Do you have a carpet beetle infestation? Carpet beetles are small, oval-shaped insects that can cause severe damage to bedding, clothes, carpets and upholstered furniture if left unattended. Find out how to prevent carpet beetles and get rid of them with our handy guide, including their appearance, eggs and signs of a carpet beetle infestation.

What are carpet beetles?

Carpet beetles can become pests in the home if left unchecked. Young carpet beetles and larvae feed on natural fibres like wool, silk and leather, as well as animal products including pet hair. Adult carpet beetles feed on pollen, plants and flowers.

What do carpet beetles look like?

Carpet beetles grow up to 4mm long as adults. They have oval-shaped bodies with striped shell of black, white and yellow or orange.

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What do carpet beetle eggs and larvae look like?

Carpet beetles lay eggs that are white or cream in colour and are less than 1mm long. Adult carpet beetles lay more than 100 eggs at once which take between 10 days and a month to hatch.

How did I get carpet beetles in my home?

Carpet beetles can enter the home through an open door or window or on an item that is already infested when it is brought inside – like an item of furniture, a plant, or fur. Taxidermy animals are also a popular hotspot for carpet beetles.

Adults like fabric and animal products so can fly in through open windows and lay larvae on furniture, clothes, rugs or carpets. If left alone and the area is not kept clean and sanitised, carpet beetles can easily thrive in the home.

How serious are carpet beetles?

Carpet beetle larvae can cause damage to natural fibres while they feed, leaving holes in throws and clothes. If attached to clothing, the bristly hairs can also irritate human skin. Other than skin irritation, they are not harmful to humans.

In most cases, they do not cause damage to the property itself but the more objects inside it, like bedding, carpets and furniture. If they are left to breed, the problem could get worse.

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Signs of a carpet beetle infestation

Seeing adult carpet beetles in the home can signify that larvae have been laid somewhere. Adult carpet beetles are attracted to light so you are likely to find them around bulbs and windows.

Signs of larvae include damage and holes in fabric items, thin or bare areas on wool rugs, damage to blankets, and shed larval skins in hidden areas.

Where do carpet beetles lay their eggs?

Adults are likely to lay their eggs where there is enough food for their young so look for those hotspots. They also prefer areas out of direct sunlight – like along skirting boards or in shady corners.

More pest control advice:

How to get rid of moths

11 natural ways to keep spiders out of your house

How to get rid of mice in your home

Where can carpet beetles be found in the home?

• carpet
• curtains
• clothes
• soft furnishings
• furniture
• animal beds
• taxidermy
• bird nests in the chimney or roof
• potpourri
• bedding
• plants and flowers
• pet biscuits
• flour and dried pasta

How to get rid of carpet beetles

Vacuum regularly – Carpet beetle larvae like to feed on debris in the carpet, including dead skin, dead insects and hair (both human and pet). Hoovering regularly will mean there is less for the carpet beetles to feed on. You can also hoover up larvae and eggs. Pay particular attention to the carpet along the skirting boards.

Steam cleaning – Much like vacuuming, the experts recommend steam cleaning hard surfaces. The heat and moisture remove the remaining beetles and eggs.

Wiping or spraying surfaces with vinegar – Another tip for getting rid of carpet beetles is to wipe surfaces, window sills, shelves, drawers and hangers with a vinegar mix. You'll want to ensure any dirt or food residue is regularly cleaned up.

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Clean infected areas thoroughly – Make sure you remove the larvae and any debris. Ensure surfaces, furniture and soft furnishings are regularly wiped down or laundered. Be careful using pesticides as these can be toxic and are not environmentally-friendly. They could also be poisonous to pets.

Put infected items in the washing machine – Clothes, throws and soft furnishings you are concerned about can be put in the washing machine, where a high temperature will kill the larvae. Always check labels before washing.

Inspect plants – Regularly have a look over your houseplants and flowers when you water them and wipe down the leaves. This is especially important when you first bring them indoors.

Shake freshly cut flowers before bringing them inside — There's nothing better than a beautiful bunch of spring flowers, but you could be bringing carpet beetles inside without realising. Give your flowers a gentle shake before popping them in a vase to ensure carpet beetles aren't hiding inside (they like to feed on pollen).

Seal gaps – Make sure cracks and gaps around doors and windows are sealed and secure.

Call pest control – If you feel like the problem is out of your control and you cannot locate the larvae, contact a licensed pest control and ask for professional advice.

