Need Carpet Color Advice

[Nabbage]

Hi All,
I had a pet who repetitively soiled a large area of my hall carpet. It has been some time now (years) and I believe I'm developing mold from the soiling and cleaning solutions continuously on that large area of carpet. We have light carpet throughout our house (regular, not berber) and I definitely feel as if I need to replace that hall carpet, but here's my question:

Should I try to get the same color as the rest of my house? The hall has entryways to stairs and three bedrooms (each have carpet of which I do not need to replace). We have been in this house for 6 years and the rest of the carpet isn't as bright as it once was (it's light!). Or should I go with a completely different color carpet for the hall way - will that look odd... Having a different color adjacent to the stairs and bedroom?

Thanks for your opinions!

[Sandra C]

Welcome, Nabbage! How about a hard surface, such as hardwood, laminate, or stone/tile. You could use a runner on top if necessary.

[Nabbage]

Thanks for the input... we don't want to spend a lot of money - that's why we haven't thought decided to do hard wood or tiles. We will be building a house within a year and will be moving.

Do you think laminate or tiles would be the best option or do you think we could make carpet work?

[lulumaryjo]

Welcome to the board Nabbage! I love decorating questions and hope I can be of some help. If you are planning on selling your house in the next year or so, are you also planning on cleaning the carpets before you sell? If you are, have them cleaned now in all the rooms adjacent to the hall. Then match up the new carpet as best as you can to what it will lie next to. If you match the carpet before it is cleaned, it might not be the best match when you get the house ready to sell. I don't think it is a good idea to try to put wood or laminate in the hall. Your best bet is to try to unify the area. You might have to go to more than one carpet store to make your best choice. Let us know how it turns out.

[magenta]

Welcome, Nabbage! I recently put down hardwood floors and I love those - plan to do the hall/stairs next. My MIL had her bedrooms in one color and the hall in another and that looked great, but she has the decorating flair to make it work. Also, the hall carpet was neutral and the bedrooms were another color. Then she ripped up the carpet in the hallway and refinished the hardwood floors and that looked great too. I think either one is workable.

[LanaSmile]

Have you had your carpets steam cleaned? Whenever we have it done..it always brings them back to what they were. We have a local guy who will do them for about $59-75 depending on whether I want just the pathway areas done..or the whole room. The steam "extractor" lifts the carpet..brings it back to almost new. After 6 months or so..sometimes the spots will return..but I'm always pleased with the results.

If you're going to be selling your house in a year..new carpeting will usually help it sell quicker. You might want to plan for that closer to the date you plan on moving.,,rather than investing in new flooring now.

[Nabbage]

Wow - thank you all so much for the input. All great advice! I think i'll start with a cleaning first. I'll get them to come in and see if they can do something to it (meanwhile do the adjacent rooms) and then go from there.

I really appreciate it - and feel more confident about tackling this project!

[MindaAnn]

Welcome to SL, Nabbage. I think you have some pretty good advice here. The fact that you're planning to sell would put the whole thing in a different light in my opinion. If you have a reliable carpet cleaner, maybe you could explain what is going on now and what your plans are a little farther down the line. If you're developing mold, I'd deal with that pretty quickly. Good luck and let us know what you decide.