"Take your carpet samples home. You’ll know if you’ve picked the right color once you see it in your own home with your own furnishings and under different lighting conditions.”
Today, I want to talk to you about the number one topic in carpet. (Not only carpet, but in home decorating too.) And that’s the subject of color.
While color is the most important factor in choosing a carpet, it can also be tricky. With that in mind, here are some tips for how to think about carpet patterns and color when you walk into a store. First, when you’re looking at samples on a rack, you’re most likely seeing things vertically. Take the sample down and place it horizontally on the floor. Why? The angle and orientation of the sample will actually impact your perception of color!
Another thing to keep in mind is the lighting of the store. We have fluorescent lighting in our showroom. So, before a client chooses a carpet, I suggest that they come towards a window (or even outside) to see that carpet in natural light. Very often, the color looks totally different.
Lastly, it’s really the lighting and atmosphere in your home that are most important. We strongly encourage all clients to take samples home. When you shop at your local carpet store, you should do the same thing. Once you have the sample in your home, look at it during the daytime and at nighttime when there are different mixes of natural and incandescent light. See if you like the color in both types of light. There’s nothing like your own home with your own furnishings and paint colors to make an informed decision.
In the store, you may be a little uncertain about what is the right color. My advice is clear: Take the sample home and find out for certain.
If you have any questions about carpet color or flooring selection more generally, don't hesitate to give us a call at 401-214-0285 or visit our showroom. We serve customers throughout Rhode Island and southeastern New England, including Newport, Middletown, Jamestown, Portsmouth, Bristol and more.
About Ken: Ken Fain is the co-owner of Island Carpet in Middletown, RI and a floorcovering veteran of more than 40 years. His popular 'Ask Ken' video series answers common flooring questions on a variety of topics. It has reached more than 100,000 viewers on both YouTube and Facebook.
695 West Main Road Middletown
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