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Let’s play a quick word association game. I say a word or phrase, and you hold on to the first word, phrase, or image that enters your head.
Okay.
Ready?
COLOR!
You thought blue, didn’t you? (Predictable.)
Okaaay…VEGETABLES!
Odds are you’re thinking about carrots. (On a scale from 1 to Inception, how catastrophically have I blown your mind so far?)
Get ready, I’m gunna throw a curve ball at you with a phrase, aaand…
CARPETED FLOORING!
A million dollars’ worth of polyester Hawaiian shirts say that you’re picturing a photogenically-challenged gentleman, inches from the camera, who’s somehow yelling and mumbling at the same time, with two first names flickering in pixelated neon fluorescence above his flop-sweat glazed forehead, most likely unnaturally posed next to a non-human side-kick.
Am I close? Something tells me I am.
Dispelling soft-surface slander
After a recent discussion with co-workers, I’ve discovered this hypothetical sadvertisement is a common association with carpeting. In fact some cutting imagery was even thrown around during our rug repartee: grubby primary schools, bland temporary office spaces, and chintzy discount warehouses were visuals casually mentioned as commonplace in the cosmos of carpets.
So, it seems to me that during the long unravel of its entrance into the design world; somewhere along the way carpeting got a bad rap. As someone who grew up in an almost exclusively carpeted home, I feel the need to step upon my cushioned pedestal, and dispel such soft surface slander.
1.”Shoddy manufacturing”
Although commercials akin to the one mentioned above are an undebatable staple of the day time and late night TV communities, they also perpetuate an unfair stereotype of carpeting and its manufacturers. I implore you to think instead of the refined rug producers of the world. Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, and even Ralph Lauren have crafted high quality, luxurious carpeting made from innovative and meticulous power looms, and sometimes even handmade by artisans.
2.”Unattractive”
Yes. I know. We’ve all seen sweeping acres of once beige, dust-colored rugs that line the warzones of day care and telemarketing centers, but trust me when I say there are whole new unobserved worlds of carpeting colors. They range from vividly dynamic graphics and hues found in ornamental Turkish and oriental-style rugs, to more subdued and delicate patterns in tasteful pastels and warm neutrals. Do I have to name drop Ralph Lauren again?
3. “Expensive/Difficult to Install”
Despite the previously mentioned misconceptions of being poorly made and represented, carpeted flooring somehow winds up getting cut with both sides of a double-edged sword. One of the more surprising assumptions about carpeting is that between hiring labour and purchasing supplies, installing carpet can be costly. FALSE!
Modular carpeting makes carpet installation pretty easy, actually.
A great example of inexpensive and pain free carpet installation can be found in these DIY-friendly adhesive-backed carpet tiles that only require a clean substrate, a retractable carpenter’s knife, and a ruler –no hidden expenses required or contractors needed!
4. “High maintenance”
A big concern for would-be carpet owners is that the fabric is rumoured to attract stains, and quickly wear away and pill if not carefully maintained. Assumptions like these lead me to believe that innovations in the industry like the introduction of polypropylene have somehow gone unnoticed. The incredible endurance and unbelievably comfortable texture of polypropylene equip modern day carpeting to deal with spills and scuffs, without sacrificing softness.
Many benefits
With these malicious myths dispelled, it’s high time that the focus of carpeting conversations shift to its many benefits. At the end of the day, carpeted flooring makes for a great insulator and a comfortable walk underfoot, and isn’t nearly as stingy or dreary as its reputation suggests.
What do you think?
Why do you prefer to have carpeted floors?
If you don’t, what would manufacturers have to do differently to make you convert?
Let us know in the comments section!
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