If you’re redoing your home flooring, you may be deliberating between carpet and a carpet alternative, such as wood or laminate. Hardwood floors in particular are considered an upgrade over wall-to-wall home carpet and increase the value of the home. But home carpet has its own benefits, too.

Benefits of Home Carpet

Some of the main advantages of this type of home flooring are:

• Because the initial cost of home carpet is lower, you’ll have more freedom in your budget to consider higher-end patterns and fabrics in your home flooring choices.
• Carpet installation is also easier and more affordable than installing wood or stone home flooring.
• Carpets absorb sound and are much quieter than other types of floor, like wood or laminate floors.
• Home carpet is as durable as laminate flooring, possibly slightly more durable.
• Home carpet is much more affordable than some other types of floor, like hardwood floors, because they are made of synthetic materials.
• Home carpet is warm and soft underfoot.

Drawbacks of Home Carpet

There are some negative sides of this type of home flooring:

• Home carpet doesn’t last as long as other types of home flooring. A properly installed and well cared for hardwood floor lasts a lifetime. Home carpet lasts 10 to 15 years.
• It’s difficult to do a thorough carpet cleaning–even with regular vacuuming and shampooing, dust and dirt settles into the weaves over time. Liquid stains can cause permanent stains in home carpet. If not dried thoroughly, moisture can lead to mold in this home flooring. For these reasons, people with allergies, hay fever or sensitivity to mold may want to consider a carpet alternative.
• Synthetic materials and chemicals that go into this type of home flooring make it one of the least eco-friendly flooring options available.

Home Carpet Maintenance

If you choose carpet over other types of flooring, regular maintenance is required to help the carpet last as long as possible. You’ll want to vacuum regularly and perform a complete carpet cleaning at least once a year. Clean up spills as soon as they happen. Use only carpet cleaning products made specifically for use on home carpet. Regular household soaps can cause discoloration or other problems.

Home Carpet Alternative Options

If you decide against carpet home flooring, but softness, warmth and affordability are important to you, consider a carpet alternative, such as cork flooring. Cork has many of the same benefits as carpet without the allergen and mold problems. It’s also far more environmentally friendly than home carpet.

If you choose hardwood, stone, laminate or another carpet alternative, you can make up for the lack of softness that home carpet provides by decorating with area rugs. Strategically placed throw rugs are easier to clean than wall-to-wall carpeting, and they can help cut down the coldness and noise associated with other types of floor.