Best Carpet For High Traffic Family Room
If you were to buy the wrong carpet for a high traffic area, it could become incredibly worn quicker than you might think.
Worse yet, if you waste your money on a carpet of the wrong sort of color, it would show up all the dirt that’s traipsing through.
But, thankfully, there’s an easy solution. If you read this article, you will discover 5 great high quality carpets that can handle the high traffic of a well-used family room.
And, better yet, we’ve also got a handy buying guide for you that will walk you through the key points to consider when choosing such a carpet.
Then we’re going to top that off with a section where we answer all your most frequently asked questions on the subject.
Quick note - the reviews in this article are going to concentrate on rug carpets rather than wall-to-wall carpets.
Here goes…
In a hurry? Check out our number one pick!
Unique Loom Trellis Frieze Modern Moroccan Inspired Geometric Lattice Area Rug
This particular carpet is a prominent bestseller with the leading online retailers - and for good reason, too.
I love the timeless aesthetic of this rug. It may be Moroccan inspired, with its stunning geometric lattice, but at the same time it somehow looks very modern, too.
It’s available in a range of different colors. We recommend darker colors that better hide dirt.
And to that end your best options include black, dark gray, light gray, multi color beige, multicolored fuchsia, navy blue, and red.
It’s also available in a range of different shapes, including rectangular, runner, square, round, oval, and octagonal.
It’s also available in a wide range of sizes, from as small as 2 by 3 feet, up to 10 by 14 feet.
The reason it’s such a good carpet for high traffic areas is because it is a Frieze carpet.
A Frieze carpet is one with relatively long fibers that are twisted 3 to 5 times under steam conditions.
The twisting is so tight that it produces a very dense texture that doesn’t show wear from lots of use, and thus is very durable and does not shed with wear.
What’s more, it’s not only easy to clean, but is also stain resistant to boot - perfect for handling spilled drinks and such.
It’s made with polypropylene fibers, and the pile is a third of an inch high.
It has been met with excellent customer ratings and reviews, with particular praise for its durability and value for money. And I, for one, agree that it’s very reasonably priced.
My experience with the rug: I felt the rug really made my room look more stylish.
It was warm underfoot and didn’t show any wear, even with the kids having a good rough and tumble on it on a daily basis. And didn’t stain when I spilled my coffee!
Pros
- Bestseller with excellent customer reviews
- Excellent shades available for hiding dirt
- Available in a range of shapes and sizes
- Frieze carpet, perfect for high traffic areas
- Synthetic material for easy maintenance
Cons
- Some customers struggled to get the carpet to lay flat, which could present a trip hazard. These customers rectified this by putting furniture over the rug.
Also Available To Buy At
Unique Loom Sofia Collection Traditional Vintage Distressed Area Rug
Now, this is a carpet that can hide a multitude of sins. You could get all kinds of dirt and debris on this carpet and no-one would be any the wiser.
Perfect for a high traffic family room that gets a lot of use.
The reason it’s so good for a high traffic area is because of the design. The distressed look is meant to look a little shabby.
That’s the whole aesthetic. And if it got a little dirty, this would usually look like part of the design.
And there are different color options to choose from. The dark gray and ivory option is by far one of the best colors for hiding dirt.
But if you fancy something different, there’s a blue, a brown, a burgundy, a black, and more.
It’s available in three different shapes, namely square, rectangular, runner and round. And it can vary in size from as little as 2 foot by three, up to a whopping 9-foot by 12.
The material used is strong polypropylene, and it has been power loomed for extra durability.
The pile thickness is a third of an inch, which is above the minimum you need for a high traffic area.
What’s more, the rug doesn’t shed, is easy to clean, and is stain resistant to boot.
It’s a prominent bestseller with the leading online retailers, and on Amazon it has seen over a whopping 31,500 individual customer reviews.
Better yet, the average customer rating still comes in at an impressive 4 and a half stars out of 5.
Customers particularly praise its value for money and how easy it is to clean.
