House carpet colors
How to Choose Your Carpet Color
By
Cheryl Simmons
Cheryl Simmons
Cheryl Simmons is a flooring expert who grew up in the flooring industry, working in her family's retail store since her youth. She has written nearly 100 articles for The Spruce, mainly covering everything having to do with carpeting from colors and filaments to runners to area rugs.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 05/31/22
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
Carpeting can be one of the most difficult components of decorating because there are so many decisions to make: the style of carpet, fiber type, pattern, quality, and finally, color.
Color is often the hardest decision for customers. It can be tough to visualize the color in a large space, judging from a tiny swatch. A color change can have a dramatic effect, and sometimes even though a change is desired, it can be a bit scary.
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to deciding on a color of the carpet, then read on for some tips and suggestions to help you out.
Watch Now: 6 Tips for Choosing the Right Carpet Color
What Color to Choose First?
Which part of their room’s decor should you select first, when you are starting from scratch? For the main living spaces in the home, such as the family room, choose the sofa color first. The reason is that the selection of fabric colors is often more limited to sofas than with carpet or paint. Many sofa styles are offered in a choice of only four or five (or fewer) colors unless the sofa is being custom made. Therefore, if not chosen first, it can be difficult to find a sofa in the style you like, that matches the carpet you have already chosen.
Once the sofa is selected, then choose the carpet, and finally the paint. Again, this is because the paint has a virtually unlimited color selection. Start with the element that is most restricted in choice, and save the component with the biggest selection for last.
Use the same logic in other rooms, such as bedrooms. In this case, options for bedding are pretty vast, so choose the carpet color first. Since bedding is a smaller investment and relatively easy to change, you may want to select the paint color before choosing the bed covering.
Neutral Colors for Carpet
There is a reason why neutral colors are the biggest sellers in carpeting. Carpet has a big impact in a room, and bright colors in a large expanse can be overpowering. Also, replacing the carpet is expensive. Unless you have the resources (and patience) to replace your carpet every few years as trends change, you are best to keep the color on the floor neutral. Use the brighter or bolder colors in other, less expensive elements of the room: paint on the walls (much easier and less costly to change than the carpeting), cushions on the sofa, bedding, and smaller accent pieces such as lamps and framed art.
Current trends favor neutrals in earthy hues, including warm grays and the ever-popular beige.
Neutrals don’t have to be boring. To make sure your carpet still has personality despite the neutral color, opt for texture in the carpet. Friezes or cut and loop styles provide depth and character to your carpet while keeping it subtle enough to avoid turning it into the focal point of the room.
Berber Flecks
Another great way to incorporate personality into your carpet is to choose a flecked color instead of a solid color. Technically speaking, these flecks of color in a carpet are known as Berber, even though most people use the term Berber to refer to a looped style of carpet. Typically, carpets with Berber flecks are found in neutral colors with darker neutrals used for the flecks.
In addition to being visually appealing, Berber flecks are quite practical, as they can help to hide any bits of dirt or lint that may be found on your carpet in between vacuumings. You may want to consider a flecked color if you dread the thought of seeing anything out of place on your carpet.
Lifestyle Matters and Carpet Color
Your lifestyle and the way how the carpeted room will be used are huge considerations in carpet color. A busy household with kids, pets and working parents doesn't usually lend itself well to white carpets, which can show soiling more easily than other colors.
Keep in mind that very light and very dark colors show far more undesirable debris than mid-tones. While a dark color may be great at hiding stains, it will show lint and dust more than other colors. A carpet that is neither too light nor too dark will be the best color for masking these issues.
Choose Your Carpet Color Wisely
The carpet color can alter the entire feel of a room, so be sure to select your color carefully and wisely. Think about how trends may change over the years, and be sure that the color you love today will still appeal to you down the road.
Once you’ve narrowed down the color choice, it’s time to start looking at samples.
