If you are inviting family and friends over at Christmas, you will want your home to look as nice as possible.

While you can put up as many decorations as you want, if your carpets are looking more grubby than gorgeous, then your home won’t be the haven you want it to be.

Fortunately, it doesn’t take much time and effort to restore your carpets to their former glory.

Read on to discover how you can clean your carpets in time for Christmas in five simple steps.

Step 1: Hoover with baking soda

The key to long-lasting and clean carpets is to vacuum them regularly, at least once a week. However, if you really want your carpets to look their best this festive season, then sprinkle a layer of baking soda over them before you vacuum.

Baking soda is a highly effective neutraliser of bad odours, and it can help lift stains out of your carpets. For best results, leave the baking soda for 15-20 minutes before vacuuming.

Step 2: Treat stains straight away

If someone spills a glass of wine or cup of coffee on your carpet, you need to act fast, or the stain will start to set.

Depending on the type of liquid that is spilt, there is a wide range of stain removal techniques that you can use. Soap and warm water always work well, as does white vinegar and baking soda for more stubborn stains.

You should never rub a stain as this can cause it to become further ingrained in your carpet’s fibres. Instead, blot with a clean cloth and repeat the cleaning process until the stain has been successfully removed.

Step 3: Place mats in high traffic areas

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, so it can be a good idea to take preventative measures to keep your carpets clean in the run up to Christmas.

One highly effective way to do this is by placing mats in high traffic areas of your home, such as the entrance way. This will help to ensure that your guests don’t bring any unwanted dirt into your home and onto your carpets.

Step 4: Book a professional clean

If you really want your carpets to look brand new over the Christmas period, then your best option is to bring in the professionals.

A professional carpet cleaning company will use the latest equipment and high-performing products to ensure that your carpet is gleaming come Christmas morning.

However, be warned that these services book up quickly at this time of year, so book early to ensure your spot!

Step 5: Invest in a new carpet

If your carpet has seen better days and no amount of cleaning is going to help matters, then you might want to think about investing in a new carpet before Christmas comes.

You can find some great deals on carpets at this time of year, and there is still plenty of time to have them ordered and fitted before you hang up your decorations.

For carpets in Dulwich, look no further, as we have all the best carpets in the area with the most competitive prices.

Are you thinking about having your carpets professionally cleaned but not sure if it is worth the money?

Read on to discover everything you need to know about professional carpet cleaners, including what exactly they do and how they can prolong the life of your carpet.

Plus, if your carpet is unsavable, find out where to buy the best carpets near me.

What is a professional carpet cleaner?

As the name suggests, a professional carpet cleaner is someone who comes into your home and cleans your carpets to a professional standard.

As well as professional carpet cleaning companies, you can also rent or invest in professional cleaning equipment and clean your carpets like a professional yourself.

As a general rule, professional carpet cleaners use a variety of techniques, equipment, and high-performing products to make your carpets look brand new again.

Do I need a professional carpet cleaner?

There are several reasons why you might choose to hire a professional carpet cleaner.

Most commonly, people hire carpet cleaners because their carpets look grubby and grimy, and they think that a professional clean will restore them to their former glory.

Some homeowners also choose to use a professional carpet cleaner if they have one or more stubborn stains that they cannot remove themselves.

Finally, if you have a special occasion or event coming up in your home, you may want to spend a little more to have your carpets professionally cleaned.

Why use a professional carpet cleaner?

If you are still not convinced that professional carpet cleaning is worth the money, then the below benefits may be able to convince you:

• It can extend the lifespan of your carpet
• It can enhance the overall look of a room
• It can improve your health by eliminating pollutants
• It can prevent mould in your home
• You are guaranteed a good job

How often do I need to have my carpets professionally cleaned?

You don’t need to have your carpets professionally cleaned very often. In fact, once or twice a year is sufficient unless you have pets or young children, and then you may want to invest in this service more frequently. Also, if you suffer from allergies, then you may want to have your carpets professionally cleaned on a more regular basis.

To minimise the number of times you need to use a professional carpet cleaning company in a year, make sure that you take good care of your carpets. Vacuum at least once a week and spot clean any stains as soon as they happen.

Where to buy new carpet

If there really is nothing you can do to prolong the life of your carpet any longer, and you are fed up with staring at your old and dirty flooring, then now is the time to invest in new carpets for your home.

If you are looking for high-quality carpets in Dulwich, then you have come to the right place. We offer a wide range of long-lasting and high-quality carpets, with options to suit all tastes and budgets.

