The padding beneath your carpet serves multiple purposes; foremost, the padding provides added comfort underfoot, so your heels don’t thud against the hard, unforgiving substrate each time you take a step. But your carpet’s padding serves other—and equally important—purposes, too.

One of those purposes is to act as a cushion to protect your carpet’s backing from abrasion against the decking attached to the floor joists in your home. Without a proper carpet cushion, each time you took a step on your carpet, the backing would grind against the decking, causing delamination, which would inevitably shorten the lifespan of your carpeting.

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that not all padding is equal in quality; what works for one application may not work in another. It is in your best interest to do your homework on which padding is the correct variety for the type of carpet you intend to purchase.

A plush carpet, for example, requires padding of a different density than what a Berber carpet requires. Using the wrong variety of padding could lead to unsightly waves and ripples in your carpeting, and may lead to a void of the manufacturer’s warranty on the product you selected.

As a bonus, your carpet’s padding helps insulate your home, keeping it warmer in the winter and cooler during the summer months. A better-insulated home uses less energy, keeping your hard-earned dollars in your pocket instead of sending them off to the energy provider in your locale.

Even though buying new decorations for your home can be expensive, there are ways to make interior design less costly. If you are able to figure out the ways of cost-effective interior design, you can get the home decorations you want and save big. Here are some tips on saving big while designing your home:

1.) By using stacked modulated storage units, you will be able to store all of your small knick-knacks while having a side table to hold a lamp or some books. Convenient right?

2.) Hang plates up for an interesting wall decoration. Vary the sizes, colors and textures to make a more dramatic display. Plates can be hung up by wire plate hangers or on picture nails.

3.) If art is too much of an expensive concern, consider making your own and hanging them up on the wall. Consider taking your scrapbook gallery and hang those up as well. You never know how great the outcome will look.

4.) Go natural and use items such as seashells and other items found on the shore to create a warm inviting feel of the kitchen, hallway, or bedroom. These items can portray a rustic and relaxed look.

5.) Create your own headboard for your bed by painting it. It will cost about twenty bucks and save you some extra floor space.

6.) Make a bold statement by using different colored lampshades. Neutral colors work best, and make sure to limit the colors to one use per room.

7.) If you have some open space on a bench, stack your books on there. Stacked books tend to draw the eye.

8.) Clustering your candles together can not only make a great decorative piece, but it also introduces more natural lighting. The larger the surface is, the larger your candles should be. Group about four or five candles of individual heights for the best effect.

9.) Bring out the best look of a room with more vibrant hints of colors. Even the smallest boost bright colors can make a room more spacious and inviting.

10.) During the times where your fireplace is not in use, display a collection of vases or other cherished items. If they vary is size and shape, the better the display will be.

By utilizing these tips, you will be able to save some much-needed cash while getting the decorations you will enjoy for years to come. Also make sure to look for bargain sales at local stores to find the best prices on decorative items.

Did you know there’s a correct way to walk on your carpet?

No, we’re not making this up. If your carpet is wearing out faster than you would think, it may be due to how you’re walking on it.

Intrigued? We’ll break down the facts for you.

Here’s a question we get a lot from recent installations: “is walking barefoot on carpet bad?”

It’s a common myth that going barefoot is the best indoor foot attire for keeping your carpet clean. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Most people think if they just take their shoes off in the house, it will save them from tracking in any dirt from outside that is on their shoes.  Shoes usually track in loose, surface dirt that can be vacuumed up easily.

When you go barefoot, however, the sweat glands on the bottoms of your feet will leave residue on your carpet surface that acts as a dirt magnet.  Though not noticeable at first, over time, this residue will build up.  Constant foot traffic will ground this grime into the fibers of your new carpet.  Once the filth has migrated to the carpet fibers, even some of the best vacuum cleaners won’t be able to remove it.

When you get home, take off your soiled shoes, leave them by the front door and put on a comfy pair of slippers or socks.  There are no “best slippers for carpet ” out there, so find a pair that you feel most comfortable in.

Make sure that you have a space by the entrance of your home to allow guests to do the same.  You can even keep a basket of socks or slippers for your guests to use when they come over.  Some people think of this as “living the high life” but we believe it’s protecting your floor covering investment!

