You’ve decided on new carpet, but you want to shop smart. You already know how carpet is made and the difference between carpet styles, but what else is there to know before you buy? Lots.

Here are some tips to give you the upper hand on what will soon be underfoot!

Seams

Unless your room is narrower than 15 feet, you’re going to have seams. Most carpet comes in widths of 12 feet and 15 feet — and on occasion, 13 feet. The degree of visibility of your seams depends on the texture and color you choose, as well as the lighting and furniture placement in your room.

Bending

When you carpet your stairs, its backing may show on the bends. And if it’s a looped carpet, it can snag — especially at the seams or transitions.

A carpet’s nap runs in a single direction, making pile reversal or the shading you see from a vacuum trail, completely normal for most cut pile styles. If you’re not a fan, window treatments and furniture placement can minimize the effect.

Quality

Let’s face it. You get what you pay for. If you want your carpet to have a great pile density and tighter twist construction (which leads to improved durability), then you’re going to want to go with a higher quality (and more expensive) product. New carpet adds value to any home, so it’s an investment worth making.

Color

Carpet covers a large part of any room, so it’s vital that you consider some basic rules when selecting its color. First off, know that once your carpet is installed, it’s going to look lighter in color than the sample you saw in the store. Don’t ask us why, that’s just the way it is — kind of like losing a sock in the dryer.

Next, recognize that color can affect the apparent size of a room. Call it a visual illusion or a trick of the light, but lighter carpet makes a room look larger and darker colors make a room look smaller and more intimate.

If you like to redecorate often or plan to move soon, go neutral. It’s much easier to imagine furniture in a room that is decorated with neutral colors.

Stains

It’s going to happen, no matter how long you hold out from sipping wine or munching on chips and salsa in your freshly carpeted room. Stain protection is an important consideration when buying carpet. Products come with various levels of protection and warranties. As the quality of a carpet increases, so does its stain protection level and warranty coverage.

Padding/Cushion

Padding or cushion is the layer of spongy material between carpet and floor. It’s the padding — not the carpet — that determines whether the carpet feels good or great under your feet.

A quality padding can help preserve a carpet’s look and can extend its life and comfort by providing tougher protection against wear and tear.

Padding is sold using quality specifications, not color specifications. The color of the sample you see in the store may not be the same color as what’s installed in your home. But as long as it feels good, who cares?!

Warranty

It’s a good idea to read the product specs and warranty coverage on the back labels of your carpet prior to purchasing. Doing so will give you the information you need to protect your investment — and eliminate any surprises down the road.

Cost

“Cost per square foot” is just one component of the overall price tag for new carpet. Ask your retailer to calculate the total cost of your floor covering project. Here’s what he or she may include beyond the cost of the carpet, itself:

• Furniture removal/replacement
  Some retailers or installers may charge to remove (and then replace) furniture in the room to be carpeted.
• Demolition/disposal of old floor covering
  Unless your home is brand new, there’s probably an old floor covering that is going to need to be removed and properly disposed of.
• Sub-floor preparation
  Depending on its condition (after removal of the old floor covering), your subfloor may need to be prepped for carpet installation.
• Product delivery
  Delivering your carpet and padding may not be included in the “cost per square foot” price.
• Installation
  There will most likely be a “cost per square foot” or “square yard” to install your new carpet and padding.
• Materials required to complete the installation
  Additional materials, like adhesives, moisture barriers, stair nosing and baseboards may be required to properly install your carpet.
• Financing
  Many retailers offer financing as an option of payment. Be sure to check the interest rate, minimum payment due and any finance charges if you choose to pay your purchase off over time.

In addition to your total project cost, annual cleanings are also recommended to maintain the beauty and life of your new carpet. Ask your retailer and/or consult the manufacturer’s warranty and care guide for directions on cleaning and maintenance.

We love to make a room fun, the foundation or flooring can really shape a rooms feel. I love some of the new styles that designers are using in these spaces. It is great to use carpets that have an “identity” and add to the overall feeling of a room. In many instances they define the feeling. Take a look at some of the cool new styles that we are featuring. Would these work in a room in your home?

Shapes and Striations!! Elegant and Fun!!

Chenille and Sateen- this could be awesome for a movie room!!

I love the colors and feel of this one!! Custom rug or awesome man cave carpet??

Another great thing about all of these carpets is how easy to maintain they are. They will be very stain resistant and hold up well under lots of traffic. Just vacuum regularly and spot clean.

Great for the kids playroom, will hide stains well.

Cool for teens, bonus or even bedrooms!!

Some of these carpets can be for any room in the house and can really turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. We see a lot of rugs made from these materials as well.

Amazing look down. Rich and refined with great colors.

These carpets are also really plush, so if your family likes to play or lay around on the floor these will feel very good and soft.

The "new traditional"

MAN CAVE!!!

The sky is the limit, remember this can create an amazing foundation for the room. I would love to hear if you think one of these looks could make an impact in your home.

