Carpet feels soft underfoot and makes a room feel warm and cozy. Carpet can also be used as a decorative element, bringing color and texture into a room and working with the walls, furniture, and accessories to create just the right mood.
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"Think of carpet as a
decorative element." |
"You can express yourself through your carpet choices", says Emily Morrow, director of color, style, and design at Shaw Industries. Now that many people are living in their homes longer, they're making bolder carpet choices, she says. |
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New products and color palettes give homeowners more options than ever before. Today's fibers are more Vinyl, making carpet more kid and pet friendly.
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Here are some of Emily’s tips for choosing the best carpet for your space.
Let the floor provide the pop:
Almost every room can use a burst of color. You can put that color on a wall or in the upholstery. But why not use a brightly colored carpet to provide that unexpected color?
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Use carpets to create a layering look:
People love the blank canvas look they get with a neutral carpet. You can achieve that blank canvas with an interesting color or texture, Emily says. For example, you can layer a bold carpet on neutral hardwood flooring.
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Consider using carpet to bring nature indoors:
It’s trendy to create an indoor space that evokes the outdoors. Carpet can help you achieve the look. Choose carpet in a nature-inspired color like a mossy green or a watery blue.
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Get a neutral look with an unexpected hue:
Beige is not the only neutral. Rich neutrals like chocolate and gray are just right for many spaces. Yellow can be a beautiful, rich neutral.
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Create a color story:
When you have a bold color on the floor, you can continue that color family onto the wall. For example, a rich green on the floor pairs well with light green on the wall.
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Expand a space with carpet:
To make a room look bigger, choose a color for the floor and continue the same color on the wall. “White walls are not the only way to expand a space,” Emily says. “Carrying color from floor to wall also makes the space feel more interesting.”
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Check out patterns:
They fell out of fashion for a bit, but now patterns are back. “People are coming back to patterns for visual interest,” Emily says. Patterns can make a bold statement, and patterns can also be subtle. Many of today’s patterned carpets and rugs are small to medium in scale.
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Try new textures:
Innovation has brought a greater range of textures to the marketplace. “Texture has taken on a whole new life,” Emily says, citing chunky, wooly, and nubby textures as trends catching consumers’ eyes.
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"Choose carpet in a
nature -inspired color
like mossy green
to bring nature indoors."
Carpet is so much more than simply a floor covering. By thinking of carpet as a decorative element, you can find the right combination of color and texture for your space. “Carpet isn’t just something you want to see,” Emily says. “It’s something you want to touch.” |
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