There are so many steps to keeping your new carpet fresh, clean, and looking “Guest Ready” on a daily basis.  Most carpet and flooring companies will talk about vacuuming and getting your carpeting deep cleaned every 12-18 months. While that is essential, putting on a pair of slippers is a simple daily step you can take to avoid soiling your carpet.

According to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, Americans’ debt reached a new high in 2017, climbing to a staggering $13 trillion, and surpassing the previous high in 2008 by $280 billion. Not coincidentally, the Fed’s data show that Americans’ peak earning years also happen to be their peak years for accruing debt. It seems that for most folks, carrying debt is simply part of the American Way.

If you hope to avoid falling into the American Debt Trap and becoming one of the nation’s precarious proletariat, it is in your best interest to develop solid budgeting habits sooner than later.

Making a few changes to your lifestyle will save you from paying truckloads of unnecessary interest payments throughout your lifetime. To help you as you embark on your journey toward financial independence, we put together a list of five things you can do today to put your future self in a better position financially.

If possible, make arrangements with your employer and your financial institution to ensure that a portion of your paycheck goes directly to your savings account each pay period. Pretend that the money you direct to your savings account is not part of your income; if it goes to your savings account before you ever see it, you’ll be less likely to miss the money that you’ve been wasting on caramel lattes every day.

The fastest and easiest way to eliminate your existing debt is to gather all of your bills and arrange them in descending order from lowest to highest. Making the largest payment on the smallest bills will eliminate them faster so you can direct more of your resources toward tackling your mortgage, student loans, and other high-interest debts.

If you know that you’re prone to making knee-jerk decisions when shopping online, or that you simply cannot resist the allure of a good sale, it will behoove you to be a little less quick on the draw with your credit card. Resist the temptation to buy for at least seven days before you commit to making a purchase; that will give you ample time to reevaluate whether you need that new pair of Christian Louboutin heels, or if you just really, really want them.

The draw of vacationing in the Maldives may seem irresistible to you at twenty-three, but how many vacations could you take after early retirement if you invested the cost of that Maldives trip while you’re in your early twenties? Pumping those funds into a 401(k) or a Roth IRA will pay greater dividends over the long haul.

It’s better to educate yourself about money management than it is to drain your bank account on a whim in hopes that you’ll hit the next Mega Millions jackpot. Read everything you can about how to invest your resources. As the old saying goes, a fool and his money are easily parted.

Autumn is a magical time of year. Leaves of all colors, the golden glow of the dawning sun, and the perfect weather for long-sleeves make the fall season the greatest time for many.

With that in mind, carpet manufacturers have created beautiful products that allow homeowners to incorporate the best aspects of fall into their interior design schemes. For your viewing pleasure, here are the top three fall carpet and flooring trends of 2018.

If you’re a big fan of Autumn, we’re willing to bet that the striking seasonal colors are what captivates you first. Many carpet manufacturers agree, hence why they have incorporated those tones into some of their best fall carpet colors on the market.

Out of all the colors out there, gray has taken the top carpet color choice spot by storm. Gray is an unobtrusive and timeless color that provides your room with a steely sophisticated look that other colors can’t match.

Since gray isn’t particularly a warm or cool shade, it’s versatility makes it a perfect undertone that pulls the fall carpet color palette together. One notable carpet, Grayson by Phenix, is a beautiful example of a fall carpeting that will complete any room it’s installed in.

We can’t emphasize enough on how popular gray carpet and flooring is right now, so jump on this trend before it’s too late.

From the runways to the home, brown is a staple in the fall color palette. Brown is an organic earth-toned color that represents most of Autumn’s distinct features such as the leaves running across the sidewalk or the textured bark of trees.

Another Phenix carpet called Wild Rye captures a rich brown with its fibers and demands attention wherever it is put in place. Trust us when we say this, the deep brown earth tones Wild Rye displays is a definite head-turner.

Tan is a great Autumn pairing color that sports an elegant and refining look. Harmonize an almond shade with a gray or brown shade and you’ll have a color match made in heaven.

The almond color of Avenger Woodland carpet by Mohawk is a stunning addition for your fall decorating scheme. You can also check out the Spice Cake color for an intriguing burnt tan/orange hue as well.