Getting a new carpet for your bedroom, living room, or study doesn’t seem like a weighty choice to most homeowners. But when you start to consider how your choice could affect the way your bedroom or lounge area looks and feels, it raises the stakes a bit. So how do you make the right decision? When it comes to carpeting, what’s best: Low or high pile? The answer isn’t so simple. While high pile carpeting can be the perfect choice for some areas of the home, it’s not ideal for others. And while low pile carpet can offer a few specific benefits for the home or the office, it might not be the right choice for you. Whether you plan on taking care of your carpet with routine maintenance and consistent Rainier Chem-Dry carpet cleaning appointments or you plan to simply wing it, you’ll need to know a bit of background about what’s at stake when buying your new high or low pile carpet. Before you buy, here’s what you should know.
Low Pile for Allergies
Home rugs serve many functions. For some, they increase the beauty of a home and create a bit of gentle padding for footfall. For others, they serve a more practical purpose. If you or someone you share your home with is extremely sensitive to pollen, dust, or any other airborne allergens, getting a low pile carpet might be the best choice. While some natural fiber rugs that have longer, fluffier strands are able to catch and hold airborne particles to create cleaner home air, many high pile rugs aren’t quite high enough to act as an air filter. What they will do, however, is pick up dirt and dust and hold them deep under the surface, creating a problem for folks who are a bit more sensitive during allergy season. Low pile rugs, on the other hand, are too short and dense for allergens to get caught inside. Getting a low pile rug ensures that you’ll be able to control the amount of dirt and dust in the air much better, especially if you keep your windows closed and use a dehumidifier to dry things out.
High Pile for Warmth
When we think of high pile rugs, such as shag rugs or even long-stranded woven rugs, we think of one thing: Insulation and comfort. Because high pile rugs have a lot more fibers working to keep your floors and feet warm, they’re perfect for rooms in your home that tend to get chillier when the temperature drops. In smaller rooms, a high pile rug can play a big part in increasing insulation and keeping things warm without your having to rely on cranking up the heat. Think of your high pile rug like a pair of cozy slippers or a trusty winter hat. Not only will your rug keep your feet warm, it will help create a warmer temperature overall in rooms that a bit colder and airier during the winter.
Low Pile for Stairs and Kid’s Rooms
If playtime is a central part of any room in your home, low pile rugs are the better choice. This doesn’t just have to do with the obvious benefit of helping to keep a kid’s room clean and uncluttered. It can also help create a space that’s more fun and better for kids who are constantly moving around. Low pile rugs are easy to move around on, easy to clean, and are more likely to have fun patterns for kid’s rooms. They’re also a lot safer for kids who run around a lot and might be prone to slipping and falling on high pile carpets on staircases or in their rooms. Plus, you don’t want to put yourself in a position of having to clean up another dried Play-Doh clump on a high pile rug. Your kids are going to be messy and get stuff all over their rug: Make the job of cleaning easier on yourself by sticking with something that’s a bit easier to stain-treat.
High Pile for Comfort and Luxury
If you’re a fan of being comfortable and indulging in an atmosphere of rich, sumptuous fabrics, a utilitarian but basic-looking low pile rug isn’t going to be your thing. Instead, you’ll want the luxurious strands of a high pile rug warming your feet in the bedroom, study, or wherever else you choose to unwind at the end of the day. Low pile rugs might be great for kids and offices, but when it comes to kicking back and relaxing, high pile rugs are where it’s at.