The 10 Best Places to Buy Carpet in 2023
The 13 Best Carpet Colors for the Home
Choosing the Right Timeless Hue
1/14
Nothing dates décor quite as noticeably as passé carpet colors. A faddish shade whose appeal has faded can make the whole vibe of a room obsolete. The designers’ trick to preventing a home from feeling like a time machine is to stick with classic neutrals while staying on trend in subtle ways, via interesting fibers and textures. To help you select the ideal carpet color for every room in your house, we’ve gone to the experts and curated the 13 best shades for this year—and years to come.
istockphoto.com
1. Sway by Shaw
2/14
A mix of beige, brown, and gray fibers, Sway’s blend of warm and cooler neutrals will coordinate beautifully with almost any wall, trim, or furniture color, says Katy Chmela, trend analyst for Empire Today. As part of Shaw’s In the Know Collection, Sway benefits from the R2X® Stain and Soil Resistance System, which prevents discoloration and repels accidents.
empiretoday.com
2. Moon Dust by Mohawk
3/14
Step into 2020’s trend toward cooler neutrals with the pleasing pale blue-gray of Moon Dust. For heavily trafficked areas, a carpet with a subtle pattern will wear well over the years—and Mohawks’ Tailor Made collection features a linear, monochrome design that’s sophisticated yet simple enough to stand the test of time.
empiretoday.com
Advertisement
3. Sonora by Empire Today
4/14
Want to carpet your home stylishly and boost your eco-cred in the process? Choose the classic chic of Sonora, a heather gray that’s part of Empire Today’s Incomparable HOME Fresh™ collection, the world’s first and only 100 percent hypoallergenic carpet. Not only is this easy-to-clean carpet ideal for allergy or asthma sufferers, but it’s also made of 90 percent recycled materials—and is 100 percent recyclable should you ever tire of the timeless hue.
empiretoday.com
4.
Match Play by Shaw 5/14
Gray is gaining on brown and beige as the neutral of choice—and Match Play by Shaw is a warm dove gray created to complement wooden furnishings and contemporary fabrics and designs. With its uniform texture, this 100 percent polyester plush carpet will keep its tight weave year after year, reducing pilling and shedding, and resisting stains and dirt.
empiretoday.com
5. Astonish by Engineered Floors
6/14
It’s the tiny light gray stipples that distinguish Astonish from your standard gray plush carpeting. The restrained pattern won’t clash with other colors and textures, and the luxurious feel invites you in, making Astonish ideal for living rooms. Plus, the polyester weave resists stains and pet accidents, and stands up to heavy foot traffic.
empiretoday.com
Advertisement
6. Livos (Macadamia) by Sisal Carpet
7/14
The plant fiber sisal has long been a popular carpet material thanks to its durable texture and hypoallergenic properties, with Livos being among the most elegant sisal weaves.
Though available in 17 earth tones from black to alabaster, the Livos’ hue of the moment is Macadamia, a blend of nutty tans and light grays that’s great for both warm and cool palettes.
sisalcarpet.com
8. Prague (Taupe) by Couristan
8/14
Subtly striking grays and blues are woven into the minimalist pattern of Prague by Couristan. While it comes in a range of blends from navy to cloud, we’ve chosen Taupe for its versatility and dirt-defying properties. Note the slight sheen that adds oomph without overkill.
couristan.com
10. Antelope by Karastan
9/14
Some animal prints are in one year and out the other—not so with Taupe Antelope! Unlike many bold patterns, this delicately dappled brown has a gentle, savannah-inspired flair that’s bound to last. Plus, the carpet is woven with proprietary Kashmere nylon threads for a super-soft finish as durable as the design.
karastan.com
Advertisement
7.
Vanilla Bean by Unique 10/14
When it comes to beauty and durability, you can’t beat a classic Berber carpet, which features fiber loops rather than cut pile. Made of 100 percent sheep’s wool, this eco-friendly Berber comes in a range of neutrals including Vanilla Bean, a warm ivory that won’t look bleached out in light-filled rooms.
greenbuildingsupply.com
9. Nouveau by Mohawk
11/14
Nouveau nuances basic beige with a slight blush of lilac for a sure-to-please shade that adds a soothing vibe to any room. Paired with Mohawks’ SmartCushion pads to improve insulation and durability, it’s as wonderful to walk on as it is to admire. Another plus: It’s part of Mohawk’s Air.O line, which has the distinction of being the industry’s first 100 percent recycled carpeting.
mohawkflooring.com
11. Shipyard by PetProof
12/14
Homeowners redoing their floors today are selecting more tonal and multi-colored options for freedom they provide future design choices, says The Home Depot's flooring merchant Matt Bare.
