From the Floors Up

From the Floors to the Walls: Tips for Carpet and Paint

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When creating a room, two of the most influential design elements will be your paint and flooring. The colors you choose will set the mood since colors have a psychological impact on the environment. Neutral, warm, and cool tones can all make us perceive an atmosphere differently.

We physically walk on our floors daily; however, carpet is a softer flooring option. It makes a room more welcoming and inviting. Putting carpet in a living room, bedroom, or den can allow the floor to become an extension of seating. Choosing a paint and floor combination that works together is important. Today, we are going to look at pairing paint and carpet. Let’s get started!

Paint

You can start by choosing your paint or your carpet first. Remember to take your paint swatches home. Color can look different in certain lighting. Some paint shops may have overhead fluorescent lighting while you may have a more ambient style of lighting or natural light coming from your window. Additionally, remember that neutral colors are great because they tend to work with everything. If you decide to go more bold with color, you can purchase a test paint mix to sample on your walls prior to buying the whole paint can.

Carpet

Take your selected paint swab to your flooring store. Try to find a carpet that complements and matches your paint. Most fleck carpets are good at matching multiple colors while also hiding dirt and stains. Carpet can have slight changes in dye lots, which is important to note. You can also request to take your carpet sample home to see in your own lighting. Feel the sample and imagine it in your own home. Remember that padding is important to giving carpet its extra cushiony feel.

Paint and Install

Always paint your room first. While installation may scratch some of your walls, you can always fix them with touch up paint. However, paint splattering on new carpet may not be as easy of a fix. For both projects, you should clear your room or all the furniture before beginning.

In a short time, your room will look and feel completely different. It is amazing what carpet and paint can do to a home. While it may seem like the options are endless, selecting a paint and carpet combo can be fun. For more tricks on home improvement, make sure to subscribe.

Advice for Maintaining & Caring for Your Carpet

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So you have finally decided to go with carpet for your home. Even though carpet is super comfy and stylish, it does have its drawbacks. Anyone who has had the pleasure of owning carpet knows that it is challenging to maintain. Fortunately, we have got you covered. Here are some tips to help you keep your carpet looking like new for longer:

Vacuum on a Regular Basis

If you want your carpet to last for a long time, it is important to vacuum on a regular basis. Vacuuming is essential because it helps prevent dirt, allergens, and dust from accumulating. An excessive build-up in your carpet fibers will make the carpet look dirty and diminish air quality. Therefore, you want to make sure you vacuum at least once a week.

Clean up Spills Right Away

As hard as you try to prevent spills, the inevitable will happen. Be sure to clean up spills immediately because if you let them linger, they can become permanent. If you do not have a special cleaning solution on deck, you can blot the stain clean with water.

When cleaning up spills, make sure you blot instead of rubbing against the surface. Rubbing against the surface will cause the substance to spread further into the carpet. It is best to start at the outer corners of the stain and work your way inside.

Use a Carpet Protector Spray

Apply a carpet protector spray on a regular basis. This is an important step because such a formula will serve as a protective layer, making your carpet stain-resistant. Before applying the carpet protector to your entire carpet, you should try testing it out on a small area that is out of general view. This is just to be sure that it does not tint the carpet.

*Always consult with your flooring manufacturer before applying any products to your carpet.

Seek the Professionals

Some things are best left to the experts. Increase the longevity of your carpet by having the carpet cleaned professionally. A professional can do a deep cleaning of the fiber effectively removing stain remnants and deep cleaning the material.

A consistent maintenance schedule will keep your carpet looking new, and you can plan to have it for many years to come.

What Are Remnants and How Are They Beneficial?

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Carpet can add warmth and comfort to any room or office. If you are looking to invest in flooring and you are considering carpet, you may want to look at remnants. Many flooring stores have showrooms with carpets available to order; however, finding a flooring store that offers remnants, may allow you to buy excellent valued carpet at a cost-effective price.

When you typically order flooring, you select your carpet off a display rack. The carpet is specially ordered in for your job and can have additional charges for shipping and handling. While getting the carpet you want and the color you choose is great, you may like to explore the world of remnants. Here are three reasons why remnants may be the best option for your home improvement:

Cost-Effective 

Ordering carpet will guarantee the exact feel, look, and color you want; however, many remnants are available in high-quality looks as well. While your options are limited, you can save a lot by finding a remnant for your home. Remnants are one of the most cost-effective ways to floor your home. While your carpet may not match throughout your home, remnants are great for small offices or bedrooms. 

High Quality and New 

Buying remnants sometimes get a bad rep. Remnants do not insinuate used or low-end carpet. In fact, many remnants are the exact quality of carpet you would have ordered. Remnants can be shipped to distributors for less money when high-end, quality carpet rolls get to a small remaining balance. When mills create rolls of carpet, they can take them to 12×150 feet in space. When these rolls get down to 12×20, it is best the mills sell them to move the product – this allows distributors to carry higher-end carpet for lower pricing. 

