Advice on Selecting the Right Carpet

A rug can be one of the most influential elements in a room. A formal Persian rug will have an elegant formal effect, a Tibetan rug will produce a more contemporary look, a wilton carpet will have a tailored look, and a sisal will lend a summer-y feel to the space. No matter which you choose, your selection will contribute to both the personality and value of your home.

Choose Your Source Wisely
The first step in shopping for flooring products is to find the right source. A well-established business specializing in carpets or orientals is best to insure knowledge, skill and high quality products. A rug specialist has the expertise to educate you about the rugs and carpets you're considering and their advantages and limitations.

Do Your Homework
The first step is to measure the space. For broadloom carpeting, drawing a diagram is best, especially if your room is a not a simple rectangle. Include closets, built-ins, fireplaces and doorways. For oriental rugs, measure the length and width of the room and determine the smallest and largest size you'd want for each dimension. Before you go shopping, take a good look at the space. Is your space naturally well-lit? What kind of traffic does it endure? Bring along pillows or fabric samples if you have them.

Full Selection is Important
It probably goes without saying that there is tremendous variety available in hand-woven rugs. They each have a distinct personality and combination of colors. It is ideal to see as many as possible of the different types, and best if there is a good variety of each to choose from, to be sure to find a color combination that will fit your decor.
If shopping for carpeting, you'll want a varied selection of fibers and weaves. Wool, synthetics, sisal, woven vinyl and even paper all have their own looks. Wiltons, Axminsters, tufted carpets, machine and hand-loomed area rugs have their own strengths. A variety of patterns is helpful too, to stimulate your imagination and provide options. A good selection will inspire you!

Fiber Facts
The more tightly twisted the fiber, the more abrasion it will withstand. The longer the fiber, the less shedding. Test by digging your fingertips into the pile and dragging them across the surface. If you pull up a bunch of carpet fibers, the staples are too short; the carpet won’t retain its density. Notice how the yarn feels: a good quality yarn will feel soft, not coarse and dry. This is true for both broadloom carpet and hand-woven oriental rugs.

Synthetics are Trying to be Wool
Virtually all hand-woven oriental rugs are made of wool, but only some carpet. Wool stays beautiful for years naturally. It is an extremely durable, crimped fiber, which springs back into shape after you walk on it, so matted-down paths won’t develop as readily. Wool’s natural coating makes it stain resistant and easy to clean, and the scale-like configuration of its fibers helps to keep soil on the surface so it is easy to vacuum or blot up. Moreover, wool accepts dye readily, enabling pure and clear reproduction of every color imaginable.

Be Careful on Stairs
Stairs are the most demanding application, which requires a strong, dense and stable pile. Wool is ideal for stairs and high traffic areas because of its strength and resilience. A finely (tightly) woven oriental is ideal. Woven broadloom carpet is also very good because its yarns stay in place. Cut pile is preferable to looped, as the spaces between the loops are more likely to open up on the edge of the steps. Density is also important. Try to separate the rows of fibers: can you feel the foundation? If so, the carpet may not be dense enough for use on stairs. A wool Axminster weave is the ultimate carpeting choice for stairs because it has a dense, cut pile and a woven backing to keep the yarns in place.

Firm Padding
For oriental rugs, a stiff pad with rough upper surface and a rubber backing is best. The rough surface will keep the carpet from sliding on the pad, and the rubber will keep them both from moving on the floor.
For carpeting, we recommend 40-ounce fibercore, made of reconstituted carpet and pad. It is a firm non-allergenic pad; it won’t mold, mildew or mat down, and is guaranteed for 20 years, even when you change the carpeting. For those who prefer more cushion, pure solid rubber (not the compressed foam type) is very good, but more expensive than fibercore. We do not recommend anything softer since a pad that is too flexible will allow the carpet to stretch.

Carpeting Considerations

Synthetics are Better Than Ever
Synthetics have enjoyed recent advances that have produced some very high quality carpet fibers which are stain and crush resistant, reliably color-fast, and “de-lustered”; for a more matte finish. The best are “Wear-Dated”, guaranteeing their durability. Look for premium branded products such as Tactesse, Dupont Stainmaster and Anso Crush Resister III. The biggest advantage of synthetics can be their affordability. However, a good value in wool can sometimes be less expensive than a high-end synthetic.

Consider the Texture
Cut pile carpets such as velvets (short pile) and plushes (longer pile) are elegant, but they show footprints readily. Choose a berber or a wilton to avoid this, or a cut and loop pile, a very popular and forgiving choice with a mixture of loops and cut pile which hides most everything.

Seams Won't Be Invisible
An experienced installer will be skilled at making seams less visible, but it is likely you will be able to see the seams if you look for them - they will not be invisible. Ask your installer about hiding seams under furniture or in the least obvious place. Most carpet is 12 feet wide, so at least one seam will be necessary if your room is wider. In some cases you'll have a choice: you can purchase less carpet and piece it together or purchase more carpeting to avoid the need for extra seams. Ask about your options, or your installer may make these decisions for you.

Be Practical about Color
Off-whites are by far the best-selling carpeting colors, but they're most appropriate in light traffic areas. For heavy-use areas, consider taupe or mushroom, which are light, but don't show soil as readily. Patterned or textured carpets are good at camouflaging footprints, soil and stains. Even a slight variation in carpet color or texture is helpful. Dark carpet in a light room can give the illusion of depth and make your ceilings seems higher. However, light-colored lint and pet hair will be very noticeable.

Come in and Talk to Us!
The best way for us to help you is to meet with you in person. We encourage you to come into our store to see our vast selection and to tell us about what you seek. We'll help you find the products best suited for your individual needs. If you would like to have an in-home consultation, please call us at 973.605.5225. We look forward to being of further assistance!