Whether it’s time to choose new carpet or you want to get rid of the old, use these designers’ advice to make your space more modern.
It’s no secret that the bright orange shag carpet of the ’70s has long since fallen out of favor, but there are a few less obvious carpet colors that interior designers are eager to leave behind. Even if the rest of your space is modern and thoughtfully designed, these particular shades can instantly date a room.
Discover the five carpet colors designers recommend avoiding— and the modernized alternatives to use instead.
Related: Is Carpet Outdated? Designers Say This Flooring Staple Is Here to Stay
Meet Our Expert
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Emily Vaughan is an interior designer and the owner of Emily Vaughan Interiors in Maryland.
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Jill Greaves is an interior designer and the founder of Jill Greaves Design in Toronto.
1. Bold and Neon Colors
While it hasn’t been popular to use bold and neon carpet colors (like green, orange, pink, and teal) for some time, there are still some floors that boast these bright hues on a patterned or solid carpet. Neon or fluorescent colors were used in carpeting as a fun way to integrate accent colors, but according to Jill Greaves, an interior designer and founder of Jill Greaves Design, there are more sophisticated and current ways to playfully design a room, like with paint or wall art. However, there are exceptions for saturated colors in carpeting, including recently trending earth tones.
“The warm tones of amber, rust, deep russet, and reddish browns are very current, but avoid bright, true red on your carpets,” Greaves says. “Replace hot pink with rose, soft pink, and gold tones—these colors still work well in a youthful mix of white, orange, or magenta.”
Related: 8 Flooring Trends Experts Say We’ll See in Homes in 2024
2. Cool Grays
Millennial gray paint and home decor have been on their way out, and this includes gray carpet. As people incorporate more warmth, coziness, and color into their homes, cool gray carpets can add a dreary and out-of-place feel to a lively space.
Greaves says you don’t have to say goodbye to gray altogether, warm versions of the hue can still be modern. Again, look to earth tones for inspiration when you choose your carpet color. “Cool gray is out—replace it with warmer grays and putty-color neutrals. These colors work really well with the vintage trends and the softer coastal look that we have been seeing more of,” she says.
Related: How to Add Color to a Room No Matter What Your Palette Is
3. Stark White
Similar to gray, Greaves predicts that all-white spaces, including stark white carpets, are also outdated as people want more texture, pattern, warmth, and color in their spaces. Besides just the appearance, white carpet can be nearly impossible to keep clean—especially with kids or pets.
“We’ve had too much white for too long! I think we have all grown tired of the white-on-white room and are looking for a warmer take on things, like fun patterns or more natural textiles,” Greaves says.
Consider flooring that has natural warm tones to it, whether that be on carpet, rugs, hardwood, or tile. If replacing your white carpet isn’t a current option, integrate visual interest by layering a seagrass rug over the carpeting.
Related: The 6 Best Portable Carpet Cleaners of 2024, According to Testing
4. Builder Beige
Another neutral that you might want to avoid for an updated room is beige—or what designers call “builder beige,” to be exact. According to Emily Vaughan, an interior designer and owner of Emily Vaughan Interiors, this overused shade of builder-grade beige carpeting is at the top of her list of outdated colors.
“With the amount of color and personality we are seeing in today’s interiors, using a bland beige carpet feels like a missed opportunity,” Vaughan says. “If you’re searching for a neutral carpet that’s not your typical solid beige, try one with a subtle pattern like a stripe or herringbone. Natural fibers such as sisal or jute also provide a neutral foundation while bringing in more warmth and texture.”
5. Black
Moody and dramatic black carpets have made a statement in the past, but they might stay in the past too. 2010s design trends used bold colors, like black, in big ways, but trends have shifted away from dark-colored flooring to a lighter and more natural look.
Greaves says black’s closest and most modern alternatives are dark brown or charcoal. These dark neutrals offer the same moody and enveloping feel of black without the outdated look. If you still want to cover the floor with black in some form, consider a patterned rug or carpet with black in it. Greave even predicts that a new trend is developing for the dark shade—pairing black and navy blue together in funky patterned floor coverings. This gives the black some breathing room and implements a little bit of color with the navy blue.
Related: 30 Designer-Approved Black Home Decor Ideas
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