How to choose a carpet and ensure it stands the test of time 

Your pile-high guide to choosing a carpet and giving those fibres good survival skills

Quirky B Shuttle: Look up their fabulous woolly, soft Fair Isle and energising Hot Herring if you love full-on pattern. Around €88 per square metre; alternativeflooring.com.

Warm muffling draughts, insulating the very worst of ropy slabs and gaping boards, there’s a lot to be said for carpeting quite aside from its soul-stroking beauty.

Its installation demands are a breeze compared to wood or tile projects, and it’s easy to lift to get to sub-flooring issues.