The floor is a good place to start when working your way into a new color scheme. Just like the ceiling the floor is one sixth of the surface area of the room and the covering you choose will have a major impact on the space available. You can either feel extremely comfortable or like climbing the walls all depending on your floor covering.
So what are your options if you move into a house which already has a floor covering with a color or texture which you do not like? You may well find that the carpet is laid over hardwood boards in very good condition. If this is the case with the help of a few strong friends you can pull up the carpet by using a crowbar. On the other hand if the carpet is laid on sub flooring and you cannot afford to buy a new one more to your liking there is a few things you can do to downplay the impact it currently has.
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First of all you can use the carpet as a base starting point to create a new color scheme. In other words, allow the fabric to be your friend. It the carpet is multi colored or a floral pattern you will be able to use the colors of the carpet to establish a brand new color scheme. You could also layer many small rugs over the carpet. However, there are some occasions when you know you will simply not be able to live with the carpet and replacement is the only option open to you.
Cover the Existing Carpet
This is a case of now you see it, now you don't! The simplest way to cope with an unwanted carpet is to cover it up. You could opt for a room sized rug in order to cover up as much as the carpet as possible.
Even the use of a smaller rug can change the personality of the room to a degree, especially if the rug is placed in the most prominent part of the room. The unwanted carpet then takes on the role of a border area for the new rug and the impact it has on the room is minimized.
The rug should be placed in the primary conversational area of the living or sitting room whereas in the bedroom several rugs can be used around the area of the bed. A double stick carpet pad under the rug will stop it from bunching up on top of the underlying carpet.
Shift the Scheme
When the offending carpet is in good condition it can be used as a starting point to develop a whole new look. Look out for fabrics to pick out your given hue but which move the overall palette of the room in a different direction.
The mood of the room will be completely changed by your choice of bedding, draperies, slipcovers and paint. Take inspiration from catalog photos, scraps of fabric or even your favorite piece of china and take it along to the paint store when you are searching for the right color of paint. Bring your selections home and put them all on the carpet to help you make your final choice. Test your chosen paint colors and pieces of poster board and this will help you to perfect the overall look of the room.
Then you should look for bedding and draperies which relate to your chosen wall color and include the carpet color as an accent. It is not necessary for such fabrics to match either the wall or the carpet color exactly. In fact, if the hues are alike and include a range of tones from dark to light, you'll have a more interesting combination and the fabrics will bridge that gap between the new wall color and the color of the old carpet.
Replace the Carpet
You will find you have no alternative but to replace the carpet it your floors are burnt orange shag from the 1970s but your favorite colors are really lavender and periwinkle blue. Wall-to-wall carpets are available in a wide selection of colors, patterns and textures. In order to narrow down your choices you need to decide how much impact you want the floor to have on the color scheme of the room.
Spreading color underfoot restricts the range of hues you can introduce for the walls and furnishings. If you remember, that is what created this problem in the first place! However, muted or light tones such as pale gray-blue or sage green can actually be surprisingly versatile.
Look for a color which appears in your draperies or upholstery when choosing the color of your wall to wall carpet. Go for a lighter shade to open up the space of the room or a darker shade to make the room cozier. In a south or west facing room, blue will be a more refreshing color choice as a warm color will make the room feel too hot.
A carpet combining color and pattern gives the room a strong personality. Floral patterns may be formal or informal, depending upon the design. If there are children or pets in your household, patterns are great as they hide all manner of spills and stains.
If you prefer not to commit to a particular color then opt for a neutral shade. Once again a light neutral will make the room appear more spacious and attention will be focused on the furnishings more than the floor. Neutrals with specks of dark brown or taupe like Berbers or something similar work well in areas of high traffic as they tend not to show the dirt.
If money is no object then wool carpets may be for you but as far as durability and stain resistance is concerned, nylon is best. However, if you like the look and comfort of wool but need the qualities of nylon go for an 80/20 blend of wool and nylon which is more easily affordable than 100% wool.
