Buying a carpet—your checklist

• This all depends on how much wear the carpet is going to get. For example, you will need a more hardwearing carpet for busy areas such as the hall, stairs and landing than in the bedroom. Look for the Quality Mark, which is your guarantee that you can trust the manufacturer's suitability claims.

• The more durable the carpet the more expensive it is likely to be—which is fine if you want your carpet to last for 20 years. But if you like to change your carpet along with your décor, you can save money on good quality carpets by buying at sale times.

• A well-chosen plain colour is less likely to date than a carpet pattern, which is more likely to go out of fashion.

• Pure wool is the classic carpet fibre. It's soft, doesn't flatten easily and keeps its appearance well. Nylon is very strong, also doesn't flatten easily and can be blended with wool. You can get other blends of fibres, each with different properties—some wear better than others, some stain less easily and so on. Ask your carpet retailer for advice.

• The best quality carpet—and the most expensive—is woven carpet, where the front and back are woven simultaneously. However, most carpet sold in the UK is tufted, where the yarn is inserted into a ready-made backing fabric.

With tufted carpets you can choose between a variety of surface textures. For instance, twist piles have a rugged finish. Loop piles replicate the appearance of natural flooring such as sisal and coir (not ideal if you have pets with long claws). Saxony, or cut pile, has a deep pile and is especially popular for bedrooms.

• When you work out the total cost you need to factor in grippers, underlay and the cost of a professional carpet fitter. Bear in mind that new underlay can prolong the life of your new carpet by as much as 40 per cent.

• It's important to see how the colour and texture of a carpet looks in your room in its natural light.

• And think seriously about getting a professional carpet fitter to fit your new carpet. If possible choose a member of the National Institute of Carpet and Floor Layers