My experience with the rug: I decided to try out the beige version of this rug in the family room.
It went with the room decor really well, never looked shabby, and I had no issues with it whatsoever.
Pros
- Perfect for not showing up any dirt!
- Prominent bestseller with online retailers
- Excellent colors, shapes & sizes available
- Pile is ⅓ inch thick & made with polypropylene
- Doesn’t shed, is easy to clean, and is stain resistant
Cons
- It can really vary in price depending on where you buy it from, so be sure to shop around for the best price (Amazon is usually pretty good, just use the link provided to check the price.)
Also Available To Buy At
nuLOOM Sherill Ripple Modern Abstract Area Rug
Now, this is an excellent carpet for a high traffic area such as a family room…
It features a neutral color palette with varying shades of gray, which is perfect for disguising any of the everyday dirt that family rooms often have.
It also features a barely there stripe pattern which adds interest to the look of the carpet without distracting from the other features of the room such as wallpaper and furniture.
And it has other great properties besides the convenience of the aesthetic.
For example, the polypropylene fibers have been power loomed to ensure the negligible shedding and enhanced durability that you need in a high traffic area.
What’s more, it’s really easy to clean and maintain. And if there is a spill, you can just go ahead and spot clean it without having to take the whole thing to the dry cleaners.
The pile height comes in at 0.43 inches, which is well above the minimum we’d recommend for a high traffic area.
It’s available in a range of shapes and sizes, including round, square and rectangular.
And it's available in a range of sizes from 2 by 3 feet up to a whopping 12 by 15 feet. Unfortunately, however, the price does go up with size.
It has gone down rather well with customers, with over 60% of those who left a review on Amazon giving it a full 5 stars out of 5.
My experience with the rug: I also tried this rug out in my family room, and I was really surprised by how soft it felt underfoot with bare feet.
And although it isn’t classed as stain resistant, whenever there was a spill it was always easy enough to clean.
Pros
- Neutral, unassuming color & aesthetic
- Thick pile height, coming in at 0.43 inches
- Available in a range of shapes and sizes
- Power loomed to prevent shedding
- Really easy to clean and maintain
Cons
- Only available in gray
- So popular even the big retailers occasionally run out of stock
Also Available To Buy At
SAFAVIEH Berber Shag Collection Non-Shedding Plush Area Rug
If you’re looking for a non-shedding carpet that’s also very thick, plush and soft underfoot, then this could be just what you’re looking for…
It comes from Safavieh, which is one of the most well-loved and trusted brands across the whole of Amazon’s collection, and is frequently met with excellent customer ratings and reviews.
This particular rug comes from their Berber Shag Collection.
And for those of you who don’t already know, a Berber rug is generally one that's overall light in color with flecks of darker colors and is woven with a distinctive loop pile that attaches to the backing and remains uncut.
This makes it an excellent choice for a high traffic family room for many reasons.
First off, the flecks of different shades in the pile really help to disguise any dirt that gets dragged in throughout the course of a day.
Secondly, the machine-woven polypropylene fibers are expertly designed to ensure there’s virtually no shedding to worry about.
And thirdly, Berber carpets are known for being quite easy to clean when it comes to spills and stains, which is just what you need in a family room.
And another great thing about this carpet, as I’ve mentioned already, is how thick and soft it is, with a pile height of a whole 1.2 inches.
It’s available in 3 colors, gray and cream, green and beige, and beige and blue. And it’s available in 3 shapes, namely round, square and rectangular.
The available sizes range from a mere 2 by 2 feet all the way up to 12 by 12 feet.
My experience with the rug: I must say it’s quite a plush rug for a high traffic area, really nice and soft. Perfect for toddlers and babies who like to play on the floor.
Pros
- Good, well established brand
- Color scheme expertly disguises dirt
- Berber rug with durable machine weaving
- Very soft & plush, with a pile of 1.2 inches
- Available in a range of shapes & sizes
Cons
- Some customers have recommended that you buy a non-slip rug pad to go under it
Also Available To Buy At
BNM Contemporary Patchwork Pattern Area Rug
Now, this is a carpet that has a lot going for it!
