Carpet is the ultimate foundation garment for your house - you want to make sure you choose something that will enhance your decor as well as be fit for the purpose you intend. With this in mind, there are a number of things you need to consider:

• How long will you live in the house?
• How many people live in the house?
• Your budget?
• Do you want to add texture to the room?
• Do you need a particular colour to lighten or darken the room?
• What kind of mood do you want to create?
• Are you matching to existing furnishings?
• What warranty is offered on the carpet?
  

When choosing which style and colour you want, there are several things to be considered, including:

• Texture - a textured carpet can add character to your room.
• Cut Pile - a cut pile carpet will look soft and luxurious.
• Deep and rich tones will give a 'cosy' feel and close in a room.
• Cool crisper colours will give a feeling of space and will lighten up a darker room.
• Subdued tones or earthy colours will create a quieter mood.
  

Given correct installation and maintenance, the wear expectancy of a heavy duty carpet is around seven years. So if you are planning on staying in your home for this period of time, or feel that you may wish to eventually change your colour scheme, heavy duty is perfect for your situation.

Pay as much as you can afford for your new carpet. Carpet is an investment, and a quality carpet will live up to your expectations for many years. A cheap buy is not necessarily a good buy. If you have more than one quote, make sure you are comparing the same quality of carpet and underlay, the same number of metres, and whether GST is included.