Simon Hopes

Whether you’ve just purchased a new home, or just want to refurbish your tired looking rooms, buying new carpet is not something you do often. There are a number of styles and types of carpet out there on the market, and it’s worth knowing what they are so that you can make the right decision for your house and lifestyle.

Carpet and carpet installation is not cheap, so to make the best decision you need to know as much as possible about the choices available. You can talk to the salespeople, but they won’t always have your best interests at heart. By going into the carpet store with some knowledge, you’ll be able to narrow down the choices and make the most of the salesperson’s knowledge by being able to clearly point them in the direction you want.

Styles of Carpet
Most of us are on a pretty tight budget when it comes to carpet. You can always look at natural fibres like wool, for example, but they will set you back a pretty penny. Fortunately, there are a range of synthetic fibre carpets on the market that will be durable enough for most needs. If you live in a large city, you’ll be able to choose from a wider range of stores that likely stock more carpet styles, but even in the smaller metropolitan zones of Western Australia, you can still find good suppliers of carpet in Albany. With this in mind, here’s a look at some of the better carpets in this range.

• Nylon: This is a tough and durable fabric that will last for many years if looked after carefully and kept clean. It is a synthetic fibre and can be purchased in a range of strengths. It’s great for areas of the home that take a beating, like hallways and other high foot traffic zones.
• Polyester: Yet another synthetic fibre, polyester has a great reputation as one of the softer fabrics in this range, and comes in a range of beautiful saturated colours. It’s wise to bear in mind that it can shed fibres and is not as durable a fabric as nylon, so it is not recommended for heavily trafficked areas of the home.
• Triexta: This is a relatively new synthetic fibre that is derived from corn sugar. The advantage is that it has excellent anti-stain properties and is considered quite tough and durable, but it has not been on the market long enough to stand up to the long term durability of nylon carpets. This type of carpet could be worth reviewing for those looking for a carpet that won’t stain or discolour easily.
• Olefin: This is a polypropylene fibre that is considered durable, and fade and stain resistant. This makes it a popular choice for general high traffic areas like lounge rooms and hallways, but bear in mind that it is not as long lasting as nylon carpet.

Making the Right Carpet Choice
Making the right choice for your carpet doesn’t have to be difficult. Knowing where it is going in your house will narrow your choices in terms of the type of fabric. Durable fabrics may save you money in the long run, but would you prefer a more luxurious feel underfoot at the expense of some toughness? If you go into the decision making process with some basic knowledge, you will at least open up your options and be able to make an informed choice.