Who doesn’t enjoy the soft, warm, cozy feeling of carpet underfoot? However, with so much emphasis placed on the wonders of luxury hard surface options, carpet can seem like the underappreciated middle child option in the world of flooring options.
That’s a shame because there are plenty of stylish and durable options for every home. Here are some recommendations on how to get the most from the carpet selection process.
How to Choose The Right Carpet For Your Busy Home
Homes with children and pets deserve flooring choices that continue looking their best no matter what the day’s activities – or accidents – may bring. There is absolutely no reason to sacrifice carpet’s soft, comfortable attributes. The key is to work with flooring professionals in person to ensure you choose the right carpet for the right location.
Here’s how:
1. Look for selections specifically labeled “pet-friendly carpet”
We won’t go so far as to say kids and pets are the same thing. But when it comes to durable, easy-to-maintain flooring, pet-friendly carpet covers both bases.
The term “pet-friendly” automatically refers to carpet that is:
- Durable and can stand up to heavy foot traffic in addition to pet paws and claws.
- Stain-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about accidents, spills, or muddle footprints.
- Non-toxic (only verifiable through a legitimate flooring showroom as online offers are not always accurate in descriptions) to protect low-walkers and crawlers from coming in contact with or inhaling noxious off-gassing chemicals.
2. Pay attention to material options
Again, visiting a showroom in person or scheduling an in-home consultation is the best way to ensure the carpet you consider stands up to its promises. We’ve seen time and again how online flooring companies boast benefits that aren’t entirely honest – and customers find out the hard way when flooring products don’t hold up as advertised.
When working with true flooring experts, you’ll notice the pet-friendly samples have some things in common such as:
- Lower pile
This means less to stain, fray, or tangle. Low-pile carpets can be every bit as luxurious as higher-shag options, but there’s less material to absorb moisture, spills, messes, etc. - Continuous Loop
By avoiding loop-piled carpets, there’s less for pet claws, nails, or children’s toys to get caught in. That said, we can also show you gorgeous cut loop options, which can be a happy medium. - Material-specific
The most family-friendly carpet options are usually made from materials that are both stain-resistant and easy to clean. You’ll most likely look at carpet samples made from Nylon, Polyester, Smartstrand, Olefin (Polypropylene), or wool. - Noted as stain-resistant
Most, but not all, are custom treatments with patented stain-guard products that further enhance their resistance to stains and moisture damage.
2. Think about where carpet makes the most sense
Still aren’t convinced that pet-friendly carpet can stand up throughout your home? That’s okay! There’s no reason to choose one flooring type and stick to it. Most clients with pets or children opt to tailor flooring choices to their lifestyle.
So, while you may opt to go with hard-surface flooring to accommodate water-rich or high-volume traffic areas (like kitchens, baths, laundry rooms, entryways, and hallways), consider adding stylish carpet to soften others (like living rooms, bedrooms, or formal dining room).
3. Don’t forget about area rugs
Some people just don’t like the colder, harder feel of wood, tile, vinyl plank or laminate, but are worried about the longevity of carpet in their home. In this case, we like to remind you that area rugs can provide the extra layer of carpet protection you’re looking for.
Well-placed area rugs can add color and pattern to a neutral space while providing additional protection from foot traffic around eating areas, the living room coffee table, along hallways, and in the most well-loved play areas.
Select A Perfect Pet-Friendly Carpet at Creative Floors
Creative Floors is here to make flooring selections as streamlined as possible and make sure they enhance your home for many years to come.
Are you ready to enjoy the softer, warmer feel of carpet while having full faith it can hold up to your family – and pets – busy lives? Schedule an appointment with us here at Creative Floors. We carry all of the top brands of pet-friendly carpets, and our quality of installation and warranties are unmatched.
