Carpet Color & Design

Look at your room first . . .

Decide on an important element and decorate around it. In all likelihood, your new carpeting doesn’t mean all new furniture, window coverings, wall colors, etc. So, if the old sofa or the drapes are to be the unifying color, use that as a guide for the rest of the room. With that established, you can build the room in complementary colors, and even continue the theme throughout your home.

Color can go a long way . . .

Think beyond one room and let your unifying colors flow from room to room. That deep blue swatch of color in your draperies is complemented by the blue hue of your carpet, which in turn is extended to the blue in the artwork in the next room.

Shades and Hues . . .

Variety is the spice you want here. Rather than going through tedious carpet/wall covering/upholstery matching, simply choose a darker or lighter shade. It will work wonders for definition and variation.

These are a few of my favorite things . . .

Bring out the best in your room by highlighting what you like and downplaying what you don’t like . . . and maybe can’t eliminate, anyway. If you have great woodwork — show it off with complementary wall covering. If you love that bay window — design
with its full view and use in mind. And if you hate the window — cover it up with window coverings that blend in with your scheme.

Your own bag . . .

Start your own bag of ideas with samples and swatches of paint and fabric of things you already have and are going to keep. Then throw in ideas and photos of looks that you like from publications or anywhere you find them. You can also include pictures and measurements of the rooms you’re working on. Then keep your bag with you as you shop. It will help greatly as you decide what fits your new décor . . . and what doesn’t.