Carpet Colours and How They Can Be Used in the Home

For our full range of carpet colours – click here

How to choose the colour of your carpet

The choice of which colour carpet to have will be based on several factors, including:

• Does it need to hide stains?
• The mood you wish to create
• Does it need to create a sense of space?
• The décor of the room it is in

Matching colours

Colours can be separated into three categories:

• The building blocks for all colours — red, yellow, blue.
• The result of combining primary colours — green, orange, purple.
• The shades produced when primary and secondary colours are mixed.

Opposite colours in the chart below naturally complement each other. These are known as ‘accent colours’.

Cool and warm colours

When choosing a carpet colour, consider how you want your room to feel and the mood it will create. The colours from light blue to light orange on the chart below are considered the cooler colours. Those from dark blue to dark orange are the warmer colours. Opposite colours on the wheel complement each other.

Hint: Remember when you are choosing which colours to have in your room, consider how much natural light comes in and at what time the room gains the most sunlight.

Neutral colours match

Colours that not included in the table are the neutral colours. These include:

• An achromic colour (without hue). True blacks results from an absence of light.
• Another achromic colour. Produced when light from an object stimulates all three of the colour receptors in the eye in equal measure.
• A mixture of many different colours.

Neutral colours often match with each other and do not dominate when combined with colours on the chart.

You can find out more about neutral colours by visiting our guide – white, cream and beige carpets: using neutral tones in your carpet

Dark carpets vs light carpets

Do you want your carpet to brighten up a dark room or tone down an overly bright space? Your carpet will make a huge difference to the atmosphere of your room, so it’s worth taking the time to think about it.

Dark carpets

Darker carpets can make large rooms feel cosier. Just be careful to keep an eye out for lighting conditions, as rooms with less natural light will need a lighter shade so they don’t appear too dark. Darker carpets are generally better at hiding dirt and footwear marks, but light coloured dog fur/hair will show up a lot.

Light carpets

Smaller rooms can be made to feel larger by using lighter coloured carpets. Lighter neutral colours are great for creating a minimalist décor, whilst light and bright colours are great for making a bold design choice. Lighter carpets tend to show stains and dirt more readily than darker carpets. However, carpet designs like Berber are more stain resistant so you can remove them easily.

Carpet colour guide

Below is a guide that presents some of the key points associated with each colour, helping you to identify your needs and match them to the correct colour.

Grey carpet:

Try it with:

• Minimalist décor
• Exposed brick
• Wood finish furniture
• Accent colours (complimentary colours used in small quantities) from pastels to vibrant palettes

Best colours to use with grey carpet:

• Yellows
• Sage
• Vibrant red
• Navy blue
• Black
• Grey
• White

Grey carpet gallery:

Use it in:

• Main living area
• Bedrooms
• Staircase (especially if you are using a wooden floor in the hallway)

Find out more by visiting our guide - Grey carpets: best products, colour schemes and ideas

Red carpet:

Try it with:

• Warm, cosy lighting (soft lamps and candles)
• Touches of red furnishing to ensure co-ordination
• Neutral wall colours and furnishings so as not to over-power

Best colours to go with a red carpet:

• Whites and creams, grey, beige, black, sky blue
• For children try some yellows, blues and greens in moderation

Use it in:

• Kids’ rooms
• Play rooms
• Bedrooms

Black Carpet:

Try it with:

• Lots of textures if you are using black in the rest of your décor, so the overall is not harsh
• Minimalist décor
• Lots of natural light so the room does not appear dingy
• Plants and greenery

Best colours to go with black carpet:

• White
• Cream
• Grey
• Yellow
• Blush pink
• Spots of bright colour like azure
• Hot pink and emerald

Use it in:

• Bedroom
• Staircase
• Living area

Find out more by visiting our guide – black carpets for the home: colours, designs and accessories

Green carpet:

Try it with:

• Plants and flora to emphasise the natural theme
• Lots of natural light to offset the carpet
• White and wood finishes
• Light pinks and corals
• Traditional patterned rugs

Best colours to go with green carpets:

• Light corals and pinks
• Tan
• Light terracotta
• Tints of other green (basil, olive, mint)
• Cream
• Touches of navy blue

Use it in:

• Hallways
• Stairs
• Bathrooms
• Kids’ bedroom

Find out more by visiting our guide – green carpets: colours, styles, ideas and extras

Pink carpet:

Try it with:

• Pastel cushions
• Sleek black furniture (if going for a sophisticated finish)
• Lighter rugs if going for a very bright pink

Best colours to go with pink carpets:

• Pastels
• Green
• Dark purple
• Dark brown
• Amber
• Aqua
• Black and white

Use it in:

• Bedrooms
• Children’s bedrooms
• Bathroom

Beige carpet:

Try it with:

• Minimalist furniture
• Wood floors
• Accent colours
• Rugs to break up the neutrality

Best colours to go with beige carpets:

• Keep it neutral with greys, creams & nutmegs
• Make a splash with some more vibrant colours

Use it in:

• Hallways
• Stairs
• Kitchens
• Living Rooms

Find out more by visiting our guide – white, cream and beige carpets: using neutral tones in your carpet

Brown carpet:

Try it with:

• An accent colour to add interest
• Dark furniture with clean lines

Best colours to go with brown carpets:

• Duck egg blue
• Greenish blues
• Mocha
• Beige
• Other shades of brown
• Cream
• Yellow if used wisely for a retro look

Use it in:

• Living spaces
• Bedrooms
• Kitchens
• Utility rooms

Patterned/striped Carpet:

Try it with:

• Neutral tones
• Ornamental touches
• Vintage style

Best colours to go with patterned carpets:

• Depends on the colour within the patterns, but generally neutral colours
• Choose no more than one or two colours in the carpet when matching décor

Use it in:

• Living rooms and living areas
• Hallways
• Studies

Find out more by visiting our guide – striped carpets: colours, materials, fitting and FAQs

White or cream carpet:

Try it with:

• Can work with both blonde wood and rich, dark wood. Also works well with warm mid-tone woods for a mid-century feel.
• Plush, soft rugs to add luxury.
• A bright, single accent colour.
• Feature wallpaper in dramatic patterns.

Best colours to go with white carpets:

Use it in:

• Bedrooms
• Living areas (in smaller households)

Blue Carpet

Try it with:

• Neutral walls, especially if the blue carpet is particularly bold
• Coastal look – crisp white wall, soft yellows, (stripes if you’re feeling jazzy)
• Monochromatic – light blue shade for the walls, deeper blue for furnishing, maybe some splashing of white, will create a calm and relaxing atmosphere

Best colours to go with a blue carpet

• Whites
• Other shades of blue
• Greys
• Yellows

Use it in

• Bedrooms
• Living Rooms
• Bathrooms

Find out more by visiting our guide – blue carpets: colours, schemes, ideas and extras

What do I do next?

If you need help deciding which colour carpet goes best with your room, talk to our experienced members of staff or let us send you some free samples.

• Contact Us
• Order Free Samples

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