What important details do carpeting and rug experts wish hoteliers and designers knew more about when it comes to the challenges of creating soft flooring for hotels? Some experts shared their insights.
1. Design size
Everett Foreman, president of carpet manufacturer Luzern, said that hoteliers and designers should be aware of how a rug or carpet will look in a large space compared to a smaller one. “Public-space rugs are very large, so you typically have the ability to put a lot of pattern and a lot of color in a public-space rug, because of the size of the product you’re working with,” he said. “A lot of times, they want to come in and use that same design in a much smaller rug that may be a 5-by-7 or 4-by-6, and you don’t have that same design capability because you don’t have as much room to work with. There are some challenges when it comes to doing a guestroom rug versus a public-space rug simply because of the sizes you’re working with.”
2. Installation and maintenance
Nadia Burton, design director at carpet manufacturer Brintons, meanwhile, encourages designers to think outside the box. “With today’s technology, interior designers aren’t restricted to eight color patterns and small repeats. This provides unlimited possibilities when thinking about color and pattern on the floor.
“Ensure your carpet is installed correctly, concerning pile direction and approved carpet pad, per the installation guidelines. The carpet needs to be installed with the pile direction running against the main flow of traffic—this keeps the pile intact which consequently preserves the color in the carpet. The other critical aspect of carpet preservation is a routine maintenance program with the correct equipment.”
3. Performance
Mark Page, senior director of creative design and development at Durkan, a flooring manufacturer, encourages designers to be aware of intellectual property rights when choosing a custom-designed carpet. Beyond that? “Select or design your custom carpet patterns with performance in mind. Design detail and color contrast can be key here,” he said. “Make sure it’s the right specification per application of use and level of foot traffic. Regular and consistent spot cleaning, vacuuming and general maintenance [must] be applied. Entryway or barrier mats should be used in doorways or where heavy soil transfer will occur.”