How to Choose the Right Carpet Color

Trends, colors, coordinating, & more

While wood flooring is the most popular flooring choice for living rooms and dining rooms in today’s modern homes, many still opt for carpet in their bedrooms, stairs, and family rooms.

Why might carpet be better than wood in these rooms?

• It’s soft and warm underfoot.

• It’s safer on stairs (or at least softer on the toosh when you do biff it)

• Carpet has more acoustic value – particularly on stairs and in bedrooms – you know, for when you’re reading books loudly…right?

• Because the carpet really should match the drapes (sorry, couldn’t help myself)

*Updated with fresh content, images, and ideas for 2026.

However, the challenge comes when you have to choose a carpet based on those wee little carpet samples that aren’t even big enough to be coasters for my wine bottle – a first world problem.

Now, before we get down to the nitty-gritty of choosing a carpet, make sure to take home at least FOUR to FIVE sample boards from the store. Most flooring stores have very little natural lighting and a buttload of fluorescent lighting, which can bring out the ugly in the best of things.

AT THE FLOORING STORE

• Pick your two favourite sample boards that have the TEXTURE you like, along with a nice range of colours to choose from

• Pick two or three (or more) boards that maybe aren’t your fave, but are ‘contenders’

• Sign the boards out, toss ’em in your trunk, and head on home!

STEP 1: DECIDE WHAT COLOR & DEPTH YOU WANT

Carpet sample boards are often arranged darkest to lightest, warmest to coolest, and everything in between. With this checkerboard, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

What ‘general’ color are you looking for? 

• Gray
• Beige or tan
• Cream or off-white
• Khaki, greige, or taupe

What depth do you want (how light or darker)? Remember that carpet can look a tone lighter once installed…

• White (not recommended, but you do you, boo)
• Off-white (still fussy, but hey, it’s not my home)
• Light or light-medium depth
• Medium-depth or darker

Let’s pretend you want a warm, neutral carpet with a light-medium depth (not too light nor too dark) and no obvious undertones. So, let’s get this party started…

STEP 2: COVER UP SAMPLES THAT ARE TOO DARK OR OBVIOUSLY UGLY

Just like choosing a paint color or a new husband, get the ugly ones out of the way.

Eliminating unnecessary samples can help to focus on the REAL contenders.

Take some paper and cover up the samples that are clearly too dark…

STEP 3: COVER UP SAMPLES THAT ARE TOO LIGHT

Remember that carpet can look a good tone lighter than expected once installed (more so in reasonably well-lit rooms)..

And just like the great Britney Spears, let’s hit that baby one more time…

Carpet can look up to ONE TONE LIGHTER than you might expect.

STEP 4: DECIDE WHICH UNDERTONES YOU DON’T WANT

Now that you’ve done the easy and obvious steps (bad colours/too light/too dark), you come to the tricky part – finding the undertones.

The best way to determine the undertones is through comparison.

When you look at a sample all on its lonesome, it’s easy to think it’s ‘beige or gray’ with no undertone. However, it’s via COMPARISON that you see how the samples differ from each other.

What’s interesting about our sample board is that there aren’t any scary undertones – carpet companies are getting a lot better about eliminating the fugly right off the bat. However, it can depend on the board you get.

Instead, look at this board that’s chock-full of devastating undertones – peach, orange, yellow, green, the whole shebang…

Based on the above sample board alone, if I had to pick the most neutral and safest option by comparison, I’d choose the left sample in the second row from the bottom.

Long story short, if any sample looks a bit ‘green, pink, yellow, or whatever you don’t like’, cover it up. 

Now, let’s go back to our main board, which thankfully, is free of fugly.

STEP 5: COVER UP THE SAMPLES THAT ARE TOO COOL

Based on your original wishlist, you don’t want gray carpet. And even though some of the samples aren’t entirely gray, they’re clearly not warm enough, so we block ’em out.

Here’s where we were…

Here’s where we are with the grayish ones covered up…

Look at that – from 15 samples down to 4 and it only took 2 bottles of wine, a straw, and a box of Kleenex! 

STEP 6: RIP THOSE BABIES OFF & COMPARE THEM TO EACH OTHER

Carpet companies don’t set the consumer up for success with their boards, so you need to help yourself.

Once you’re down to 4-6 usable samples, *carefully remove them from the board (mark the back of each one so you can glue it back in the right spot).

*If you aren’t a complete heathen like me and aren’t comfy doing this, skip to STEP 8.

Then, put them on a piece of white paper and compare them without any space separating them.

Upon comparing #3 and #1, it’s easier to see the difference in depth and warmth, as #3 has more of an off-white mixed in. #1 is more ‘all beige’.

Could I do the above all with Step 8, WITHOUT having to remove them from the board? You bet your cute lil’ booty I could. However, sometimes I’m left with five, six, seven, or even more samples I love, all from different sample boards. Personally, I like to narrow it down to 3-4 favorites, and doing these small-scale comparisons helps.

I’m particularly interested in the differences between #1 and #3, as well as between #1 and #4.

On the board, it was hard to distinguish between 1 and 3. Butted up, it’s easy to see that #1 is darker and a bit warmer/less taupe.

