Can anyone help me pick a colour for a carpet please?

Question

I have bought a lovely 3 piece suite in leather, dead comfy electric recliners , the lot, BUT I bought it while still renovating my house and now I have moved in (I have cardboard carpets at the mo!) I cant find a color of carpet that will go with it. I have had laminate floors laid upstairs and tiles in hall and kitchen but one of my dogs has arthritis and even though I know the best option would be more laminate she is having a few problems coping with the tiled kitchen when getting up. She is only 7 so has loadsa time left with me and I love her to bits and dont want her to fall in the living room. The colour of suite is TAN, the only way I can describe the colour is to compare it to a leather school satchel-the kind that you carried on your back (thats showing my age!) I will be grateful for any SERIOUS suggestions as Im getting a bit fed up traipsing around carpet shops-seeing one that I think will match only to find that the sample doesnt look right when I get home! HELP

I forgot to mention-my dogs are both black-1 Belgian Shepherd and the one with the back problem is a border collie/black lab X. Walls painted natural calico and woodwork white-this is such a dilemma-choc brown or beige's? I think they are both the best options will check out a berber. Lounge is 24ft x 13ft and large windows on each end

Answer 1

OK, the key thing you said was the doggie. She is having problems with the slippery flooring. Now...first take a look at her fur. What color is it? Try to get rugs that won't show doggie fur when she sheds. Also, get something that is easily cleaned in case of her having a slight accident. This stuff happens, and it's best not to have big nasty doggie accidents in the center of your rugs. I would get a low pile, commercial grade carpeting. That withstands all sort of things happening to it, easily shampooed (invest in a home rug shampoo machine; they are easy to work with and you will be happy you did--but don't use the commercial cleaning solutions--dogs eat on the rugs--use regular dish soap instead) and this kind of rug will wear and wear. Also, if I was you, I would get a rug that won't show dirt you drag in. You want to enjoy your home; not keep cleaning and cleaning because every step shows. Don't worry about matching furniture and rugs. Get rugs that will not show dirt, be easy with dog fur shedding and accidents.

Answer 2

It sounds like you are trying to match the tan and you don't need to. Go with a darker or lighter shade of the furniture if you want to or use something altogether different. Salmon or cinnamon would look great or even blue or green. Think of your furniture as a neutral and just choose a color carpet that you like. You can add throws and pillows, candles and pictures to pull that color out. When buying carpet it is always best to choose a medium shade of whatever color you choose. Too dark and it shows lint; too light and it shows dirt. Good luck!

Answer 3

Probably a self coloured carpet isn't the way to go; you might be better with a Persian-type design with several colours in it. The upside is, such carpets are better at hiding the dirt; handy when you have a dog! Predominantly blue might look best but I'm no interior designer, and if a shade of brown and cream was in it I'm sure that would look good.

Answer 4

Don't try matching the suite to the carpet, that's where you are going wrong as you will never find a match. You need to have a contrast. Go for cream/beige, perhaps with a fleck in it, then you can add colour to the room with the curtains and cushions. Good luck and happy home making!!

Answer 5

If your room is large, you can get away with a darker tone of the same colour and it will become the accent colour; if the room is small, use a lighter tone of the same colour to give the room the illusion of being larger. So, darker tan if a large room; lighter if a small room. I would stick with different versions of this warm colour; contrasting colours would clash. Unless you are going for a contrasting look, which would make everything stand out individually. Good luck.

Answer 6

I would go with beige (as so many have suggested). I don't know what breed/mix of dog you have. We have german shepherds; their undercoat is a light gray and white which shows up terribly on dark carpet.

You can always use darks in accessories (pillows, vases, candles, lamps) and all sorts of things that you can swap out later. As long as the basics are neutral, you can really change the look of your room a lot just by changing out the accessories.

Answer 7

taking a sample of the colors with you is a good idea, but it might be easier to carry if you can find some of the paint strips at the paint store as close to your furniture and floors. i like the idea of a patterned rug, with some of the tan in it, maybe with a dark blue, rust and cream. or as suggested, go with a neutral color then an area rug with a pattern for the center of the floor, and pick up some of the pattern colors as accents using throw pillows, vases, flowers. good luck, sounds lovely..

Answer 8

Take a tile and sofa cushion with you to match it up. I am thinking that a medium brownish with an orange hue to it would probably match nicely if you are going with a regular carpet, however if you are going berber then go light.

Answer 9

a berber twist in cream and beige. A mixture of beige/tan etc. neutral and hardwearing.

you can then add a bit of extra colour with a centrepiece rug.

Answer 10

I would suggest a lovely chocolate colour. nice and warm and paint the walls a neutral colour with nice accessories