How to Choose Carpet Colour

Whether you are moving into a new property or upgrading your current home, choosing a new carpet can be one of the most challenging components of decorating.

With so many different styles, fibre types, and patterns on offer, not to mention the colour, many homeowners decide to stick with what they know rather than embracing a new and exciting carpet option.

If you are struggling to choose the right colour for your carpet, and are already nudging towards the safety of grey, then you need to keep reading.

What affects your carpet colour choice?

There are several factors that you need to consider before you choose a carpet colour for your home or for a particular room, and these are as follows:

• Do you need a carpet that hides stains well?
• What type of mood are you looking to create?
• Do you need to create a sense of space?
• What is the décor style of the room?

Picking matching colours

Colours can be categorised into three main groups:

• Primary colours – red, yellow, blue
• Secondary colours – green, orange, and purple
• Shades that are produced when you mix primary and secondary colours

When it comes to choosing a carpet that will match the existing interior design of the room, you need to look into accent colours i.e. different colours that complement each other.

If you visit your local carpet store, you can ask for a colour chart that shows you exactly which colours work well together.

Cool vs. warm colours

Whether you opt for a cool or warm coloured carpet will be dependent on the space you are looking to cover and the mood you want to create. Typically, colours such as light blue, green, yellow, and light orange are considered to be cooler colours, whereas dark blue, purple, red, and dark orange are the warmer shades.

Dark vs. light colours

If you are looking to lighten up a small space, then a lighter coloured carpet is the obvious choice. However, suppose you want to tone down a room that is overly bright and has an abundance of natural light. In that case, a darker shade may be more appropriate.

Generally, dark carpets make a room feel cosy, whereas light carpets can make a compact space feel larger. As you would expect, light carpets show stains more than their darker counterparts, so this is also something you should take into consideration.

Benefits of each carpet colour

Each colour offers something different. To give you an idea of the different benefits, take a look at six different colours:

Grey:

• Looks clean and modern
• Covers spills well
• Suits a minimalist style
• Best suited to living rooms, bedrooms, hallways

Red:

• Offers vibrancy
• Suits neutral walls
• Is unique
• Best suited to a child’s playroom

Black:

• Covers spills and dirt well
• Offers a classic look
• Suits neutral walls
• Best suited to a bedroom or living room

Green:

• Very versatile
• Can add a touch of luxury
• Very modern
• Best suited to hallways, stairs, kid’s bedroom

Beige:

• Neutral base that goes with most styles
• Can look sophisticated
• Complements minimalist furniture
• Best suited to hallways, stairs, and living rooms

Patterned:

• Hides marks and spills well
• Lots of different patterns and styles available
• Can act as a central focal point in a room
• Best suited to living rooms, dining rooms, hallways, and studies