Elegance is a relatively subjective term. For some people, elegance conjures up images of traditional countryside estates or wealthy elites in extravagant clothing. However, elegance can also be a sleek and well-designed room with contemporary features and a focus on comfort. Since elegance doesn’t need to distract from other more unique interior styles such as industrial chic or maximalist, anyone can make their home more elegant simply by paying attention to a few subtle details.

Small Functional Parts

This broad name covers pieces you find within your home that are all necessary but don’t always have the best appearance. These could include light switches, wall sockets, handles, and even door stoppers that are attached to the wall. Many people accept whatever their home has when they move in when it comes to these small features, but taking the time to find stylish replacements can be surprisingly effective in elevating the elegance of a space. You can make a space appear more deliberate and styled by simply replacing your existing door handles with something that compliments your taste and furniture better.

Floors, Walls, and Ceilings

The surfaces that make up a room – the walls, the floor, and the ceiling – are sometimes overlooked when redecorating. People tend to enjoy changing the appearance of their interior walls by painting or wallpapering them, but floors and ceilings are usually neglected and left as is. Updating your floor and ceiling is a great place to start if you want to tie your space into a cohesive and elegant look. There are carpets in Dulwich that are designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and practical for real life, both qualities that add up to elegance. For your ceiling, consider having subtle coving or moulding added to create a sense of gradual depth and traditional detail.

Lighting

How well you are able to light a room doesn’t depend on how bright you can make it at any one time. It means having a range of light sources that serve individual purposes as well as combining to create a pleasing atmosphere in a room. For example, in your living room, you might have a standing lamp near the sofa and a desk lamp on a sideboard at the adjacent wall. How you position these differently sized lamps in the space will dictate the mood and level of elegance you can achieve. Generally speaking, a single source of light coming from the ceiling doesn’t tend to be attractive or elegant. Smaller, varied sources of light are much more preferable when creating visual interest in a room.

Redecorating parts of your home can be simultaneously thrilling and nerve-wracking. Your design choices cost money and are time-intensive to reverse, meaning that it’s important to be certain when you commit to a paint colour or flooring type. Whenever possible, collect samples to position in the space to see firsthand how the room’s light and shape interact with your potential tones and textures. There’s nothing wrong with expressing your own interior design style; just take your time and enjoy the process.

If you already have carpeted floors in your home, you are most likely more than aware of the many benefits they bring to your interiors. Some people prefer to have a mixture of carpet and another type of flooring in different rooms of the house, while others strongly prefer a particular kind of flooring throughout. If you are currently looking for a way to update your home interior with newer flooring, you probably have to choose between laying down a carpet or another type of floor. Of course, this will depend on many factors, including your personal style, the lifestyle you lead, and the purpose of your space. Here is a brief guide to help you decide whether or not carpet should be your next choice.

Cleanliness

Although there can be benefits to opting for a hard flooring if cleanliness is one of your top concerns, people often overlook how carpet can help a home stay clean. Sometimes people become distracted by the possibility of spills or stains but forget that carpet can actually serve to keep other parts of your home fresher. This is because the fibres of a carpet, even with a short pile, can help to prevent dust and other dirt from sticking to the bottoms of feet, meaning that dirt is not brought into unwanted places such as bathtubs or beds.

Fewer Breaks

When something delicate such as a glass or a device, drops onto a hard floor, it is much more likely to smash compared to if it is dropped onto a carpet. This might seem at first like a minor consideration; however, these subtle differences in a home can make a space feel more relaxed. It is slightly harder to unwind in your home when you are subliminally concerned about accidents such as slipping over or dropping something fragile.

Insulation

If you want to save some money on energy bills when it comes to keeping your home warm in the colder months, a carpet is better at retaining the heat for longer. Search for carpets in Dulwich that will not only look stylish with your home decor but will also protect your home from dropping below comfortable temperatures. This is also handy for those cold winter days when you do not want your feet to touch a chilly floor.

Luxurious Feel

While some of the above points have been more focused on various practicalities about installing carpet in your home, this final point will simply focus on how luxurious and indulgent it is. Hard types of flooring, such as tile or wood, have their place, of course, but carpet provides a certain kind of comfort and gentleness that makes a home more welcoming.

As you can see, carpeting your home offers plenty of advantages, from reducing energy waste to adding style. Hopefully, this quick guide has helped you to consider a few more detailed points when it comes to choosing the ideal floor for your home.

If you have just purchased a new carpet for your home, you may be worried about it starting to look tired and worn out over time.

Thankfully, there are several tips and tricks that you can take advantage of to keep your carpet looking and feeling new for as long as possible.

Read on to discover five techniques that guarantee to protect your carpet from muddy footprints, stains, spillages and more.

