Whether you’re looking to upgrade your floors or simply change the aesthetic of your space, installing new carpet can be an exciting home improvement project. While the process might seem a bit challenging at first, this step-by-step guide will make it easy for you to give your room a whole new look.

1. Choose the Right Carpet and Padding: Before you start, make sure to select the perfect carpet and padding that will suit your room’s function and design. Consider factors such as traffic, insulation, and comfort when choosing the carpet’s material, pile height, and density.

2. Measure Your Space: Begin by measuring the length and width of your room to calculate the square footage and determine how much carpet material and padding you’ll need.

3. Clear the Room: Remove any furniture from your space and clean the floor area thoroughly. This will provide maximum access and minimize any dirt or debris during installation.

4. Remove Old Flooring: If you have existing carpet or other flooring materials, remove them carefully, taking caution not to damage any baseboards or other fixed elements in the room.

5. Install Tackless Strips: Secure tackless strips along all edges of the space at a distance equal to the thickness of both carpet and padding from the walls.

6. Lay Out Padding: Roll out the padding material over the entire floor area, trimming any excess around edges as needed. Butt or slightly overlap seams and fix them in place using carpet tape.

7. Trim Carpet to Size: Roll out your chosen carpet on a clean surface outside or in another room if possible. Using a straight edge and a sharp utility knife, cut your carpet slightly larger than your room measurements – approximately 3-4 extra inches on each side should suffice.

8. Set Carpet into Place: Carefully carry your trimmed piece of carpet into the room and unroll it onto your prepared subfloor. Ensure it is correctly aligned and covering the tackless strips.

9. Make Any Necessary Cuts: Trim your carpet to fit around any objects such as door frames, vents, or other obstacles in the room. Be sure to leave extra inches on each side to be pushed into the edges surrounding these features.

10. Attach Carpet to Tackless Strips: Beginning at a corner and working outward, use a knee kicker to push the carpet onto the tackless strips, ensuring that it remains taut and wrinkle-free.

11. Trim Excess Carpet: Using a utility knife and a carpet trimmer, carefully trim any excess carpet along the perimeter of the room so that it fits snugly against the wall and tackless strips.

12. Secure Carpet Edges: Fixed transition strips are typically used where your carpet meets another floor surface or in doorways. Apply those by first folding the edge of the carpet under itself, then securing it with a transition strip.

13. Clean Up and Reinstall Baseboards: Vacuum up any debris off your newly installed carpet and reinstall any baseboards you may have removed during the process.

Congratulations! You now have a cozy and well-installed new carpet that can transform your living space’s look and feel. Following these steps, you can be confident in successfully carrying out this DIY home improvement project.