Replacing Our Upstairs Carpet
If you’re considering new carpet for your home or just starting to explore your options, this post walks you through everything you need to know. I’m sharing the entire process from selection to installation- including tips for choosing materials, getting the best estimate, and what to expect on install day. We replaced our upstairs carpet over two years ago, so I also wanted to share how it has held up! Click through for all the details and my designer tips…
As a designer, this was surprisingly my first time having carpet professionally installed in one of our own homes, so I approached it with a fresh perspective and plenty of research. I’ll break down what worked, what to avoid, and how to make sure your new carpet looks perfect in your space. One of the small but important things I looked into was how to remove furniture indentations from carpet, especially after moving everything back into place. If you’re also navigating a new install or refreshing an old one, that quick guide might be helpful to keep bookmarked. Let’s dive in!
Why I Wanted to Replace Our Carpet
The existing carpet upstairs was left by the previous homeowners, and it always felt like an afterthought. It was a basic gray color that didn’t suit our style and wasn’t holding up well to our dogs… you can see the before tour of our new house for a closer look. It was even installed in the basement bathroom, which I immediately knew had to go! I had put it off for years, mostly because of the hassle of moving furniture and budgeting for something that wasn’t at the top of my priority list, but once I started painting upstairs, I figured… why not finally tackle it?
Why I Chose Carpet (Yes, Really)
Most of the time, you’ll see me installing hardwood flooring or tile. But I actually like carpet for specific spaces. Here’s why I chose it for the bedrooms:
- It adds softness underfoot- especially in bedrooms
- It was more budget-friendly than other options
- It was quick to install (and we didn’t have to do it ourselves)
- It adds warmth and helps insulate upstairs
- It makes the rooms quieter and improves acoustics
- I like mixing materials for variety throughout the house- it adds an extra layer
How I Picked the Carpet and Pad
I didn’t spend long at the store, maybe twenty minutes tops, grabbing a few swatches and carpet boards to bring home. It was a spur-of-the-moment stop, but I already had a decent idea of what I wanted. I was mostly looking for something durable, classic, natural, and easy to live with. Here’s what I had in mind going in:
- Durability was a must. This carpet needed to hold up to daily life.
- It had to be spill and stain resistant– something I didn’t need to stress over with guests or pets.
- I’m always drawn to natural materials, ideally something with a wool blend.
- I wanted a timeless look that felt traditional, like a subtle berber, wool, or sisal style.
- Low pile was another priority to keep things looking clean and structured.
- It needed to be easy to maintain, with simple cleaning and upkeep.
- And of course, it had to be pet friendly, since our dogs are a big part of daily life around here.
After chatting about our options with Emmett and estimating what best fit our budget and goals, we landed on a carpet by Natural Harmony (style: Terrain / color: Straw). It’s just over $6 a square foot, looks very similar to densely woven sisal, but with the softness of wool. It’s made of 100% Wooltex- which equates to 51% wool and 49% olefin.
Wool is a natural material, so it’s antimicrobial, helps wick away moisture, and is an eco-friendly option. Olefin, on the other hand, brings durability to the mix. It resists spills, mildew, and fading, and is super easy to clean. That blend gave us the performance we needed without sacrificing comfort or style.
Our carpet came with a limited lifetime stain warranty and a 25-year wear and tear warranty, which gave me some peace of mind knowing it’s made to last. It’s supposed to resist fading and hold up well over time. For upkeep, I vacuum it regularly just like any other carpet. If something spills, I blot it right away since the liquid sits on the surface instead of soaking in. I also plan to schedule a professional steam cleaning every year or two to keep it looking its best.
There weren’t a ton of carpet pads to pick from, so I went with a solid middle-of-the-road choice. I landed on a dense SpillSafe foam that blocks liquid and odor while still giving a nice, supportive feel underfoot. It wasn’t the cheapest or the most expensive, which worked well for our budget and still gave us the quality I was hoping for.
