A good carpet starts with a few good questions.

Start with the room, not the swatch.

Write down what happens in the room on an ordinary day. A bedroom mostly sees bare feet; a hallway sees shoes, bags and the route to every other room. That difference should guide the usage rating and construction you look for.

Tell us about pets, children, sunlight and whether you want softness or easier upkeep. Bring photographs and approximate dimensions so the conversation starts with your home.

Fibre and pile do different jobs.

Fibre is what a carpet is made of. Pile is how the surface is constructed. A wool carpet can be a twist or a loop, and a synthetic carpet can have a firm practical pile or a much softer, deeper finish.

Compare the feel of a few different constructions together. A thick carpet is not automatically the best carpet for a staircase, and an easy-care claim should always be checked against the exact range.

• Wool and wool blends for natural texture.
• Suitable synthetic ranges for simpler stain care.
• Twist, loop and deeper piles for different looks and feels.

Let your own light make the decision.

A small sample under showroom lighting is a starting point. Put your shortlisted colours beside a curtain, paint sample or photograph of the room. Think about both daylight and evening light.

Plain colours let furniture do the talking. Heathered finishes blend several tones; stripes and checks can become a feature. Ask how the pattern or pile direction will affect joins and the amount of carpet required.

Compare the whole fitted job.

When discussing your budget, include underlay, fitting, thresholds and any work to the existing floor. A price per square metre alone does not tell you what the finished room will cost.

Before ordering, confirm the range, colour, required quantity, preparation, fitting arrangements and lead time. Keep the product name and care information with your paperwork for future reference.