I guess in a perfect world you would have the money to do all the floors before move in IMO wall to wall carpet is just gross and more so with kids.

I don’t see a question exactly. Are you asking carpet preferences? We’ve used Berber and it wears great. I’ve never thought of carpet as gross. It works

If I could, I’d have the carpets done before move in. Sooooooo much easier.

Different carpets on different levels (each level has 'stuck' to a single carpet choice) is fine. Removing carpet now and then laying the same carpet throughout is a quick way to get a refresh (at least you know it is NEW carpet) before moving in.

Hardwood is a project for later. Be aware that carpet HIDES some of the WORST subfloors in the world. Carpet is very forgiving and allows builders to hide mega-oopsas without having to spend money 'dealing' with wonky concrete or plywood.

Please be prepared for a big subfloor preparation bill. That can mean adding $2-$4/sf onto the cost of hardwood installation. Just a little FYI.

I prefer wall to wall carpet for kids. Once they get older a hardwood floor is well worth it. And besides, you have just purchased a home (with all the costs involved with that). It can be a tough pill to swallow having to come up with tens of thousands of dollars for hardwood; only to find out you need 35% more money just to fix the subfloor hidden by the carpets.

I am particularly asking for a carpet suggestion. Thank you for all the feedback. With the cost of the home and all the updates that need to be made hardwood is not an option for me right now. But i can’t imagine living with someone’s old carpet

Also i will have everything done before we move in as far as paint and carpet. The selections need to be made now so i can schedule the install

I would absolutely not go with a white/cream carpet of any sort with two young kids. Actually I just wouldn't in general. Berber is nice but you need to choose something that is not white/cream. It will look bad so fast even from just basic wear and tear.

We have hardwood on main but carpet on stairs and in bedrooms. We chose a grey speckled colour purposefully. Yes it is to hide some dirt likely and many people think that might be gross. I love it.

I guess i liked the off white for the aesthetic but I’ll look for a few grey samples that might work.

Stain master makes a great dog-proof, child-proof carpet. We put it two bedrooms. We have two dogs. It’s unbelievably easy to clean. It’s low pile like Berber, but has no loops that will snag. This is the style we installed, but there are other options. https://giantfloor.com/flooring/bended-bough-sandcastle-2/

If you don't mind the rug-over-carpet look, you could add some washable area rugs from ruggable.com in the areas where the kids might be eating, drinking or doing activity that might cause a spill. That would help keep the new wall-to-wall clean.

Be careful with Berber. It can and often does have a awful smell as it off gasses. I don't know if it's just me, but I can't even imagine living with that smell. Maybe it depends on the brand/level of carpet. I don't know. Maybe SJ McCarthy can add info. All I know is if I walk into a house with new Berber (I'm a Realtor) I have to leave quickly or I get a massive headache.

I like this color. It is a neutral tweed.

Bridgehampton Estate · More Info

This is nice, too.

Comfortable Carpet · More Info

I would get a low, cut pile. Berber can be a great look, but it can be snagged (and will be if you acquire any pets). Plus, cut pile is easy to cut out a stain or damage, and patch in a new piece (why one should keep some left over scraps from the installation)

With your wood trims, I would look for a warm, pale green, blue-green, moss, or warm gray. Pale, fairly neutral but not cream.

I got some really good quality carpet from Home Depot - they will often have kiosks with carpet at a special price. It proved easy to clean and durable. I think the brand was Beaulieu. Held up with cats, dog, and child for 18 years!

There are a few stores nearby but my state has a stay at home order so I’m trying to get as much information online so that when i can go out i will have narrowed my decision down. Thank you all for the help. It’s definitely bringing up some issues that i hadn’t thought of

Thanks everyone for the advice. Actually decided to just do carpet on the second level and install hardwood on the first floor