Color and Lighting Lessons
When it came to color, there were so many beautiful options in this style. For our upper floor, Hazelnut and Straw were the top contenders. I ran a quick poll on Instagram and over 80% of you picked Hazelnut, the cooler-toned swatch (pictured below)… but I went with Straw instead. Why? With the natural light in our house, I knew it would read cooler once installed, and Hazelnut might end up looking too gray… less like the sisal vibe I wanted.
It’s a good reminder that color is always going to behave differently from one home to the next. What looks warm and cozy in one space might read flat in another. If you’re shopping for carpet, definitely take those swatches home and move them around your space before making a decision.
The Estimate and Scheduling Process
After picking out the carpet and pad, the next step was scheduling the estimate. The day after my store visit, someone came by to take measurements of the upstairs bedrooms (four in total), which took about an hour. Before they showed up, I made sure I had a few things ready to go so everything would run smoothly.
I had already decided which rooms were getting carpet (including the closets), noted the carpet and pad details with SKU numbers, and figured out what kind of transitions I wanted between spaces. I also did a quick estimate of our square footage so I’d have a good idea of what to expect price-wise when the formal quote came in.
Once measuring was finished, the formal estimate arrived to my email the following day. I looked everything over, approved the estimate, paid for our materials, then all that was left was to schedule the installation.
Installation Day
Just a heads up, you’ll want to be home during carpet installation. Emmett and I both cleared our schedules that day so we could help move furniture, answer questions, and stay looped in as everything was installed. The night before, we fully emptied the upstairs… furniture, rugs, anything on the floors- even inside the closets. We also had to take the bifold doors off in three of the bedrooms, which took more time than I expected.
You can definitely pay extra to have the installers handle larger pieces, but to save money and avoid any mishaps with our things, we just powered through it ourselves. At one point, Emmett joked that it was like moving out of a house all over again, which honestly wasn’t far off.
Carpet removal was part of the package, so the installers started by pulling up all of the old carpet and padding. They took it all the way down to the subfloor, clearing the way for a clean, fresh install.
During installation, we made sure to keep the house nice and warm, above 75 degrees, since temperature plays a big role in helping the carpet settle or acclimate properly. I stayed close by to keep an eye on the progress and to chat through any questions. Our installers were wonderful to work with and really communicative throughout the day. They asked for my input on things like seam placement and made sure everything met my expectations. I appreciated how careful and thoughtful they were with the entire process.
Emmett jumped in to help with the thresholds while the crew worked. Instead of using raised pieces, he installed flat, horizontal hardwood transitions that matched our flooring. It was a small detail that made everything look really clean, tailored, and intentional.
Seams were definitely the part I was most nervous about. With wool, berber, and sisal-style carpets, it’s really easy for seams to stand out in all the wrong ways. I’ve seen it happen before, and I knew it could make or break the finished look. Thankfully, our installers were pros. They walked me through their plan, talked through where each seam would go, and made sure everything lined up as cleanly as possible. I was so relieved when I saw the final result, it honestly looks seamless!
After the Install
Once the carpet was installed, I asked the team if there were any remnants we could use elsewhere. If you end up with extra material, you can always have it bound into rugs or runners for other parts of your home. We only had one small piece left, but it should work perfectly as a little doormat by the garage entry.
That same day, we were able to move all of our furniture back in. I took it as a chance to really reset the upstairs- deep cleaning each room, conditioning the leather, oiling the wood furniture, organizing drawers, and I even did a bit of styling. The whole level looked and felt brand new. I also made a note in my calendar to get everything professionally steamed in a year or two to help keep the carpet in great shape for the long haul.
From the day I picked out samples to the final install, the whole carpet process took less than two weeks. I was genuinely impressed by how quickly everything came together. Even though it wasn’t something I had planned far in advance, I’m so glad we went for it.
Click directly on each carpet swatch below to be redirected.
