to seek the advice of industry experts! Do your homework! Every Sales guy or cleaning company will usually tell you what they have to say to make money from you. You can learn a great deal about carpeting by visiting the manufactuers sites.

Carpet Manufacturers

• Shaw Flooring

• Mowhawk Carpeting and Flooring