Carpet can make a huge difference to the overall appearance and feel of your home, so it’s important to choose the right type of carpet to suit your needs. With so many different styles, textures, colours and brands on the market, it can be difficult to know where to start. Our Ultimate Carpet Buying Guide will help you understand the different factors to consider when purchasing a carpet, so you can find the perfect one for your home.
Carpet is not a minor investment so you really have to think about your needs and style preferences before buying.
Here are the things you have to consider before making your purchase:
- your budget and style
- colour palette
- how many rooms you would like to carpet
- what type of carpet suits your home
- whether the carpet will be in high-traffic areas, and
- how much maintenance will be required
When you are buying carpet, we recommend you follow our simple step-by-step approach:
- Decide on your budget
- Decide on colour and style
- Search online and in-store for options
- Finalise your choice for the carpet and underlay
- Check the warranties
- Understand what’s included in the installation
- Have your carpet installed
- Enjoy!
Decide on your Budget
Your budget is very important when it comes to planning your new carpet purchase.
We have included some very rough costs below, but we recommend that you talk to one of our experts in-store who can provide you with an accurate estimate. We have lots of options to suit all budgets and styles, and our local stores really know their stuff when it comes to carpets.
Carpet prices start at around $22 per square metre. This will be for the product only and not include installation and trims. If you know what space you want to cover in carpet, get the measurement for the square metre. Then, multiply it by the low and high range of the cost of flooring. To estimate the area of a room, multiply the length (in metres) by the width.
You can also contact one of our stores or visit our website to get a ballpark figure for the carpet and the installation costs.
Rough Estimate Cost of Carpeting
| Cost Per Square Metre (for product only) | For 8 Square Metres | For 10 Square Metres | For 15 Square Metres | For 25 Square Metres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low End: From $22 | $176 | $220 | $330 | $550 |
| Medium: From $50 | $400 | $500 | $750 | $1,250 |
This will be for the product only and does not include the cost of the underlay and trims for your carpet, so you will expect to pay more than what is detailed in the above chart. And, you should plan and ask the installers how much it costs to get the carpet installed. Labour will cost more depending on the company and the area you are covering. So, ask about times and costs to make sure you are aware of everything that comes with installing carpet.
Please also note that many carpet stores have minimum order quantities.
Here at Carpet One, we provide you with the Total Installed Price, which includes the underlay and professional installation, so that you won’t be surprised with hidden fees, and you get what you are expecting.
There are many very economical carpets available that are durable and hardwearing and come in a variety of styles and colours to suit your home. If you have a higher budget, you can opt to get luxury carpets at a much higher price tag to create a real luxe feel in your home. It’s all up to you which way you go. Understanding your budget and how important the flooring is in your home is a good step from the start.
Decide on colour, style, texture and other requirements
After deciding on a budget and planning how many rooms you need to be carpeted, you get to dive into the many different features, types and styles. And the great thing is that with carpet, the options are endless!
Carpet is a perfect choice for creating a loved family home. Carpet is also a superb insulator, so it is good for all types of weather and can also reduce noise to create a sense of calm and quiet. Carpet comes in a wide range of designs, fibres, weaves and colours, so you can be guaranteed to find something to suit your style, needs and budget.
But how do you decide what style or design will work best in your home? We have given some hints and tips below to point you in the right direction.
Colour
Carpet is so versatile and comes in many colours, from neutral shades such as greys and beiges to more dramatic tones. White carpet is surprisingly very popular but wouldn’t be suitable for everyone – especially those with pets and children!
What suits your style? If you are not sure what your style is and are looking for inspiration, head over to our style pages and check out our gorgeous style lookbooks.
The room you are flooring will actually play a part in deciding on your colour. Are you carpeting the master bedroom, a guest bedroom, a kid’s room, a teen’s room, or a living room?
Darker coloured carpets hide stains better than lighter ones, so they might be a better fit for kids’ rooms or other busy areas in your home. On the other hand, light-coloured carpets make the room feel bigger, so that’s one thing to consider if you are carpeting a small room.
The colour of your walls also matters as they must coordinate with the colour of your flooring. By “coordinate”, we don’t mean that they have to be the same colour, but that they look good together. If you don’t have plans of repainting the walls soon, find a carpet that matches your wall paint.
Do your research online and check out the colours and designs available that may be suitable for your home. It’s also a good idea to check out the reviews to find out what other customers think about the product.
However, you should not decide based on your online research alone. We highly recommend that you visit in-store so that you can see the carpets in person, as photographs may not capture the actual look and feel of the carpet.