If you’re thinking about replacing your carpet too, I’ve linked some of my favorite options from Home Depot below. These are the styles that stood out to me (in person) for their durability, texture, and timeless look, just in case you’re browsing and need a good starting point.
Expert Tips
- Always test swatches at home before committing
- Keep your home above 75 degrees during and 48 hours after install
- Don’t skip the carpet pad research- it makes a huge difference underfoot
- Ask for leftover pieces to turn into custom rugs
- Watch the seam placement… especially with wool, berber, or sisal styles
Maintenance Tips
- Vacuum weekly
- Blot spills right away (don’t rub)
- Steam clean every 12 to 18 months
- Keep the temp steady the first few days after install
FAQ
Almost three years later, our carpet still looks and feels new. We’ve definitely put it to the test… accidental spills (wine and even coffee), dog accidents, and mud- but it has cleaned easily and still looks great a few years later. We are cautious to keep it clean, take good care of it, and don’t wear shoes in our home, but it’s a choice a would definitely make again!
Seams were one of my biggest concerns, especially with the type of carpet we chose. I made sure to ask the installers about placement ahead of time. They were great about hiding them and walking me through their plan before cutting anything. If you’re going with a textured or patterned carpet, I’d definitely recommend bringing this up early in the process, so you can plan ahead.
Definitely. The pad makes a bigger difference than you’d think. I chose a SpillSafe foam option that prevents odor and liquid absorption, and it gives a nice dense feel underfoot. It wasn’t the cheapest option, but it did add comfort and longevity to the carpet… which felt worth it to me.
I wish I had known how quick the whole process can be. From choosing the material to install day, it was just under two weeks. I had this idea in my head that it would be a huge ordeal, but it moved fast. If I had known, I probably would’ve done it sooner.
Here’s a closer look… pictured below. I like the clean aesthetic of a piece of flooring running in the perpendicular direction for a simple and easy threshold. Everything is flush and it’s not a tripping hazard, like other raised thresholds.
Related Posts You Might Like
If you’re updating your flooring or refreshing your house, you might also enjoy these related posts:
- How Designers Choose & Use Wall-to-Wall Carpet: 10 Tips
- How to Remove Furniture Indentations from Carpet
- Timeless Tips for a Bedroom Refresh Without Renovating
- Stair Rods: The Finishing Touch for Your Stair Runner
- Why We Don’t Wear Shoes in the House
- How to Clean and Care for Natural Fiber Rugs (Without Ruining Them)
I’m so glad we tackled the carpet upstairs a few years ago. It completely changed the look and comfort of our bedrooms and gave me a much-needed push to start wrapping up a few other spaces around the house. If you’re thinking about updating your own carpet, or just starting to plan- I’m happy to answer any questions you have along the way. Just drop me a comment below!
Thank you! Our first goal this year is to replace our carpeting and your information is very helpful. I love your choice too – it looks great!
No problem and thank you, Marti! Good luck with your carpet replacement this year!
Good morning! Wow! What a lightning-speed transformation! I would still be agonizing over the final two swatches.🙄 Even though it might be a scramble, who doesn’t love a sped up timeline? Moving all that furniture though…oof. But also, a nice kick in the pants to deep clean and refresh! While I’m not a major fan of carpet, I can’t deny the benefits you cited. The difference in heat and acoustics alone is quite astounding! I love the look that you chose too. So natural and pretty. Emmett definitely deserves kudos for those flawless transitions! Maybe my favorite feature. I appreciate all of the details about the installation process. I would not have thought that the temperature was important to carpet installation…Also, seams and closets! Did you have to decide about the direction of the pattern, or was that dictated by the width of the carpet itself? I was completely unprepared for that question when we had hardwoods installed. (My initial response was something intelligent like, “The usual direction?”) From the sound of it, you had excellent professionals! Working with knowledgeable, courteous tradespeople goes a long way to minimizing my stress over these major (pricey!) decisions. Three cheers for a flawless process! You must feel like you got a whole new upstairs. Ha! Your guests are the luckiest…for SO many reasons. And so are we if we can anticipate more bedroom redos! I think they might be my faves. Here’s to a beautiful week, friend! 💜
PS That picture of Crosby lounging on top of Cash made my heart burst!
