There are a lot of factors involved when choosing a rug color, because the trend today is not just about color. It is also about pattern. And beyond style, it is about location. Location effects the fabrication, the durability, and even the length of the pile.
In 2016 the color gray over took beige as the color of choice for walls, especially among Millennials. But gray walls do not necessarily mean gray carpets.
“There are two ways to go when choosing carpet color,” said Sydney Watson, one of City Tile in Murfreesboro’s design consultants. “You can choose a carpet that matches your walls or you can choose a carpet that has a pop of color. And for some people there is a third choice, because they make their carpet the statement piece in the room.”
Every room should have a statement piece, and there are a number of carpets that designers are using as statement pieces in a room, especially the new shags. Most people, however, are choosing simple diamond-shaped patterns or other geometrics. Indian and Asian style rugs are decreasing in popularity.
“With so much wood flooring being installed,” added Watson, “ our clients are ordering a lot of area rugs to be created to place over their wood floors or as runners down their stairs.”
What carpet type you choose depends on where the carpet is being used. A short pile or Berber is best for high-traffic areas like stairs. The high-style shags would not wear well where there is lots of foot traffic, or where there are pets.
What a carpet is made of is just as important as the weave. Jute and sisal carpets are gaining attention because of their affordability and sustainability being natural fibers, but they are hard to clean and lack durability, however they are great at providing textural elements.
Investment in a wool carpet is well worth the money, but if budget is an issue, there are wool blends, acrylic, nylon, polyester and olefin carpets. Wool and nylon blends are a good choice as they offer the two most durable fabrications, and the use of nylon decreases the cost.
Acrylic, polyester, and olefin carpets offer many advantages in ease of cleaning, but shed, create static, and they may pill. While not as durable as a good wool carpet, they are a bit more forgiving when it comes to pets. And there are often more design options in these fabrications. A lot of trendy carpets are made of these fabrications.
Another option is a cotton rug. While also lacking in durability, flat weave cotton rugs are making their way into the hearts of many a designer because they are also sustainable, and can be layered over other rugs, like wool or jute.
Carpets, like anything else, have a lifetime. Wool carpets are the most durable, followed by sisal. Synthetic rugs, like polyester, do mash sown over a period of time. A good wool rug can last 20-30 years, more if well taken care of. Depending on the type of synthetic, these will have the shortest life-span. Most last about 10 years. And while a sisal rug can last almost as long as a wool rug, this will happen only if it is in a low traffic area way from moisture and direct sunlight.
Choosing the best carpet for your home depends your choice of wall color, where you are using the carpet, and also your furnishings. A carpet needs to add to the over-all dimension and style of the room.
Many books on design note that carpeting and furniture are more important than wall color, that indeed, wall coverings should be chosen last, to work with the carpet.
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