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How to choose the right kind of carpet for your home

Choosing the right carpet for your home can be a stressful ordeal. Not only can the process be pricey, but it is quite the commitment. Here are a few recommendations to find the right fit to keep your home looking fabulous.

Living room with dark wall to wall carpeting

Step 1: Consider your surroundings

One of the most important elements of choosing the right carpet for your home is to consider the precious feet that are going to step on it. Before heading to your local home improvement store, first think about the elements in your home. Do you have children? Pets? Are you going to require guests to take their shoes off, or can they leave them on? With these considerations in mind, you will have a better idea of the color, texture and durability you are looking for.

Step 2: Location, location

The location in which you intend to place your carpet is essential in choosing what kind of carpet you would like. With the room in mind, you can better choose the color and texture to match the vibe of that room. For example, you may want your bedroom carpet to be lush, full and luxurious, while your foyer may be better fitted with a lower cut and higher amount of durability since it is a high traffic area.

Step 3: Color

A white carpet may be what your heart desires, but is it really practical? If you entertain guests often, a simple spill of red wine may ruin your precious purchase. Think of how you plan to use the room that your carpet will be in before choosing a color. Also think of the longevity of the color. While hunter green may go perfectly with your living room decor today, how will you feel about it in a year or perhaps 10?

Step 4: Texture

The texture of your carpet is as important as the color as it can make the difference between fighting stains and hiding dirt. A Berber carpet has lower and more sleek texture and is much easier to clean if something has been spilled on it. However, this may not be the most squishy carpet texture if that is what you are looking for.

Step 5: Keep an open mind

Choosing the right carpet for your home is a huge financial investment, so take your time. Shop various stores and brands, and be open to new options. There are a lot more out there than you may think — Stainmaster’s collection, for example, has six styles and over a 1000 color combos. That’s a lot of carpet!

Check out Martha Stewart receiving an expert opinion on choosing the right carpet for her home >>

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