A general rule of thumb for most residential carpet applications is to choose cushion no more than 7/16 inch thick and no less than 1/4 inch with 6 pounds per cubic feet density.
Thickness of carpet is crucial when it comes to durability. It can also have significance in terms of carpet feel. In short, whether you're renovating a corner of your house or looking to replace a broadloom surface at work, it can make or break the carpet's effectiveness in that space.
Medium pile – 7mm to 13mm
Medium pile carpets are the Goldilocks of the carpet world.
Typically the thicker the underlay the better quality it will need to be - 9- 7mm is the most common domestic thickness with 11mm often used for luxury installations.
In general, the higher the number of stitches per inch, the higher the quality and the greater the durability of the carpet. Face weight, expressed in ounces per square yard, measures the yarn's face fiber. For high quality carpet, face weight is typically 32 ounces per square yard or higher.
Dark brown is one of the best carpet colors for hiding dirt. The darker the shade, the better the dirt will blend into the carpet. Powder and dust won't show up against the dark brown color. While a lighter brown can also be an attractive option, it won't hide as much dirt.
A darker color offers a cozy vibe, making it great for living rooms and bedrooms, especially in colder climates. Light-colored carpet brightens a room, makes it feel larger, and is often easier to coordinate with your furniture.
10mm will provide comfort underfoot and stop noises, whereas 11mm and 12mm will provide a much more luxurious feel underfoot, offer warmth and reduce sounds from underneath more than the 10mm options. It is always best to go for thicker if you live in a cold home or are intended on investing in a premium carpet.
For new flooring in a lounge, living space or bedroom, we typically recommend a carpet underlay at the top end of the thickness scale – around the 12mm mark. Such 'thick' underlays are regarded as the gold standard for domestic projects.
The one having the lower pile height will have a higher density and a correspondingly better performance. This relationship is assessed against a pile height standard of 10mm for Residential gradings and 5.5mm for Contract gradings.
If the pile is very thick it can flatten or even matt together with continuous use and is therefore unsuitable for high-traffic areas. The maximum recommended pile height for stairs is around 1/2" (1.2 centimetres) and for most rooms around 3/4" (1.9 centimetres).
Generally, a higher face weight represents a more durable carpet. Most carpets have a face weight somewhere between 20 ounces and 100 ounces, with the average for residential carpet falling somewhere between 35 to 60 ounces.
In its most extreme form, it's known as shag carpet. Cable has long, thick fibers and is very comfortable underfoot.
Well, not necessarily so. Certainly price goes up with quantity, and it is the quantity of carpet fiber that drives a significant portion of the price of carpeting. But here's the thing: for one, thicker carpeting is harder to maintain; it's just physically more difficult to push the vacuum through it.
Nylon is the most durable and stain resistant carpet fiber available, when treated with stain protection. It is the fiber of choice for homes with pets and children and for those who entertain a lot. Because of it's durability, nylon carpet is perfect for heavy foot traffic areas like hallways and stairs.
In general, the higher the carpet density numbers, the better your carpet will perform under pressure. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) recommends a density of 5,000 or higher for extra heavy traffic conditions.
Carpet underlay is an excellent insulation tool for your home. Because it is an extra layer between your carpet and the subfloor it acts as a new insulative layer. This then leads to a reduction in heat loss which in turn will mean you can save money on your heating and energy bills.
The main purpose of carpet underlay is to enhance underfoot comfort and improve insulation. Therefore, as a general rule of thumb – the thicker it is, the better.
The thicker the underlay is, and the higher its TOG rating, the more thermal insulation it'll provide.
Cut pile carpet consists of yarns that are cut at the ends. The soft feel of cut carpet makes it a perfect choice for the most comfortable areas of your home — bedrooms, living rooms, and family rooms.
In short, 9mm is generally best for high traffic areas such as stairs and 11mm is best for comfort areas.
Selecting a rug for the living room usually comes down to three choices: 5x8, 8x10, or 9x12. Some size guides recommend that either all the furniture rests on the rug, or all the furniture, except for the coffee table, is placed completely off the rug.
The most popular carpet colors are black and dark variants and for good reason. Black and dark gray carpets are found ubiquitously wherever carpeting is the flooring of choice. They also stand up to stains well, accentuate more vibrant decor choices, and will never go out of style.
Neutral colors will go with everything, so if you change up the look of your living space, the carpet will still look great. And neutral colors don't have to be boring! Go for a frieze or cut-and-loop style to add depth and texture to your flooring.
Choose Light Colors and Almost No Pattern. Light-colored rugs make a room look brighter and feel spacious. Consider pale pastels, natural-looking neutrals, and off-white to start.