Carpet for Every Room
Wool, synthetic, and eco-friendly options to suit your style and budget.
Texture
The texture of the carpet basically is a way to describe what the carpet feels like. You can think about how high you want the pile to be, how soft you want it to feel, and how much it bounces.
It’s also important that you feel the carpet to find out if you like its texture.
The weave of a carpet has a big impact on how the carpet feels. There are a variety of weaves, including loop pile, cut pile (which includes twist and plush), and cut and loop pile. Each type of weave has its own unique feel.
Loop
There are a few different types of loop carpet weaves, but they all have one thing in common: loops of yarn that stand up from the backing. The loops can be made of wool, nylon, polyester, or a blend of materials.
The most common type of loop carpet weave is the level loop pile, which has evenly spaced loops that all stand up to the same height. This type of weave is durable and easy to clean, making it a good choice for high-traffic areas like hallways and family rooms. Plush loop pile and multi-level loop pile carpets have longer and shorter loops that create a more textured look.
Twist
A twist carpet is a type of cut pile carpet with tightly twisted fibres. This results in a tight, durable surface that can be used in a variety of settings. Twist carpets are often made from synthetic materials, but natural fibres like wool and cotton can also be used. Twist carpets are available in a wide range of colours and styles, making them suitable for any number of design schemes. They are generally easy to care for and can be vacuumed or spot-cleaned as needed. When installed correctly, twist carpets can provide years of trouble-free use.
Plush
A plush carpet is a type of cut pile carpet that is quite similar to a twist carpet, but its fibres are shorter and more densely packed.
Cut & Loop
Cut and loop pile carpets have both cut and loop fibres, creating a patterned look.
Another important factor to consider when it comes to choosing a carpet is the type of fibre used in the carpet. There are several different types of fibres available, each with its unique set of benefits and drawbacks.
Some types are:
- Polypropylene
- Polyester
- Solution Dyed Nylon
- Triexta
- Wool and Wool Blend
Wool is one of the most popular types of fibre used in carpets. It is durable and stain-resistant, making it ideal for high-traffic areas. However, wool carpets can be expensive and may require special care and cleaning products.
Polypropylene is another popular type of fibre used in carpets. It is less expensive than wool and has good stain-resistant properties. However, polypropylene carpets are not as durable as wool carpets and may show wear and tear more quickly.
Polyester is another type of fibre often used in carpets.
The Underlay
Every carpeted floor needs an underlay, and this is an important thing to consider when buying carpets.
It is a thin material that rests between the carpet and the subfloor. Its purpose is to provide a smooth surface to provide for an easy installation of your flooring.
Underlay also helps absorb shock and impact from foot traffic and softens the feeling of the carpet underfoot.
It also helps minimise wear and tear of the carpet by providing a soft backing for the carpet’s underside.
What Else to Consider Before Buying Carpet
Aside from the colours and design of the carpet, you may also want to think about what other features that you want for your flooring. Carpets nowadays have many amazing features, so think about what is important to you.
Do you care whether your flooring is:
- Stain Resistant
- Australian Made
- Colourfast
- Easy to Clean
- Eco Friendly
- Family Friendly
- Fire Compliant
- Naturally Stain Resistant
- Non-Allergenic
- Rental Friendly
- Slip Resistant
- Durable
Your lifestyle, where you plan to use the carpet, and your personal beliefs may influence what features you want for your carpet. If you lead a busy lifestyle, then having an easy-to-clean and stain-resistant carpet may be a must for you. Whether you are looking for family-friendly durability, easy cleaning and maintenance, or a sustainable and allergy-friendly choice, there is a carpet out there that will meet your needs.
Search Online and In-store
There are many online stores and local and national businesses that you can visit in person to get an idea of what options you have available.
At your local Carpet One store, you will find a well-stocked showroom where you can see and feel the latest styles and colours of flooring. Our stores are family-owned, and when you shop with Carpet One, you have the reassurance of knowing you’re talking to the most qualified people.
Scanning websites or browsing in-store is a great place to start when you’re looking for flooring, but when it’s time to buy, it’s important to start asking questions. There’s one question, in particular, you must ask before you make your final decision, which is what is included in the pricing, because this is crucial!
At Carpet One, the prices you see are for the product only, and then we also show you the price including installation. We believe it’s the total installed price that really counts. We know how important it is to talk to you about your requirements, so we can tailor an offering to suit your unique circumstances, and that way, the price we give you will be exactly what you want.
