element often ignored when redecorating is flooring.
Floor-covering experts at The Carpet Shop, located in Fox Chase, offer some simple tips for redecorating with carpet.
Be Prepared:
Shop with realistic expectations for the carpet. To accomplish this, prepare a list of questions, like:
How is the room going to be used (dining, entertaining, guest bedroom)?
Is there heavy foot traffic in the room?
Do you have pets?
Is there direct access to the outside or to direct sunlight?
This step is important because you may have different requirements for your carpet. Such as, does it need to stand up to kids, pets, and many activities? Or are you more interested in the look/feel of a formal dining room?
You can prepare even more by bringing along swatches of fabrics or paints as well as wallpaper samples when selecting your
carpet.
Color Your World:
Color can be a major determining factor when it comes to carpets, as colors not only affect the look of a room, but they’re known to affect moods. Warmer colors can energize you, while cooler colors can provide a sense of calm.
Years ago many carpeting choices were limited to basic beige and it was used more often as a neutral background than a focal point. That’s not the case today. New products are changing the public’s perception of carpet as a background used to showcase other furnishings, to the possibility of being the design focus itself. Since vibrant color can add distinctive styling appeal, many designers are using today’s colorful rugs as the focal point in rooms.
It’s also important to keep in mind that the lighting in the carpet store is not the same as in your home. Most dealers, like The Carpet Shop, will allow you to take samples home to test in your own lighting conditions, so be sure to take advantage of that.
Having said all this about color, the need for neutrals hasn’t exactly dissipated. Today’s trend in neutral carpet incorporates new design possibilities -- more texture, some pattern, and even flecks of color adding interest to basic backgrounds.
Texturize:
Textured carpets, like Berbers, can provide just enough of a design element to your room without overwhelming it. And yes, Berbers are still popular, but unlike the plain Berbers of the early 1990s, today's versions have more texture, pattern, height and sculptured effects. Even more traditional Berbers offer additional visual interest with more differences in pile cut and thicker, deeper loop textures. Berbers are generally still on the neutral side, but often sprinkled with flecks of colors like tan, beige, soft green of blues, which add interest and dimension. As a bonus, Berbers help to disguise spills.
Many other styles of textured carpets have applied and woven patterns in organic shapes, such as leaves or flowers, that can coordinate easily with popular patterns in other home furnishings.
The Last Word:
Along with paint, carpet can be one of the easiest ways to personalize your environment. Its color can be a neutral foundation or a vibrant focal point. Today's carpet trends take full advantage of new products as well as new ways to think about style.
Taking advantage of these choices can add great interest to the room and can even coordinate with florals, stripes, and other patterns on furniture and window treatments. Carpet pattern and texture increase the perception of quality and value in carpet, and can contrast beautifully with smoother elements such as furniture surfaces, walls, and counters.
To start redecorating today or for more information, call The Carpet Shop at 215.342.5900.