Last updated: April 17th, 2023

If you need a new carpet, but you’re not sure which style to buy, you should know that learning how to comparison-shop for carpeting will be very helpful. There are thousands of carpet styles out there to choose from in stores and on the internet. It’s possible to narrow down the options very quickly with effective and organized comparison-shopping.

First off, let’s talk about the most common types and materials of carpet. Then, we’ll walk you through how to shop for a new carpet online if you’re used to in-store browsing.

Common Carpet Materials and Styles

Carpeting comes in an array of materials and it’s usually classified by the materials (fibres) that it is made from. Popular carpet styles include nylon, acrylic, polyester, polypropylene, cotton, and wool. Carpets are also classified by their pile type – a few examples of pile types include plush, frieze, cut and uncut. Different carpet materials will have different textures, durability, price point, absorbance, and resilience.

It’s entirely up to you and the purposes of the room to decide what carpet is right for you. For example, a formal living room will likely have different carpeting needs than a kids’ play room in the basement.

Now that you know the main forms of carpeting types, let’s talk about how to shop for them online. After all, you’ll likely need to see photos of each type in order to find what is best for your needs.

How to Shop Online for Carpeting

You may shop in two ways. One method is to find online carpet retailers and check out their wares. The other method is to search based on your preferences, via Google. For example, if you know that you want plush carpeting, add the keywords “plush carpeting” to the search engine. Then, check out the first four or five links on the page. They are likely carpet suppliers.

If you want to shop based on supplier, use the keywords, “carpet suppliers online” or something like that in order to get good results. If you want to buy from a supplier who’s located in Ottawa, make sure you add your city or neighbourhood (Kanata, Riverside South, Orleans etc.) to the search query.
While you’re looking at websites that sell carpeting, use search categories in order to check out carpet designs based on price, carpet type, brand, and so on. This will allow you to get useful search results within a supplier’s website.

Then, it’s the fun part, which is seeing full-color photos of carpeting and reading product descriptions. Product descriptions should include the material that the carpet is made from, which cut is featured and how to take care of it. It should also list the price of the carpet. You should be able to buy as few or as many square feet as you need.

Once you find and install the right carpet, don’t forget the importance of regular cleanings from a professional carpet cleaning company in Ottawa like Ja-Doc Inglis! Extend the life of your carpet and make your purchase last with regular cleanings on a yearly basis.