1. Vacuum Regularly

One of the simplest and inarguably best ways to keep your carpet looking new for longer is to vacuum it regularly. Ideally, you’ll need to vacuum your carpet at least twice a week or more often, especially if you notice dirt and debris on the fibres.

Also, make sure to keep on top of changing the filters in your vacuum. If you don’t, the appliance won’t be able to do its job properly and your carpets will suffer.

2. Move Your Furniture Around

Some areas of carpet will experience much more footfall than others, which is why homeowners often use more durable carpet cuts in the hallway. Although there isn’t much you can do to reduce the amount of wear and tear that certain areas of carpet are subjected to, you can move your furniture around to keep your entire carpet looking fresh for longer.

For best results, switch up the layout of your furniture around once every six months.

3. Sprinkle Baking Soda

As well as looking tired and worn out, your carpet can also start to smell musty over time. One highly effective way to prevent this is to sprinkle baking soda all over it before vacuuming.

Doing so will eliminate any bad odours such as pet smells and help keep your carpet smelling fresh. Don’t forget to leave the baking soda for a few minutes before vacuuming, as this will ensure it works its magic on the carpet fibres.

4. Invest in Stain Removal Products

Even if you are super careful, stains and spillages can happen; when they do, you need to ensure you are prepared. Although several effective remedies for removing stains from carpets exist, having a few stain removal products in your cupboard for emergencies is always a good idea.

These products can be applied directly to a wide range of stains, such as wine and coffee, and are highly effective at removing all traces of spills. Alternatively, dishwasher detergent, club soda and hydrogen peroxide are all good at banishing carpet stains.

5. Book a Deep Clean

In addition to vacuuming several times each week to pick up dirt, dust and other debris, you should also take the time to deep clean your carpet. A professional carpet cleaner works deep into the fibres to remove all traces of dirt and grime.

You can buy or rent carpet cleaners, depending on your budget and how often you intend to use them. Ideally, you should deep clean your carpets at least once every six months for effective results and to keep yours looking spick and span for longer.

In some cases, though, the long-term damage may have already been done if your carpets are too old or haven’t been looked after properly over the years, which may mean you need brand-new ones instead.

Whatever the case, our high-quality carpets in Dulwich have got you (and your floors) covered. Check out our amazing deals on carpets on our website, or pop down to our showroom to take a closer look at what we have to offer.

Have you just spilt wine all over your brand-new carpet? Or perhaps you have an old wine stain that you just can’t shift?

Either way, the below blog will tell you everything you need to know about how to remove those pesky wine stains from your carpets!

How to Remove Red Wine Stains from Carpets

If you have spilled red wine on your carpet, you need to act quickly. Start with blotting as much of the liquid as possible using a clean cloth or paper towel. Make sure you blot, not rub, as this will prevent the stain from setting into the fabric. If you don’t have a red wine stain removal product to hand, you can use several store cupboard staples instead.

Prepare a cleaning solution using one tablespoon of dishwashing soap, one tablespoon of white vinegar and two cups of warm water. Apply a small amount to the stain and blot until it vanishes.

Alternatively, you can use hydrogen peroxide, although this can sometimes cause discolouration of the carpet. To avoid this, test a small area of carpet first, ideally in an inconspicuous spot where you won’t notice any marks. Once you have tested your carpet, mix two parts hydrogen peroxide with one part dishwashing soap and apply the mixture to the stain. Blot and repeat until the stain has completely disappeared.

Of course, not all stains will come out, especially if your carpets are worn, old and in need of a complete overhaul – they can only take so much, after all. If your carpets are beyond saving and you fancy some fresh ones instead, take a look at our top-quality carpets in Dulwich and update your home without breaking the bank.

How to Remove White Wine Stains from Carpets

If you have spilled white wine on your carpet, then the process of removing it is simpler than with red wine. Although a white wine stain may not look as bad as a red wine stain at first glance, over time, this spill can turn brown and discoloured, so you still need to act quickly.

As with removing red wine from your carpets, start by blotting up as much of the liquid as possible. To remove the stain, use either plain water or mix one tablespoon of washing-up liquid and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of warm water. Use a clean cloth to sponge the stain and then blot frequently with a dry cloth until the stain disappears.

Again, you can use special wine stain removal products but make sure you pick one that is suitable for your carpet type.

How to Remove Champagne Stains from Carpets

There is nothing quite like a glass of champagne to toast a special occasion, but unfortunately, accidents can happen, especially if you are having a party.

As with all wine stains on a carpet, blot the area immediately after the spillage has occurred to prevent the stain from setting. Then, flood the affected area with water using either a clean sponge or cloth – this will dilute the stain and prevent the sugars from sticking to the carpet’s fibres.