With Shipyard Textured Tonal from PetProof's Playful Moments II collection, for example, the neutral elephant gray features olive undertones and real depth in the crevices. Plus, its unique stain resistance will protect the carpeting from discoloration due to dirt or accidents.
homedepot.com
Advertisement
12. Rain Drop by LifeProof
13/14
A soft repeating pattern can be the source of a secondary color that ties the room together and elevates the sophistication of the neutral. Rain Drop in LifeProof's Kensington carpeting uses the running ogee pattern to introduce a brushed nickel to the otherwise pearly textile. This flooring also benefits from the R2X Stain and Soil Resistance System, so you can worry less about a light carpet color underfoot.
homedepot.com
13. Abbey by Home Decorators Collection
14/14
Abbey's marbling of pebble, oat, and cream shades makes this Soft Breath II Texture Carpet from the Home Decorators Collection an ideal choice for spaces that abut wood and stone finishes alike.
The Home Decorators Collection boasts PureColor, so these floors stay clean—and, consequently, more vibrant—for longer.
homedepot.com
Don't Miss!
If you have the money to hire a handyman for every household woe, go ahead. But if you want to hang on to your cash and exercise some self-sufficiency, check out these clever products that solve a million and one little problems around the house. Go now!
Choosing the perfect carpet color for every aspect | TextileProfi
Picking a carpet color isn't as easy as you thought… Do you want to know what colors are trendy, but don't want a too modern option to implement? This is the right tactic, because the carpet lives in your house for at least 10 years.
So can you choose the classic colors? Or is it too boring? Many choose beige, but begin to doubt their decision, will it not be too gloomy? And so on…
In fact, there are a huge number of options for implementation in the space of your home.
In reality, the color of a carpet is more than just its appearance. Carpet affects how big your home looks and how hungry you feel on a daily basis.
How to choose the color of the carpet?
There are a few basic steps you need to follow to find your perfect carpet color.
- Step One: Calculate the colors you hate. All colors that you are neutral about can be present on your carpet. nine0003
- Step Two: Read the rest of this article. So, you will learn more about the colors that should be considered as possible options. This should narrow the circle down to just a few colors.
- Final step: Find these colors in the store and take samples home. You won't know the true color of a carpet until you see it in your home.
As a general rule in the carpet industry, a carpet will look lighter in your home than in a store. This effect is sure to take people by surprise. Therefore, if you are looking for a product in the store, you have found a carpet that you like, but you think that a product of a darker shade would look better, you should not choose it.
On the other hand, if you like the rug but it seems too dark, take a sample and see how it looks in your home. In no case should you buy a carpet without first making sure that it will look good in the walls of your home. nine0006
Functional Aspects of Colored Carpets
This section is about how the color of the carpet will affect how your interior will look when it comes out.
Do you want to make your room look bigger?
It's a well-known fact: dark clothes instantly make you visually lose a few kilos. The color of the carpet renders a similar illusion. Light colored carpets tend to make the room look larger. This quality will undoubtedly be appreciated by many homeowners of small houses and apartments. On the other hand, if you have a room in which you would like to feel more cozy and comfortable, dark shades will help create this effect. nine0003 Do you want to hide stains?
Do you have children or pets, do you rent or like to host guests often? This almost certainly means that stains on the carpet are your regular headache.
Whether it's apple juice or wine, it's easy to spill liquid on your carpet and it will happen sooner or later. Even the most stain-resistant carpet cannot prevent all stains.
So what's the best carpet color to use to hide stains? If you assume such a scenario as a repeated possible spill of liquids on the carpet, then you should choose a dark solid carpet. nine0003 Do you want to hide dirt?
You might think that dirt is as easy to hide as stains. In some ways they are similar, but there is a key difference. The stains remain on the carpet from the fact that you spilled the liquid, and the dirt is formed from the sticking of petroleum derivatives. A carpet that repels stains well is not necessarily stain-resistant.
So which color should you choose if you want to hide dirt stains? Choose from a multi-colored or woven rug. The natural design of these rugs makes it much less obvious that your product needs professional cleaning. nine0006
The psychological effect of a colored carpet
There is no doubt that everything that surrounds us has a psychological effect.
Who knows? Maybe this will serve as a criterion for choosing a color for your carpet.