First off, it has an excellent contemporary patchwork design that looks super stylish and modern.
What’s more, each patch of the patchwork design features varied shades, which makes it perfect for disguising the kind of dirt you typically get in a high traffic family room.
It’s available in a range of great color options, all of which have a fairly neutral color palette that lend themselves really well to a family room. This includes chocolate, charcoal, beige, slate and more.
It’s available in a range of shapes, including runner, rectangular, square and round. And it's available in a range of sizes too, from 2 by 3 feet, all the way up to 10 by 14 feet.
It’s made with 100 % polypropylene fibers for extra durability, which is essential for high traffic areas.
What’s more, the pile height comes in at 0.31 inches, which is above the minimum we recommend for high traffic areas, but at the same time is also low enough for easy vacuuming.
Moreover, it also happens to be stain resistant too, which is just what you need if your family room is prone to spills.
It’s a prominent bestseller with the leading online retailers where it’s been met with excellent customer ratings and reviews, with lots of customers saying it’s a great price and is worth the money.
My experience with the rug: I really liked the look of this rug in my home. I used it in a high traffic area and there was no visible shedding or wear. It was easy to clean and easy to vacuum.
Pros
- Bestseller with excellent ratings
- Contemporary, modern aesthetic
- Varied shading to disguise dirt
- Range of colors, shapes & sizes
- Stain resistant & easy to vacuum
- 100% polypropylene & 0.31” pile
Cons
- So popular even the big retailers occasionally run out of stock
Also Available To Buy At
Buying Guide
As promised, here’s your buying guide. Let us walk you through the key points to consider when shopping for a carpet for a high traffic family room.
Aesthetic And Appearance
Of course when looking at carpets, one of your considerations will be the color.
But in addition to deciding whether the carpet you like goes well with the furniture and walls, for a family room, especially a high traffic one, you should also consider how well it hides dirt.
A carpet that is too pale will show up every little bit of dirt that comes through, and you’ll end up having to hoover it far more often than you’d like.
Pile
The pile of a carpet describes how the fibers are looped or cut to a certain length and twisted to stay in place.
Different types of pile give the carpet different properties, such as preventing any shedding, and making the carpet easier to vacuum (more on this in our individual reviews).
In our view, the best pile type for high traffic areas are Fraise and Berber ones.
Material
Our favorite material for a carpet in a high traffic area has to be polypropylene.
It’s extremely resilient and durable, designed to handle messes, scratches and general wear. You can even use polypropylene rugs outdoors.
Thickness
The weight and density of a carpet is measured in ounces. For a high traffic area, the thicker and heavier your carpet per square yard the better, because it means greater durability and less wear.
Ideally, the closer you can get to 50 ounces per square yard the better, and you should steer away from carpets that weigh only 25 ounces per square yard.
And for a high traffic area, the carpet should be at least a quarter of an inch thick.
Feel
If there are people in the house who like to walk around barefoot, or if you have pets, you should also consider the feel of the carpet.
Granted, this can be hard to judge when you’re shopping online, but if you shop in online stores that feature customer reviews, you will see comments about the feel of the fabric.
Easy To Clean
Thankfully, most carpets are pretty easy to vacuum and spot clean. And if you’re really lucky, you might even find a carpet that’s stain resistant.
Value For Money
Carpets designed for high traffic areas are thicker and weigh more than regular carpets, thus requiring more material.
This in turn means that the carpets are more expensive to produce, and this translates to a higher cost for consumers such as yourself.
For this reason, we strongly recommend checking prices as you go along to see if they’re within your budget. (We don’t include prices in our reviews in case they change.)
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Hardest-Wearing Carpet?
The hardest-wearing carpets around are polypropylene ones.
What’s more, polypropylene carpets are also soft to the touch, excellent value for money, and stain resistant to boot. Most of the carpets in our shortlist are polypropylene.