Wasn’t that so fast?! I can’t believe how quickly the carpet arrived and was installed. When they called to move up install I was totally on board… Emmett, not so much. I’d rather just rip off the bandaid and get it over with. Was it lots of work moving everything? Totally, but well worth it! Emmett did a great job with the transitions- I’m happy they’re totally flat (nothing to trip over). I got to decide on the direction and help with the seam placement. The installers actually taught me a lot. Apparently there is a right direction to vacuum carpet, and you can tell me doing a little test with a number two pencil and a piece of printer paper. I’ll have to share it in an IG video because it was fascinating! The installers were really fantastic- I can’t say enough nice things about them… they even helped me move some things while Emmett was on a work call. Kindness goes a long way! I really do feel like the upstairs is sparkly and new. I’m definitely feeling motivated to tackle more bedrooms this year. I feel like I can knock those out on my own while Emmett does the trickier renovation tasks (that I don’t enjoy, ha). Come visit anyway- we’d love to have you as a guest! Cash & Crosby are always snuggling. Those two are so sweet. Carpet selection was definitely a family affair over the holidays, ha. I hope you had a great Monday. Are you also getting snow or rain this week? We got six more inches!
Good Morning! We made it to Florida 🥳 We we’re traveling last week and I’m so happy to be back in the sunshine and your blog of course ☺️
The new carpet is beautiful Sarah. I love the color and style you chose. I’ve had an up and down relationship with carpet over the years. Probably because we didn’t invest in top notch quality. We thought we did in our last house but the world of carpet is so vast in quality range, our interpretation of quality at the time was sadly mis-represented by the home builder selection. Even though we upgraded it unfortunately it didn’t last. We ended up replacing it with the hardwood that was selected throughout the rest of the home. Luckily the hardwood was an excellent quality and still available through a local distributor.
New carpet does feel so cozy underfoot especially in a bedroom. Carpet in a bathroom though 😱 No thank you! I’m anxious to hear how the wool/olefin blend holds up over time, it looks gorgeous and I’m surprised/impressed Home Depot did a great job on the install. That’s fantastic 👍 Proper installation is key to longevity for sure. Thanks for all the excellent tips, I had no idea temperature of your home was important to carpet installation. Huh! I’m always learning something new here. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Happy Monday and enjoy your stunning new carpet, Can’t wait to see it in the new guest bedroom. Yay!
Hi Colleen! I’m so glad to hear you made it to Florida! One request… soak up some sunshine for me, please! We have 5-6 inches of snow on the ground here with more coming tomorrow, ha. I’m not over it quite yet, as ski season has been wonderful, but I know come the end of February, I’ll be itching for spring and warmer temps. I remember you telling me about your carpet experience! I suppose only time will tell how ours will wear, but I’m feeling quite pleased with it now. I guess we’re still in the honeymoon phase though, haha. I have high hopes, so fingers crossed. Hardwoods are always a good investment and safe bet! I can’t say I blame you for going that route after your experience with carpet. When we moved into our house, I could not believe there was carpet in the bathroom… so gross. I think we lucked out with our install team. They said they only install wool varieties and they tagged themself the “A-Team”, ha. Regardless, I’m happy we ended up with them. They really did a fantastic job. Apparently it has to be above a certain temperature for the adhesive to fully cure. We were absolutely roasting while moving furniture in and out of the bedrooms. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead! Enjoy Florida! xo
I absolutely love the carpet and color you landed on! It’s extremely close to what I’ve envisioned for the upstairs bedrooms in our house. It sounds like you had an awesome experience with Home Depot, from selection to installation, which is reassuring. Two week turn around time? Yes please! I had no idea that temperature would make any difference with carpet installation, and we’ve had carpet installed twice now; I wonder if that’s the reason our carpet now bubbles in certain areas. I would love to hear more about how you decided on where the seams would be placed, and any other decisions you had to make regarding that. When we had carpet installed at the old house the installers folded the carpet over before tacking at all the transition points. When we had carpet installed here, we weren’t given that option (same company), and now we can feel the tack strips. It’s a super painful experience when barefoot. (After a few years of traffic we can now see where the pad ends and the strips begin; it’s like a low point all around the room). How did they go about it with your install? What a difference fresh carpet can make! I love the look, and I’m sure you’re very excited about finishing the other guest rooms. I’m loving what you’ve done with the one you’re currently working on and I can’t wait to see the end result. It’s always nice to have a fresh start isn’t it? Have a lovely week my friend!