As for #1 and #4, they were too far apart on the board to see what was going on. Butted up, it’s easier to see the warmth and beige in #1 and the slightly more muted, grayed-out (but still warm) look of #4; however, depth-wise, they’re apples to apples…

STEP 7: ORDER LARGE SAMPLES OF YOUR FAVES

You’re probably feeling brave now and want to jump ahead and order your carpet, but slow down, crazy pants (says me, who is comfortable ripping samples off the board like a complete degenerate). Ask your flooring supplier to order some larger samples (usually takes no more than FIVE working days). You’re spending thousands of dollars, and a few more days will be worth it.

Large samples are the best way to choose carpet because…

• It will be easier to see the undertones.

• It’s easier to see how the overall texture of the carpet will feel when you walk on it and look at it. It’s not on a HUGE scale, but at least it’s bigger than a postage stamp.

• The lighting in the flooring store will likely be different from the lighting in your home.  This can affect not only the color of the carpet but also how its texture appears.

• You can see clearly how the color reacts with your furnishings, paint colour, etc…

I would ask the carpet supplier to order large pieces of your favorites (ideally, 2-4). Even if you think you’ve found your fave, order the others just in case – comparison is KEY!

STEP 8: GIDDY-UP SPARKLE FARTS, IT’S GLUE TIME

It’s time to get your glue gun out of its holster and start slappin’ those samples back on their respective boards.

See how easy that was? And yes, this is sneaky, but really, it’s the flooring company’s fault for making the samples so damn small.

You’re spending THOUSANDS of dollars on new carpet – a little due diligence (removing samples or ordering large ones) goes a long way.

STEP 9: COMPARE YOUR CARPET SAMPLES TO SURROUNDING FINISHES

Now that you have large samples of your favorites to play with, place them next to surrounding finishes.

I haven’t ordered large samples of the above yet, as I’m on a roll and want to complete this blog post (when I do, I’ll add new photos…if I remember to). Anyway, these give you the right idea…

• Notice which samples seem to flow better with your finishes
• Which samples CONTRAST your finishes
• Which ones CLASH with your finishes

Remember, you’re not a Designer or Color Consultant – you might not know what you’re looking for or looking at. If you’re second-guessing yourself, call an expert for an educated opinion (in other words, don’t trust your neighbor or sister-in-law).

This next image shows a beige carpet with undertones that are a touch off (aren’t we all) with the wall color…

Notice how they’re both warm neutrals, but the walls appear a bit more yellow-green compared to the orange-pink of the carpet.

You don’t need to be able to EXPLAIN what isn’t working, to see what isn’t working (if that helps). In other words, you might not see these undertones, but try to notice how things do or don’t flow.

Kylie M’s Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Undertones

WHAT ARE THE MAIN UNDERTONES TO WATCH FOR IN CARPET?

Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you prefer a green undertone, avoid colors with purple-pink and yellow-orange undertones.

For example, the gray carpet shown next has a green undertone that CONTRASTS with the wood flooring.

We wanted green undertones in the above carpet, and via comparison, we got ’em!

If you prefer a subtle taupe undertone, you would avoid green and yellow-orange.

However, MOST people want a carpet that reads more or less ‘neutral’, or one that connects with the undertones in the surrounding finishes. 

And the BEST way to figure out the above is to follow the previous steps.

WHAT CARPET COLORS ARE CURRENTLY IN STYLE?

If you’re looking for what’s trendy for flooring, don’t look at carpet. Whether building or remodelling, most choose wood flooring, laminate, LVT, LVP, or tile.

That being said, I have carpet in my home and need to replace it. I’m definitely choosing carpet for a few bedrooms, the den, and my stairs, as I prefer it in these spaces.

As for what’s trendy for carpet colors, avoid grays at all costs. Current carpet trends lean warmer. While not everyone is dabbling in the beige or tan pool yet, muted beiges and warmer shades of greige and taupe carpet are pretty popular.

Shaw Floors Sierra Vista – Classics Collection

• As far as trends go, the checkmarks are pretty standard for what today’s average homeowner is installing in their home.
• The question marks are popular, but if you ask me, they’re way too light and will show more dirt/wear over time. Be sure to consider how hard you are on your home, e.g., kids, dogs, shoe-wearing, etc. (That said, I like Shaw brand carpets for their quality/warranty).

WHAT COLOR OF CARPET WILL MAKE MY ROOM LOOK BIGGER OR SMALLER?

The lighter your carpet is, the bigger your room can look, as long as it has low contrast with your walls (so you need off-white or light-colored walls, too).

If you choose a darker carpet, your room can look cozier and more intimate; regardless of whether you have light or dark walls (but naturally, dark walls will make it even cozier!)

WHAT TYPE OF CARPET IS BEST FOR KIDS & PETS?

When it comes to carpets that are hardy enough to withstand kids and pets, synthetic fibres are the most recommended material, including nylon, triexta, and polyester.

Here’s a list of considerations to keep in mind when choosing your carpet…

• If you have cats, berber isn’t always the best choice, as some cats appreciate how it grips their claws and can pull at it. Dog claws can also easily grab looped carpets.
• If your carpet gets a lot of wear and tear, consider a light-medium depth or darker shade, or even one with multiple tints and tones. These will be better at hiding wear paths and stains compared to a lighter, solid color.
• A lower pile is generally better when you have kids and pets. Even a cut-and-loop blend can be better than all loops.
• Invest in a quality underlay as this goes a LONG way to maintaining the carpet that rests on it.

And remember, I’m not a carpet expert, I’m a paint color and home update expert (for both timeless and trendy interiors). For the real deets on the best carpet for your home, talk to a professional carpet supplier.

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