How to choose a carpet

Need a new carpet?

Whether you’re renovating one room, re-carpeting the entire house, or desperate to replace a worn 80s-style shag pile, it can be difficult to know where to start. But as such a big investment – and a decision you’ll be stuck with for several years – it’s important to get it right.

From picking out the perfect samples to choosing the best carpet underlay, here’s our quick and simple guide to carpet buying. Carpeted heaven is just five steps away!

 

5 steps to choose a carpet

 

Step 1 – Give it some thought

Before you pop down to the carpet shop, there are a few things worth considering, which will help guide your search and narrow down the options (because the reality is, there are so many to choose from!).

 

Think about:

• Where the carpet is going to be fitted

For a high-traffic area such as the stairs or hallway, a hard-wearing and practical carpet that will maintain its appearance will likely be best. Whereas for a lounge or bedroom – that isn’t subject to as much wear and tear – you may prefer something softer and more luxurious.

• The look and feel you’d like to achieve

Do you want a super plush carpet to sink your toes into? Something thick and cosy? Or do you need a carpet that’s flatter, more stable and designed to last a long time? Answering these questions will help determine the ideal carpet type, pile and material.

• The size of the room

This should have an impact on the colour you choose. Whilst dark and deep hues can sometimes work well in a large living area or bedroom, neutral shades accentuate a feeling of space and brightness – therefore, they’re often a better choice for a smaller room.

• How much you wish to spend

Carpet costs vary depending on several factors, including the texture and weave of the carpet, pile depth, manufacturer or brand, quality – even the colour. Typically, they range from £5 per m² for a basic synthetic option to £50+ per m²  for a luxury product. Do your sums before you start shopping, set a budget and make sure you stick to it.

 

Further details on how much it costs to fit a carpet can be found in our previous blog.

 

 

 

Step 2 – Find a carpet retailer (and a carpet) that works for you

Time to start shopping.

To get a feel for what’s currently available, it’s always worth trying a few different carpet retailers, including both well-known high street suppliers and smaller online companies.

Most good stores will have a large and varied carpet selection for you to browse. And following a quick chat, they should be able to point you in the right direction of suitable options – that match your needs, tastes and budget – and talk you through their carpet buying process.

Where you buy from is just as important as what you buy. So don’t be afraid to ask questions on the things that matter – such as the price, quality, delivery times, fitting options etc.

Whether you’re shopping in-store or online, it’s also a good idea to ask for samples.

What seems like the perfect shade in a photo or underneath the stark strip lights in a shop can look completely different at home. So why take the risk? Most companies will allow you to take a small swatch, or sometimes even a large offcut, to see what it’s like in situ.

 

 

 

Step 3 – Do the measurements, get a quote

Next, grab the tape measure.

You need to work out how much carpet you’ll need – and, crucially, how much that will cost.

In most cases, a member of staff from the retailer will visit your property, take accurate measurements and provide a full quote – including any extras you might need (e.g. door trims, carpet grippers etc.). This is usually a free no-obligation appointment (although it’s worth checking the small print first) and helps to minimise waste and maximise your budget.

However, if you’re buying carpet online – or would just prefer to size things up yourself – it’s pretty easy to measure the room on your own. We even have a step-by-step guide to help.

 

Step 4 – Purchase carpet underlay

This is non-negotiable.

Not fitting new carpet underlay is like putting old tyres on a new car.

To get the best results, it should be replaced every time you buy a new carpet. And no matter how small your budget may be, don’t be tempted to skimp on a low-quality product.

Yes, it may be an ‘unseen’ layer – but it makes a huge difference to the final look of your chosen carpet. Plus, it will significantly improve its performance, increasing underfoot comfort, improving heat and sound insulation and extending its overall lifespan by 50% or more.

Our advice? Choose the highest quality underlay that you can afford and offset the additional cost with a less expensive carpet. Plushwalk 12mm is currently the ‘gold standard’. Available for £6.99 per m², it offers a wide range of industry-leading properties and benefits, including:

• a luxury memory foam construction for unrivalled comfort
• excellent sound insulation, capable of reducing impact and airborne noises by 49dB
• an impressive 3.5 TOG rating
• superior durability
• an in-built damp-proof membrane
• a lightweight build, making it easy to handle and install
• versatility, perfect for use in most rooms

Further detailed information on Plushwalk 12mm can be found here.

 

 

 

If your budget doesn’t stretch that far, Cloud 9 Cumulus, Tredaire Dreamwalk and Super 8mm PU underlay are all good alternatives – offering fantastic benefits, plus excellent value for money.

 

Step 5 – Fit it and finish the job

Some carpet retailers will offer to both supply and fit the new carpet.

When you place your order, they’ll simply advise on the extra cost – providing an itemised quote if you wish – and you can arrange a date and time for them to deliver and complete the installation.

If not, you may wish to book your own carpet fitter.

Again, it’s worth doing a little research and contacting a few different people to check availability. Just make sure they’re accredited or endorsed by a trusted trade association or organisation (e.g. National Institute of Carpet and FloorLayers or Which? Trusted Traders).

Typically, they charge around £120-150 per day. And in addition to this installation fee, they may also bill you for cleaning the room, removing old floor coverings, repairing the subfloor etc.

Not got the extra cash to spare?

Of course, it’s also possible to lay a new carpet yourself. Even for a DIY amateur, it can be a fairly quick and easy project, and it’ll give you much more control over when the carpet is fitted.

Lots of step-by-step tutorials can be found online. In fact, here at Carpet Underlay Shop, we have created several handy guides to help our customers – including ‘How to lay carpet underlay’, ‘How to fit stair carpet’,  ‘How to fit carpet grippers’ and more.

 

 

 

Choose a new carpet (and carpet underlay) today

It doesn’t need to be a long and complex process.

Before you commit to that tufted loop pile in grey or a synthetic Berber in beige, just be sure to do your research. Follow the five simple steps of our carpet buying guide above, ensure you pick wisely. And remember, choosing a good carpet underlay is just as important as the carpet itself.

Here at Carpet Underlay Shop, we can help with that.

All of the underlays recommended in this blog are available on our website for a competitive price. So why not get started and take a look around our full carpet underlay collection?

For further advice on how to choose a carpet, more details on any of our products, or a recommendation of the best underlay for your project, you’re also welcome to contact us. Just give us a call on 0203 887 0994 or send an email to sale@carpet-underlay-shop.co.uk and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.  

 

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