Flooring
Carpet buying guide
In this guide, I will be sharing my tips for choosing your perfect carpet and recommended products.
12th October 2023
Stair carpet, striped carpet, berber carpet, underlay there are a lot of factors to consider when deciding which new carpet is best for you.
From measuring your room correctly, to finding the right type of carpet for your lifestyle, it doesn’t need to be as difficult as it may seem.
As an ScS carpet and flooring specialist, I am here with you every step of the way, to help make the process as easy as possible.
My easy-to-use carpet buying guide breaks down the world of carpets into four key steps.
It covers the basics, from different types and styles of carpets and carpet underlay, through to what accessories you’ll need.
It also explains the delivery process and everything you need to know about getting your new carpet fitted.
1. Choosing your new carpet
What type of carpet is for you?
Before you think about what pattern or colour of carpet you’d like, one of your first considerations should be what type of carpet is best suited to your home.
If you have small children or pets, you need to think about the different carpet 'piles' or the way the carpet is constructed, as well as durability and resistance to stains, so that you can find the most suitable option for your household.
I don't recommend using regular carpet in your bathroom or kitchen. Instead, our Cosy Bathroom carpet has been specifically designed and manufactured for your bathroom, with an added waterproof gel backing in a choice of 16 shades!
My four carpet categories make choosing your new purchase as straightforward as possible:
Modern loops
- Great for Modern-day family life
- Various loop designs
Long lasting luxury
- Great for children and pets
- Durable
- Ideal for all areas of the home
Softest touch
- Soft and luxurious
- Warm underfoot
- Ultimate luxury
Statement piece
- Modern of traditional options
- Stylish and unique
Once you’ve decided which type of carpet pile is best suited to your room, now comes the fun part of choosing a colour or pattern.
At ScS, we have a wide range of plain and patterned carpets to choose from, both in store and online, as well as famous brands like Wilton carpets.
So, whether you've already got a style in mind or you’re open to experimenting with something new, we’ve got you covered.
You can choose online or instore between plain, textured, striped or patterned carpet.
Just as you would do whilst choosing what type of carpet is the most suitable, you should consider your choice of room when thinking about what colour or pattern you’d like.
Where is your new carpet going to be used?
Another thing to take into consideration when choosing a new carpet is what room it's going to be used in, different areas around the home will have different requirements.
We offer a range of living room carpets, dining room carpets, bedroom carpets and stair carpets.
High traffic areas such as stairs require a carpet with added durability to cope with heavy footfall.
Wool carpets are a great option for stairs as they offer luxurious comfort underfoot, while being durable and repelling any dirt and stains.
Get carpet samples delivered to your door.
To let you get a look and feel for your choice of carpet before you buy, we offer free samples for many of our ranges online.
Alternatively, you can visit your local ScS store to view our full range of samples in store.
2. Measuring up
Measuring your room ready for your new carpet might seem like the most difficult part of the process, but it's actually quite simple.
The golden rule is to measure the length and width of your room in metres, then add 10cm to both of these measurements to allow for cutting around doorways and any other fixtures and fittings.
You can find a full guide on how to measure a carpet here.
If you don't feel confident taking measurements yourself, call our online team on 0800 731 0048 for more advice, or go into your local ScS store for a free expert measurement consultation with our carpet & flooring specialists
3. Carpet underlay
Not to be overlooked, underlay is a hugely important addition to your purchase, providing you with extra comfort and insulation as well as helping to limit wear and tear on your carpet.
To get the best value out of your new carpet I'd always recommend buying new underlay alongside it.
Our carpet specialists will be happy to help you determine which type of underlay is best, from the five ranges we offer:
Comfy lay
- 7mm thickness / 80 Density
- Suitable for all rooms & recommended areas of light use
Comfy lux
- 11mm thickness / 100 Density
- Suitable for all rooms & recommended areas of heavy domestic use
Comfy deluxe
- 11mm thickness / 145 Density
- Suitable for all rooms & recommended areas of heavy domestic & contract use
Comfy extravagant
- 10.7mm Thickness / 4000 Density
- Made from super rubber suitable for all rooms
- Recommended for areas of light use
4. Accessories and care
Now that you’ve chosen your carpet and underlay, you can turn your thoughts to accessories for that finishing touch.
Gripper rods work to hold your carpet in place and must be used all around the room, except in doorways.
If in doubt, call our online team on 0800 731 0048 and one of our specialists will be happy to discuss how much gripper rod will be needed for your room.
Door trims are used to separate and hold your carpet in place, as well as finishing off the edge of your carpet within a doorway.
Available in aluminium or brass and two different widths, our team can help you choose your best option, from cover strips, single edge, double edge or Z edge trims.
Your most common questions, answered
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