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What Is the Best Carpet for Your Bedroom?

Your bedroom flooring is important. It is the last thing that your feet will touch before you slip from your shoes and climb into bed at night, and it is the first thing they will feel when you wake and leave your bed each morning. Because of this, few flooring materials are more suited to the bedroom than carpet. It is soft, plush, warm underfoot, and soothing to the touch.

carpet in a bedroom

The Spruce / Margot Cavin 

Pros and Cons of Carpet in the Bedroom

carpet detail
The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Pros

  • Sound dampening: One of the benefits of having carpet installed in a bedroom is that it can insulate the space against unwanted ambient noise. The thicker the carpet, the less sound will be transmitted from downstairs, up into the serenity of your bedroom setting.
  • Soft: Your bedroom floor is going to be the first thing your bare feet touch each morning and the last thing they touch before slipping from shoes and stepping into bed each night. Carpet has a soft, cushioned feel that makes it very soothing in bedroom applications.
  • Warm: One of the worst feelings is slipping from a warm bed on a cold winter morning and having your feet instantly freeze on a chill flooring application. With carpet, you never have to worry about that. Bedroom carpeting is always warm and soft, no matter the weather.
  • Maintenance: Aside from dealing with stains, the only regular maintenance that carpet needs is regular vacuuming.

Cons

  • Replacement: In a low traffic space such as the bedroom a carpet can last for years. However eventually, it is going to start showing signs of wear and tear, requiring you to update the material.
  • Stains: Depending on the type of carpet, you may have to worry about a variety of stains occurring from dirt, colored liquids, and other agents. There are a variety of methods for removing each type of stain, but the most important thing is to wipe up the agent immediately and begin to treat it as soon as possible. Depending on the speed of your efforts the stain may leave residual color in the carpet.
  • Snags: In the case of loop pile carpets you may have to deal with snags that can, if left untreated, lead to the carpet starting to unravel.
  • Cats: In some cases, people will find that cats react to carpeting as if it were a giant cat toy stretched out across the floor of the bedroom. This can often be curbed with a little discipline but may result in wear and tear until your pet is trained.
  • Environment: Most carpeting is produced from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. Natural, renewable carpeting includes materials such as wool, jute, and seagrass.
  • Toxins: Another environmental concern is that some carpeting can trap dust or mold within its strands, causing harmful toxins to be released into the air. To offset this, you can spray your carpet with a nontoxic carpet finishing agent.

Bedroom Carpet Pile

  • Uncut carpet pile: Carpet is made when loops of fabric are threaded through matting to create the fibers on the surface. When the entire loop is left uncut, it is called “loop pile” or “Berber pile carpet.” The advantage of this type of carpet is that it tends to be highly durable, resistant to stains and easy to maintain. The drawback is that it can be less soft, and padded then cut carpet pile, making it less comfortable in a bedroom setting.
  • Cut carpet pile: When the loop used to make carpet is cut, it leaves behind single strands that make up the plush surface of the material. The angle that the loop is cut at, and the way the individual fibers are treated afterward, can lead to the creation of carpeting that has a variety of textures. While these carpets tend to be soft and attractive, the bristling nature of the fibers makes it much easier to see indentations and footmarks. It also tends to more easily show wear over time, meaning that it has to be replaced on a fairly regular basis.

The Best Carpet Types for Bedrooms

Berber

If you are looking for a carpet that can withstand heavy foot traffic and is also good at hiding dirt and stains, then you should consider Berber-style carpets. These carpets have looped fibers that make them highly durable and a popular choice among homeowners. Particularly suitable for kids' bedrooms and homes with pets due to their ability to hide dirt and stains, this is a low-maintenance long-lasting choice.

Berber Carpet
Getty Images - Fuse

Plush

Plush carpets have an even and dense weave. Plush pile carpets are ideal for primary bedrooms, where spills and stains are less likely. Dense fibers in these carpets may not be suitable for kids’ rooms since they trap dirt and absorb liquid spills quickly.

High-Pile

This carpet will have a softer feel than a medium- or low-pile carpet. They're great for bedrooms because the long fibers add to the room's soundproofing and insulation. In a child's bedroom, they reduce impact from falls and provide a soft surface to play on. It's worth noting that a high-pile carpet will need frequent vacuuming because dirt can be easily trapped in between the fibers and increase allergens.

Sisters reading book on carpet in bedroom
Hero Images / Getty Images

Patterned

If you have plain bedroom walls, you may wish to consider a patterned carpet to enhance the room's aesthetic appeal. Patterned or textured carpets are an excellent choice for adding visual interest to the bedroom. These can range from floral to wavy to geometric designs. For a textured appearance that works well in bedrooms, carpets with varying loop counts and pile heights are a great option. These types of carpets add a touch of sophistication and comfort to any bedroom.

Bedroom carpet in a swirl pattern
Patterned carpets require extra carpet to line up the pattern when seamed together. Hanquan Chen / E+ / Getty Images

Thick Padding

Thick carpet padding is great for bedrooms and living rooms as it provides extra cushioning against the floor and better insulation. In addition, padding can increase the lifespan of the carpet. However, it's important to note that thick padding may damage thinner carpets. This would make shorter-pile weaves such as those found in Berber styles, not compatible with thick padding.

Things to Consider When Choosing

There are several things to keep in mind when choosing the perfect carpet for your bedroom.

Style & Color

If you enjoy changing the look of your bedroom decor frequently, choose a neutral carpet. Neutral colors go well with both traditional and modern styles, as well as minimalist designs, and create a relaxed atmosphere in a bedroom. Dark tones make a room look smaller, while lighter tones make small spaces look bigger. A linear pattern also gives the illusion of a large space.

Comfort

Carpets certainly provide better comfort underfoot compared to most other types of flooring. They add warmth to a room both physically and visually. When choosing a carpet, keep in mind that some types will feel more comfortable than others. Make sure to think about what will feel best in the morning when you first get out of bed.

Thickness & Texture

Carpets come in various thicknesses and textures and you should note these while shopping. The right texture will not only add to the aesthetic appeal of your room but also provide comfort while walking on it. If you want a fluffy feel, you should go for a carpet with long and loose fibers as opposed to ones where the fibers are short and dense.

Fiber & Material

The texture and durability of carpet fibers can vary significantly. It's essential to consider the location of the bedroom while deciding on the best carpet material. Although wool is the most popular natural carpet fiber for bedrooms, there are also advantages to synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester, and olefin.

Cost

Several factors such as the cost of materials, installation, and underlay will influence the cost of the carpet. It's important to compare quotes from different companies to see what matches your budget. The good thing is that even the highest-end carpeting will be less expensive than flooring options such as hardwood.

Eco-Friendliness

Carpets made from natural fibers such as wool, sisal, and jute are environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Similarly, polyester carpets made from recycled PET bottles are also considered sustainable. When shopping for an eco-friendly carpet, it is important to look for the CRI Green Label Plus certification. This label ensures that the carpet has low indoor emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fewer odors.

FAQ
  • What is the best fabric for a bedroom carpet?

    For the very best in your bedroom, experts often recommend a wool blend. This will give you both the durability of a synthetic fiber and a soft and natural look.

  • What is the most durable carpet?

    If you're in the market for the most durable carpet, nylon is probably your best bet. Known for its resistance to staining and longterm resilience, it can withstand the heaviest traffic while still maintaining a fresh appearance over time.

  • Is it better to have carpet or hard floor in bedrooms?

    Carpet is an ideal choice for bedrooms due to its softness, sound insulation, and ability to create a cozy atmosphere. Ultimately it comes down to the personal preference of the homeowner as to whether it's the better choice over hard flooring.