Organise + design your Reno with these resources

When choosing a new carpet, the main priorities are generally simple - a carpet that's soft underfoot in a colour that looks good. Are we right?

But there's a lot more to consider when choosing carpet than meets the eye...or foot for that matter. We dug deeper into the pile and came up with the top five questions you need to ask when choosing a new carpet for your home…

1. Which Fibre?

This is generally what you’ll need to decide first. The most common carpet fibres are wool, nylon and polyester. Each has its benefits, and the ideal choice will depend on your needs and the application.

Polyester is generally harder-wearing and the cheapest option. It can however feel somewhat plastic-like and is usually harder to the touch than all other varieties.

Nylon is soft underfoot, and mid-range in price. Being solution-dyed, nylon is usually highly stain-resistant and fade-resistant and is a popular choice.

Finally, there’s wool - the most premium of carpet fibres and our favourite. It comes in a range of price points from mid to top-end, is super-soft underfoot and is naturally stain-resistant.

Wool carpet stays warm in Winter yet cool in Summer making it comfortable to live with all year round. It’s also hard-wearing due to its natural built-in memory, which causes it to bounce back into position when compressed. Now that’s smart.

2. Plush Pile, Loop Or A Bit Of Both?

The finish or cut of your carpet pile will affect its appearance, maintenance, wear and durability.

A plush carpet has a blunt cut finish that’s amongst the softest and most luxurious of all varieties. It can feel as soft as velvet but does tend to show up foot and vacuum tracking more than other fibres.

Twist refers to a carpet where the fibre is twisted. It’s hard-wearing and less likely to show ‘shading’ from foot traffic and a vacuum, making it practical and easy to live with.

In loop piles, the fibre has a looped finish. Loop piles are extremely durable, generally don’t flatten easily and are one of the best options for avoiding tracking from footprints and vacuuming. There are a range of looped variations which also have the added benefit of increased texture due to their uneven surface.

Combination carpet piles have both cut and looped fibres and can be a great option as they often tick boxes on many levels.

3. Allergies

Wool is often considered the best option for allergies and asthma, as it has natural hypoallergenic properties and low moisture levels, making it harder for dust mites to survive. Being a natural fibre, skin irritations are also generally less common compared with synthetic fibres.

Nylon is another good choice for allergies with some varieties including materials that actually repel allergens.

4. Environmental Impact

When considering the environment, it’s important to assess both the production, longevity and lifespan of a product. Wool is our pick for environmental impact, as it is renewable, biodegradable and sustainable.

Wool will also often outlast its synthetic counterparts, due to its unique ability to bounce back into shape ensuring it looks newer for longer.

5. Lifestyle

Finally, it’s vital to consider your lifestyle! Do you have children or pets? Will the carpet be laid in high-traffic areas like hallways or walkways? Will you be carpeting the stairs? Will office chairs or furniture be moved across the surface regularly?

Answering all these questions will allow you to choose the carpet that’s best suited to everything your household might throw at it, and ensure it looks fabulous now and in years to come.