High Traffic Doesn’t Mean Low Style
When you think of carpet that’s designed for high-traffic areas like hallways and staircases, you probably think of the thin, rock-hard carpets that line office buildings, airports, and department stores. It’s ugly, uncomfortable, and not something you want in your home.
Most of that carpet is simply glued down directly to the cement, so there’s no padding, no heat insulation, no sound insulation, and no breathability. Lucky for you, there are a lot more options for residential areas. When you’re carpeting a high-traffic area like a staircase, hallway, playroom, or even a finished basement, here are some things to look for.
The Best Carpet Styles for High Traffic Areas
When you’re looking for a carpet for a high-traffic area, your primary concern is going to be durability. You should probably limit your search to level-loop carpets. While cut-pile carpets have their loops cut to create an exposed yarn that’s soft and pliable, level-loop carpets have a denser, smoother surface.
If you want to add a little bit of flavor to your level-loop carpet, you can also find textured loop carpets. A textured loop means that loops of different lengths are arranged in patterns, from organic shapes like leaves and vines to geometric patterns like squares, stripes, and chevrons. You get the durability of level loop carpet with the more interesting appearance of a textured plush.
Berber is another of our favorite options, and it’s also great for high-traffic areas. Berber carpet is a form of level loop pile, but the loops aren’t arranged in rows — instead, they’re crossed and twisted over each other.
The surface of the carpet is denser and more closely packed, making it both more resistant to stains and better able to stand up to feet, furniture, and vacuum cleaners.
The Best Materials for High Traffic Areas
Most carpet styles are available in a variety of materials, but there are a few pros and cons to each type of carpet material that you should keep in mind.
- Nylon: nylon has long been the gold standard for durability when it comes to residential carpet, as it’s likely to last a decade or more even under heavy use. It can cost slightly more than other fibers but makes up for it with durability.
- Triexta: new on the block, triexta is a type of polyester that was just recently classified as a separate material. It has permanent anti-stain properties, even without a stain-resistant coating or treatment, and is extremely durable. It hasn’t been around long, so it’s difficult to say if its long term durability will match that of nylon, but it seems like the perfect all-around carpet for high-traffic rooms.
- Polyester: also known as PET, polyester is very soft, luxurious, and stain-resistant, making it perfect for rooms that are often full of people — like playrooms, kids’ rooms, and living rooms. It’s not as durable as nylon or triexta, so it’s not the best choice for heavily trafficked rooms.
- Olefin: also called polypropylene, olefin fibers are attractive and resistant to fading, but not as durable as nylon or triexta. For a finished basement or guest bedroom, olefin is an excellent choice.
Shop at Sloane’s
We understand that most people aren’t carpet experts — after all, this is a decision you haven’t had to make in probably ten years! Luckily, at Sloane’s, we’ve been experts in residential carpet for more than four decades, and we can find the carpet that’s the perfect fit for your home.
We’ll talk to you about whether you have small children or pets, what you use your rooms for, what kind of lifestyle you lead, your personal style, and your budget to find the carpet that matches your needs exactly. And all for up to 70 percent off retail prices! Book an appointment today, and we’ll have your floors rejuvenated in no time.