The floor is like a fifth wall in terms of the area it covers and a new carpet can change a room’s whole appearance, not to mention the choice of fabrics and furniture. The same basic rules apply to carpet colours as to those for soft furnishings: light carpet will make a room look bigger while dark colours will make your room look smaller but won’t show up the dirt.

Your choice of colour makes a personal statement and with such a wide spectrum of colours available, let your carpet make a fashion statement. That said, variations of beige are the most popular colour in carpets!

Warm, earthy colours that are fiery and passionate and create a sense of intimacy and luxury are particularly suited to large rooms and those that are north facing.

Neutral shades are easier to build schemes around – both now and in the future. A plain natural colour is clean and simple but neutral shades do tend to show stains and marks. Non traditionalists like to blend these passive shades with bright wallpaper and soft furnishings. Those who want to be calm without being dull, cool but not cold, use soft neutrals, gentle greens and natural shades, particularly where you want to give a feeling of space.

Blue is a popular choice, being practical and stylish and subtle. Navy is common in traditional schemes giving a sense of tranquillity and harmony while light blue creates a calming and relaxing environment. The natural aquatic associations of the sea make blue the ideal choice for a bathroom.

Plain or patterned carpet?

Plain carpet is ‘safe’, timeless and ageless. It will suit any room or decorating style. It gives you greater flexibility with wallpaper and fabrics and is easier to build schemes around – both now and in the future. It also opens up a room and using the same colour throughout, either upstairs or downstairs, does give a feeling of space and link rooms. If you want a surface texture, such as the popular ‘natural look’ that replicates coir and sisal, then it has to be plain carpet.

Patterned carpet is, however, staging a comeback with fashion-led designs that really do make the floor a focal point. On a practical level, it can also hide a multitude of sins! Whether its contemporary designs, classic florals or small motifs, pattern does provide visual interest on the floor but remember that a large pattern will work better in a large room. If you are mixing patterned carpet with pattern on walls or soft furnishings, ensure that both have one common colour for a harmonious overall look.

Particularly striking and individual are borders which can either run round the edge of a room or make a feature of an area or item. Runners look stunning on stairs and in hallways.