No Cutting Fees or Shipping 

Some carpet mills have additional fees for cutting carpets and shipping. When the carpet gets to the end of the roll, there is no additional cutting fee. While shipping may still be included, distributors can purchase remnant packages. These packages allow them to get a variety of remnants at a lower price. All in all, this can be a win-win for the consumer, mills, and distributor. 

So, next time you are looking for carpet, swing into the showroom to look at some remnants. Finding a remnant for your space is the perfect way to complete your home. Remember, remnants are excellent options for small hallways, steps, and even rooms. Be sure to ask your sales representative for more information.

Understanding Your Flooring: Carpet Tiles

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Carpet tile is an excellent choice for commercial application. Where most carpet fails to keep up with heavy traffic, carpet tile succeeds. Being able to swap out individual tiles in case of stains or wear marks can also save you thousands on replacing the entire floor. While carpet tile is great, it is not for every application. Functionality, affordability, and durability can all be determining factors in your flooring. Here, we break down the pros and cons of carpet tiles to help you decide if they are right for you.

Carpet tiles are incredibly durable. With their low-profile pile, they will rarely show wear or traffic patterns.
Unlike hard surface flooring options, rest at ease with carpet tiles. You will not have to worry about scratching carpet tiles ever; this is why many businesses have been placing them in high-traffic areas such as malls, airports, and offices.
Though carpet tile is extremely durable, it would not be suitable to install it in areas prone to water. Your carpet tiles will absorb wetness and can lead to molding or breaking down the glue on the subfloor.
Carpet tiles will serve some level of comfort. They are a soft commercial floor option, but like most commercial floors, durability, and longevity come before comfort.
Most carpet tiles are treated and stain resistant. However, the longer a spill or accident is left untreated, the deeper it can infiltrate into your carpet fibers. Luckily, if a carpet tile is damaged, you can simply remove it and replace it with another. You should consider investing in an extra box or two depending on the size of the space that you are looking to install this floor.
While soft and durable, pet accidents can damage your carpet tile. You will be able to replace damaged tiles but may not want to have this option with infants or untrained animals.
For a commercial grade floor, this should not be overlooked; however, competitively on the market with residential floors, this can be a tad pricey. If you are looking for an extremely durable carpet solution which you can replace easily if damaged, this is your ticket.

Most commercial flooring options are very durable; however, they do not offer comfort. Carpet tiles can add comfort, aesthetics, and durability to your floors. For more insight and analysis on different flooring types, make sure to subscribe and check out more of our series!

Understanding Your Flooring: Carpet

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As most homeowners already know, not all floors are made equally.  From hardwood to carpet, every flooring option gives you a list of different pros and cons.  While aesthetics is an excellent quality in flooring, understanding which floor is best tailored to your needs is the most important aspect.  You would not want to put a floor in an environment if it is not suited for its traffic and lifestyle. 

With a variety of different flooring options on the market, carpet will always be an excellent option for any home. With so many diverse patterns, textures, styles, and looks, you can tailor any carpet to fit the design theme of your room. Not to mention, carpet is highly desired for its affordability and comfort. While functionality, affordability, and durability can all be determining factors in your flooring, we want to help give you a better understanding of carpet and see if it is best suited for your needs. Let’s take a look!

Generalizing all types of carpet is difficult.  Please note that some carpet will be more durable than others.  Different fibers and pile can all result in your carpet’s performance.  If you are looking for a more durable carpet, ask your flooring sales associate to direct you to one. Their expert knowledge of the product line will help you find one that is suitable for your traffic level and environment.
Your carpet cannot scratch; however, you may be able to tear your carpet with enough force.  Some carpet can also lose its resilience and bounce back which will show traffic patterns.
It is not recommended to install carpet in wet areas.  In doing so, it could lead to unwanted molding.
Carpet is considered one of the most comfortable flooring options available on the market. With the right padding, it is excellent for children in case of falls.  It makes the flooring a more comfortable surface to play on as well.  However, in case of accidents or spills, carpet may not be the best for recovering unwanted stains.
While many carpets are treated with premium stain resistors, carpet is not best for rooms you anticipate frequent spills or mishaps.
Carpet is soft, so this can make for a great play area for kids; however, stains and accidents can happen. If not treated promptly, the liquid can penetrate down to the pad, and this can lead to unwanted lingering odors in your home.
Carpet prices will fluctuate from low to high depending on what quality you invest in for your home.  If you are looking for a quick and affordable option, carpet is your best choice.  However, understand the “cheaper” you go, the less durable and longevity you will get from your carpet.

Remember, carpet can be made of different fibers, thicker pile, and even treated with different chemicals. This is a very general and broad view of carpeting. There are carpet solutions with higher durability, less comfort, and even more water resistance. Make sure to check with your carpet representative to discover which options may be best for you. For more insight on different flooring types, make sure to subscribe and check out the rest of our series!

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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