How to choose the best carpet for your home
How to use this carpet selector tool
This Carpet Selector Tool helps you find the best carpet for your home based on your budget, lifestyle, and household needs.
You can also find extra resources, articles, and videos below to help you research and choose the best option for your situation.
Carpet Selector Tool
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The recommendations are based on the personal preferences and experience of our Steamwest carpet technician, reflecting general observations of how different carpets perform in homes.
General carpet guide advice
Buying carpet isn’t always simple. Many people focus on colour and softness, but the best carpet for your home depends on your lifestyle, traffic, and how much cleaning or maintenance you’re comfortable with. This quick carpet buying guide will help you choose the right carpet and understand the key things that affect comfort, durability, and long-term value.
Buying carpet: where most people go wrong
Most people choose carpet based on how it looks or feels under their feet.
That’s understandable, softness, colour, and comfort are what stand out in the store.
The problem is that how a carpet performs in your home depends on much more than that.
The real difference comes from a mix of factors: the fibre, the backing, the underlay, and the installation. Each of these plays a big role in how long the carpet lasts, how easy it is to clean, and how well it handles everyday use.
The information on this page is designed to help you cut through the marketing and understand what actually matters before you spend your money.
Know what fibre you’re buying
There’s this weird thing that happens when it comes to buying carpet. You can walk into a store, pick something you like, and leave without actually knowing what the fibre is made from.
Manufacturers are really good at marketing. They give every carpet fancy slogans that sound great but don’t really tell you anything about what the carpet actually is. You’ll see make believe names like SoftTouch, SmartWeave or EcoLuxe, and they all sound impressive but they don’t actually say whether it’s nylon, wool, polypropylene or polyester.
Even when you ask the salesperson, they might tell you the range name or design line instead of the actual fibre type. Don’t feel awkward about pushing for a straight answer. It’s your money and you deserve to know.
Knowing the fibre is critical because it affects how your carpet will wear, how easy it is to clean, and how long it lasts. It’s the equivalent of buying a car and only knowing the colour, but not knowing whether it’s a four-wheel drive, a small hatchback or a family SUV.
Underlay: the hidden hero
Getting your carpet installed properly is just as important as choosing the right one. A good install keeps your carpet flat, lasting longer, and looking great.
Carpet should be fitted in line with the Australian and New Zealand Standards (AS 2455.1 and AS 2455.2) and the manufacturer’s instructions. These make sure the right tools and methods are used.
One common problem we see in the carpet cleaning industry is poor stretching during installation. When that happens, ripples or bubbles can appear later, especially after cleaning.
Make sure your installer uses a power stretcher for even tension across the floor. Most modern carpets now have synthetic or “action back” materials instead of jute, which are harder to stretch properly, so using an experienced installer really matters.
Living with pets and families
Regular maintenance is what keeps your carpets looking good and lasting longer, especially in homes with kids or pets. Aim for a professional clean every twelve months, and some people even do it more regularly depending on how much use their carpet gets.
It’s a good idea to contact a local carpet cleaning technician and ask for their advice on what they recommend for your type of carpet. They can also show you some practical tips for basic spot and stain cleaning between your deeper cleans, which helps keep things under control and extends the life of your carpet.
Maintaining carpet over time
Regular vacuuming keeps dirt and grit from wearing down fibres. High-traffic areas like halls and living rooms need more frequent care, while bedrooms can be done less often. Professional cleaning every 12 to 18 months under AS/NZS 3733:2018 helps remove deeper soil and extend the carpet’s life.
When spills happen, blot gently, don’t scrub and test any cleaning products on a small section first. A few good habits can keep a carpet soft, clean, and in good shape for many years.
Considering the environment
Carpet manufacturing and disposal can affect the environment, so it helps to understand what the labels actually mean. GECA (Good Environmental Choice Australia) is the only independent certification that checks for chemical safety, recyclability, and sustainable manufacturing. It’s a solid reference point if you want something with verified environmental standards.
You may also come across carpets with an ECS (Environmental Certification Scheme) label. This program is administered by the Carpet Institute of Australia. The ECS label recognises carpets that meet certain environmental performance criteria across manufacturing and product life cycle.
Recommended guides and videos
Carpet buying guides
Carpet buying videos
Steamwest is not a large franchise. We are a locally owned business based in Northam, with a strong connection to the Wheatbelt community. The owner-operator, Jordan, is passionate about his work and genuinely cares about the people he serves. His focus is on ensuring that families, renters, businesses and property owners throughout the region receive reliable, high-quality carpet cleaning services they can trust.
As a small business in the Wheatbelt, we rely heavily on our reputation and word-of-mouth. We regularly travel to towns and rural areas that many carpet cleaners won’t consider, often taking on specialty work for deep cleans in unique or remote settings. one of our goals is to always provide honest, high-quality service to our region.
This carpet selector tool was created by Steamwest Carpet Cleaning, a local carpet cleaning business based in Northam from the Wheatbelt of Western Australia.
We specialise in both hot water extraction and encapsulation cleaning methods. Our team is trained and qualified to clean to the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3733:2018, ensuring every job meets national best-practice guidelines. We use safe, effective chemistry, paired with a powerful truck-mounted system, and apply the latest techniques and methods used in the industry to deliver high-quality results for every type of carpet.
Steamwest is a proud member of the Carpet Cleaning Association of Western Australia Incorporated (CCAWA), which recognises our commitment to professional standards, ethics and ongoing industry training.
Northam carpets: where to buy
If you’re looking to purchase new carpet, there are a few well-known stores right here in Northam that offer a good selection and helpful service.
Choices Flooring Northam (by Dallimores) is located in the heart of town and stocks a wide range of quality carpets, from luxury finishes to family-friendly options.
Northam Carpet Court is another popular choice, offering both residential and commercial carpet ranges, with a knowledgeable team that can guide you through styles, fibres and durability.
For more budget-friendly or DIY options, Bunnings Northam offers a smaller range, including carpet tiles and roll-based flooring.
All three stores provide friendly, professional service and can help you choose the right carpet for your space and lifestyle.
