by Ginger Rodriguez
And, let’s not be dull about it. I often lean toward a patterned carpet with subtle color, especially for clients who have a life! If you have a real life and real home, we’re talking kids, pets, activities, crafts, who knows what. That means …. Stains, spots and discoloration. Any shade of solid carpet will be shot in a week, or will require constant touch-ups. Tolerable for once in a while, but really a drag when it has to be a daily thing. Even a subtle pattern or figure will mask a multitude of accidents… like Magic! Until you can get to them, and will make the forever stain that you’ll never get out… not ruin your room.
Think of a patterned carpet/ rug/area rug almost as you would think of an equally-large piece of art on your wall. It will set the tone for the room… so make it count and make it work toward the overall look you want.
A trick for the well-lived-in home is the totally wonderful “outdoor carpet”… used indoors! OMG what a wonderful invention! And, mostly because they come in SO many colors and patterns. I think I could safely say that there is no room or look for which there isn’t a perfect pattern, color and size of outdoor carpet. The benefits are obvious… they are made of materials that can withstand an enormous amount of wear and, when dirty, get rolled up , taken outside , hosed-off, (use a mild detergent too, if needed), left in the sun to dry and then back in the house.
I love the feeling of knowing that it’s a carpet that really, truly can get totally clean and disinfected (I’m thinking of dealing with pet accidents in particular, and don’t pretend I’m the only one!)
They are even eco-friendly and some made of recycled materials. All sizes you could ever want, most all colors, patterns from modern to Classical.
So, when it comes to decorating decisions: Start with carpet. Patterned is good. Patterned Outdoor-used-Indoors, even better!
You can contact Ginger directly thru her popular blog, coffeewithginger.com or her Interior Design company, West Bay Interiors.