Should Carpets Be Lighter Or Darker Than Walls?
I’ve been looking forward to writing this article about whether or not carpets should be lighter or darker than walls because I’ve been researching this topic for ages.
I’ve come across some interesting information about how the color of a carpet can affect the appearance and energy of a room.
Here’s a summary that perfectly captures the main points in this article on whether carpets should be lighter or darker than walls.
In general, it is said that carpets should be at least two or three shades lighter or darker than walls but never the same shade or tone. This creates the perfect contrast between the carpet and walls for a modern and smart room appearance.
In the event that you are too afraid to experiment with different colors and want to opt for a safe and tested option, you could choose neutral colors.
It may not be as aesthetically pleasing, and you run the risk of creating a bit of a clinical feel to a room, but they do work well together.
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Lighter Carpets Vs Darker Carpets
Neutral colors are usually on the lighter side and appear really earthy.
The following are considered popular neutral colors for carpets:
- Blues
- Browns
- Beiges
- Grays
- Creams
The reason I didn’t include white as a neutral color is because it actually stands out against most walls unless the wall color is also white.
Keep that in mind before opting for a white carpet.
However, I should add that a white carpet will make a room appear larger and/or cooler. It’s extremely versatile but they are extremely prone to discoloration.
The exact opposite is true for carpets that are darker than walls.
Dark colors are popularly known for concealing marks, dirt, and grime caused by high foot traffic as compared to lighter colored carpets. In terms of lighter carpets, most stains will be more visible.
I know that not everyone is looking to make their room appear larger or more spacious.
In fact, when you’re in a large home, it can be quite beneficial to use darker carpets to make a room feel more intimate and smaller.
That’s something to keep in mind.
It isn’t just about the color of your walls but the overall dimension of a room.
So, if your goal is to create a moody, edgy, modern, and warm vibe to a room, then I highly recommend that you opt for darker carpets.
In fact, they are also known to be quite invigorating and exciting, especially if you use dark but bright shades of yellow, pink, green, and lime.
On the flip side, if your goal is to create more space, coolness, relaxation, serenity, comfort, and zen, then you should absolutely opt for lighter carpets.
Lighter carpets also tend to be associated with minimalism and cleanliness for some reason.
Another factor to consider before deciding whether or not carpets should be lighter or darker than walls is texture and pattern.
You may find that highly textured and patterning carpets are of a lighter shade, but they combine multiple colors.
These carpets tend to actually add busyness to a room’s decor and can make a room appear smaller due to how complex they appear, despite their lighter colors.
Does Carpet Look Darker After Being Installed?
Yes, a carpet can look darker after being installed due to the lighting, shade, and furniture in a specific room.
Most of the time, when we are choosing a carpet, it is placed against a white background or on the floor underneath a ton of good lighting and exposure.
This is why it’s important to consider the overall design of a room, the color of your furniture, and the paint used on your walls, along with access to light, before choosing a specific shade of color for your carpets.
To resolve this issue, use a light meter (a lux meter or illuminator meter) to get an accurate measurement of the amount of light in your room or home, and then use that metric when carpet shopping.
Find out if there’s a big disparity between the lighting in stores while shopping and the lighting in your room.
If the difference is significant, then it’s best to choose a lighter or darker carpet.
What Color Carpet Makes A Room Look Bigger?
When working with a small room and wanting to make it look bigger, it is important to utilize colors that are pale or light.
Dark colors like black, purple, red, orange, and mink will minimize the appearance of a room.
So, it’s best to stick with neutral and earthy colors, such as the following:
- Egg-shell white
- Light grays
- Earthy ochre
- Baby blues
- Faded green
- Light yellows and creams
- Sea green
- Off white
All these colors are non-intrusive and extremely easy on the eyes. If you’re looking for a color carpet that makes a room look bigger, choose any of the above.
Is It Better To Have Darker Or Lighter Carpets?
When carpets fade, lighter colors look better than darker colors due to the amount of dye that was used to color the carpet.
Darker colors are also known to conceal stains or dirt much better than lighter carpets.
Another benefit of darker carpets is that they can make a room appear to be more elegant, modern, futuristic, or intimate.
If that’s what you’re looking for, then it’s better to have darker carpets than lighter ones.
Also, if your walls are painted an extremely light or washed out color, darker carpets can serve as a feature piece that adds personality and color to your room.
Now, the situation changes if you want to make your room look bigger, cleaner, inviting, airy, and more comforting.
In that case, lighter carpets are superior and excellent for a minimalistic or bohemian room design.
Final Thoughts
I hope that this article on whether carpets should be lighter or darker than walls was helpful for your home decor needs.
The best thing you can do is choose a color that complements the walls.
What’s more problematic than choosing between lighter or darker carpets is selecting a color that doesn’t match, complement, or blend well with your walls.
Personally speaking, I prefer to have lighter carpets because they are more versatile and easily matched with more colors than darker carpets.
But, it all boils down to your personal taste and whether it complements the color of your walls.
With that being said, if you enjoyed this article, here’s a list of other articles that will help you with color selection for your home decor:
1. Should cabinets be lighter or darker than walls?
