What are the best carpet materials?

When you're choosing a new carpet, one of the big decisions you have to make is what material of carpet you want in your home. The material will affect how the carpet feels underfoot, how long lasting it is, and can even affect what room the carpet of choice is best for. In this carpet guide, we'll go through the types of carpet available, including man-made and natural carpets, and their pros and cons, to help you decide which is the best carpet material for you.

Carpet Types

When it comes to choosing the material of carpet you want, there's a lot to think about. Do you need a hard-wearing carpet for a high footfall area? Maybe you need a waterproof carpet for a kitchen or even a bathroom. Or you might be looking for a super soft carpet for the bedroom. Different carpet materials have their benefits, and some can address these issues.

Here are our top carpet materials and what you need to know about them:

Polyamide Carpet

Polyamide carpet, also known as nylon carpet, is a popular man-made carpet material. It is known for being hardwearing and is available in a wide range of colours and patterns. It is also stain resistant and easy to clean. Because of this it is a great choice for high-traffic areas such as the hallway and is also soft enough for a busy living room.

On the other hand, this type of carpet tends to come with a higher price tag and is not eco-friendly at all. So it's not one to go for if you're on a budget or are trying to be as green as possible.

Here's our full list of pros and cons of nylon carpet:

Polyester Carpet

Another man-made material, polyester carpet is a good choice for those with allergies but want a natural feel carpet, as this material looks and feels like wool. As it is a man-made carpet material, polyester is stain resistant and available in a wide variety of colours.

If being green is on your radar, this is also a good choice as you can find polyester carpets made from recycled materials, though, be aware that polyester cannot be recycled after use.  Also, polyester carpets are not as hardwearing as polyimide and can show its age quicker than other carpet materials. For this reason, it is not a good choice for busy rooms and is better suited to quieter rooms, such as the dining room.

In summary, here's the good and bad of polyester carpets:

Polypropylene Carpet

The last of our manmade material options, polypropylene carpets, also known as olefin carpets, are the hardiest carpets on the market. It's also a cheap material, so is perfect if you're on a budget. This carpet type can be cleaned with bleach and other strong cleaning products and is stain resistant, so you don't have to worry about it getting mucky. Because of this, it's known as a great all-rounder for a family home, or even rental properties. This material is also water-resistant, so can even be put down in rooms that are often wet, such as bathrooms and kitchens.

However, this carpet material is vulnerable to heat, so hot stains, such as hot drinks, can mark the carpet. It's also not as soft as other carpet types and can flatten easily, meaning it can show its age quickly in high-footfall areas.

Overall, here's the main pros and cons of polypropylene carpets:

Sisal Carpet

If you're looking for a natural carpet fibre, sisal carpet can be a good choice. This plant-based material is eco-friendly, as it is biodegradable. But don't think this means it'll wear down quickly, it's very durable, in fact, this material is used to make rope! This carpet material is also non-toxic and perfect for people with allergies. Sisal carpets naturally help to keep a room cool on a hot day too, due to its absorbency which makes it act like a natural dehumidifier. What's more, it's easy to maintain.

But it's not all good with sisal. Because of sisals toughness, it is not soft to the touch, but rough. So, it doesn't suit everyone, especially if you wander around your house barefoot. Also, with it being absorbent it does not suit rooms with high humidity, like the bathroom or kitchen, or where spills are likely to occur.

This natural fibre only comes in natural colours, such as tan and white. This makes it a great neutral carpet, but if you're wanting something that stands out, sisal carpets aren't for you. Due to the durability and roughness of this carpet type, it can make a great option for hallways, where footfall is high, but not for a room you use to relax.

The main pros and cons of sisal carpet are:

Wool Carpet

If you're looking for luxury, a wool carpet is definitely the one to choose. This carpet material is more expensive, but it's definitely worth the price tag. Wool carpets are resilient and stain resistant, meaning a well-cared for wool carpet can last for years! A luxuriously soft and warm material, it's a decadent choice and can work well in bedrooms and living rooms.

But there are some drawbacks to a wool carpet. This material is not as durable as other carpet types, so can show wear quickly. If you want to avoid this, opt for a thicker wool carpet.

Wool carpet has plenty of pros and cons, here are just a few:

Carpet Blends

For the best of both worlds, carpet blends are available too. This combines two or more carpet types so you can get the benefits of two materials. Exactly what the pros and cons are, depends on the blend. We provide blends such as:

• 50% wool and 50% polyester
• 80% wool, 10% polyamide and 10% polyester
• 70% wool and 30% polyester
• 50% polypropylene and 50% polyester

Blends are a great option for many people as they can have various benefits. For example, with a wool blend, you can enjoy the softness of wool but have a more durable carpet. While a polyester blend can make more expensive materials more affordable.

The Best Carpet Material

Which carpet material is best, depends on your needs and budget. For a luxurious and soft carpet, wool is definitely the best choice, but this comes with a hefty price tag. If you are look-ing for a durable carpet for a high traffic area of the home, a polyamide carpet can be a great choice, but is not eco-friendly.

Overall, if you're looking for a durable carpet for high footfall areas of the home, polyam-ide, polypropylene, and sisal carpets are the best options. For lower footfall areas, where you want a softness underfoot, you'd be better suited to wool or polyester carpets. If humidity is an issue, such as in a kitchen or bathroom, polypropylene is a good option. Alternatively, you might find a blend would better suit your needs and budget.

When choosing a carpet, we suggest ordering some free carpet samples before making a decision. That way you can get a feel of the carpet, and see how it'll look in your room.