Are carpets making a comeback?

When did you last sink your bare toes into the deliciously soft pile of a carpet? If you’re anything like me, it’s probably been a while.

Over the past decade, the humble carpet has taken a back seat, with homeowners  favouring laminate, engineered or solid wood. And it’s hardly surprising as these types of floor covering are easy to keep clean, look sleek and modern and fit with the minimalist lifestyles we all appear to have adopted.

But if you miss having something cosy in your home, there’s good news.

Carpets are making a comeback!

So, if you are ready to enjoy luxury underfoot, the latest technology means that carpets are now softer and more durable than ever before.

In recent years, carpet has been relegated somewhat to the bedroom or the stairs. We all like to step out of bed in the morning onto something warm and fluffy rather than something cold, so the former makes perfect sense, but I have never personally understood why we carpet our stairs! The stairs are one of the areas in the home that has the heaviest traffic – in my house it’s a main thoroughfare and I can go up and down tens of times every day – yet we insist on carpeting this area. Why? Surely this is the very place we should be embracing cold, hard, easy to clean floor coverings?

But I digress, because carpet is in fact one of the most practical, versatile and dare I say fashionable, choices of flooring out there. It also accounts for more than half of all flooring purchases made each and every year – even if it is only being used upstairs!

In fact, carpet offers many advantages that other flooring options simply can’t compete with.

Warmth

Carpet is the best choice you can make for your sitting room, nursery, bedroom, snug, family room or any other areas where you need guaranteed warmth underfoot and a cosy feel.

Insulation

Both carpet and underlay will provide an extra layer of insulation between the floors of your home. Depending on the density and weight of your carpet, it can even contribute to the energy efficiency of your home by keeping the warmth in.

Safety

Carpet offers a slip resistant surface that will prevent accidents occurring in young children or elderly guests. And of course, it also provides a natural cushion in the unfortunate event of a fall.

Reduction in sound

Carpet reduces noise better than any other type of flooring as it dampens noise in three ways:

1. Reduces the noise from foot traffic.
2. Absorbs airborne sound.
3. Blocks the transmission of sound.

If you reside in an apartment or semi-detached property, these qualities are especially valuable.

Easy care

Forget thin, poorly manufactured carpets of the past. 21st century carpets are manufactured to such high standards that they are more stain resistant than they have ever been before. This makes cleaning up after the worst possible spills so much easier – perfect if you have children…or clumsy adults…or pets!

Clean air

If you have wooden or laminate flooring and have ever inspected the corners of your rooms, you’ll be familiar with the sight of all those annoying dust balls! Those are there simply because there is nowhere else for the dust to go, except travel. So, the dust constantly flies around the room, moving from corner to corner.

Carpets on the other hand, trap allergy causing dust and allergens, which can then be hoovered away easily. Research has proven that carpet can indeed improve the quality of air in your home.

Design Flexibility

Carpet can become the primary foundation in almost any room, simply because it is now available in such a variety of different colours, designs and textures. This creates an unlimited number of possibilities for interior decoration. Whether you choose neutral tones or rich solids, carpet is the first step you can take to building the design of your room.

Life span

Looked after properly, your carpets will serve you for years. Select a durable carpet, which with modern manufacturing processes, is common nowadays, and you can expect your carpet to last around 10 years before carpet fibres start to lose their tuft.

So, rejoice carpet lovers! There’s much to be said for comfort, and carpet is back in style.

For friendly, expert property advice please contact the team at Stephen Lane on 01268 514777 or simply call in!