Guide to Choosing the Perfect Carpet

Published On: January 13th, 2016

Choosing the perfect carpet can really make or break a room. With such a wide variety of styles, colours, patterns and textures available it’s important you understand which one is right for you before it’s too late. Read our guide to choosing the perfect carpet to summarise the benefits of each carpet option and answer any burning questions you may have.

Types of Carpets

The first decision when you’re looking for that perfect carpet should be the pile type. There are three principle pile types available including loop, twist and Saxony pile.

The loop pile carpet consists of short looped fibres, designed to create a long-lasting texture and are commonly available in more neutral shades. The twist pile carpets also offer a hard-wearing solution which makes them an ideal choice for areas that are prone to heavy-traffic, such as entrance ways or reception areas. A great choice if you’re looking to provide a resilient solution for everyday use. For a more bespoke finish, then the Saxony pile carpet should be your number one choice. With a deep, thick pile, the additional cushioning underfoot will feel like you’re walking on clouds – a truly luxurious carpet.

Carpets are manufactured from different types of fibre. Wool carpets are more resilient to wear and tear and have a soft and superior feel. There is also less flattening than other carpets, as the fibres bounce back.Polypropylene on the other hand is a man-made fibre that is highly stain-resistant, making it very easy to maintain. It will keep its appearance, but will flatten more quickly over time compared to a wool or blended carpet. Blended carpets are a mixture of wool and man-made fibres, offering the benefits of both. With plenty of choice available there really is the perfect carpet for everyone.

Which Colour to Choose?

The functionality, your personal style and the decor of the room could determine your carpet choice. A great option is to start with neutral shades if the appearance of the room is likely to change. Natural carpets are perfect for creating a welcoming finish to any room and designed to blend seamlessly with the existing furniture or wall colour. Also an ideal choice if you’re considering selling your property in the future, as neutral shades create a blank canvas for potential buyers.

Alternatively, use your new carpet to create a feature in a room by choosing strong, bold colours and patterns. These work best in larger rooms, as the open plan space can really enhance the bright colours creating a stunning ‘wow’ factor. For a more calming ambience why not consider pastel shades which are a great choice for a bedroom or living room. Pastel carpet colours can really complete a room with a comfortable atmosphere.

Backing and Underlay

Don’t forget about the backing and underlay! For a highly durable and luxurious effect under foot, incorporate backing and underlay into your new carpet purchase. Felt-backed products are economical, easy to lay and do not always need an underlay underneath. Secondary backed carpets are strong and stable, making them perfect for areas of high traffic, such as hallways and family rooms. These are combined with underlay beneath to create a comfortable and durable surface to walk on.

Underlay is designed to enhance the longevity of your carpet and insulate the floor, creating a comfortable surface and limiting noise. There are a variety of underlay products on offer. When you’re choosing underlay, consider the very best options for your property. Areas such as stairways, landings and hallways in particular will benefit from a hard-wearing, high quality underlay.

Looking After Your Carpet

Once you’ve had your carpet fitted, it’s important to maintain it correctly. Regular vacuuming should keep it looking its best but if an accident should occur then consider using a specialist shampoo to remove any unwanted stains. In addition, professional cleaning will help to maintain its look and durability even further.

If you require any help with the selection of carpets in Newbury or the surrounding areas, please don’t hesitate to contact the helpful team here at CMS Downs. Click here for our full list of store locations.

Where We Offer Carpet Fitting

Our team is available in many counties including Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and the outskirts of South West London (we do cover London and the whole of the South East of England depending on the scale of the project). Some of these areas include towns such as Banstead, Elmbridge, Epsom, Ewell, Guildford, Mole Valley, Newbury, Reigate, Runnymeade, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Tandridge, Waverley, Winchester and Woking. We have been established for over 50 years providing Carpet Fitting.

Main Coverage Area

Downs Carpets & Beds have a fantastic team of carpet fitters working alongside our in-store teams. Get in touch for a quote or visit one of our stores below for more information.

