The Ultimate Guide to Buying Carpets in Australia

Buying a carpet is a decision you make once and live with for years, if not decades. 

So if it’s stressing you a bit—it should be. It’s not a choice you should make lightheartedly.

When you walk into a flooring retailer’s showroom, you won’t just see different carpet designs. You’ll also be presented with varying materials, textures, colours, and maintenance requirements, giving you hundreds of options that are all slightly different from each other. 

The carpet you choose won’t just shape the style of your space, but you’ll also be impacting your family’s comfort and the value of your property.

In this post, Middleton’s Carpets’ team will help you narrow down your choices to make carpet shopping not just easier but stress-free and rewarding.

Whether you’re renovating, building a new home, or just upgrading a room, treat this as your go-to resource for carpet shopping.

1. Understanding Carpet Fibre Types

There are two main carpet materials dominating the market today: wool and nylon carpet. 

Here at Middleton’s Carpets, we’re proudly biased toward wool-based rugs and runners.

See, while most retailers stock only around 30% natural fibres and about 70% nylon-based options, our collections are primarily made of wool.

Wool has all the qualities you could ever need from a carpet. It’s 100% natural, incredibly durable, and it also insulates well.

You get what you pay for, so don’t let the price tag scare you.

We’ve done a deep dive into wool vs nylon carpet, if you’d like the full breakdown. But for now, here’s a short table summarising the key differences between the two options:

Wool vs Nylon Carpets Overview

If you really can’t commit to pure wool carpets, maybe due to budget restrictions, you can opt for wool blends that combine the best properties of wool and synthetics instead.

They won’t outperform carpets made entirely with wool, which remain the best carpets for homes with pets and kids. 

However, you’ll still have a carpet that’s more durable, hypoallergenic, and lower maintenance than nylon carpets, all without paying the full upfront price for 100% wool runners.

2. Carpet Styles Explained

Carpet styles, in this context, don’t refer to surface prints or patterns. 

Instead, they describe how the carpet pile—the visible carpet surface—has been constructed. 

The two primary styles are cut pile and loop pile (or sometimes a combination of both). 

Your choice among them significantly impacts your carpet’s comfort underfoot, appearance, ease of maintenance, and durability.

Loop Piles

Loop pile carpets are made from uncut loops of yarn. You can recognise the loop pile by its tiny, uniform bumps that resemble a knitted sweater. These carpets are:

• Neat-looking 
• Very durable (ideal for high-traffic areas) 
• Easy to clean and maintain (debris doesn’t get trapped)

Note: Commercial spaces with very flat-looking carpets are typically made with loop piles. 

Here are the most popular types of loop piles you’ll likely find:

Cut Piles

For cut pile carpets, each of the loops in the loop pile is cut. So, the strands stand upright, creating a fluffy, plushier look.

Yes—those iconic rugs and runners that make you feel like you’re walking on clouds are likely cut pile carpets, which are known to:

• Be soft and comfortable
• Have a luxurious appearance 
• Absorb sound well 

Cut piles can be further categorized into the following types:

Note: In some carpets, these two carpet pile styles are combined to create unique textures and style variations. These are called cut-and-loop (or sculpted) carpets. They produce visually interesting patterns and textures but tend to come at a higher price point.

3. Choosing the Right Carpet for Each Room

Since each room in your home has different needs, the best carpet choice will vary, too. 

Let us share the carpet styles that usually work well for the rooms or areas you’ll find in most Australian homes.

Bedrooms

There’s no real need for strong stain resistance or durability for bedrooms. So, homeowners often use these rooms as an opportunity to have soft and cosy carpets. 

As you’d expect, cut piles are often preferred. 

Plush types work well if you prioritise a cushiony underfoot. Saxony carpets are often chosen for their elegant appeal.

Living Areas

Unlike bedrooms, which generally have little risk of spills, high traffic, or rough kids’ play, living areas get a lot of action during the day. 

This is where snacks get spilled, dogs tend to hang around, and kids love doing “Einstein-like” activities—familiar? 

For that reason, loop pile carpets are usually preferred for living areas. As mentioned, they’re more durable. 

To balance durability with comfort, though, go for a medium-pile height (½ inch to ¾ inch). This has better comfort underfoot than low-pile options.

Hallways and Stairs

These areas are mainly for heavy traffic, not for lounging. So low, Berber loop piles, which are very sturdy, are ideal. 

If you're on a tight budget, these are the areas where nylon blends can be a practical choice, as you won’t be interacting with the surfaces for long periods.

4. Carpet Colour and Design Tips ​

(source: https://www.designcafe.com)

Knowing how to choose the right carpet colour for your room is crucial for controlling the overall appearance of your space.

Luckily, it’s not too complicated to choose the right one.

You can just follow the top carpet trends in Australia for 2025, for example, which are currently leaning toward very minimal, soft neutrals. These colours and designs go with pretty much anything—whether you have a very colourful or neutral-looking home.

Or—like we often suggest to clients—you can be creative and try to personalise the colour and designs of your carpets to suit your space, lifestyle, and preferences!

Choosing the Colours 

There are generally two ways to approach this decision. If you’re just renovating and already have your furniture, wall colours, and décor in place, choose a carpet colour that complements your existing space.

If you’re starting from scratch, however, you can do the opposite. Choose a carpet colour you love, and build the rest of your room (paint, furniture, and accessories) around it.

Light vs. Dark Tone

Early on, you’ll probably be looking at a colour palette rather than a single shade for your carpet. So, you can still play around with tone variations.

That’s when you should consider your preferred mood or spatial perception. Light or cool colours tend to make spaces feel more open. Darker or warmer colours create an inviting feel, but can also make a space feel smaller.

It’s generally best to avoid extremely bold or bright carpets—unless you know exactly how to balance them within your overall design scheme.

