Choosing a carpet Selecting your style

It's easy to build a decorating scheme around a neutral carpet

The style of a carpet can change a room’s whole appearance, so choose the colour and design carefully. Your decision may be based on personal taste, but here are some important issues to consider.

The bigger picture

Sticking to one style in different rooms creates a flow between them. And remember that a carpet will look different during the day and at night, so take a sample home to check before buying.

Plain versus patterned

Plain carpets can be more flexible than patterned as they will coordinate with a wider range of furniture and wall coverings – but they can make large rooms look empty and uninteresting. It’s often best to stick to plain carpets if your furniture is bold and colourful, however. Using texture such as a shag pile can add interest to a plain carpet.

Patterned carpet is making a comeback. There’s a wide range of patterns to choose from, including classic florals, contemporary motifs or tartan. A patterned carpet can act as the focal point of a room if you have pale, plain furniture and walls. Patterned carpets can also hide signs of soiling and wear.

Avoid large patterns in small rooms as they make the room feel cluttered.

Colour

Neutral shades are the most popular as it's easy to build a decorating scheme around them.

Light carpets make rooms appear larger, but remember that they will show up the dirt more than darker carpets.

As north-facing rooms don’t get as much sun as south-facing rooms they tend to look colder and darker. They can be made to appear warmer, with reds, oranges and yellows.

Borders can give a distinctive look, either in a different shade as the rest of the carpet or in a contrasting colour. Runners on stairs can also look striking.