5 tips for choosing the right carpet for high traffic areas

5 tips for choosing the right carpet for high traffic areas


Every home has high traffic areas: your living room or family room,
stairway, hallways, front foyers—any room of your home that is “lived in.” These are the rooms that take a beating from frequent foot (and paw) traffic: the stairway you use to get up to your bedroom once, twice or several times a day; the hallway your kids play hockey in every night; the play room reserved just for your grand kids; the family room where your toddlers play (and jump and crawl and sing) in; the room that your dogs use for tug-of-war.

The good news is you don’t have to give up on the idea of soft, comfortable carpet for your home; even a house full of hooligans can have carpeting in their home that looks great, and stays looking great, in the midst of all that foot (and paw) traffic. On the other side of the coin, even if these rooms don’t look like a tornado hit them, choosing a durable carpet that can take all the walking, running, jumping and dancing can be a challenge because of all the different carpet products on the market. So how do you choose the right carpet for your high traffic areas? You can start by using these tips:

Nix shag carpet.


As soft and cushioning as a shag carpet may be, shag carpet is not built for high traffic areas. When we refer to shag, we’re not referring to your grandma’s orange and green carpet, but rather carpet that has a longer carpet thread and deep pile.

Consider the color.


Choosing the color of your carpet is not just about aesthetics. As tempting as that neutral carpeting may be, darker color or multi-color carpet can hide the stains and dirt that come with kids, pets, and high traffic areas.

Look for durability features.


Today’s carpets are built for durability that its predecessors could only

imagine. Some carpet products are stain resistant, waterproof, antimicrobial—one carpet even freshens the air! If you have kids that spill (a lot) or pets that stain, ask about carpets with durability features that can take the wear and tear of everyday living in a busy household. You know your family and home best; what features do you need in your new carpet?

Think about carpet tiles.


If you have an area where your kids or pets run wild, such as a play room or porch for your cats, research carpet tiles. Carpet tiles look good, and can be easily replaced when stained or spilled on.

Consider long-term carpet care.


The right carpet for your high traffic area is easy to care for so it makes sense to think about it now. Ask your carpet salesman for clean up tips, ease of clean up, and how often you should schedule a carpet cleaning to keep it in optimum condition. You should even consider the type of vacuum cleaner you own or are going to purchase to care for your carpet, because some vacuums can damage your new carpeting (we’ve wrote about how to choose the best vacuum here).

Choosing the right flooring for your high traffic area is not a small decision, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. You can ask us questions via email, on our Facebook page, with a phone call, or by stopping in. We’ll help you choose the right carpet for your high traffic area that looks great and can take drink spills, pet stains, constant foot traffic, dog (and cat) chases, and anything else you can throw at your carpet.