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Choose the Best Carpet for Kids and Pets

Ashley Tyler

By Ashley Tyler
Updated October 18, 2024

When purchasing new wall-to-wall carpet, it’s important to choose something that holds up to your lifestyle and your family’s needs. If your home is filled with pets and/or young children, the type of carpet, carpet style, color and texture all play a big part in it’s longevity.

Carpet Material

Synthetic fibers like nylon, polyester or olefin are the most durable and stain-resistant. They withstand even the biggest messes, making it the perfect choice for children's bedroom carpet and the best carpet for pets. Learn the differences between polyester vs. nylon and olefin carpet material.

Nylon Carpet

  • The most stain-resistant material 
  • Odor-resistant 
  • Won’t show wear and tear  
  • Hypoallergenic

Polyester Carpet

  • Very soft 
  • Dries fast 
  • Stain-resistant 
  • Can withstand heavy foot traffic

Olefin Carpet

  • Budget-friendly 
  • Rougher texture than nylon or polyester, but can withstand the heaviest foot-traffic and messes
  • Water-resistant and won’t absorb spills

Stain-Resistant Carpet

Pet accidents and young kids are no match for the STAINMASTER® Pet Protect® carpet. The closest you can get to pet-proof carpet, this STAINMASTER carpet has leak defense backing to stop stains and odors from seeping through to the underlayment pad and subfloor. The stain-resistant technology keep spills on top of the carpet longer giving you ample time to blot it up, making it the best carpet for pets and high-traffic areas. 

If your busy home is full of pets, kids and their messes, water-resistant and stain-resistant carpet is the way to go.

Carpet Pile Length

The carpet pile refers to the length of carpet fibers. When dealing with kids and pets, a low-pile carpet is best. It’s the easiest to pile to vacuum, spot spills on and keep clean. It’s a good carpet for pets since it's their nails are less likely to snag on the low-pile. While it’s not as plush underfoot as high-pile carpet, the higher the pile the harder it is to keep clean. Opt for low-pile carpeting in high-traffic areas and save the high-pile for your bedroom.

Carpet Color

Keep the color of the carpet in mind while you’re shopping. You may love the look of crisp white carpet, but it’s not a practical carpet for cats, dogs or young children. Dark carpet isn’t the best idea either since it highlights every crumb and hair, especially if you have pets with light colored fur. Go with a carpet color in the middle of the spectrum, or one that has a pattern in a variety of tones, for a carpet that always looks clean.

Carpet Texture

Texture is an important factor in pet-friendly carpet because it helps disguise the wear and tear of daily life. The texture also makes cleaning a stain easier and you don’t have to worry about messing up the fibers of the rug. Choose a textured carpeting that contains a variety of color tones which helps hides stains, something that’s crucial in a busy household.

Carpet Installation

Two Lowe's proffesionals installing a carpet.

Once you choose the carpet, let Lowe’s install it for you.