Choosing a carpet color is one of the most difficult part of decorating your space. There are so many decisions to make including style of carpet and fiber type plus quality.

It can be tough to visualize the color in a large space, judging from a tiny view. A color change can have a dramatic effect, and sometimes even though a change is desired, it can be a bit scary. Occasionally, customers have a hard time because the color they like doesn’t suit their lifestyle.

There is a reason why neutral colors are the biggest sellers in carpet business. Carpet has a big impact in a room, and a bright color in a large spread can be overwhelming. Also, replacing the carpet is not inexpensive unless you intend to replace your carpet every few years, you are best to keep the color on the floor neutral, and opt for using the brighter or bolder colors in other, less expensive areas of the room: paint on the walls (much easier and less costly to change than the carpeting), cushions on the sofa, bedding, and smaller accent pieces such as lamps and framed paintings.

Let the light in

Do not try to choose your carpet color in the store! Looking at the color in your home, in the room or area where the carpet will be installed, is the most important step you can take when selecting your color. The color could look very different in your home than it did in the store.

Lighting is the key factor in how a color looks. Chances are, the lighting you use in your home is very different from the commercial lighting used in the store. Also, natural lighting (sunlight) is different from artificial lighting (light bulbs) and can cause the color to change yet again.

Dye Lots

Carpet has dye lots – that is, the color may vary slightly from one roll of carpet to another. Usually the difference is very minor, and barely detectable. However, manufacturers do allow for difference, and it is not considered a defect. If you are choosing from a manufacturer’s sample and not from a piece cut from the actual roll your carpet will be cut from, keep in mind that the color of your carpet may not be an exact match to the sample you looked at.

The carpet color can alter the entire feel of a room, so be sure to select your color carefully and wisely. Think about how trends may change over the years, and be sure that the color you love today will still appeal to you down the road.

This article first appear in Rugs and Carpets