It’s back and it’s big. Carpet. What you should be covering your floor with.

Carpet is making a come back. This year we’re talking BIG carpet. Only a few years ago, floors up and down the country were being clad in laminate, re-laid in real wood and people were spending hours sanding and stripping old floorboards for that 1980’s Manhattan loft look. And while a nice wooden floor still has a place in every good home, it should probably just be kept for the hallway.

And I’ll tell you why. Nothing, but nothing, feels as good under bare feet as a luxury carpet.

So which one should I get?

Well, let’s go through a few types or carpet. Carpets are made from three different types of fibre and a forth if you mix two together. Each type of fibre has its own unique qualities and suits different floors and applications.

1. Manmade synthetics – hardwearing and durable
2. Wool - Traditional, natural and luxurious
3. Blended fibres - a mix of manmade and natural fibres that can give some of the qualities of both
4. Natural fibres - Sisal, Seagrass, Coir and Jute – hardwearing, fantastic texture

Manmade synthetic carpets

Not for you my friend. Synthetic carpets are for the financially challenged, commercial properties and landlords renting out accommodation. Often called contract carpet. Nasty. Let’s move on.

Natural fibres

Yes, but maybe for a hall or a stairway. Sisal, Seagrass, Coir and Jute are woven from naturally grown fibres and grasses. They can be dyed but they look best in their natural colours. They’re hardwearing and have a nice texture – but they can be quite hard, hence good for covering the hall and stairways.

Wool

Definitely. For a living room, there’s nothing finer. Textured or luxury wool. Wool fibres hide dirt, clean very well and if looked after properly last a long time. Maybe 15 years or more. Feels great underfoot and is naturally springy. The only downside to wool is it’s vulnerability to organic stains like wine, meat juice, pet soiling and blood. So if you do get any of these on the carpet – get it up ASAP.

Blended fibres

Not bad. Comes in a wide range of colours and styles and if it has high wool content it can have a good feel. But to be honest, it’s only real advantage over pure wool is price. The real players have pure wool carpets.

So, my advice is to buy a nice dense loop, thick pile, luxurious pure wool carpet. Then get your old pals over and as my friend Stan would say 'give it all that'. And don’t skimp on the underlay. Get the very best you can afford. Not only will it feel much better underfoot, it will actually prolong the life of your carpet – regardless of the carpet you decide to buy.

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