Thank you so much, Lauren! I’m really happy with it. I was really impressed with our experience working with Home Depot. Having been a Lowe’s partner (with exclusivity), it had been years since I’d ordered anything big like that from Home Depot. It went really well, and they went above and beyond. I couldn’t believe the two week turn around time- crazy. The installers said the temperature is because of the type of adhesive they use- it cures as a certain temp. I asked about bubbling and they said we should not have any, but I suppose time will tell. I can’t believe your tack strips… ouch! That’s definitely not good. They did the fold over method for our tack strips and made them flush with Emmett’s thresholds. Being my first experience with fresh carpet, I can’t believe how drastically it changed the look and feel of our house. Everything suddenly feels SO clean- I love it. I’m excited to share the guest room with you. It definitely feels like fresh beginnings over here. I hope you have a wonderful week, too! xox
Flooring is hard for several reasons. You did a great job on color and type. This will last you many many years! I admit I chose the Hazelnut color. It is so hard with those tiny squares to get an idea. Is is because of the cold temps in Utah that you have to have the room temperature at 75 degrees? Is it due to the glue they use that needs to cure first? You had a great group of installers to ask you about seam lines. Looks very nice and plush!
My grandmother had wool carpet and it still looked new after 30+ years. Unfortunately, it was the style and color that aged it. I believe it stayed so nice due to her strict policy of no food or drinks! When we had new carpet installed 2 years ago, my husband and I removed it all. I am embarrassed to say the amount of dirt on the stairs was shocking! The sub floor had started to squeak a lot so we reinforced it with lots of screws due to them originally using nails. Talk about really changing the look of a room with new flooring.
Emmett’s thresholds look awesome! His abilities are impressive! Can’t wait to see the room reveal. Have a great week!
Thank you, Danna! It really is so tricky with the tiny swatches. I’ll also say- it’s tough to translate the accurate color in person onto a phone screen when I’m sharing on Instagram. It’s never quite the same. I believe the temperature is due to the adhesive they use. To be fair though- we have 5-6 inches of snow on the ground right now. We had two installers working simultaneously and they did a fabulous job (they did say they were the A-team, haha). I love hearing about your grandmother’s carpet. We don’t eat upstairs, but we definitely take drinks up there. Maybe I need to adopt her rule. Emmett did such a great job with the thresholds. I can’t wait to show you the guest room… I’m just waiting on my artwork (I’m having some of my photos framed). Hope you have a wonderful week, too! xo
What a thorough and informative post Sarah, thank you so much. Coming from “the land downunder” (one of them anyway), where sheep were plentiful, I grew up with wool carpet. It was an expensive product even back in the 70s and 80s, but our mothers expected it to last. My husband and I still laugh about how our mums would make us sit on the kitchen linoleum to eat or drink anything that even remotely looked like it would stain! It’s amazing how far technology has come, that a wonderful natural, sustainable fibre like wool can be blended to resist all that life throws at it. Lifetime stain warranty and 25 years fade and wear? Incredible! I will be bookmarking this post for sure.
