Enhancing a Room by Right Choice of Color for Carpet

Carpet color was probably the very first thing that came to mind when you began to think about buying carpet. That's because color can be manipulated to create nearly any mood or effects you wish.

You may have heard that dark colors make a room look smaller. It's true. So you should stay away from dark colors.  Not necessarily. If your objective is to create a warm, cozy look, a smaller "feel" is exactly what you want and dark, rich colors like hunter green or burgundy will work for you. If a dark color is what you love, and it helps you create the ambience you want, maybe you should consider it.

Lighter shades such as pastels and color tints on the other hand, tend to enlarge a space. These colors create a restful and subdued mood. They're ideal when you want a formal, orderly and intimate tone.

Strong contrasts of colors are lively, exciting, active and can be a bold statement for your family's living style.

Carpet color also can change the feel of a room. In north facing rooms and in cool climates, you can "warm up" the room by featuring reds, yellows, oranges, peaches and apricots. In south facing rooms and in warm climates, a room can be made to feel more comfortable by using cooler shades such as blues, purples, greens and teals. The carpet industry has a distinct advantage in requiring very short lead times from product conception, to production, to sampling and resell. As a result, the carpet industry is able to monitor color choices offered by the furniture industry, as well as other interior furnishings industries and provide complementary colors within a few weeks notice. Also custom colors are available from many mills if you can't seem to find the right shade.

Unfortunately, for the consumer, far too much emphasis is placed on coordinating colors and far too little emphasis on color prudence. Few consumers realize that carpet is a fabric exposed to foot traffic. Few materials subjected to this type of daily abuse and maintenance neglect perform with equal results. Foot traffic and soil type should be carefully considered when selecting carpet color.

Solid colors and light colors tend to make space appear larger, while patterned and dark colors usually make space appear smaller. Don't let those facts hinder you in doing something you really want to do, however.

Soiling shows more readily on white or light yellow carpeting. Medium colors, color blends and patterns are best for disguising signs of use between cleanings. Darker colors tend to show lint and accumulated dust more readily than light or medium colors. Selecting a color value the same as the usual soil in your locality helps keep carpet looking soil-free longer.

Blues and greens often are preferred in rooms having natural light and southern exposure. Warmer colors may be preferred in rooms having northern exposure and little natural light.

Dark rooms might be made lighter using the pastel tones of warm or cool colors. Light rooms may be darkened using various shades of colors. Warm colors might be good choices for homes in regions having long, snowy seasons, although cool colors should not be ruled out. Just the opposite applies to using cool colors in regions of great warmth. Don't select carpeting only on the basis of color.

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