Which colour floor goes best? | Charles Wilson Carpets and Flooring

Which Colour Floor Goes Best?Published 29/11/2018

“What colour goes best?” – we hear this question so often! It’s very difficult to judge how a colour fits in your room, with your furniture, fabrics and walls, when you’re standing in our shop! Similarly, a small swatch doesn’t always show you the final effect.

So – how do you choose your colour and style? It is, of course, a matter of personal taste & style, but here are a few ideas to help:

1. What is the dominant feature in the room?

It’s best to decide what the main focus of the room is first before choosing a colour. Is there bold wallpaper or a particular piece of furniture that stands out? Or maybe you’d like some artwork to be the focal point? Is the floor going to make the statement for you?

If you want the flooring to stand out then try a contrasting colour or tone to the walls (or main shades used in the room). For example, pale walls offer themselves open to a myriad of colours in a deep shade or wood effect. But - be careful as a dark floor can sometimes make the room look smaller. A mid-tone may be best to keep the feeling of space in a small area.

For a more restful/airy look - or to provide a balance for other focal points - pick out similar tones to the items in the room. This keeps a rhythm and helps everything blend together. Plain and soft tones can be used to create neutral complement for bold items such as pictures/wallpaper.

2. What atmosphere would you like?

Light, bright or cosy, rich - cold or warm?

Colour plays a huge role in how you feel when you enter a room. Do you favour a warm, cosy feel? Then head for the part of the colour wheel that goes from reds through to light yellowy creams. Bold shades in this range can also give you a stimulating environment. Would you prefer a modern, crisp fresh look – then white, greys and zingy acidic greens, bold turquoise are in favour. They create a feeling of space and light but are cool in tone.

Remember a colour can be made up of many things, so don’t dismiss those outside of this range. For example, you can have a blue which is not part of this colour bank but it can still be a warm shade if it leans towards violet/purple to make a more heathery shade.

3. Which colour will be practical?

There is no getting away from it – you need to match your colour choice with the purpose of the room involved. For example, a pale cream carpet in a hallway with a family and dog is unlikely to end well, (unless you are very meticulous and fastidious about cleaning!).

Ask the friendly team at Charles Wilson Carpets about which would be the most durable options for the room concerned. Let us know the volume of traffic, type of use and level of maintenance you are prepared to do. We’ll have great advice for you!

It is possible to choose a lighter colour, especially in a small area such as a hall, but you may need to consider things like mottled shades for a carpet (hides little muddy marks & bit of fluff), or a texture or bolder grain look for wood, or wood effect floors. The plainer and lighter the shade, the more wear or dirt it will show. Darker, patterned or textures surfaces hide a lot of marks and look cleaner.

4. How do you see it?

It doesn’t matter what anyone else says, it’s how you see a colour or pattern that matters. There are quite large variations in how people view colour. You won’t believe the stand-up rows between couples on what colour is what! This is most common with shades of green, grey or blue. Input from others (such as friends or family) can help – but ultimately, it is your home, your money and you that will have to live with it for years. Don’t be swayed too much by fashion, you are an individual after all!

The Best Way Forward

A good shop should let you borrow samples and keep going back until you’ve found what you really like. There is no embarrassment in having to return several times and the sales staff want to ensure you are happy with your final choice. At Charles Wilson Carpets, we are happy to offer our professional advice and encourage you to try different samples until you know that you’ve found the right option for you. Pop in and have a chat.