Want to choose a luxury underlay? Looking for expert installers? Talk to us and we’ll help design a package to suit your family’s requirements and budget. And we’ll give you an itemised quote, so you can make an informed choice about your flooring needs.
Where to Buy the Cheapest Carpet
Like all products, carpet is available at many different price points, and the best quality is, of course, not necessarily the cheapest. It’s also worth bearing in mind that carpets will last you for many years to come, so buying something good quality really can be a great investment.
However, there are some ways to reduce the costs associated with carpeting your home.
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Carpet Tiles: The Easy Care Alternative
Carpet tiles can be an affordable option, but they do have some disadvantages, so they might not be the best type of carpet to have in a domestic setting. Carpet tiles are generally made for commercial use, so they are meant for office spaces. They are thinner and firmer, and because they are traditionally installed on top of concrete or another hard flooring without padding underneath, they are not the most comfortable in a home. However, if you are going for an Industrial or Modern look, you may want to consider carpet tiles to match your more contemporary, sparse design.
This is why we recommend coming into your local Carpet One store. We are locally owned and family-operated. Our staff are people who live in your town, understand your needs and genuinely care about ensuring the flooring you purchase is right for you.
Check Your Warranties
When it comes to warranties, it can be dangerous to assume one size fits all. All warranties are different, and it’s important that you understand what your warranty does and does not include before you make your flooring purchase, if you want to ensure you’re well covered for your needs.
We have a great article that provides some of the top questions to ask about your carpet warranty. Check it out here.
Understand What’s Included in the Installation
Before proceeding with the carpet installation, understand what’s included in the quote. Some companies may advertise free installation, but they don’t include the price of the underlay or other related installation cost,s and you will be surprised when your bill arrives.
Carpet One provides you with the total installed price that includes the underlay and professional installation.
How to Install Carpet
At Carpet One, we believe in flawless execution every step of the way, so our work continues even after you’ve left the store. We are experts in flooring installation, and we stand behind our work with installation warranties. We guarantee that the quality of workmanship will be professional and best practice to align with the standards set by the home & flooring industry.
If you decide to have your floors installed by us, everything will be coordinated and managed by us. You do not have to arrange a thing. A third-party installer phone number written on the back of a business card is not how we do business!
We don’t recommend DIYing, as it really is a job for the experts, but if you install the carpet yourself, make sure you are capable of doing so and have the time to do it. This job can be quite big and has a lot of technicalities, so make sure you know what you are doing.
Calling the professionals to install a carpet is much simpler, as all you need to do is give them your information, and schedule a date, then they come and install it while you do what you need to do, and then you pay them for their work. If you only need one room to have carpet, you might want to install it yourself. But if you have a lot more area to cover, paying someone to install the carpet will save you time, energy, and frustration.
Carpet Cleaner Guide
When you follow the flooring maintenance and care guides, it’s easy to maintain the beauty of your new floor. Properly caring for your carpet will enhance its life and performance, giving you years of enjoyment. Whether you choose to clean it yourself or hire a professional, make sure to check your carpet warranty for any maintenance instructions. Almost all carpet warranties will require that you have a professional clean your carpet every 18-24 months.
What to do:
- Do vacuum heavy traffic areas twice per week – Be sure to review maintenance instructions for vacuum cleaners that are approved for use on your specific floor type.
- Do rotate furniture in your room can help prevent permanent indentation.
- Do perform a deep cleaning – or have a professional cleaning in high-traffic rooms every 18-24 months. Please see our carpet cleaning guide.
What Not To Do:
- Do not use any household cleaners – Do not use any household cleaners that are not listed within the approved cleaners in your care and maintenance instructions.
- Do not use any cleaning methods not listed – Do not use any cleaning methods that are not mentioned within the manufacturer’s label in order to maintain your manufacturer’s warranty.
Enjoy Your New Carpet!
New flooring is a significant investment in your home, which is why you need to be sure the carpet flooring you choose is something that you love and is of sufficient quality to stand the test of time and the demands of busy family life.
But having clean, soft, high-quality carpet underfoot is going to make a big difference to how you and your family feel at home!
Although there can be a lot to get your head around when you are buying a new carpet, it will totally be worth it when you are enjoying your new floors.
We hope this guide has been helpful. If you need any information or have questions, head to carpetone.com.au for more information.
And if you are considering new flooring options for your home, office or rental property, contact your local Carpet One store to get expert flooring advice tailored to your needs.