Happy to share, Rhonda! I grew up on a farm and we raised sheep- that’s probably where I got my appreciation for wool… from shearing each season. Ha! It really is a magical material though. I got a chuckle out of your family making you eat on the linoleum, but I can’t say I blame them. It seems textile technology has certainly continued to progress. I couldn’t believe the warranty. Here’s to hoping we won’t need it, but it is definitely nice to have. I hope you had a great day!
This is really helpful! Thank you! I had not thought to look at Home Depot and now I will check out your suggestions.
So glad to hear that, Jody!
Hello! Thanks for sharing your experience. We are well overdue to replace carpeting in our upstairs as well, and it’s just something I can’t get excited to do! I really like the look of the carpet you chose. Were your installers subcontracted by Home Depot, or actual employees of the store? Do you feel there is a lingering smell to the new carpet since it is partly synthetic? (I am super sensitive to smells, everything gives me a headache.) Thanks!
Happy to share! Our installers were contracted by Home Depot (not actual HD employees). They did an amazing job! Since our carpet is wool blend- there wasn’t a strong lingering off gassing smell like you get with other options. It just smelled clean… and a little like wool. The carpet pad did have a bit of an odor, but once it was covered, I didn’t notice it anymore. I’m also sensitive to smells and didn’t get a headache with it. Hope that helps!
This is exactly what I need! Yay! I know it’s really new, but do you find it sheds? That is my husband’s hesitation with wool.
Yay! We haven’t had any shredding, Ellen. I hope that helps!
Your carpet looks amazing! Is installation harder for a carpet with pattern like that? To line up the pattern and make sure it is perfectly square, etc? If I ever got carpet, I would just pick what you picked, but then you provided so many other great options?!? You make me want to install some carpet!
Thank you, Julie! Installation is definitely more tricky with wool carpets that have pattern or texture. It took the installers a lot of time to perfectly line it up. I’m so happy you enjoyed this post!
I absolutely love your choice. This is exactly what I originally wanted but several carpet places talked us out of Berber or looped carpet because we have two cats. They basically said the upstairs area would become one big scratch pad. LOL. We opted for a cut & loop pile (similar to some of your other pics) that has more cut than loop and every now and then I have to do a repair but it isn’t as nearly as bad as the Berber would have been for our situation.
Thank you, Michele! Berber is definitely a tricky one for households with cats. Ha! It sounds like you made a wise choice.
I’m so happy I came across this post! For the last couple years, we’ve been dreading the cost and mess of installing hardwood on the second floor of our townhouse. It never once occurred to me that we could just replace the carpet with something nicer–something low-pile and durable–to upgrade the look. I thought I might be the only person who thought this was a reasonable option. Now I have hope! Plus, if it’s smooth/dense enough, we could maybe roll out one or two of our beautiful area rugs that we’ve had to stash away! ;)
I’m so glad to hear that Jeanene! I definitely have area rugs layered on top of the carpet now. We’re still loving it!
Thanks for this post – I’m enjoying so much inspiration from your site. I came across you in a search because I have just installed the very same carpet on my stairs and in the small hallway outside the bedrooms. It’s coming across as a little more yellow than I expected – I don’t dislike it, as I was going for a sisal look – but this does bring “paint the stairwell and hallway” to the top of my list. What paint colors are using in the room with this “straw” carpeting? My stairs and hallway don’t receive much natural light so I’vebeen looking at lighter neutrals.
I’m thrilled to hear that, Jen! I’m happy you stumbled across my blog. The current paint color is Revere Pewter (here when we moved in), but we used this carpet for all of our bedrooms on the upper level. You can tour my home here for looks at other paint colors and how it looks alongside the carpet: https://roomfortuesday.com/home-tour-sources/ . I’ve used both light and dark paint colors.
Hi there! I love the look of the carpet you selected! Gives pretty, sisal vibes but in carpet form. I’m considering installing this in our home, and am wondering, if you see this, how it has held up over time and if you’re still happy with it? Thanks for all you post!
You have given me confidence!! I’m going to replace the entire upstairs.