Carpet helps you create a healthy, stylish, comfortable home

(BPT) - Being at home more often has inspired many people to make changes in their favorite spaces that focus on health and comfort. You might be surprised to learn that carpeting a room supports both these goals, plus offers near endless style possibilities.

Carpet is a popular flooring option, accounting for 48% of the total U.S. flooring market, according to the Carpet and Rug Institute. Adding carpet or refreshing the carpet you already have in your home has many benefits, from helping you breathe easier to keeping loved ones safe. Here are the top reasons people are opting for carpet:

Health and indoor air quality

Carpet can help support a healthy home, even for people with asthma and allergies. The updated asthma management guidelines from the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute do not include recommendations to remove carpet as a way to treat asthma and allergies.

“Scientific research shows that carpet does not negatively impact allergies or asthma. In fact, carpet can improve your home’s air quality by trapping allergens, keeping them out of the breathing zone and making them easy to vacuum," said Dr. Michael Halwig, allergy specialist on the clinical faculty of Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. "All too often patients have been advised to remove carpeting in the home to deal with environmental allergies. This is often expensive and impractical for many families. Current knowledge shows that the use of vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters and other environmental control measures are much more effective in reducing allergens in the home."

Many people are installing additional carpet in their homes to help improve air quality. Fortunately, the vast majority of carpet sold in the U.S. is certified through CRI’s Green Label Plus program, a third-party certification that demonstrates products are among the lowest emission emitting carpet, adhesive and cushion products on the market.

Safety and noise reduction

With people spending more time at home, indoor noise pollution is becoming a big problem. Carpet and carpet pads help absorb excessive sounds to soften noises within a room while serving as a sound barrier between floors. This is especially important in rooms with large TVs, sound systems or speaker phones, as well as in hallways and on stairs to soften foot traffic. Whether you're working, studying or relaxing, carpet reduces noise so you can focus.

Carpet is also a safe choice, particularly in multigenerational homes. In addition to added comfort in cushioning footsteps, carpet can help reduce slips and falls that may occur more easily on hard surface flooring. Carpet is safe for the whole family, but especially for toddlers and older individuals who are more prone to falls. If a fall does happen, carpet can help minimize injury.

Fashion and functionality

Carpet can serve as a neutral foundation, in popular tones of gray, cream or beige, or it can be a focal point featuring vibrant colors and bold patterns. With thousands of carpet styles, colors, textures and designs, you can select an option that suits your personal taste and complements your home's aesthetic.

Beyond beauty, carpet provides a great place to sit and is comfortable underfoot. Because carpet provides thermal insulation, it helps maintain a room's optimum temperature; for example, in cooler months it retains warm air for longer. It feels good and looks good, helping create an inviting feeling in any room.

"With two toddlers, a dog and two cats, carpet was a must-have throughout our home. Carpet provides comfort, warmth, and style — and we also love that it improves indoor air quality," said Chelsee Hood, mother and blogger. "Many families are choosing to install carpet for these reasons and more, making it a great feature in the modern home."

To learn more about the research and benefits of carpet, visit www.beautyofcarpet.com.