Keep dried food in sealed containers – Carpet beetles like to feed on dried goods, including flour and dried pasta. Make sure you keep all food in sealed containers.

31 country kitchen ideas to fall in love with

Country kitchens ideas: Sage green hues

Refresh and revive your country kitchen with uplifting hues of green. This kitchen from Neptune combines timber ceiling panels with soft sage green walls and cabinets. And it's the most beautiful space. We love the little arched window above the sink to peer out of when washing the dishes.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at Neptune

Country kitchens ideas: Florals

Country kitchens ideas: White and wood

Country kitchens ideas: the 'bootility' room

The 'bootility' room is a hybrid utility-boot room full of handsome cabinetry and clever storage solutions. A bootility serves to bridge the gap between indoors and out, preventing outdoor dirt from entering the kitchen, as well as holding bulky white goods, utility products, and everyday family clutter.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen by Burbidge Kitchen Makers

Country kitchens ideas: the kitchen island

A country kitchen is the heart of the home, where family can gather to eat, entertain and spend time together. A spacious island is perhaps one of the best ways to bring everyone together. It's the focal point of any kitchen and enables meals to be tested, children to do homework, and conversations to be had — all in one lovely central space.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen by Olive & Barr

Country kitchens ideas: Kitchen larders

Store away fresh produce, cans and kitchen utensils with an incredibly handy corner larder, like our very own Country Living Whitstable Larder at Homebase. How brilliant to hide away extra items and free up counter space for cooking – no country kitchen is complete without one.

Pictured: Country Living Whitstable Larder at Homebase

READ MORE: 6 stylish kitchen larder ideas

Country kitchens ideas: Brick walls

Quintessential country styles often feature raw materials, here in the form of exposed brick. Creating a feature wall – painted in a fresh cream or left as a classic red brick – is a great way to soften more contemporary kitchens.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen from Benchmarx

READ MORE: 21 clever wallpaper ideas

Country kitchens ideas: An AGA, naturally

A cornerstone of the country kitchen. AGAs come in many sizes and colours to suit most tastes – we love this sweet four door version that sits so happily in a natural recess.

Pictured: Bancha No.298 at Farrow & Ball

Country kitchens ideas: Farmhouse sink

Country kitchens ideas: Striking wooden features

High ceilings and expansive walls are a gift when creating a country kitchen, and the addition here of interesting wooden beams gives the feeling of a converted barn. With clean lines and a minimal colour palette, this is proof that country kitchens don't always have to err on the side of traditional.

READ MORE: How to create a mindful kitchen and dining space

Country kitchens ideas: Small kitchens

A country kitchen doesn't have to be expansive with high ceilings and wooden beams. A quaint galley kitchen can have all the hallmarks of a country home, if you embrace shaker cabinets, touches of greenery – in the form of dried herbs or small plotted plants – and, importantly, a display of pots, pans, enamelware and table linen.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen by Neptune

Country kitchens ideas: Wood-burning stoves

Warm up bitterly cold days with a wood-burning stove that's perfect for a large country kitchen. This style from Morso would be brilliant for the winter months and even better for toasting marshmallows when guests come to visit. We love the idea of keeping a pile of freshly cut logs nearby.

READ MORE: The Country Living wood-burning stove

Country kitchens ideas: Classic grey

Whilst grey might be considered a contemporary kitchen colour, a soft slate grey makes a great base palette for a country kitchen. Keep your cabinetry traditional, and display white enamelware and rustic wood accessories to get the most out of classic grey tones.

Pictured: Chichester kitchen at Neptune

Country kitchens ideas: Pink

Country kitchens ideas: Traditional cabinetry

This smart country kitchen by Tom Howley embraces traditional cabinetry, but also has a more modern feel. The under-sink storage provides a practical place to tidy away extra plates, cups and utensils. "Finishing touches underline the design of a classically country kitchen," says Tom Howley, Creative Design Director at Tom Howley. "Cornices, skirting boards and columns or pillars are the final elements of the design. They bring the kitchen together, and are carefully designed to distinguish country kitchens from their more modern counterparts."

