It’s recommended that you change your carpet every 8 to 10 years. Of course, if you have lots of kids and pets running around, then you may need to replace it even sooner.
Whether you’ve moved into a new property or you’ve been in your current one for about a decade, you may be thinking of replacing the carpet. While the old one looks fine, perhaps the wheels in your head are turning, and you’re considering replacing it with a new shade.
Wondering what carpet color works with your home? Then keep reading for some excellent tips on how to pick the right one!
Make Sure It Doesn’t Clash With Your Existing Interior Design
Think about it, what costs more to replace: your carpet, or all your furniture and other decorations?
It’s definitely better to assess your current situation and work around it, rather than pick a carpet you like, then replace everything accordingly to match it. Unless you have tons of money and time to spare, of course.
If you want to have a carpet color that’s pretty much timeless and will match with everything, you’ll want to go neutral. For example, shades of gray or brown will match with almost any other color in the room.
Not sure which shades go with one another and which ones clash? Then you can consult a color wheel. You don’t have to take it as gospel, but it can be very helpful in telling you if a carpet color will work with your current color scheme.
Ensure Pieces You Want to Highlight Don’t Get Their Spotlight Taken Away
Let’s say you have an amazing brand new coffee table you want to show off, especially with all of its intricate workmanship.
In this case, you wouldn’t want to get a bright and/or bold carpet color. For instance, if you went with a red or yellow carpet, that’d detract from the coffee table. It may even swallow it up in its hue and cause visitors to not really notice that piece of furniture.
Or maybe you’re going to replace your furniture at some point; not now, but definitely in the future. In this case, following the advice above for timeless carpet would be wise, as it’d match almost any piece of furniture you put into your house.
Picking a neutral-colored carpet can also be ideal if you plan on adding more pieces to your home.
Pick Darker Colors for High Traffic Areas
You may have your heart set on a beige carpet, but is it realistic for your household? If you have kids, teenagers, dogs, and cats running about, that beautiful beige carpet can soon look brown or gray.
If you really must have that pretty carpeting, perhaps save it for your bedroom, where no one’s allowed in except for you and your spouse. That’ll give it a higher chance of being saved from high wear and tear.
As for spaces like the living room and hall, you’ll want to pick darker shades of carpet to withstand all the foot traffic. If you have pets that love tracking in mud and dirt, then the darker the hue, the better. You’ll be able to get away with not having to vacuum and sweep constantly, which wouldn’t be the case if you went with a lighter carpet.
It’ll also keep your carpet looking cleaner for years to come. No matter how well you clean it, it can start appearing old and tired; this can happen quicker with light-colored carpet that gets lots of foot traffic.
Take the Lighting of the Rooms Into Account
Lighting will significantly affect how your carpet looks.
For example, take a room with plenty of sunlight, such as your living room. Any carpet you choose will stay “true to color,” since the space will have adequate lighting.
But if you’re thinking of getting carpet for a dark area like your basement, you’ll have to go a few shades up. The dark will play tricks on your eyes, which means the carpet will look much darker than you envisioned it to be. That gorgeous royal blue might just look like midnight blue or even black.
Make Small Rooms Look Bigger
If you have some small rooms in your house that feel claustrophobic when you’re in them, use the color of your carpet to your advantage.
You can easily make a space feel larger by choosing the right color carpet. In this case, it’d be light and neutral, such as tan or beige.
On the other hand, you want to stay away from colors that’ll make these rooms feel even smaller. Good shades to avoid include black, dark brown, and dark blue.
Explore Your Carpet Color Options
Now that you know how to choose the right carpet color for your home, don’t be afraid to tour showrooms to see these carpets in person. What you have in mind may not translate so well to real-life, so make sure you see and touch your desired carpet before you commit to a whole house of it!
When you’re at the showroom, don’t feel pressured to make a purchase right then and there. Instead, ask for some samples, bring them home, and take your time while you test each one out and try envisioning in your house.
Remember: you’re making a commitment of around a decade, so don’t rush it! When you find the perfect carpet for your house, it’ll all be worth the effort when it looks and feels amazing.
For more interior design tips and tricks, please take a look at the rest of our blog articles.