September 27, 2022
Flooring trends come and go but carpet stays right at the top of the pile as far as Australian homes go. When it comes to giving a house comfort and a welcoming feel, you can’t beat carpet. But what should you consider when you choose to treat your floor to a new carpet?
Let’s start with a nice basic point. Colour. If you have a room full of bold, arresting hues, then you might want to think about a shade of flooring that doesn’t compete or clash. Something a little more neutral, perhaps.
Always a good idea to use whatever sampling is available, and try it out in the room, just to check.
The room you’re putting the carpet in should be factored in. Not just in terms of the colour scheme in there already, but more in terms of room function.
Put simply, you’re not going to want a white carpet in a kitchen. Especially one that sees a lot of pasta sauce and red wine. And what’s the best carpet to buy for a living room? Something luxurious, perhaps, with a comfort feel being important. Comfort is similarly a priority for the best bedroom carpet choice too.
Price is another fundamental when it comes to carpet choice. A rule of thumb is to buy the best you can afford. Why’s this? Two reasons.
So, it might be an idea to be open to carpet prices a little higher than the minimum.
So, you’ve thought about colour and the amount you’re willing to spend. Now it’s time to factor in some other thoughts.
You might want to think about a stain-resistant carpet. These can be a very sensible choice in a house with children and/or pets.
Another option for a high spillage area is carpet tiles. When your carpet sustains a stain, it’s simply a matter of replacing the offending tile with a new one, and hey presto, all stain remains are gone. It’s a no-pain no-stain no-brainer. While we’re on the subject, here’s a handy guide to replacing floor tiles.
Another consideration is fibre. A great many customers favour wool as it’s a natural product with warmth and good stain resistance.
Or there’s synthetic too. Nylon carpets are great for durability, so if a lot of traffic is expected, this may be worth considering. Nylon also retains its colour well.
Another option is polypropylene, which, in terms of carpet costs per square metre, is cheap. The only trouble is, it can look it. However, when it comes to what is the most durable carpet on the market, polypropylene is a leading candidate. It’s not only durable but water-resistant too, so a good choice for where strength is more important than looks. Garages and playrooms spring to mind.
Blends of natural synthetic materials are available, giving the best of both worlds, so do investigate these.
It can be overwhelming when trying to decide what is the top carpet brand – there are a lot of great brands out there, as well as some carpet brands to avoid. Relax though. We’ll keep things simple by looking at just a few of the outstanding ones.
Let’s start with the biggest manufacturer of carpets in Australasia. Godfrey Hirst has been supplying carpets to the world since its founding in 1888, in Geelong, Victoria. This carpeting colossus produces a vast range of flooring options, from the most luxurious wool to the most hard wearing nylon, most of which can be treated for stain resistance.
But that’s enough about stainability. Let’s look now at sustainability. Godfrey Hirst scores big here too. They offer a durable plant-based fibre (Triexta) and their factory is carbon neutral. To top it all, they use discarded carpet in a number of schemes, including one that creates a new form of concrete called Fibrecrete.
At the other end of the temporal spectrum is this brand-new US outfit. Specialising in synthetic carpets, Beaulieu produces a fabulously wide range of nylon, polyester, polypropylene and blended carpets, as well as being a terrific manufacturer of carpet tiles.
Options include antimicrobial treatments (Silver Release) and odour-reducing enhancements (Magic Fresh), ideal for family use.
Now known as EC carpets, this has been one of the best carpet brands Australia can boast since its founding in 1963. It produces a great range of surfaces, so can supply a good carpet for house use and for commercial settings.
It demonstrates a clear focus on sustainability too, with its Ecologic programme of reducing waste and energy consumption.
EC Carpets offer colour customisation on their wool range, and a 15 year colour warranty on their nylon pieces.
Flooring down under from a company up in Halifax, UK. Signature is the premier UK designer and manufacturer of luxury wool carpets, having been in the business of gracing tasteful homes for 25 years.
Signature prides itself on its peerless quality, so is a high end choice and ideal for those who want their carpet to do the talking when someone enters the room.
Back to Australia for this final choice. Tuftmaster have been supplying a huge range of carpets for over 50 years, and are based in Preston, Victoria. They have ranges suitable for most applications, from budget household to grand architectural project.
Their wool and nylon ranges are rated as low VOC according to the Australia Carpet Institute Environmental Classification scheme, so Tuftmaster are a good environmental choice.
Among the many wonderful carpet retailers there are out there, Jupps Floor Coverings rates extremely highly in terms of ranges stocked and levels of service.
Contact our team of carpeting professionals to discuss your needs. Submit an enquiry form and we’ll be happy to take you through what is the best grade of carpet for your particular case, so you’ll end up with the flaw-free flooring you deserve.
