Choosing The Best Colour Carpet for Your Stairs and Landing
Finding the right carpet colour for your stairs and landing is crucial for making sure your new purchase is a practical addition to your home and delivers the look you’re going for.
Read on for help understanding how to select the best colour carpet to complement your room’s design without compromising on its performance. Whether you want to make a bold statement or choose a carpet that blends seamlessly with your existing interiors, we’ve got you covered!
The factors to consider when choosing your carpet’s colour
The existing colour scheme
It goes without saying that your new carpet will need to match the scheme and style of your home. Consider whether it will be in keeping with your walls, furniture and other flooring choices, and go for complementary shades that will make the design ‘pop’ when they are paired together. Choosing an appropriate colour for your stairs and landing carpet can be tricky, because it will need to support a smooth transition between the upstairs and downstairs décor – so you’ll need to look at the space from all angles to make sure there are no unsightly clashes.
If you’re decorating a contemporary property – or just prefer a lower-key look – you may want to opt for cream, beige or grey tones to keep things simple. Traditional builds with timber accents or period style features will often suit warmer colours, so don’t be afraid to experiment with deep reds, greens or even browns to achieve a cosy, homely feel. Bold, patterned, or textured carpets will certainly add visual interest, but use them selectively to avoid a cluttered or confused aesthetic.
How the colour will affect the sense of space
Carpets can affect how large (or how small) your space appears to be and help to determine the overall atmosphere of the room.
Generally, darker carpets – such as those produced in black, dark grey, navy or burgundy tones – will create a more intimate feel, unless you are working with a particularly sizeable staircase and landing. On the other hand, pale, pastel or light-coloured carpets are softer on the eye, and their light-reflecting properties can brighten up the space. Traditional beiges and greys aside, you can experiment with more unusual shades if you want to create more of a focal point without drawing in your design; think light blues, mint greens and gentle pinks to achieve a peaceful environment that creates the perception of more square footage.
To maximise space, make sure your carpet is installed wall-to-wall. And though it might seem counterintuitive, larger rugs can sometimes help to create the illusion of more space, as their smaller alternatives will fragment the floor and draw attention to particularly small or jagged areas.
Lighting setups
Natural light can make colours look different than when they are subjected to artificial lighting – so you must take a close look at each shade in both contexts when choosing the best colour carpet for your stairs and landing.
Work out how much natural light that the area receives throughout the day, as this will affect your final decision. If your space is naturally light and airy, you can get away with installing darker coloured carpets that will add interesting depth to the area without making the stairway look too gloomy. If you rely heavily on electric lights to illuminate your stairs and landing, we recommend opting for lighter shades, which will make your rooms appear brighter and much more open.
Accessibility
It’s worth noting that lighter carpets can sometimes make the edges of steps less visible. If you want to reduce the risk of slips and trips in your home, choose medium to dark shades instead, which provide a better contrast and help to define stairs more clearly.
Maintenance
Patterned carpets and those manufactured in medium to dark shades are much better at hiding stains and dirt – so if you are carpeting a high-traffic staircase and landing, these may be a more sensible choice in the long term. However, as long as you buy a durable, high-quality carpet that’s designed to withstand heavy use, you can expect the product to last for years to come, as long as it is lovingly looked after.
Maintenance requirements will vary from carpet to carpet, but hoovering the surface often will prevent any dirt and debris from embedding itself into the fibres, and periodic deep cleans will help to keep it looking fresh. Always test any spot cleaners on an inconspicuous part of your carpet first, just in case it reacts unexpectedly with the material.
Versatility
Most of us don’t want to replace our carpets more than every 5-10 years (or for an even longer period if possible). So, if longevity is your aim too, it’s important to choose a timeless carpet colour for your hall, stairs and landing that will comfortably stand the test of time.
Interior decorating trends come and go, but following best design practices and bearing your practical requirements in mind will ensure your investment is versatile enough to go the distance.
Why is it important to get advice from flooring professionals?
With so many things to consider, choosing the best colour carpet for your stairs and landing does require some thought. However, we are always available to help you find the right product for your needs.
Our staff are fully trained in advising our customers on appropriate colour matches and we can provide free consultations for homeowners who want to make sure they make the right decision first time.
Carpet samples can also be ordered if you would like to see what certain shades will look like in situ.
Please don’t hesitate to contact The Flooring Group for free advice and a quote. We operate several stores in central London, so wherever you are in the city, we’re confident we’ll be able to help you. You can also view our full range of carpets here.