Bathrooms - to carpet or not to carpet?

Bathrooms - to carpet or not to carpet?

A subject which divides the generations is carpeted bathrooms. Popular during the 60’s and 70’s where carpets were seen as a luxury finish around the house, this trend was soon overlooked making way for cushioned vinyl flooring and, in more recent years, luxury vinyl tiles. But, like many things, bathroom carpets seem to be making a bit of a comeback.

This year we have seen an increase in demand from our customers wanting their bathrooms carpeted and, though it isn’t to everyone’s taste, there is some strong reasoning behind this particular trend. Those in favour argue that bathroom carpets are soft and insulating underfoot which is nice when stepping out of a warm bath or shower, they are absorbent and therefore non-slip. However, those against argue that bathroom carpets are unhygienic and harder to keep clean, and dry, unlike hard flooring. 

Where there is merit to both these arguments, like any flooring decision, it has to come down to personal preference and at Eye Flooring we are here to help our customers make the best decision for their needs. Therefore, if you are set on a new carpet for your bathroom here is what we advise:

Go for a tighter pile as this will be easier to clean and keep clean, tighter piles or twisted piles are also best for preventing dirt or debris from getting caught between the fibres 

Synthetic carpets made from polypropylene or nylon for example are perhaps the easiest carpets to have in a bathroom because they are stain-resistant and are actually bleach cleanable which is handy in a space where a lot of cleaning products tend to be stored

That being said, some customers favour wool rich carpets especially if they want the same carpet to flow into other areas of the house like landing and bedrooms. Wool used to be a red flag when it comes to spillages and areas of high moisture and, for the most part, wool carpets should be placed mindfully. However, we sought advice from the technical team at Cavalier Carpets, one of our carpet manufacturers, on the subject of wool bathroom carpets and they advised the following:

“If they want a wool rich carpet in the bathroom, that should be ok, but I would suggest a hank dyed product such as Cosmopolitan Twist. The reason being is the twist is set during the dyeing process, and is more resistant to the pile bursting if it gets damp, than a heather effect carpet as this yarn is set in a different way, which is more prone to bursting.”

Despite the above we still advise customers to use bathmats as normal to preserve their carpet underneath and absorb the worst of any drips following a bath or shower. We offer a carpet whipping and binding service and in the past we have created corresponding bathmats for our customers out of any waste left from fitting their carpet which is a great way to work sustainably and preserve the life of their carpet.

As with any decision to make changes around the home, it is better to go with something you like rather than what is currently trendy or fashionable. Regardless of whether bathroom carpets are your style or not, Eye Flooring are on hand to help you find the right flooring for you.