Carpeting has been a popular flooring choice for decades, but some wonder if its heyday has passed. Carpet offers some advantages, like softness underfoot and noise absorption, but also has some drawbacks when compared to hard surface flooring options. As homeowners weigh the pros and cons of carpet versus hardwood, tile, vinyl and more, many are asking: is carpet outdated?
The history and popularity of carpet
Carpet has been used as a floor covering for centuries, though earlier versions were quite different from today’s wall-to-wall carpeting. Before the 20th century, rugs were popular but carpeting an entire room was rare. After World War II, advances in materials and manufacturing made wall-to-wall carpeting much more accessible and affordable. By the 1960s and 1970s, carpeting was the dominant flooring type used in American homes.
A few key factors contributed to carpet’s rise in popularity:
- New materials like synthetic fibers made carpet more durable and stain-resistant.
- Mass production brought down costs.
- Suburban housing construction relied heavily on carpet as a versatile, affordable flooring.
- Carpeting was seen as a sign of middle class status and prosperity.
By the 1980s, around 70% of American homes had wall-to-wall carpeting in their main living areas like bedrooms, living rooms and dens. Even kitchens and bathrooms were sometimes carpeted during this peak period.
The case against carpet today
In recent decades, carpet’s dominance has been challenged by a few key factors:
- Health concerns: Carpet has the potential to harbor dust, dirt, pollen and other allergens that can aggravate conditions like asthma. It can also hide and retain mold if moisture isn’t properly addressed.
- Maintenance: While modern carpets are more durable and stain-resistant, they still require regular vacuuming and steam cleaning to look their best and prevent buildup of dirt and grime.
- Moisture issues: Liquid spills and pets accidents can damage carpet quickly. Though there are treatments to make carpet more water-resistant, moisture problems are a leading reason for carpet replacement.
- Short lifespans: The average carpet needs to be replaced every 7-10 years for appearance reasons, even if it’s structurally sound. The short replacement cycle adds to the cost of choosing carpet.
There are also a few style and design factors that make carpet less desirable to some homeowners:
- Carpet shows signs of wear like crushed pile and traffic patterns quite fast, making high-traffic areas look worn and dingy.
- Neutral, beige carpeting can look bland and dated, especially in an era that favors bold looks with visual texture.
- Carpet limits hardwood flooring options that add warmth and value for resale.
- Homeowners can’t easily switch up carpet patterns and colors since it’s a semi-permanent flooring.
The case for carpet today
Despite the negatives, there are still some benefits to choosing carpet in certain rooms:
- Soft and warm underfoot: Carpet offers a literal soft landing, reducing injury risk if someone falls. It also feels cozy for little feet or bare feet on chilly mornings.
- Noise reduction: Carpet absorbs sounds, making it a good option for playrooms, media rooms, basements, bedrooms and other living spaces where you want less echo.
- Added insulation: Carpet acts as an additional insulator, helping retain heat in colder climates.
- Budget friendly: Quality carpet can often be purchased and installed at a lower cost than hardwood, natural stone or ceramic tile.
- Customizable: Carpet comes in unlimited colors, patterns, pile depths and textures. It can complement furnishings and be replaced when redecorating.
- Moisture barrier: On concrete basement floors, carpet helps prevent moisture transmission from below. This makes basements feel warmer and more comfortable.
What rooms should have carpet today?
When used strategically in the right spots, carpet can still be an attractive, high-performing flooring choice:
- Bedrooms: Carpet is cozy, warm and quiet – ideal qualities for bedrooms. Neutral Berber carpet remains popular here.
- Kids’ rooms and playrooms: Carpet provides safety, sound absorption and versatility for spaces where children play and do crafts.
- Finished basements: Carpet helps turn basements into comfortable recreation rooms or guest rooms. Padding helps insulate concrete floors.
- Home offices and studies: Carpet reduces distracting noise from home workspaces. Chair wheels also roll smoothly on carpeted floors.
- Media rooms: Carpeting prevents sound reflecting off hard surfaces in spaces designed for optimal movie and music listening.