• Red is stimulating, but that might be a bit of a vague explanation. What does it stimulate? One thing is clear - the red color causes violent emotions. However, studies show that people who see the color red not only stimulate their senses, but they also show physical signs of stimulation - a slight increase in heart rate and breathing. Common emotions evoked by this color are love, hate and hunger. Thus, red is great for a bedroom or dining room. nine0003 • Orange is similar to red, but with reduced intensity. It creates a warm, energetic and welcoming atmosphere. Different shades of orange can have different meanings. Agree, it is very unusual to see an orange carpet in the interior, but it can be an interesting color for a children's room, an entertainment room, and a dark shade of orange can be used in the dining room with the same mission as red.
• Gold/yellow is the most cheerful and energetic color.
It can symbolize wastefulness due to its association with money. Color can be used to boost energy and motivation in an office space, or to delight the eye in a welcoming living room. nine0003 • Green is the color of life and the color of financial well-being. Light green color symbolizes nature, renewal and health. Darker tones of green symbolize money and perhaps even greed, while yellow-green hues tend to have negative associations due to sickness and envy. Use lighter shades of green if you want to create a natural, refreshing vibe.
• Blue is a deep and soothing color, representative of the sky and the sea. It symbolizes loyalty, trust and wisdom. In contrast to red, it slows down the metabolism in the body, providing a calming and softening effect on the body. There are also some suggestions that it benefits the mind and body. Use blue in any room where you want to create an atmosphere conducive to relaxation. Avoid this color in dining rooms and kitchens unless you want to suppress your appetite.
nine0003 • Purple is a mixture of red and blue. It symbolizes power, luxury and wealth. A light purple tint can help create an atmosphere of romance and nostalgia, while darker tones are perceived, as a rule, negatively, with sadness. Purple is great for girls' bedrooms and offices where you want to show off your power or wealth.
• Black is a classic color that speaks of strength, mysticism and evil. Generally, black is associated with a negative feeling of emptiness. However, if the interior is well thought out, then black can create an atmosphere of traditional elegance. In a word, be careful when using this color. nine0006
• White is purity. It gives the space a sense of purity and innocence. It is the color of perfection, as any imperfections stand out and become noticeable against a white background. White is a great color for a home if you can take full responsibility for its care.
• Beige and gray are among the most neutral colors. They may have some meaning, but in general they do not provoke unnecessary emotions.
They can be interpreted as soothing shades, or they can be boring. They are versatile colors that work in any space. nine0006
Carpet color matches wall color
You might be thinking, “Which color of carpet would look best on my wall?”. This is the first question many people ask when choosing a carpet color. And this is a good starting point, because you should not "push foreheads" these two elements.
Some color combinations will be more conservative. Some will be more daring. Just remember, you will be looking at your carpet every day. It should also match your furniture. nine0003 These are the two most common options that most homeowners typically deal with.
What color carpet goes well with gray walls?
Gray gives you freedom. It's a neutral color that goes with just about anything. Light gray walls look great with darker colors. Navy blue, burgundy and black are great. Dark gray walls look good with light-colored carpets - it is possible to introduce a cream carpet or a multi-colored product.
What color carpet goes with beige walls?
Beige will work great with brightly colored carpets. You can choose from turquoise, light blue and even pink. The question is, how will these colors blend in with the rest of your home decor? If you want something conservative, then you should give preference to a wide range of beige tones.
Carpet color trends
Life is too short to deny yourself some fun. This trend seems to be gaining momentum today as too much negative news is circulating around the world. Interestingly, this motto extends all the way to the color of the carpet. nine0003 The current trend is to use bright carpets in the interior. Does this mean that in order for you to be in trend, you need to urgently purchase a bright yellow carpet? Not always. In fact, today neutral colors are more popular than ever. Neutrality is too versatile to go beyond stylish. The difference is that modern homeowners are adding a touch of interest to a neutral color scheme.
How can this be done? There are many ways you can make your beige and gray carpet the focal point of your space. nine0003 1. One of the options is to choose from neutral tones not only beige. If you look at the entire color range, you will realize that light blue or muted yellow can bring a little color to a neutral color scheme.
2. Another option is to choose a gray rug with bold color details. Such a product will not be enough to be unpleasant to look at or conflict with furniture, but enough to give the room an interesting design.
