Designers discuss installing carpets in bedrooms

An ongoing debate within the interior design community is attempting to conclude whether carpets in the bedroom are a good idea.

Interior designer Paris Forino thinks bedroom carpets are "dated and suburban". On the other side of the debate is designer Emma Breislin, who broadly supports carpets in bedrooms. She says:

"A part of me has always felt like they belong in a bedroom. It’s a space where softness and comfort outweigh all else."

Like all floor coverings, there are pros and cons of bedroom carpets. A major advantage of a carpet is its comfort as you get out of bed with bare feet, compared to a cold hard surface such as laminate or wood floor. However, if the bedroom floor is made from original natural hardwood, it may be a shame to cover it up with wall-to-wall carpets. Instead, use bright rugs for extra cosiness and a touch of colour.

Keeping carpets clean puts some people off as they require regular vacuuming and the occasional deep clean, but it's worth it as a clean carpet will continue to look good and last a long time.

There is a wide range of carpet colours and patterns, making it hard to choose the best style and colour. Laminate or wood floors match most decor styles but do not add the striking visual tone to a room that a bright carpet does.

Whether you prefer hard surface flooring or a soft carpet, a local flooring company in North Wales or Chester will help you decide which is best for your bedroom.

Walk-in sample book created for Tarkett

Tarkett’s Stockholm showroom has been re-designed by Note Design Studio to display the range of Tarkett’s floor coverings.

With many flouring materials used in the design, the studio has been likened to a walk-in sample book. The showroom was unveiled during Stockholm Design Week 2025 in early February.

The main showroom space features a central conversation pit for seminars and talks with mustard yellow carpet tiles on steps and seat cushions. A wall on one side of the showroom displays hundreds of Tarkett flooring samples. It is designed to be reminiscent of wardrobe space, with the intent of allowing designers and architects to look at the different materials that are in the Tarkett range.

Charlotte Ackemar, an interior architect at Note Design Studio, says that she sees the showroom as a big palette:

"We're basically standing in a big palette of Tarkett materials."

Flooring materials used in the showroom are not confined to floor surfaces. A kitchen has speckled red vinyl flooring covering counters and cabinets, while blue vinyl flooring covers a long table in a meeting room.

The marketing manager of Tarkett Sweden, Johanna Strömberg, said that the showroom was the most difficult project their fitters have worked on. She praised the design saying:

"I think this showroom has really become a beautiful example of what you can do with flooring materials.”

You don't have to travel to Sweden to see Tarkett’s premium quality flooring range. It is available at local flooring services in Wrexham, North Wales and Chester.

How to install a stair runner

A stair runner significantly improves the look of a plain staircase, but requires some care to install properly.

Can I install a stair runner myself?

Though a carpet retailer in Chester or North Wales may include free fitting for the stair runners they sell, it's not a difficult job if you want to fit the carpet yourself. Anyone confident in their do-it-yourself skills should be able to install stair runners.

Do I need an underlay for a stair runner?

You can install stair runners without underlay, but it is recommended that you use high-quality underlay as it adds comfort and style. A stair carpet without underlay will not last as long, especially in busy places where lots of people go up and down the stairs every day.

There are three main thickness levels of underlay. Up to 6mm thick underlay allows the runner to sit flatter, but offers less cushioning. Underlay between 6mm and 9mm has a good balance between support and comfort. Using underlay above 10mm is not recommended as the extra cushioning looks bulky and could be a trip risk.

High density underlay, though more expensive, is more hard-wearing. The recommended underlay has a density of 120 kg/m3 or more and is between 6 mm to 8mm thick.

Underlay made of PU foam works well on low footfall stairs. For busy staircases, use sponge or crumb rubber underlay.

Do you need special carpet for stair runners?

You can use any type of carpet as a stair runner, but some are better than others. It pays to invest in good quality carpets, either made from wool or a wool blend. Synthetic polypropylene carpets on busy staircases can soon look flat and worn in a short time. The best carpet to use is 100% wool that keeps its shape and height and should last longer.

If it is within your budget, go for a wool or wool-blend carpet with natural thermal and insulation properties.

How should a stair runner be fitted?

First, make sure that you have measured the stairs accurately and have bought the right length and width of carpet.

If the star runner is to be fitted with a border, paint or stain the stairs before fitting the carpet. Use tape guides to mark where the edge of the carpet is placed on every step so that it is laid straight.

Next, cut the underlay in pieces that fit on each tread surface, not the vertical riser as this will add unneeded bulk. Secure them on each tread step with double-sided carpet tape or use a staple gun.

Lay the runner, wrapping it around each stair. Starting at the top, secure the runner to each stair with a staple gun to the base of each riser. A bolster chisel keeps the carpet taut before securing it.

If one runner is not enough, connect another runner, hiding the join under the tread lip and cutting off extra material.

If the runner is too long, cut the extra material from the bottom edge.

Are robot vacuums a good idea?

Carpets should always last a long time provided they are regularly cleaned. Vacuuming does not take long, but busy people may prefer cleaning to be deleted from their to-do list altogether, with a robot vacuum often an appealing option.

In this blog, we’re investigating whether buying a robot vacuum a good way to save time and effort.

Robot vacuums can be effective in saving time. They can be programmed using a smartphone app to automatically clean the carpet at a set time, even when you are not in the home. Also, most cleaners are self-charging. If the battery is low, it returns to a docking station to recharge.

Some cleaners have adjustable cleaning modes. For instance, they can set to spot clean spills. Robot cleaners often have artificial intelligence (AI) navigation systems that plan cleaning routes and avoid objects.

Some robot vacuums automatically empty the dirt they have picked up into large storage containers at the base station. This means that it can easily vacuum large areas without needing to be emptied by a human.

However, all this smart technology often comes at a cost. A robot vacuum cleaner is likely to cost more than a traditional option. Robot vacuums also have high-tech parts that can be expensive to replace if faulty.

Another issue is that these cleaners cannot climb stairs or clean stair carpets, and some models do not have high suction power.

When choosing floor coverings from a flooring retailer in North Wales, it’s always important to consider how you’ll maintain the carpet in the long term.

How to take advantage of the mixed flooring trend

An emerging trend in 2025 is mixed flooring, which means using different materials in floors.

This creates a contrast of styles, but it is not easy to do well. The floor can look busy and uncoordinated unless materials, colours, and patterns are chosen carefully. Done right, mixed flooring is stylish.

Choose colours that complement each other and blend well. For instance, when combining hardwood flooring with ceramic tiles, choose a wood type with a colour that is similar to the tiles.

The texture of the flooring is a big part of how visual impact is achieved. Sleek smooth marble contrasts well with textured wood, giving a sense of depth. Too much texture and colour variance can feel overwhelming. Balance is the key to harmonious design.

Mixed flooring is a good way to highlight different zones in a room. In the living room, it is advisable to mark relaxing areas with different flooring than a home office zone.

Another way to use mixed flooring is to have one material covering most of the floor with a different material used as a border surrounding it. For a bolder look, create a herringbone pattern of wood and tiles, or make more intricate patterns with mixed materials.

As a general guideline, mixed flooring is better if it features no more than two flooring materials, but like all décor styles, there are no fixed rules.

For more mixed flooring design ideas, look at the wide range of flooring types available from a local flooring retailer in the Chester and the North Wales region.