What rooms should skip carpet today?
There are a few areas of the home where most flooring experts recommend avoiding carpet:
- Kitchens: Carpet attracts food spills and grease, making it very difficult to clean and prone to stains in kitchens. Most people opt for resilient sheet vinyl, ceramic tile or wood planks instead.
- Bathrooms: Even moisture-resistant carpet isn’t recommended for bathrooms where water can seep into the padding underneath. Tile flooring is better suited for periodic water exposure.
- Entryways and hallways: The high foot traffic in these areas crushes carpet quickly. Easy-clean vinyl, tile or wood makes more sense for heavy wear areas.
- Basements and laundry rooms: Below-grade concrete floors are prone to moisture. Skip carpet to avoid mold, mildew and flooding damage.
Carpet alternatives
For homeowners who want softness and noise absorption without actual wall-to-wall carpeting, there are some alternatives to consider:
- Area rugs: Rugs can be laid over hard surface flooring to add warmth and visual interest in seating areas, without fully carpeting an entire room.
- Hybrid resilient floors: Brands like LifeProof and COREtec offer vinyl and composite floors with attached padding for underfoot comfort.
- Cork flooring: Cork is naturally soft and has sound absorbing qualities. Glued down cork tiles are durable and moisture-resistant.
- Faux Fur Rugs: For playrooms and children’s bedrooms, fluffy faux fur rugs feel cozy underfoot and can be easily cleaned.
Each option provides some benefits of carpeting without drawbacks like high maintenance. Homeowners can mix and match materials to get the right balance of styles, textures and performance.
Latest carpet construction trends
Despite a dip in popularity, carpet manufacturers have continued innovating. Some of the newest products try to directly address common complaints about carpet:
- Pet-friendly fibers: Brands like Stainmaster and Shaw have engineering carpet fibers and backing to resist stains, odor and crushing from pet paws.
- Water-resistant carpets: Treatments such as Shaw’s LifeGuard make carpet more impervious to moisture from spills and accidents.
- Antimicrobials: Fibers infused with silver ions inhibit bacteria, mold and odor growth in the carpet pile.
- Patterned textures: Multi-colored carpets with varied textures help hide traffic patterns and stains compared to solid color.
- Modular tiles: Carpet tiles can be swapped out individually if heavily soiled or damaged, extending the life of the flooring.
While these features make carpet more stain- and water-resistant, regular professional cleaning is still recommended to keep carpets sanitary in the long run.
Carpet cost considerations
Carpet offers a wide range of pricing options. Here are some averages to help estimate carpet costs for a 10′ x 12′ room:
| Carpet Type | Total Cost for 10′ x 12′ Room |
| Basic builder-grade carpet | $600 – $1,200 |
| Mid-range branded carpet | $1,500 – $2,400 |
| Luxury branded carpet | $3,000 – $4,800 |
Factors affecting carpet prices per square foot:
- Fiber material: Nylon, triexta, polyester, wool, wool blends
- Construction quality: Density, pile depth, manufacturing method
- Advanced features: Stain protection, antimicrobials, warranty
- Brand reputation: High-end designer brands charge premium pricing
- Customizations: Pattern, texture, color, size of installation
Proper carpet pad adds 25-50 cents per square foot. Professional installation averages $1 – $2 per square foot. Periodic professional steam cleaning costs 10-25 cents per square foot.
Is carpet outdated? The bottom line
Carpet retains merits like affordability, comfort and noise reduction that still make it a good flooring choice for certain homes and rooms. Health and maintenance downsides have reduced its usage, especially in high-moisture areas of the home. Carpet looks and feels most current when neutral patterns and low-pile constructions are chosen.
Rather than debate if carpet is outdated overall, the decision comes down to each homeowner’s lifestyle, priorities and needs. Carpet likely won’t dominate flooring choices like it once did decades ago. But with innovation addressing its drawbacks, carpet can still fill useful niches in many contemporary, style-conscious homes.
