With so many colors and designs available, selecting the right finish can be the hardest part of your carpet purchase decision. Narrow down your search by choosing shades that match the mood or overall tone you want to set for each room. Try cool blues or greens to create a quiet and peaceful environment, and warm reds or gold tones to make a large space feel more welcoming. Light colors can make small rooms feel bigger and more open, so try cream or brown if you’re feeling claustrophobic.
Christin Terrell of Kings House Rugs in Birmingham advises looking for high quality rugs that last a long time. “A well-made wool flat fabric, vintage or new, is usually economical and practical for many spaces.” Synthetic materials are well damped, fade resistant, low maintenance and economical. When you sell a room, don’t look at the furniture or walls, look at the floor! A rug can be the defining feature of a room or it can blend into and fulfill a function.
You can choose to opt for smaller carpets of the same color that match the cushions on the sofa to achieve a full color effect or use a contrasting approach with any seating area with a unique color miniature floor mat. Making a good first impression counts, and this piece of floor should set the tone for what’s to come. Whether you have a circular lobby or an elongated hallway, a hallway or 8×10 area rug carpet is your best option for access. Stick to a compact or narrow landing platform and avoid oversized pieces that naturally feel like a burglary. A simple 2′ x 3′ can have a big impact by setting the tone and defining the essence of the space. The material is just as important – keep in mind that this area with a lot of traffic requires durable carpet and a solid grip cushion underneath.
Wool is generally considered one of the best options if you are looking for a durable but soft carpet. When buying a wool rug, the price can vary dramatically due to the size of the carpet and the quality of the wool. The coffee table, sofa and chairs would be incorporated into the living room. If you can not completely lay all these pieces on the carpet, then the front legs of the sofa and chairs should at least be on the carpet. “In the bedroom, you want to feel the carpet at your feet when you get out of bed,” says interior designer Amber Lewis.
Rugs are a popular flooring option because they come in a wider variety of colors and designs, can be swapped between rooms, and are quite affordable. It’s also easier to make a statement with a fun or colorful rug than with wall-to-wall rugs, and you can take your rug with you every time you move. The biggest disadvantage of a rug is that you have to have a fairly nice floor underneath, because it is almost certain that part of your floor will be displayed. If you don’t, you’ll at least need a floor that’s in reasonably good condition. The other negative aspects of area mats are that they can slip and/or pose a tripping hazard if you stumble on an edge. But you can often solve those problems with a carpet pad or double-sided duct tape.