Sisal flooring is one of the most popular and great looking options available. Sisal is a design dream, offering great color and sophistication, while being neutral and subtle. What is sisal? Sisal (Agave sisalana) is an agave that yields a stiff fibre traditionally used in making  twine, rope and also dartboards. The term may refer either to the plant or the fibre, depending on context. The plant’s origin is uncertain; while traditionally it was deemed to be a native of  Yucatan, there are no records of botanical collections from there. In the 19th century, sisal cultivation spread to Florida  the Carribean islands and Brazil, as well as to other countries in Africa.   Today Brazil is the major world producer of sisal.

Raw Material, even pretty then!!

Traditionally used for rope and twine, sisal has many uses, including paper, cloth, wall coverings and carpets.

Great Fibreworks Sisal

Sisal is a golden color but is available in many colors when died. Whats great about sisal is that it is soft on bare feet and is very resilient. Sisal comes in hundreds of colors and patterns, mostly with boucles that vary in size. Sisal also has amazing natural striations that is often imitated by other synthetic fibres.

Soft (enough) on the feet

Keep in mind that sisal rugs are not designed to be used wet areas, such as bathrooms. Since sisal is an organic material, it can develop water stains. However, in the rest of your home it actually helps to regulate mild changes in humidity by absorbing excess moisture in the air and releasing it during drier days.

A Designers dream

I love metallic tones

To maintain the beauty of your sisal rug, vacuuming daily or at least weekly is essential. Although the rug may look as though it is clean, there may be fine dirt particles in the weave. If left, the particles can lodge between the fibers causing excessive wear as the rug is walked on -acting much like sand paper. Your vacuum should have strong suction and a brush attachment, or a beater brush on an upright.

Textures Best seller!

Remove any liquid spills immediately by blotting or pat drying with a clean cotton cloth (or acceptable substitute). Do not rub the spill area as this can force the liquid further into the fiber. scrape dry spills with a blunt blade -such as a teaspoon or dull side of a butter knife. Work from the edge of the spill toward the center to contain the spill.

Nothing is worse than deciding on a home repair or chore that requires a lot of money to fix, but is not in the budget. I know for a lot of people stained carpet is a source of embarrassment when entertaining, and right now it is not possible to replace it or even spend the few hundred dollars for cleaning. I have listed below a great spot cleaning method for synthetic fibers (nylon, polyester, etc.). All you need now is some elbow grease.

How to fix carpet stains:

Step 1: Fill half a cup with really warm water.
Step 2: Add a dime-sized amount of dish soap.
Step 3: Add a splash of white vinegar (distilled works best but others work too).
Step 4: Add half a teaspoon of baking soda.
Step 5: Mix together and scrub the mix into the carpet using a rag or scrub brush.
Step 6: Let it sit for five minutes.
Step 7: Use a dry rag to dab out the mixture.

Try to always use a white cotton towel when cleaning carpet and also remember to test this solution in an out of the way place before the middle of the room. If you have wool carpet, check out the Wools of New Zealand , as its website has listed a way to clean everything. Remember, most Persian and oriental rugs are wool, so these instructions will work for those too. Also, the stain is usually in the carpet cushion or pad. This is why stains that appear clean often comeback.

Happy cleaning!!

I have  many clients that need new carpet but they don’t know what they want. Carpet is not something most people buy everyday, so knowing what you may need can seem overwhelming. There are a few simple questions you can answer that may make the process a little easier and provide you and your family a great fit.

1. Are you the Brady Bunch or Empty Nester’s? This is important because some carpets are easier to clean and maintain then others. For instance, wool carpet is very cleanable, but is more difficult to maintain then nylon and polyester. Most of the families that buy carpet at Textures like easy care, so we recommend a synthetic fiber that wears well and cleans great.

2. What is your budget? Carpet is a very affordable floor covering, but prices range drastically. Many people may not realize this when buying carpet the for the first time. Carpet is sold by the square foot, and you have to remember that you will need cushion and installation as well. Typically a good carpet will be about $3.50 per square foot installed. That means for an average family room (400 sf) you will spend $1400.00.

3. Carpet is the foundation for a rooms decor. Do you want to make a statement or do you just want it to blend? If you are doing multiple rooms, you may want something different in each area. Textures clients typically use a patterned loop in living areas and something soft and traditional in bedrooms.

New carpet makes such a difference in a home. Please remember that it is a large undertaking and investment, so be try to be prepared. Textures will be happy to walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have.

Red wine, OH NO!

Nothing is worse than fixating on a repair or chore that requires a lot of money to fix, but is not in the budget. I know for a lot of people stained carpet is a source of embarrassment when entertaining, and right now it is not possible to replace it or even spend the few hundred dollars for cleaning. I have listed below a great spot cleaning method for synthetic fibers (nylon, polyester, etc.). All that you will need is some elbow grease.