4 Reasons to Reconsider Carpet
It’s no coincidence that some of our favorite homes feature great carpeting—after all, a well-designed room starts from the bottom up. Yet carpet is often overlooked and under-appreciated, despite being one of the most versatile, hardest-working floorings out there. Time to correct that. Read on for our ode to the fuzz beneath our feet.
1. Carpet is beautiful.
Texture, color, pattern: Carpet’s myriad options mean myriad design possibilities, none of which need to stand alone. Classic styles and colors, like lower-pile neutrals, are both timeless solo statements and great canvases for layering a throw rug or two (one of our favorite design moves).
2. Carpet is cozy.
Plush carpet + roaring fire + snow outside = peak comfy vibes. Whether you’re padding around in slippers or bare feet, carpet keeps you warm—literally. It retains warm air longer (so it’s also an energy saver). Plus, soft, luxe carpeting is the only thing that makes hanging out on the floor sound appealing.
3. Carpet is quiet.
If you have pets or little ones, you might not remember quiet, but it’s that thing that isn’t noise. Carpet helps with that, muffling tiny footsteps (that are somehow louder than big ones), bouncing toys, and even the emo music your teenager is blasting upstairs. It’s also great at absorbing sound from TVs and speakers, so movie night doesn’t echo through the whole house.
4. Carpet promotes indoor air quality.
There’s a perception that carpet is a poor choice for maintaining good air quality. But in fact, the opposite is true. October is National Indoor Air Quality Awareness Month, and now is a great time to consider carpet because it promotes exactly that.
Dust and allergens get trapped in carpeting until you vacuum them away, which keeps them out of the air you breathe. Plus, carpet is the lowest emitter of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and requires fewer cleaning chemicals than other flooring options. For even more protection, look for the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus, which indicates that the manufacturer is committed to minimizing any adverse effects on indoor air quality and that the product meets the highest established emissions requirements.