The Ins and Outs of Carpet: Does it Really Make a Room Warmer?

Carpets have been a staple in interior design since its inception. Prized for its warmth and comfort, carpet is the easy solution for adding ambiance to any space. The soft flooring solution is comfortable to walk on and adds a softness underfoot that other types of flooring simply can't compete with. Aside from its aesthetically pleasing features, there's a common belief that carpet can make a room feel warmth in terms of both actual temperature and ambiance. Stick around while the experts at Georgia Carpet dive deeper into the ins and outs of carpet and answer the question, "Does carpet make a room warmer?"

Insulating Effect

It makes sense that carpet could make a room warmer since it provides an additional layer of insulation between the floor and the interior space. Carpet is installed over a carpet pad, so even the thinnest, low-pile carpets should theoretically offer extra insulation. Like with other areas of the home, more insulation should correlate with a reduction in heat loss - a feature that is more pronounced in the winter in cooler climates.

Carpet fibers can also act as natural insulators, helping to retain heat. While tile, vinyl and other hard surfaces usually feel cold to the touch, carpet is soft and plush, offering a warm feel underfoot. This is known as tactile warmth, which can create a general feeling of comfort, making a room feel warmer and more inviting.

Absorbs and Retains Heat

Carpet is more than just a great insulator. It also can absorb and retain heat from the environment, making a room feel warmer. When sunlight enters through windows or a heater is blowing, the carpet can absorb the excess heat and release it slowly over time, helping maintain a steady temperature in a space.

Reduces Drafts

Cracks and gaps around the floor and doors can leave room for drafts and heat to escape. Carpeting can combat this by reducing drafts and air infiltration. By creating a physical barrier between the floor and the room, carpet can minimize the intrusion of cold air into the space, keeping the room warmer and more comfortable. The increase in warmth is more pronounced in older homes or buildings where drafts can be a common issue.

Factors to Consider

The warmth provided by carpet insulation can vary depending on several factors like the type of carpet, the quality, the thickness of the carpet pad and the type of carpet fibers. In general, thicker, denser carpets with higher pile heights tend to offer greater insulating capabilities and more warmth than thinner, less dense carpets.

While carpet flooring can certainly increase the perceived warmth of a room, its impact on the actual temperature is more modest. Maintaining your heating system and insulating the walls, ceiling and floor will have a more dramatic effect on the temperature of the space, but adding carpet flooring can still help create a cozy ambiance and increase the overall comfort of a living space. For the best selection of carpet flooring in all pile heights, brands and designs, visit GeorgiaCarpet.com or stop into our showroom in Dalton, GA, the carpet capital of America.