Plain or pattern carpet?

[MrsMayJune]

We are planning on putting carpet throughout our house. Plain carpet seems so uninteresting and so I was think of having a patterned one. Subtle pattern.

Do you or anyone you know have pattern carpet and does it look good? I know they were all the rage in the 70s but these were very bold patter.

I like off piste thinking! We're going to need to see pics though. Do you have anything in mind?

The only acceptable patterned carpets I’ve seen have a subtle chevron/ herringbone pattern, think they’re mainly used for stairs though.

I would go plan carpet personally, you don’t want your house to look like a Wetherspoons.

An alternative would be to get hard floors and patterned rugs.

Another vote for hard floors and patterned rugs. When you go for wood you'll never look back. So much easier to keep clean and the way it reflects the light is just wonderful. If you go for carpet definitely I'd go plain not patterned, unless you have something discusò in mind, but you may have to build all your decoration/furniture around it.

Every home now seems to have wooden floor or wooden floor look of some type.

I wanted something different.

Another couple I found interesting

Sorry, but this would be a no from me.
It reminds me of B&B's and hotels, where I am convinced that the pattern design carpet has one function only: to distract from any stains or marks.

I think patterned carpet will come back. Plain carpet has only been a thing for less than 30 years. I do think plain carpet makes managing stains much harder, but my main objection is it's just so bland!

Nice patterned carpet is wildly expensive though.

It is a risk and yes very expensive but so interesting.

This is how a floral one would look

I am actually a fan of patterned carpet- I saw an incredible 1930s one in a museum. Hard to get right though. Of the ones you have posted I'm not keen on the subtle floral though- they look quite dated but not in a good way! I like the geometric and the bolder darker one (isn't it a big rug though).
I think if you wanted to do it you would have to go BOLD to make it look good!

Although I quite like this subtle one- I think it's because it's more geometric? If you don't want wood but don't wand to go all out you can put patterned rugs over plain carpet?

I think there is a reason why wood floor is overtaking carpet. Practicality, hygiene and also aesthetics. I feel any of the pictures you have posted would look better with an oak floor. Herringbone parquet, if you like pattern.

I am not a fan of these carpets, I think they will seriously limit the palette/style of what you can put into your house and you will be forever decorating around them instead of them providing a backdrop to your choices, but it's your home and your call ultimately so if you love them go for it.

People often say wood floors are more hygienic. I think that is debatable when you look at internet discussions on this. I’m also big into Vax carpet washing and I vacuum regularly.

I think wood flooring is all the rage because it is “in fashion”. That said good natural wood flooring never dates.

I like the subtle pattern @Clarabellawilliamson. Thanks.

We recently bought a property with an old Axminster carpet. My goodness what luxury and despite its age is in excellent condition. This has led us on the path of considering an Axminster. We are renovating and will replace throughout but given the cost and that we don’t expect to replace again in our lifetime, we need to get it right.

I know it’s a bit out of the ordinary to consider patterns. Maybe we play safe but we might regret a plain carpet.

If you have patterned carpet, then everything else needs to be plain and go with the carpet. That’s why I wouldn’t.
I did like that one in the bedroom though.

You’d have to love it so much that you are able to
Ignore all the raised eyebrows.
Rears though many of the photos above show large rooms with very little furniture.
Great if you have a spacious house I’d say but would not look the same in a small living room with sofas, TVs, magazines, toys etc!!

An alternative would be to get hard floors and patterned rugs.

Or a plain carpet and rugs. We inherited a couple of Persian rugs from DHs parents, they look good (imo) on our carpet.

The house isn’t small but it’s also not grand. The living room space is 32 by 14 foot. The extension connected to it will be similar but perpendicular to the living room. The upstairs is just your normal 4 bedroom and then a loft room.

We considered wood but …

It is a tough decision. I don’t know what to do.

It’s very hard to find photos on the internet with normal houses with patterned walk-to-wall carpets.

I was going to suggest the Timorous Beasties ones but see you’ve already found them. I love the Noir Ruskin one, but couldn’t persuade Dh unfortunately. I think it would look amazing, although you would have to think through the rest of your furnishings and colour scheme very carefully.

I do think patterned carpets are ripe for coming back.

That floral one is very hotel.

We stayed in a house with tartan carpet throughout. That was lovely. But, as mentioned by others, very restrictive for the rest of your decor.

Those patterned ones remind me of pub carpets

We have chosen carpets which have flecks of other colours rather than a flat, single colour or an all over pattern. It seems to strike a happy medium.

I think they look fabulous on stairs. Timorous Beasties again:

I think you could pull it off if you kept it sympathetic to the style of the house. So maybe geometric for 70s, floral for victorian. Not quite that simple.

You do have to be aware that it won't be to everyone's taste and may be off putting for resale. Also if it isn't synthetic be a moth feast.

House of Hackney do amazing carpets and stair runners too.

I’ve been debating this exact same thing!

I’m considering patterned carpet on the stairs/landing and then plain but in a similar colour palette in the bedrooms.

I like this one, not to everyone’s taste, but we’re not planning on moving any time soon so if I like it I’m not really hugely bothered if anyone else doesn’t