If you're looking around for a new carpet, you may decide to install neutrally coloured carpet in your home, in shades like grey, beige, or charcoal. That way, you can add pops of colour with cushions, curtains, and other furnishings. Neutral hues will offer better options as they harmonise with more shades than a bright blue carpet. However, should you opt for a light or dark-coloured neutral carpet? Consider the following pros and cons of both.

Cleaning

An advantage of a dark carpet is that it hides mud, dirt, and food spills more readily than a pale carpet. That explains why you often see dark carpets in offices and commercial spaces. Your floor will look cleaner with less vacuuming, and you won't have to worry as much if someone drops a bowl of pasta or spills sauce on the floor. Any resulting stains will be less evident on a dark grey carpet than on a cream floor. However, you need to be careful with the cleaning products you use on a dark carpet, because harsh products may leach colour out. Conversely, on the pale carpet, if you accidentally bleach it with cleaning products, the discolouration won't be as noticeable.

Also, think about any pets that live in your home and their fur or hair colour. A fluffy white cat may shed fur everywhere, and it will be more evident on dark flooring. Lint and dust can also stand out more against a dark background. Overall, though, dark carpet generally hides dirt better than paler shades and will often perform better in high-traffic areas of a home.

Cosiness

Do you prefer a warm feeling in a room? If so, consider installing a dark carpet that will help generate a comfy atmosphere. Dark carpet also adds contrast and interest to a room with white walls. Dark floors visually ground a room and provide a sense of depth.

Some designers may  suggest a pleasing space is created with a dark floor, mid-tone walls, and light ceilings, so the room's colours move from dark to light from the ground up. You can follow this schema with dark carpeting.

Openness

However, a light, pale carpet can give a room a spacious feel. It can help make a small room appear larger and airier, as paler colours are light-reflective, especially if the walls are also soft. You could opt for this approach if your home is compact. A light-coloured neutral carpet also harmonises with varied furnishings in light and dark colours, making it easy to design around. So it's a versatile option to choose from a carpet shop.