Buy the best carpet you can afford.
Always have your carpet fitted professionally and always use a reputable retailer. Keep any surplus carpet – Ideal for rugs and runners.
Buy new underlay. It will prolong the life of your new carpet by up to 40 per cent as well as giving added comfort.
Ask your retailer for a sample to take back home to see in your own environment and in your own natural light.
Get your room professionally measured. Doing it yourself, you could order too much or too little.
How much do you want to spend? Don’t forget to include the cost of fitting and underlay and other materials.
How long do you reasonably expect your new carpet to last? Is it a ‘quick fix’ or a long term purchase?
Do you want a plain carpet, patterned carpet, one with texture or a border? You have a large choice so experiment with colour and design.
Are there any particular fabrics or existing décor to be matched? What are your future decorating plans? Remember to choose the carpet first and install it last!
The room it is for and how much wear it will receive. A hall, stairs and landing, for example, will need a heavier wearing carpet than a bedroom.