Customer Stories

Once an order is complete we always encourage customer feedback. Here’s a selection of different projects and customer comments.

Customer Stories
Flooring for complete house

We have used Downs in the past and once again the salesperson was very helpful, answering all my queries. The fitter was equally helpful and able to give knowledgeable advice for a future product. I highly recommend Downs as a local business.

Marian G
Marian G
Customer Stories
Carpet order

From the first enquiry to the fitting of the new carpet, we were warmly welcomed by friendly staff, which helped to make our choice and decisions easy. Carpet came much sooner that originally told but that was great as it meant we could get on with the other changes in the particular room. Many thanks for an excellent service.

Richard M
Richard M
Customer Stories
Kitchen/diner

Customer service is top notch. We have used CMS for all of our flooring requirements to date and will continue to do so throughout the renovation of our house.

Vicky B
Vicky B
Customer Stories
Bedroom carpets

The sales team were really efficient and helpful, taking into consideration our requirements. The fitters worked well, efficiently and cleared up afterwards a real blessing. The choice of flooring was great and the prices very competitive. Recommend CMS carpets and would use them again. Thank you.

Karen P
Karen P

The Downs Difference

At Downs Carpets & Beds, we stay true to our original core values. Take a look at why our customers choose us for their beds and carpets time and time again.

Spring Sale

Up To
50 % OFF
Selected Styles
Book a free home visit

Our bespoke service

  • Design consultation: Working collaboratively with you, your designer helps you select the right products.

  • Technical consultation: We will conduct a technical survey, checking all measurements and any unusual angles.

  • Supplying the product: Your chosen product will be ordered and delivered to you in the time frames discussed.

  • Professional Installation: Our expert installers precision fits your product for an exceptional finish.

What Our Customers Say

Andrew Thomson
Andrew Thomson
2023-11-25
Downs were brilliant, we will be back next time we need a carpet. We got three new carpets all supplied and fitted by Downs. When the sitting room carpet turned out to be supplied too short (a manufacturer's fault) they sorted out the problem in 2 days. Simon was also very patient when we kept having to delay the fitting date due to various headaches with the bedroom renovation. Thank you to Simon for all his help and patience during the delayed building work.
A J
A J
2023-11-16
I can highly recommend Downs Carpets and Beds and will using again for our upcoming renovations. Special thanks to Adrian in store, also Gavin and Steve who did a great job fitting.
Nicky Lewendon
Nicky Lewendon
2023-11-12
Great service, Excellent carpet fitter, I would highly recommend.
Mike
Mike
2023-11-08
Cannot fault Downs or their fitters. Special thanks to Simon who has been our contact. We've had all bar one our whole bungalow brought and fitted through Downs. Price is reasonable, lots of range and no sales pitch. Very knowledgeable too. Thank you.
Sarah Fox
Sarah Fox
2023-11-07
Excellent service from start to finish. Knowledgeable staff gave brilliant advice on my choice of carpet, were very competitive against independent carpet suppliers and the fitters did a great job.
Sinead Dowling
Sinead Dowling
2023-11-06
Brilliant customer service and delivery service plus excellent comfortable bed and good value too
Jason Owen
Jason Owen
2023-11-06
We had the carpet stairs replaced. Great quality carpet. The fitter were very professional and fitted the carpet quickly.
Valerie Walker
Valerie Walker
2023-11-06
Really helpful and welcoming the minute we walked in. And the fitters made an excellent job of the bathroom and kitchen,and now the conservatory will be done. Thank you Downs of Newbury, highly recommended to anybody who is thinking of carpeting or flooring.
David Glare
David Glare
2023-11-06
Always efficient service from Downs carpets, thanks .
Amanda Dobbs
Amanda Dobbs
2023-11-04
We had an excellent experience here today. The salesman was knowledgeable and very kind. There's a huge selection to choose from as well.