Which? publishes carpet buying guide

Consumer organisation Which? recently published its updated guide to buying a new carpet.

There are three important questions Which? recommends you ask before purchasing a new carpet.

How much can I spend?

Carpets cost from £5 a square foot to over £100 for a hand-woven carpet. Premium-quality wool carpets are more expensive than synthetic polypropylene, but they add luxury comfort to a room.

Who will walk on the carpet and how often?

High-traffic areas in busy households with several members will see more foot traffic in hallways and living areas than in bedrooms and other less used areas. High-traffic areas need more durable carpets. If there are young children and pets in the home, go for a carpet that is easy to keep clean.

How do I want the carpet to look and feel?

Do I want a soft carpet with a deep pile or a flatter one? What colour goes well with the room decor? Do I prefer a pattern or a plain colour carpet?

The Which? guidance details carpet material types, synthetic, wool or plant-based, with each material having its pros and cons.

If you choose an expensive carpet, Which? warns against cutting costs by buying a poor quality underlay. A good underlay improves the carpet's look and feel and makes it last longer.

The guidance from Which? may help consumer choose the next carpet for their homes. However, for more help in choosing the best carpet, talk to a local carpet retailer in the North Wales and Chester region.

Designers discuss installing carpets in bedrooms

An ongoing debate within the interior design community is attempting to conclude whether carpets in the bedroom are a good idea.

Interior designer Paris Forino thinks bedroom carpets are "dated and suburban". On the other side of the debate is designer Emma Breislin, who broadly supports carpets in bedrooms. She says:

"A part of me has always felt like they belong in a bedroom. It’s a space where softness and comfort outweigh all else."

Like all floor coverings, there are pros and cons of bedroom carpets. A major advantage of a carpet is its comfort as you get out of bed with bare feet, compared to a cold hard surface such as laminate or wood floor. However, if the bedroom floor is made from original natural hardwood, it may be a shame to cover it up with wall-to-wall carpets. Instead, use bright rugs for extra cosiness and a touch of colour.

Keeping carpets clean puts some people off as they require regular vacuuming and the occasional deep clean, but it's worth it as a clean carpet will continue to look good and last a long time.

There is a wide range of carpet colours and patterns, making it hard to choose the best style and colour. Laminate or wood floors match most decor styles but do not add the striking visual tone to a room that a bright carpet does.

Whether you prefer hard surface flooring or a soft carpet, a local flooring company in North Wales or Chester will help you decide which is best for your bedroom.

Walk-in sample book created for Tarkett

Tarkett’s Stockholm showroom has been re-designed by Note Design Studio to display the range of Tarkett’s floor coverings.

With many flouring materials used in the design, the studio has been likened to a walk-in sample book. The showroom was unveiled during Stockholm Design Week 2025 in early February.

The main showroom space features a central conversation pit for seminars and talks with mustard yellow carpet tiles on steps and seat cushions. A wall on one side of the showroom displays hundreds of Tarkett flooring samples. It is designed to be reminiscent of wardrobe space, with the intent of allowing designers and architects to look at the different materials that are in the Tarkett range.

Charlotte Ackemar, an interior architect at Note Design Studio, says that she sees the showroom as a big palette:

"We're basically standing in a big palette of Tarkett materials."

Flooring materials used in the showroom are not confined to floor surfaces. A kitchen has speckled red vinyl flooring covering counters and cabinets, while blue vinyl flooring covers a long table in a meeting room.

The marketing manager of Tarkett Sweden, Johanna Strömberg, said that the showroom was the most difficult project their fitters have worked on. She praised the design saying:

"I think this showroom has really become a beautiful example of what you can do with flooring materials.”

You don't have to travel to Sweden to see Tarkett’s premium quality flooring range. It is available at local flooring services in Wrexham, North Wales and Chester.

How to choose the right laminate flooring thickness for your home

Laminate flooring is available in several depths, typically ranging from 6mm to 12 mm, but how do you decide what thickness is best for your home?

The first consideration is your budget. Thicker laminate boards are more expensive, but if you have a small budget a thinner laminate may be sufficient, especially in rooms with a low footfall, However, if the subfloor is uneven, it’s better to go for thicker laminate as these hide subfloor imperfections. Thinner boards are likely to wear out quicker on uneven subfloor.

Avoid 6mm boards unless your budget is extremely limited, as these are not good quality and are unlikely to last long.

A 12mm thick board can look and feel like real wood, especially if it has a raised wood grain effect. More detailed and elaborate designs are available on thicker planks.

Thicker boards are more impact resistant and should last longer. They also absorb sound better, making footsteps quieter and reducing echo. Thicker boards often feel softer underfoot.

Waterproof laminate flooring is available from 8.5mm thick, which is fine for bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms.

If expense is not an issue, buy 10mm or 12mm thick laminate flooring that is high quality, durable and looks good. There is not a large difference between these two thicknesses, so which one to install is down to personal preference.

Ask your flooring services in Chester or North Wales to show you their range of thick laminate flooring patterns and colours and choose the one you like best.

How to install a stair runner

A stair runner significantly improves the look of a plain staircase, but requires some care to install properly.

Can I install a stair runner myself?

Though a carpet retailer in Chester or North Wales may include free fitting for the stair runners they sell, it's not a difficult job if you want to fit the carpet yourself. Anyone confident in their do-it-yourself skills should be able to install stair runners.

Do I need an underlay for a stair runner?

You can install stair runners without underlay, but it is recommended that you use high-quality underlay as it adds comfort and style. A stair carpet without underlay will not last as long, especially in busy places where lots of people go up and down the stairs every day.

There are three main thickness levels of underlay. Up to 6mm thick underlay allows the runner to sit flatter, but offers less cushioning. Underlay between 6mm and 9mm has a good balance between support and comfort. Using underlay above 10mm is not recommended as the extra cushioning looks bulky and could be a trip risk.

High density underlay, though more expensive, is more hard-wearing. The recommended underlay has a density of 120 kg/m3 or more and is between 6 mm to 8mm thick.

Underlay made of PU foam works well on low footfall stairs. For busy staircases, use sponge or crumb rubber underlay.

Do you need special carpet for stair runners?

You can use any type of carpet as a stair runner, but some are better than others. It pays to invest in good quality carpets, either made from wool or a wool blend. Synthetic polypropylene carpets on busy staircases can soon look flat and worn in a short time. The best carpet to use is 100% wool that keeps its shape and height and should last longer.

If it is within your budget, go for a wool or wool-blend carpet with natural thermal and insulation properties.

How should a stair runner be fitted?

First, make sure that you have measured the stairs accurately and have bought the right length and width of carpet.

If the star runner is to be fitted with a border, paint or stain the stairs before fitting the carpet. Use tape guides to mark where the edge of the carpet is placed on every step so that it is laid straight.

Next, cut the underlay in pieces that fit on each tread surface, not the vertical riser as this will add unneeded bulk. Secure them on each tread step with double-sided carpet tape or use a staple gun.

Lay the runner, wrapping it around each stair. Starting at the top, secure the runner to each stair with a staple gun to the base of each riser. A bolster chisel keeps the carpet taut before securing it.

If one runner is not enough, connect another runner, hiding the join under the tread lip and cutting off extra material.

If the runner is too long, cut the extra material from the bottom edge.