Blot again and allow the carpet to dry naturally. Do not apply heat directly to the carpet as this can damage it. If the stain has already dried, apply a solution of one tablespoon of liquid soap and two cups of water. Work this into the stain and then rinse with plain water. Use a dry cloth to blot as much of this liquid as possible and then allow it to dry.

Improving your interior design, upgrading your home and spending money on improvements is all time and funds well spent – but what can easily make your home space less than perfect is persistent pet hair. It can mark your carpets, compromise your seats and generally leave your home’s air quality feeling askew if you have allergies.

However, all is not lost for those with furry friends living in the home; having a good system in place for dealing with pet hair means your interior design and home’s cleanliness can always remain its best. To prove that fact, here are a few ideas for handling pet hair in your home.

Choose the Right Carpet

If you have pets with black fur and a white or cream carpet, cleaning is going to be significantly harder than it should be when you’re trying to keep on top of it – not to mention it’s worse if you have a thicker carpet with more hair getting trapped.

Therefore, choosing the right carpet is essential for keeping on top of pet hair, both in colour and in style. With carpets in Dulwich, you can select the right colour and length to cope more easily with the hair that your pets are shedding, as well as a carpet style that’s easy to vacuum.

Use Rugs

If you want to protect your carpet or flooring as much as possible, area rugs can be a big plus for dealing with pet hair, too. It might sound counterproductive, but if you can get a comfortable rug that’s the designated spot for your pet, it might help keep most of the hair in one area instead of all over your carpet. It can also reduce the amount of foot and pet traffic the main carpet sees.

Protect Your Furniture

When thinking about protecting your furniture, easily wipeable surfaces, like leather instead of fabric, would be best – but this is not always possible if you’re a fan of fabric or already have your home kitted out with fabric seating.

It may be easier to control pet hair if you cover sofas and chairs with a removable cover or throw so that you can detach and clean that instead, rather than your sofa itself getting marked or spoiled.

Tackle Your Pet First

To limit the amount of hair dropping and causing a mess, it’s a good idea to take care of it at the source as much as possible – and that means regularly brushing or grooming your pet, and bathing them to keep them clean and fresh. This will hopefully reduce any extra fur moulting and uncleanliness if it can be brushed or washed away first.

It’s Okay to Set Up Home Boundaries

You might not want your pet to have access to every area of the home, and that’s okay; if you have two lounges, for example, you might like one to remain the hair-free, cosy room you always wanted it to be with a plush carpet and soft fabrics. If that’s the case, make sure to set up rules – and pet gates – for where your pets can and can’t roam.

Winter may be the last thing on your mind, especially with summer’s soaring temperatures, but preparing your home for winter is all about having it ready for when the cold sets in, which means planning in advance is always a must.

Preparing your home for the winter temperature drop means thinking about cosy home interiors and extras you can arrange so that you never have to worry about your home lacking for the winter season. To help with that, here are some top tips to get your home ready for the colder season.

Get Your Ambient Lighting Ready

Natural light is abundant in summer and it’s always great to flood your home with it – especially when it stays light until bedtime; you’re saving money on energy bills, too. However, when winter arrives, you will need adequate interior lighting, and when it comes to creating a warm and cosy space, soft ambient lighting is a must.

You can think about:

• Lamps with warm lighting placed in the right places
• TV backlighting
• Warm fairy lights
• Candles (especially scented ones that give off a winter scent!)

1. Switch Wooden Flooring for Carpet

Wooden flooring can be extremely cold underfoot in the winter, especially in the bedroom. There’s nothing worse than a cold room when you’re getting ready for bed, and there’s only so much area rugs can do to warm up a room. However, looking for the right carpet, like our range of carpets in Dulwich, means you can have a much warmer and cosier room – particularly if you prefer a thicker carpet.

A plush carpet is also ideal for any pets who like to sleep on the floor; wooden floors can be cooling in the summer, but your furry friends might want something a little warmer and softer in the winter! If you’ve been thinking about making the switch to carpet anyway, winter is the perfect time.

2. It’s All About the Fireplace

If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace, you’ll know it’s essential for both winter warmth and winter aesthetic. Of course, your fireplace is a functional feature that will light up and heat up your space; however, it’s also perfect for placing festive mantel decorations or simply adding a cosy winter feel using candles and accents around the fire.

If you don’t have a fireplace built in, even a small portable fireplace can work wonders if electric is your only option. It can really make a space feel more welcoming and provide a great focal point, especially for social spaces and for guests during festive celebrations.