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen by Tom Howley

Country kitchens ideas: Stone flooring

A classic country kitchen feature, stone flooring is a super practical choice for high traffic family kitchens. This dark and dramatic cellar kitchen by Plain English uses handsome cream-coloured slabs to offset the traditional burgundy kitchen island. If you use real stone flooring, rather than a replica vinyl for instance, add a hardy jute rug for a bit of warmth underfoot.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen by Plain English

Country kitchens ideas: Interest underfoot

A good quality vinyl should be one of your go-to choices of flooring in a high-traffic kitchen. For a country kitchen, have a bit of fun by offsetting more traditional architectural details and shaker cabinets with some interesting pattern and colour.

Pictured: Carpetright Mardi Gras 576 Estrella Vinyl

Country kitchens ideas: Go green

No other kitchen colour can evoke countryside scenes quite as well as green. Tom Howley, Design Director at the eponymous kitchen company, says: ‘Green kitchens are having something of a moment right now. As a colour we associate primarily with nature, this grounding shade has an incredible way of reconnecting us with our surroundings, creating moments of calm and positivity.'

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen by Tom Howley

READ MORE: 10 kitchen colours that can help you sell your home

Country kitchens ideas: Display your wares

In a country kitchen, accessories and trinkets are usually displayed – sometimes neatly, and sometimes in a charming disarray. Open or glass-fronted display units can store pans, crockery, and linens, rustic apple crates or willow baskets, and and saves valuable drawer space.

Pictured: Henley kitchen at Neptune

Country kitchens ideas: Wood on wood

The large white beams and all-over wood panelling gives this country kitchen a bright and refreshing feel. Pepped up with soft tones of grey, a classic country staple - the Aga - and small plants and hanging vegetables on the kitchen counters.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at Neptune

Country kitchens ideas: Feature tiling

Don't be afraid to embrace colour in your country kitchen. Tiling is a great way to add pops of colour and brighten up an otherwise dark space – whether you choose touches of forest green, dark navy or even bursts of bright red.

READ MORE: 6 golden rules for decluttering your kitchen

Country kitchens ideas: Mixing warm neutrals

A soft and welcoming kitchen for those who want to create a calming space for cooking. This deVOL kitchen mixes an array of neutrals – soft cream, pale stone, and brilliant white accents – with a splash of fiery orange to make the most of the available natural light.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at deVOL

Country kitchens ideas: Table setting

A lovely set of wooden table and chairs will help to create the perfect cosy, country atmosphere. It's the kind of space where you can picture end-of-day meals taking place, children experimenting with baking, and a dog waiting patiently nearby for scraps.

Country kitchens ideas: Colourful cabinets

Nothing will brighten your country kitchen quite as effectively as a splash of paint on your cabinets. If you're brave, embrace deep greens, turquoise blues and reds, and keep your base palette on your walls and floors a soft neutral.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at Olive & Barr

Country kitchens ideas: Exposed metalwork

Country style tends to embrace exposed materials – plaster on the walls, wooden beams, stone flooring – but in the absence of any of those, an easy way to achieve this look is with metalwork. We love the exposed copper piping here, matched with wall-mounted railings for displaying spoons and pots.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at Neptune

Country kitchens ideas: Dark rustic

You can tell this lovely rustic kitchen is set in the heart of the countryside. Embracing a darker palette, with wonderful pops of cherry-red, an abundance of wooden, and interesting architectural features it's a dream room the whole family can relax in.

Country kitchens ideas: Clever storage spaces

Get smart with your country kitchen by creating hidden spaces for utensils and crockery. We love the practical shelving nestled in these Country Living Whitstable cabinet doors.

Pictured: Country Living Whitstable Kitchen at Homebase

Country kitchens ideas: Cottagecore

Displaying all the hallmarks of a quintessential cottage kitchen – well-lived, charming, and cosy – this style is particularly easy to achieve if you have a hard time editing down your collection of kitchenware and accessories. We love the abundance of jars, pots, and pans, the neat under-sink curtain and sweet decorate tiles.

Pictured: Quick-Step Palazzo Oak Wood Flooring at Carpetright

Country kitchens ideas: uniform blue

Perhaps not your usual choice of kitchen colour, but a beautiful option nonetheless. Pale blue is an endlessly versatile base – sitting happily with black, white, classic greys and even a host of other blues as shown here.

Pictured: Country Living Emulsion Paint at Homebase

Country kitchens ideas: Smart dark styles

One for the fearless decorators. This smart kitchen by Neptune embraces a single colour across walls and cabinets. It's a bold statement, complimented by an equally dark wooden flooring, and offset with brilliant white stone.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at Neptune

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