Foundations: It's Oh So Quiet...
Home Beautiful|August 2020
From colour and pattern through to installation and maintenance, here’s all you need to know about picking the best carpet for any space at home
Vanessa Keys
Foundations: It's Oh So Quiet...

No other floor covering evokes cosiness quite like a soft carpet underfoot. “It adds instant warmth to any room, not only visually, but physically,” says Coco Tully, interior designer and founder of Cote Interiors. “The textural nature softens a space from the ground up, and nothing quite compares to the plush underfoot feeling of a velvety pile or luxuriously looped carpet.” Carpet also has benefits beyond aesthetics: it’s a thermal insulator, so less heat is lost through carpet compared with hard flooring, and it’s also an excellent sound absorber. “Natural fiber carpets like wool also help regulate moisture in the home, and keep your space warm and dry in the winter months,” says Coco.

SUIT YOUR SPACE Rooms that see less wear and tear, such as the bedroom, library or home office (right), lend themselves to cut pile carpets, which tend to be softer underfoot than loop pile carpet. At the other end of the spectrum, areas that receive high traffic – kids’ bedrooms, and living rooms such as the one, below, by Plantation Homes – tend to need a hardier carpet option, such as a loop pile, to withstand spills and dirt. Avoid installing carpet anywhere moisture is present, think the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry. “I’d also avoid any high-traffic areas, such as the hallway, and spaces where spills are likely to happen, like dining areas,” says interior designer Coco.

LET 'S TALK TYPES

This story is from the August 2020 edition of Home Beautiful.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the August 2020 edition of Home Beautiful.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HOME BEAUTIFULView All
HOT PURSUIT
Home Beautiful

HOT PURSUIT

NEED A NEW OVEN? WE DIVE DEEP INTO EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE INVESTING IN WHAT IS OFTEN THE MOST-USED APPLIANCE IN THE HOUSE

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2024
PERFECT MATCH
Home Beautiful

PERFECT MATCH

THIS HOLIDAY HOME OF AN EXPAT AUSTRALIAN LIVING IN FRANCE IS THE IDEAL BLEND OF LAIDBACK AUSTRALIAN BEACH STYLE AND FRENCH CHIC

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
ENDURING ELEGANCE
Home Beautiful

ENDURING ELEGANCE

THIS SMALL BUT MIGHTY PREWAR HOME IN BRISBANE WAS LIFTED AND EXPANDED, TOP AND BOTTOM, TO PRESERVE ITS CHARACTER AND ACCOMMODATE A GROWING FAMILY

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
ROOM TO GROW
Home Beautiful

ROOM TO GROW

WITH BOUNDLESS ENERGY AND A VISION FOR THEIR OWN SECRET GARDEN, THIS GOLD COAST FAMILY CULTIVATED THEIR DREAM HOME FROM THE GROUND UP

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
Shades of style
Home Beautiful

Shades of style

VIBRANT HUES AND A MIX OF VINTAGE, GLOBAL AND MODERN PIECES MAKE THIS BRISBANE HOME A SHOW-STOPPER

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
Beautiful SHOPPING
Home Beautiful

Beautiful SHOPPING

FASTA SAUCE DECORATING IDEAS AND STYLISH BUYS FOR YOUR HOME INOUBL

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
THE Art oF Sleep
Home Beautiful

THE Art oF Sleep

Rest and rejuvenate with SleepMaker

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
PRINTS CHARMING
Home Beautiful

PRINTS CHARMING

A LOVE OF BLOCK PRINTING, DISCOVERED IN THE HIMALAYAS, LED HOLLY FIRTH TO START HER RANGE OF QUILTED BAGS AND LINEN HOMEWARES

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
Holiday at HOME
Home Beautiful

Holiday at HOME

FROM THE TOP END TO TASSIE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, DISCOVER 10 OF AUSTRALIA'S BEST TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

time-read
7 mins  |
February 2024
Small space masterclass PETIT PROPOSAL
Home Beautiful

Small space masterclass PETIT PROPOSAL

A COMPACT APARTMENT GIVES AN INTERIOR DESIGNER THE CHANCE TO USE A CAREER'S WORTH OF TINY IDEAS

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2024