How to choose the right type of carpet for your home

Choosing the right carpet for your home requires more thought than simply selecting a colour to suit your interior decorating scheme. Careful consideration should be given to the type of fibre, pile, weave and pattern of your carpet, as these factors will determine how it will perform in your home. We consulted a panel of three carpet experts to get their advice on how homeowners can choose the right carpet to suit their needs.

“A carpet's performance is not just based on fibre. Without getting too technical, it’s dependent on construction and other factors such as weight, pile height and density,” says Lily Ng, product consultant at Bremworth Carpets and Rugs. “The best way to check is to look at the Australasian Carpet Classification Scheme rating. They test all reputable carpet manufacturers' products and give unbiased ratings.”

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Marlo Litchfield, design consultant at Prestige Carpets, says that both children’s rooms and living rooms benefit from soft luxury underfoot. “Wool will help keep the rooms warmer in winter and cooler in summer while helping with acoustics. It’s also great for asthmatics as dust will sit on the carpet until it’s vacuumed up and won’t circulate in the air.”

Children’s rooms and homes with pets will both benefit from a blended carpet, adds Lily Ng. “A high twist cut pile, Berber or heather carpet can hide stains better than a light-toned carpet that is one solid colour," says Lily. 

Marlo explains that wool carpets will clean well after tenants move out, potentially saving money in the long run, as cheaper fibres don’t have the same longevity, and will need to be turned over more frequently. If you’re looking for a low-cost, low-maintenance carpet for a rental property, Lily suggests a low, tight loop as it is hard-wearing. However, it won’t be as soft underfoot.

One of the most asked questions at Prestige Carpets is what type of carpet is best for a household with pets, says Marlo. “Fur-baby mishaps will clean from wool carpets well, provided you can get to them reasonably quickly, but when it comes to claws and scratching, loop piles require enormous force to be pulled out, so unless you’ve got a lion as a pet, this won’t be a problem. However, if your pet is a scratcher, any carpet will eventually be affected,” says Marlo.

Comfortable and low-maintenance carpets are best for holiday and coastal homes. While wool fits the bill for this, Marlo suggests sisal carpets as an alternative. “Sisal can be installed wall-to-wall but also makes great rugs. Just be sure to include stain treatment and try not to get it wet,” says Marlo.

If you have a large budget, wool is considered to be the most luxurious carpet fibre, says Lily. “You can't go past felted chunky loop wool products as these are by far the most luxurious flooring that are super soft underfoot and have numerous designs available that you can't achieve with plain-cut piles,” says Lily.

Desmond Omovoe, digital marketing manager at Andersens, says that wool is a strong and durable flooring option that can withstand plenty of foot traffic, but that new nylon carpets can be just as good. “Although wool has long been the standard for luxury carpeting, modern nylon carpets are often just as beautiful, durable and more affordable than wool,” says Desmond.

Like most things in life, it's always wise to invest in the best quality carpet you can afford, says Marlo, who recommends wool as a carpet fibre as it naturally repels stains, dirt, dust and other soiling. “Wool is naturally flame retardant, meaning it will not ignite, it will singe and self-extinguish. This is a huge consideration when comparing wool carpets to synthetic alternatives,” says Marlo.

However, Desmond explains that the most popular fibre in Australia – after wool – is nylon. “Nylon carpets can handle most household activities, such as active children or entertaining, and are suitable for all types of traffic areas. Nylon carpets also offer a variety of colour schemes, durability and stain resistance. Nylon carpet fibres don’t shed and offer very good appearance retention and enhanced softness,” says Desmond. “Man-made materials such as polypropylene, nylon and polyester are best known for their stain resistance and easy cleanability, making them an ideal choice for busy households with kids and pets.”

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Although Lily has noticed a shift towards a preference for warmer, lighter hues of carpets, Marlo notes that Australian consumers are more inclined to try bold carpet colour choices, and says neutral hues remain the best sellers. “Shades of grey are still hugely popular, however, we’ve seen a trend towards green recently,” says Marlo. “Darker colours will show up light things, such as blonde hair or pieces of cotton, whereas light colours will show up darker debris, and 'heathered' colours can disguise staining. Regular vacuuming will help keep your carpet looking good, as will periodic professional cleaning.”

There are two main types of carpet piles, cut pile and loop pile. Within the cut pile category, there are plush pile or twist pile varieties, which are both prone to pile reversal or shading. Marlo says the main consideration when choosing a type of carpet pile is the amount of foot traffic you expect it to endure. “Common areas in an apartment complex will suit a low, tight loop pile, whereas bedrooms are where you can allow for more luxury.”

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Cut pile carpet
“Cut pile carpets are incredibly luxurious underfoot. Depending on the type of fibre, some cut pile carpets show footprints (this is called tracking and generally vacuums out) and plusher cuts can show permanent shading. If you have cats that like to scratch or claw the floor, a cut pile carpet is your best option,” says Desmond.

Loop pile carpet
“Loop pile carpets offer an array of stylish textures and designs, ranging from a minimalist appearance through to bold, unique patterns,” says Desmond. “Although loop pile carpets don’t show tracking and shading like cut pile carpets, they can still show traffic patterns in areas of the home that are repeatedly walked over, such as hallways.”

Woven pile carpet
“Woven pile carpets are some of the finest carpets on the market and are used for prestigious installations. The traditional method of making these carpets is perfect for patterns, which is an emerging trend. Due to the intensive manufacturing process, these carpets are at the higher end of the price scale,” says Desmond.

Twist pile carpet
Twist pile carpets are one of the most popular styles and are made from tightly twisted yarn that is then set with heat to produce a textured surface. “The result is a versatile finish that is extremely hard wearing and less likely to show footprints or vacuum marks,” says Desmond. “Twist carpets are ideal for plain colours, but come in two different styles: plain or heathered (slightly mottled). Heathered carpet is perfect for busier areas in your home as marks are less likely to show, and as it’s hard-wearing, twist pile carpet is suitable for most areas in the home.”

Cut and loop pile carpet
Cut and loop pile carpet combines cut fibres with loop fibres to create surface textures and patterns, says Desmond. “The multi-level finish is excellent for hiding footprints and stains, making it ideal for high traffic areas.”

Find the right flooring option for your home on ArchiPro.