Werner Braun: Shopping for new carpet

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February 10, 2012

Anonymous Dalton Daily Citizen The Dalton Daily Citizen Fri Feb 10, 2012, 04:39 AM EST

The economy’s getting better.

Now that I have your attention, let me qualify that by saying that recent positive indicators show that consumers are becoming more “confident.”

That’s definitely good news for those of us in carpet- and rug-related industries.

At the Carpet and Rug Institute, we expect that the pent-up demand for making home improvements should inspire more confident homeowners to do what they’ve been putting off for years — buy new carpet. There’s just no question that installing new carpet in your home is one of the quickest, most economical and best investments you can make.

So let’s say that you’re one of those who sees the economic upturn on the horizon and are ready to update the floorcovering in your home. Bear in mind that nothing adds color, style and a “new look” faster than new carpet.

Here are some steps to think about when you are shopping for that new look:

Color

Unlike the “old days,” carpet comes in almost every color imaginable and can help you create the “feel” you’re looking for in a home. While beige is always a popular choice and can make a room look spacious, bolder colors make a statement, and when chosen carefully, can provide the perfect complement for your furniture and draperies. Many homeowners today are choosing environmental colors, like blues, deep greens, rosy quart, and stony neutrals to set just the right tone for their home.

When choosing color, remember that warm colors can make a room seem “warmer,” especially in a room that lacks light; cool greens and blues have a calming effect, and lighter colors, like beige, make any room seem larger. While for many years, people shied away from the lighter shades of carpet, new stain and soil-resistant technology makes those colors easier to clean than ever before. Still, many consumers prefer medium and darker colors, and tweeds and textures, which are great choices for hiding soil in your home’s high-traffic areas.

Texture

Cut pile is still one of the most popular types of carpet. It achieves its durability through the type of fiber used, the density of tufts and the amount of twist in the yarn. Highly twisted yarn holds its shape longer, making it a smart choice for high-traffic areas.

When considering “cut pile” carpets, be sure to check out the following: “textured plush” is the most versatile, partly because the textured surfaces help hide footprints and vacuum marks; “saxony” has a refined surface which complements traditional interiors, especially in living and dining rooms; “frieze” has a unique curly textured surface that creates an informal look; and “plush” (velvet), provides a dense luxurious feel and is best for formal rooms and low-traffic areas.

Style

Today’s carpet offers a wide variety of choices in style that we didn’t have in days gone by when most of what we had to choose from was conventional loop pile, consisting of yarn in uncut loops. New technology can produce multilevel loop and cut-loop patterns allowing diamond, bow, pin dot or fleur-de-lis designs that “pop out” in sculptured effects.

No matter what style you choose, or which color or texture makes the most sense for your home, there’s no doubt that your options in carpeted flooring are greater than ever before.

It’s a great time to buy, and at CRI, we’re always here to help. Go to www.carpet-rug.org/residential-customers/selecting-the-right-carpet-or-rug/index.cfm to learn more.

Are you ready for your home’s new look?

Werner Braun is president of the Dalton-based Carpet and Rug Institute.

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