Patterns and Textures 

The type of pile you choose will often influence the carpets’ patterns and textures naturally. 

But if you really want to customise the textures, consider cut-and-loop piles that act as a canvas for alternating heights and shapes.

​ 5. The Carpet Installation Process ​

By now, you’re likely wondering what to expect during carpet installation.

Well, this process is generally divided into two parts: subfloor preparation and carpet installation.

Subfloor preparation

This is when your floor is checked, cleaned, and levelled to make sure it’s ready for the carpet. 

Many flooring retailers can also prep your subfloor before they install your carpet, but you can also choose to treat these as two separate jobs done by different professionals.

Just remember—carpet installers may refuse a job if the subfloor preparation isn’t up to Australian (or their own) standards.

Installation begins

This is often done at least one or two days after your subfloor has been prepped. But the actual carpet installation process is usually swift, lasting about an hour or two for small rooms, or several hours for large living areas.

Tips For Minimal Disruption 

To make the carpet installation process as smooth as possible, try to:

• Make the room as bare as possible. No furniture. No appliances.
• Only work with vetted and trusted subfloor prep specialists.
• Secure pets (and kids). Don’t have them running around during the installation.

Also, don’t forget to double-check any concerns or questions with your installer prior to installation day. This can potentially save both parties from unexpected, costly delays.

​ ​ 6. Carpet Maintenance and Cleaning Tips ​

Once it has been installed, you must know how to clean and maintain your carpet to extend its life. Because, unfortunately, no one will do it for you, not even the specialists who installed it in the first place.

Here’s how you should clean your carpets and how often you should do it:

Vacuuming

Vacuum your carpets frequently, or at least once a week. The higher the traffic, the more often you should vacuum. Go slow and steady, and make sure you get into corners where dust tends to build up.

Spot Cleaning

Clean spills or spots ASAP. When you act fast, stain-causing particles won’t have time to penetrate the fibers. Avoid using regular household chemicals, as they might do more harm than good.

Wondering how to remove common carpet stains?

Well, you can try DIY stain-removal solutions like mixing dish soap, white vinegar, and water. But we highly suggest that you purchase ready-made stain removers made specifically for carpets. 

Professional Cleaning

Even when you vacuum your carpet every day, there are simply areas and grime that regular cleaning can’t reach. That’s why it’s highly recommended to get your carpet professionally deep-cleaned every 12 to 18 months. 

Think of it as a yearly carpet reset to help maintain its original appearance.

Dirt Prevention is Key

The phrase “prevention is better than a cure” also applies to carpets. Rather than prioritizing cleaning and stain removal, put effort into making sure they don’t happen in the first place. 

Have separate shoes for indoors and outdoors, use mats, and lay down rugs in high-traffic areas.

​ ​7. Common Carpet Buying Mistakes to Avoid ​

Now that you know what to do in terms of choosing a carpet, let’s move on to what not to do when you’re finally about to buy one.

Skipping Samples

Samples are your final line of defense before spending your hard-earned money. 

Always check the samples in the retailer’s showroom, and if possible, take home a piece with you. This will let you evaluate texture, color, and the quality of the carpet in person.

Trust us: how a carpet looks on a screen and how it feels in person can be completely different.

It’s a good idea to explore several options, bring swatches home, and see how they interact with your furniture, lighting, and décor before making a decision.

Focusing Only On Price

For many, price is a dealbreaker. But don’t just see the price for what it is. Focus on the value, which means what you’re getting for what you’re paying. 

If you get a subpar, synthetic carpet for half the cost instead of a wool option that’s fire-resistant, durable, and long-lasting, will your upfront savings really be worth the long-term headaches?

Ignoring Subfloor Importance

Subfloor is the building block of how your carpet performs long-term. First, you must make sure your subfloor is suitable for carpets (because yes, there’s a different underlay for carpet vs timber flooring). Then, have it prepared properly by flooring specialists to meet industry standards.

8. Why Buy from Middleton’s Carpets? 

One quick search online or a short drive past your local area will reveal a series of flooring retailers ready to service your location.

But let us show you why Middleton’s is the go-to carpet store in Albury Wodonga.

Years of Experience

Middleton’s Carpets has over 40 years of experience providing the local community with top-quality wool carpets and other flooring solutions. 

Our expertise will help you avoid costly mistakes and pitfalls that retailers who are still new to the game might still be making.

We also take pride in exclusively employing flooring experts who have already ventured deep into the world of flooring prior to joining our team. 

Yes, this standard makes our team a bit smaller. However, this ensures you’ll be getting custom flooring solutions that often work better than you may have expected.

Local Reputation and Service

Our store has been known through word-of-mouth, direct recommendations, and repeat customers for decades. Instead of blindly investing thousands in advertisements, we put hours into sincere, solution-seeking services for our clients.

And over the decades, these efforts have paid off, as our list of loyal clients continues to grow. 

In fact, we have serviced several homes purchased by the children of parents whom Middleton’s Carpets used to also serve two decades ago.

Everyone on our team lives in Wodonga. So our goal is to offer nothing but reliable, premium products and services to the very community we live in.

Wide Product Range

Carpets are just one part of Middleton’s Carpets’ offerings. Our showroom features a wide array of other flooring types, including engineered timber, vinyl planks, laminate, and hybrid flooring.

We also offer professional subfloor preparation services that are conducted by staff who have done hundreds of prep jobs over the years. If you need anything related to flooring, chances are, we have it! 

Give Us a Call

Give us a visit or call us during our opening hours, so we can share how our services can help you realise your flooring goals or dreams. 

You can ask any questions or express any concerns you may have about flooring along the way. No pressure or commitment. We love any excuse to talk about floors, anytime!