1. Size of the Room

Consider your preferred size and feel of the space when selecting a carpet color. Light-colored flooring generally makes rooms appear larger and more open. Meanwhile, darker carpeted flooring can make the space look and feel smaller, making it an ideal choice for a cozier space.

2. Type of Room

Carpeted flooring can complement a variety of rooms, including hallways, stairways, living rooms, bedrooms and playrooms. If you’re trying to decide how to choose a carpet color for a living room, for instance, you might consider a neutral shade like brown, gray or beige if you regularly change up your decor. These colors offer versatility and match numerous interior styles.

3. Lighting

Lighter carpets tend to work best in rooms with minimal natural light. Installing a light carpet in a highly lit setting may cause it to appear too bright or washed out. Likewise, adding dark-colored carpet to a room with little natural light can make it look even darker. Therefore, dark carpet is usually better for areas with good natural light exposure.

4. Color of the Walls

Unless you’re willing to change it to complement your carpet, you won’t want to overlook your wall color when choosing a carpet color. Remember that you don’t want to match your carpet to the wall exactly, but you should try to choose a shade from the same color family that coordinates with the rest of the home. In other words, pair cool tones with cool tones and warm tones with warm tones.

Choose a color theme for your wall and carpet — cool or warm. If you have warm walls, we recommend earthy carpet tones like cream or beige. For gray or cool walls, opt for a cooler-colored carpet instead.

5. Furniture and Decor

Try to select a carpet color that coordinates with your furniture and other decorative elements. Using these features can help you narrow down color options. Choose a shade within the same color family as your artwork, drapes, furniture and other items in the room to ensure a cohesive look. However, you shouldn’t base your carpet color choice solely on your decor if you plan to change it soon.

6. House Style

It’s important to choose a carpet color that accents your personal style and taste. Determining your interior design style is a good way to choose carpet color. For instance, a black or charcoal carpet can create a clean, sleek appearance for a modern or minimalist interior design. Meanwhile, a patterned or brightly colored carpet might suit a bohemian, art deco or eclectic style.

7. Lifestyle

You can also select a carpet color based on the amount of traffic the room receives daily. If the room isn’t used regularly or receives low foot traffic — like an office or guest bedroom — the color will likely stay intact for a long time, meaning a light shade could work well.

For a room that gets high foot traffic, such as a stairway, den or family room, you might consider a darker color or pattern so dirt doesn’t show up as easily. Additionally, loop-pile carpet has a low profile and high stain resistance, making it great for areas with high foot traffic.

Pristine white may look lovely in a formal sitting area that’s rarely used, but it would be a less ideal choice for a living room if you have kids or pets. That being said, your lifestyle plays an important role in choosing the best carpet color.