Carpet for homes with kids and pets

Love the feel of carpet, but your dog treats the bedroom like a five-star hotel? You don’t have to choose between soft floors and a happy pooch.

Let’s be upfront. For kitchens, laundries and the back door, where the water and the muddy paws arrive first, we still recommend waterproof vinyl plank. But carpet can be a great fit for bedrooms and quieter rooms, as long as you pick the right one and put it in the right place. Here’s how we help North Brisbane families get it right.

1. Put Carpet Where It Earns Its Keep

Carpet is at its best where feet are bare and people want some quiet. Think bedrooms, nurseries, studies and upstairs rooms. It softens the sound of footsteps at 6am and gives little ones a comfier spot to play on.

The rooms that take the most mess are a different story. If a space sees wet towels, spilt dinners or a dog coming straight in from the yard, a waterproof floor will make your life easier. Plenty of homes mix the two, and that’s often the smartest setup. If you’re weighing up the hard floor side of things, have a read of our guide to vinyl vs laminate for kids and pets.

2. Choose the Fibre Before the Colour

It’s tempting to start with colour, but what the carpet is made of matters more in a busy house. Look for a stain resistant carpet with the colour dyed through every fibre, known as solution dyed. Because the colour isn’t sitting on the surface, spills are much less likely to leave a ghost behind.

One example is Parkview Gardens by Belgotex. It’s a tufted cut pile in 100% stainproof solution dyed nylon, rated extra heavy duty residential, with a 15 year residential warranty.

3. Check the Pile if You Have Pets

Pile is how the carpet’s fibres are finished, and it makes a real difference with pets:

• Twist pile is usually our pick for homes with pets.
• Loop pile looks great and is very on trend, but claws can catch in the loops. Ask us whether it suits your pet before you fall in love with a sample.

4. See Samples in Your Own Home

Showroom lights can flatter just about anything. A shade you love at 7am can look completely different once the lamps are on. That’s why Benn brings samples to you and can leave them overnight, so you can see them in morning light, in lamp light and next to the dog. Then decide.

As a rule, mid tones and flecked colours are more forgiving of everyday dirt and fur than very pale or very dark carpet.

5. Look After It From Day One

A little routine goes a long way:

• Vacuum regularly, especially where pets like to sleep. It helps your carpet last longer and keeps fur under control.
• Blot spills straight away. Don’t rub, because that spreads the stain.
• Put a mat at each door to catch dirt before it reaches the carpet.
• Book a professional clean from time to time to keep it fresh.

When Carpet Isn’t the Right Call

We’d rather tell you now than have you regret it later. If your pet is still toilet training, or the room is your kids’ main play area and snack zone, a hard floor with a rug on top may suit you better. Tell us how your house really runs and we’ll give you a straight answer.

Ready to Find a Carpet That Can Handle Family Life?

We supply and install carpet across Brendale, Strathpine, North Lakes, Warner, Redcliffe, Samford and the rest of North Brisbane. Get in touch for a free measure and quote, and Benn will bring the samples to you.