Give your room the red-carpet treatment

A lovely, durable, comfortable overlay, be it wool, synthetic or woven, will transform any space, says Kya deLongchamps.

A beautiful, comfortable and durable, well-chosen carpet is a key investment. Confined to one or two rooms, carpet can transform a space for a reasonable cost. If you’re selling your house, the glitter and slide of a new nylon carpet is unlikely to impress a dewy-eyed viewer, compared to the yielding beauty of a modest wool mix, they can live with for years.

Know the width of the room, including any strange alcoves or run-off spaces. Measure up, sketch it on paper, jotting down the dimensions in centimetres, skirting to skirting. Bring these measurements to the supplier. Carpet widths vary, and having the exact layout will reveal where a pattern with a repeat will be lined-up and if multiple rolls will work in the space.