3. You can also think beyond the color to make your ordinary color carpet more interesting. You can choose a textured design for a gray carpet, in which case the texture will detract from the banal color. nine0003 In short, there are many different ways to be bold and bright.
How to choose the perfect carpet color for your home?
Each handmade carpet is a unique work of art. no two handmade carpets cannot be alike, even if they are created from the same design.
Thus, the carpet that you bring into your home is not just a household item. decor, but a piece of art that you can walk on. nine0006
The color scheme is one of the features that make them unique and suitable for decorating your living space is a wide range of colors. You can choose the one that best suits your needs: from plain carpets to sparkling riots of modern or classic colors carpets.
Here are some simple tips to help you choose the right color carpet:
1. Consider the functionality of the room. nine0027
Modern Turkish carpet
Each room has its own special atmosphere and purpose. Before how to choose a carpet in a room, decide on the functionality of the room, how you will study there, in what color scheme it will be framed.
If you have a small space that you want to enlarge, choose bright hues. Pastel colors, white or a combination of pale and light colors is an ideal choice for such premises. nine0006
For a room where you want to create a calm atmosphere, choose muted tones of blue or green.
Monochrome colors are also great for such a space.
Choose bright colors in rooms where you plan different activities. – orange, red or light green.
Modern trends to talk about the use of dark colors burgundy, chocolate or navy blue to create a deep rich sensations. These tones make the room not only cozy and comfortable, but also give she looks gorgeous. nine0006
2. Color range.
Carpet in the living room
When choosing a carpet, it is always good to keep in mind the harmony of the color scheme. To complement the decor, choose muted shades for a bright color scheme and a bright shade for a muted range.
You can choose shades of gray or light brown for brightly colored walls. And for light or muted walls, you can choose warm tones. yellow or orange. nine0006
The color of the carpet will help you focus the visitor's eyes in the right place. If you have already decorated the room, make sure your carpet matches with the bedspreads, pillows and wall paintings to make the room look like a whole.
The main thing is to choose a color from the existing decor to match it.
3. Consider decor.
Modern wool carpet in the interior
If you have a plain interior, you can also play with patterned carpets. If you like to use patterns, mix and match them, your a room can really come alive with a patterned rug. nine0006
Your furniture can be your signal for carpet selection - choose carpet to match your furniture so that the furniture matches the carpet.
4. Floor colors.
Carpet on the floor
In addition to the atmosphere of the room and decor theme, the house has another important factor. A vital element in the house is the floor - the color scheme of the floor will help you decide on the carpet. If the floor in your house is dark, then it is recommended use a dark carpet that blends better with it. nine0006
Both light and pastel colors work equally well on a light floor. If you want your rug to be the protagonist of your room, choose a rug eclectic color for such a space.
Bright red, orange or blue color - almost any eye-catching color combination will be ideal for a carpet, which will be the center of attraction in space. Thus, the carpet will become an indispensable assistant in communication and will give your room a unique character. nine0006
5. Abrash effect .
One of the unique characteristics of hand-spun yarn is that the yarn has a different diameter because it is not produced by the machine and therefore it retains the same color differently in different places. This change colors, tones and shades that can be seen when the yarn is hand-spun used in carpet. This phenomenon is called the "Abrash effect" (pronounced like "Ah-brush"). nine0006
Carpet shearing
If you look at an old carpet, you will see that it is his a standard feature that has been preserved since the days when cars were not was in sight.
The best way to identify an abrasive pad is to look at gradation of hue of the same color on the carpet.
Machine-made carpet will never be able to reproduce the true abrasion effect on a carpet.
If you see a carpet with an abrasion effect, this immediately means that the carpet Made from wool spun by hand. In turn, this means that the carpet created by hand and is a unique work of art.
Indian carpet weavers
Different batches of hand-spun yarn have different gradations of the same color and over the years, each batch will fade differently - this effect will stand out as a unique feature. nine0006
The word "abrash" in Farsi means "rainbow" or "spectrum". In his old days used to determine differences in carpet pile color.
To the untrained eye, this effect in handmade carpets can considered as an anomaly or defect. But it's not. At the time of buying high-quality handmade carpet, it is important to note that the presence of abrasive effect is sometimes part of the design and only indicates cleanliness the manual process that was used to create it.
