Nov 15, 2023 | Flooring America
Looking to transform your living room into a captivating haven with carpet? Discover the art of selecting the perfect carpet for your living space as we delve into the nuances of carpet for the living room. From cozy textures to trendsetting designs, we guide you through the journey of bringing your living room to life.
Since your living room is often used for gathering with friends, reading, working, watching TV, and relaxing throughout the day, it tends to be the most multipurpose room in your entire house. Because of the wide range of activities and the amount of foot traffic, people often look to carpets as a preferred flooring material for their living room for comfort and durability. If you’re thinking about a new carpet in your living room, we’ve got some considerations and trends for you to think through.
One of the first questions we hear at Flooring America is, "What is the best carpet for your living room?" The answer to this question is twofold, as it depends on comfort and durability. The best carpets for your living room strike a balance between comfort and durability, seamlessly blending with your interior aesthetics. Opt for plush, soft textures that invite relaxation while considering practicality for high-traffic areas. Dive deeper into the world of living room carpets in this blog, where you'll get expert advice on selecting materials, patterns, and colors that not only elevate your decor but also stand the test of time.
When looking for the best living room carpets, you should take into consideration several factors, including maintenance routine, color, and lifestyle needs—perhaps arguably most important as this is impacted by the durability, material, and construction of your carpet.
Your living room is a high-traffic area in your house, so durability should be a top concern. You want something that can stand up to the everyday wear and tear that occurs in your home. Not all carpets are known for their longevity. There are some technical terms that factor in—face weight, tuft twist, and density rating. If you’re unfamiliar with the terms or how they relate to a carpet’s durability, the experts at your local Flooring America can easily explain how these factors come into play.
In more general shopping, you’ll want to be on the lookout for high-quality carpeting with an above-average wear warranty. Generally, the most durable carpets are made from a blend of wool and nylon. Plus, innovations in carpeting have come a long way. You can now find kid- and pet-friendly carpets that are specially designed to last longer.
In addition to durability, choosing the right material for your carpet can also affect how it looks and feels. Some of the most popular fibers that hold up well over time are polyester, triexta, nylon, and olefin. Wool, lama, and mohair carpeting give your home a sophisticated feel. In fact, wool is often held as the best option for living rooms because of its combination of natural strength and softness. Silk and silk-like materials are even being worked into some carpeting now for an extra touch of elegance.
Since the living room is often used for many activities, it’s also prone to lots of spills, stains, and other accidents. That’s why ease of cleaning is important when shopping for a new carpet. Typically, carpets require more maintenance compared to other flooring materials, requiring regular vacuuming and immediate spill clean-up, but if you look for one that is waterproof or stain-resistant, you should have an easier time. Also, make sure to check every carpet’s warranty to find the best stain warranty if you have a lot of little ones or pets in your household.
When choosing a carpet color for your living room, traditionally, people choose a neutral shade because it’s less likely to go out of style. Plus, neutrals work well with all the other color aspects of your room, like the walls, furniture, pet hair color, and even the amount of natural light and how it shifts during the day. Amp up the coziness of your living room by choosing warmer-colored carpets in deep reds, soft browns, sienna golds, or peachy creams.
You can also add color through living room area rugs, which are easily switched out or replaced with changing trends and seasons.
The feel of your carpet is determined by the fibers it’s made of. If you have small children spending a lot of time on the floor, you may want to opt for a softer-style carpet made with thinner fibers. However, as you might suspect, these softer carpets tend not to last as long and are harder to clean. If you want a lower-maintenance carpet, you can create a softer space by adding an underpad during installation. Carpet cushions come in several different sizes and materials, helping to add cushioning, insulation, and longevity to your carpet.
With carpets ranging in fiber material, color, and design, the construction of carpeting varies as well. It’s important to keep in mind that the pile, cut, or loop and the style, frieze, and Berber can also have an impact on the above considerations. The way in which all of these elements are brought together will impact the final result, determining whether or not the carpet is right for your living room. If you’re looking for the highest quality construction, traditional woven carpets are still the standard-bearer when it comes to value.
More and more people are using carpeting to add texture to their living rooms. Bold patterns and a mix of pile heights can raise the wow factor of your interior design. We’re also seeing natural-looking carpets rise in popularity. After years of spending most of our time indoors, people are starting to bring elements of nature into their spaces. Greens, stone shades, and other colors found in nature are being used as accents in carpeting.
The ideal size for carpet in the living room depends on various factors, including the dimensions of your living space, the arrangement of furniture, and your design preferences. Learn how to play with proportions, creating a cozy atmosphere that complements your furniture arrangement and enhances the overall design. Discover the perfect dimensions using our free flooring estimator to make your living room feel inviting, stylish, and perfectly tailored to your lifestyle.
Still unsure about which carpet is right for your living room? Your local Flooring America experts are here to help make your design process easier. Start browsing our carpet catalog filtering by durability, style, and material, and see where it leads you.