How to pick a carpet

While there continue to be more choices in flooring, like high-quality, low-maintenance laminate, carpet is still a favorite for a lot of people, especially for some rooms. Carpet feels soft and warm underfoot compared to other options. Like any other flooring, carpet can range widely in price. So, how do you know what carpet will work best for your home? Below are a few things to consider.

About you — Do you have kids or pets? Spills and accidents are not as easily cleaned from carpet. With that said, there are a lot of carpets that offer extra protection for preventing stains. A darker color would probably be a good choice too.

Do you have allergies? Many people who lean toward hard flooring throughout their home do so because of allergies. If this is an issue for you, there are carpet options that specifically address this.

Style — Will you be making any large purchases for the room in the near future? If you are planning to buy furniture soon, it may be wise to make that selection before choosing your carpet, especially if you aren't sticking with neutrals or aren't yet sure whether you'll go with a lighter or darker wood. With that said, while it may be tempting to get a carpet of a specific color to go with your room, you may tire of it before it wears out. If you think you will be selling anytime soon, stick with neutrals.

Pad — This really is important. A good carpet pad can extend the life of your carpet. Density is more important than thickness. Most manufacturers have a base pad and one or more options of a higher quality. You want to invest in the better carpet pad, and then buy the carpet that fits your budget.

Material — There are many options, and they all vary in price. Olefin is one of the most economic choices; wool is on the more expensive side and also requires the most maintenance. In between, you'll find options such as polypropylene, polyester, and nylon.

When possible, get a larger sample of the carpet that you are considering and test it out in your home.