Selecting the Right Carpet for Your Home

by Allison E. Beatty

Carpet is a mainstay in today's homes, as it adds a warm, comfortable surface to the floors.While hardwood has become a hot item on the first floor, carpet remains the main choice for the second level. Many people prefer to walk barefoot on carpet in their bedrooms rather than feel the cold, hard surface of wood or tile flooring.

Carpet Styles and Colors
When selecting carpet, there are several styles and a wealth of colors to consider.

• Plush carpet is among the most popular, particularly in a formal housing design. Plush carpet has a straight, sheered top and can add a smooth visual look to the floors. One disadvantage to using plush carpet is that it often shows vacuum marks and dirt.
• Another popular carpet is berber, which has a dense, looped texture. Berber is ideal for family rooms and basements, where home owners want a warm surface without the maintenance of plush carpet. Berber typically is made with soil resistant fibers that can repel many liquids and dirt.
• The other carpet type is textured or tractless, which is the least expensive material. Textured carpet adds a cost saving alternative to wood or tile floors. A thick padding is important with all carpet, but is especially helpful with textured carpet.

Choose Carpet to Fit Your Lifestyle
When selecting carpet colors, you should always consider your lifestyle and design tastes. If you have small children and pets, you should avoid lighter colors that can show more dirt. A taupe color can provide a neutral base for the floors without showing as much dirt as white or cream. Most people use the same carpet type and color through a large space, such as the second floor hallways and bedrooms. This flooring design provides a unifying look and feel. Beyond unity, some carpet choices mean dramatic flooring accents. A bold color or one with a texture or pattern can emphasize special furnishing or artwork. A red carpet could provide a strong complement to a contemporary living or dining room with equally bold and bright furnishings. Carpet remains the only flooring choice offering a rainbow of colors to fit any mood, from formal to festive, across the spectrum of prices from luxurious to budget-friendly.

About the Author
Allison E. Beatty is a syndicated real estate writer who has been writing home improvement columns for 15 years.