Wall-to-wall carpets once dominated the flooring industry across decades. In the late eighteenth century to the early nineteenth century, carpets came into the world and soared in popularity after the second world war. Over the years, fewer and fewer people chose to include carpet flooring in their homes. Now, wall-to-wall carpets have resigned their crown in the flooring realm, stepping down from their reign. So, what lead to wall-to-wall carpet losing popularity?
Hard To Clean
Carpets easily cling to absorbed spills and stains, making them difficult to clean. Homes with children and pets create inevitable messes, destroying carpeted flooring with discoloration, hard-to-clean gunk, and odors. Often, people rent out special equipment or services to deep clean their carpeted floors, costing extra money that could’ve been saved with other flooring selections.
Collects Dust
Carpet fibers not only absorb multiple liquids but also harbor dust and pests. Since the threads don’t create a flat solid surface, dust and other pests get stuck in between the fiber strands. Over time, many toxic air particles formulate in the carpet, causing irritation and issues for those with allergy sensitivities and respiratory conditions. Since carpets are difficult to clean, people find it hard to eliminate trapped allergens collecting in between the floor’s fibers.
Less Eco-Friendly
With the rise of environmental concerns and movements, carpets fall in their popularity rank. The synthetic materials used to make carpets are less sustainable and eco-friendly than other floorings like engineered hardwood. Manufacturers use potent chemical processes to bind the synthetics into one cohesive unit. The chemical residue leaches into the fibers and stays trapped until they evaporate, creating harmful, polluting off-gases.
Difficult To DIY Install
Wall-to-wall carpets consist of one of the most tedious installation processes, especially compared to other flooring installations. Most of the time, people hire professionals to install wall-to-wall carpets to avoid purchasing one-time-use equipment and faulty insertions, costing them more money. Installing carpet includes a thorough preparation setup, challenging procedures, and various extra tools, including hand saws, staple guns, tack hammers, and putty knives. Engineered wood flooring installations offer a more DIY-friendly method, featuring simple floating boards that interlock with one another.
Outdated Aesthetics
The reign of carpets peaked during the nineteenth century, providing people with a new and intriguing flooring option derived from technology. Carpets offered people new color and pattern selections to feature in their homes, which was once a limited luxury during their time. Now, vibrant colored and patterned floorings no longer hold the same appeal as they once did, as design trends move toward neutrals and more natural-looking floors. Most modern looks require a basic foundation, allowing other design features to shine, like rug accents, statement walls, and textured furnishings. Wall-to-wall carpets also offer less ambiance compared to the earthy quality of wooden floors and the industrialized feel of cemented grounds.
What leads to wall-to-wall carpets losing popularity is that they no longer hold the same appeal they once did, especially compared to other flooring competitors. Engineered hardwood currently takes the lead for the most popular flooring option. Its earthy ambiance, easy installation, environmentally-friendly design, and other perks attract many people, suiting a variety of homes. From the Forest offers a vast collection of hardwood floors to explore. Their inventory includes a diverse range, from red oak to engineered hickory flooring, providing plenty of styles and suitable foundations for numerous homes.