3. Layer Up Your Soft Furnishings

In summer, you may spend more time outdoors than indoors, and throws and cushions may be the last thing on your mind for your interior seating. However, when you spend those long and cosy nights indoors, having your seating as practical and inviting as possible is a must. So, make sure every seat has a useable throw to keep you warm, as well as comfortable cushions to scatter where need

Deciding you would like a carpet in your home is one thing, but narrowing down the wealth of colour choices is another. When you’re investing time and money into a high-quality carpet for your room, you need to make sure that you’re going to love the colour, that it’s going to work in your room design and that you won’t quickly regret your choice after it’s all been fitted.

With this in mind, here are some top tips to consider before you settle on the right carpet for you.

1. Think About the Activity of Your Household

Carpet colour is all about room design and aesthetic preferences, but when it comes to any kind of flooring, practicality has to be taken into account. This applies to the people or pets you might have in your household and, therefore, what certain coloured carpets may result in. If you have young children who like to make a mess or pets who shed a lot of dark-coloured hair, then light-coloured carpets like whites, creams, and greys may need a lot of maintenance and may look dirty more quickly compared to dark colours like brown or black.

2. Look for Inspiration First

With so many colours and patterns available on the market, there might be something out there that’s perfect for you that you hadn’t already thought of. Thinking of the obvious shades, like brown and grey, is easy, but there are many you may need to see to inspire you. It’s a good idea to shop around, like with high-quality suppliers of carpets in Dulwich, so that you can take colour inspiration and perhaps end up with something that you might never have considered otherwise.

3. Take Your Wall Colour Into Consideration

This counts for your present wall colour and any changes you’re planning to make down the line. Having a new carpet fitted is a great investment and one you’re going to be able to enjoy for years to come, so thinking about the future in terms of your home design is important, too. This means if you’re planning to make any drastic wall colour changes down the line, thinking about the long-term in regard to your carpet colour is a better idea.

If your walls are light-coloured or neutral, then you can explore dark carpet colours for contrast and light ones that could complement. If your walls are very dark-coloured, then a light-coloured carpet might be a good idea to offer a lighter section to the space, depending on your preference.

4. Patterns are an Option, Too

This can be a good one if your walls are very plain or bare, as a patterned carpet will bring out an exciting new design element to an otherwise minimalistic room. Patterned carpets aren’t for everybody, though, so be sure it’s something you want if you’re a fan of maximalist styles and colouring. Patterned carpets can be good for rooms without wallpaper, as too many patterns can clash.

The living room is the most sociable place in the home if you have a growing family, or it can be the perfect place for rest and relaxation if you live alone or as a couple. Either way, making the living room as warm and inviting as possible is something that most people strive for, but this might be a challenge for many reasons. If you’re looking to upgrade the warmth of your living space, here are a few ideas you can try.

Have Carpet Installed

There’s no doubt that one of the biggest and best changes you can make to a room in terms of adding warmth and layers is having carpet installed. There are many benefits of wooden flooring, but they can grow cold – especially in winter – if you don’t have underfloor heating options or if you don’t layer them with rugs. Having a thick and durable carpet that’s soft underfoot can not only make your room feel warmer, but it can have it looking warmer, too. You can browse the great selection of carpets in Dulwich, with so many options to match the aesthetic of your room.

Use Layered Rugs

Rugs are not just reserved for an area over hardwood floor. The more rugs you can layer up, the better, and this can even be the case if you already have carpet down. Rugs can have a room feeling more cosy, add an extra layer of warmth under your feet, and are also ideal for adding a splash of warm colours like oranges and reds if you want to brighten up a room.

Rich and deep colours can easily make a room feel warmer based on décor alone, and rugs are ideal for this if you don’t want too bold a pattern for your entire carpet but would like a small addition of it in a certain area, such as under the coffee table.

Make Use of All Your Floor Space for a Cosier Feel

If your room is sparse in furniture or minimalistic in design, this can make it feel a lot more empty and, by default, potentially colder. If you make use of all the floor space, you have to make sure everything has a place and no corner is cold or untouched. This can help to create a more warming and welcoming atmosphere. You could use furniture, chairs, and sofas placed together for a sociable space and make sure that bare areas on the floor are filled with accessories or other warming touches.

Have Long Curtains That Drape Onto the Floor

Fabric curtains are a pinnacle for any room that wants to look and feel warmer. As opposed to wooden or metal blinds, thick fabric curtains can help to add even more layers to your living space. Furthermore, long curtains draping onto the floor can help a room look more layered. If you have very short curtains, you’re risking a bare space underneath the window sill, as well as on the floor in front if you don’t have anything to place there. Long curtains which run to the floor can help to frame your window in a better way and add full warmth.