With the increasing popularity of hard flooring varieties, carpet isn't as widely used throughout the home as it once was. However, for rooms such as the living room or bedroom, carpet underfoot is a warm, luxurious and attractive floor cover. If you're considering replacing hard flooring with carpet in one or more rooms in your home, then you may be feeling a little overwhelmed by the vast range of choices that are available on today's market. You can narrow down your choices significantly by following these three tips for choosing the right carpets for your home:

1. Stick with a neutral colour

Although it's possible to get carpets in a wide variety of colours, it's a smart idea to stick to a neutral tone. Coloured carpets can look wonderful but they will also date faster and you may tire of the colour faster than it will need replacing. Coloured carpet will also limit your options if you want to update the look of your room with some simple soft furnishing changes.

Choosing a neutral shade of white, cream or gray means that your carpet will suit any style of decor, fabric choices or colour palette. It will also provide the broadest appeal to potential buyers if you should decide to sell your home in the future.

2. Choose a carpet with warm undertones

Even within neutral carpet colours, there are subtle differences in the undertones. These can generally be categorised into warm and cold undertones and they can make a significant difference to the mood that is created in your room.

Avoid cold undertones, such as blues and greens, which will make the room feel less cosy and inviting. Instead, opt for carpets that have warm undertones such as reds, yellows and oranges. Even neutrals such as whites and very dark grays will have a warm or cold undertone. If you're unsure which undertones a carpet you like has, ask the carpet salesperson to help you identify it.

3. Don't skimp on your underlay

Underlay is an important component of carpet installation and plays a big role in making your carpet more durable, softer under foot and as a barrier against rising cold. It's generally made from a synthetic material such as foam or polyurethane.

It's astonishing how many homeowners will spend a small fortune on the best quality carpet yet will skimp on the selection of underlay and opt for a cheaper and inferior product. Spending a little extra on good quality underlay will extend the life of your carpet and ensure that your bedroom or living room is a plush, warm and comfortable place to spend time.