Sisal carpet or go bold with colour?

[oneofsuesylvesterscheerios]

I went with a neutral carpet for stairs and upstairs rooms a few years ago but it wasn't that expensive and looks crap now - very tatty.

Do I spend a bit more money and invest in a better but neutral crapet, like sisal...

or part of me is really tempted to go for a thick carpet in a dark pink colour. Walls are all neutral so nothing to clash with.

lol at crapet. that's what it is at the moment

Personally, I wouldn't go for such a strong colour in so many rooms. Strong colours/designs look great in hall/stairs and landings for example - but put all over and I think I would get tired of them quickly. I would go with the same neutral colour all over - and I would also steer away from sisal. Not very comfortable under foot, don't always join very easily, and really tricky to get stains out of. A good 80/20 wool twist is a much more practical option, I reckon.

I'm usually all out for colour but somehow it doesn't work (imo) on the floor as well as it does on walls or furniture. I'd go neutral again and colour it up with rugs. I do like sisal but I think it's very difficult to clean - you might like to research it a bit.

Interesting thoughts on sisal - thanks.

If you want colour I'd put it on the walls not the floor as its far more easy to change the look if needs be (e.g. you were selling). Coloured carpet just shouts out "needs replacing" to me, sorry.

If you could see our present - neutral - carpet you'd see it's screaming to be replaced.

See what you say about colour all over - maybe could just do stairs and hallway. I remember going to someone's house ages ago; they had a victorian house like ours and a gorgeous coloured carpet going up the stairs and it seemed really luxurious and glam after so much beige or wood on other houses. I get the neutral things and (well-maintained) it does look more open and clean. I don't think I'd do the walls in colour - I tried that once before and it made the upstairs landing look very small and oppressive.

We're not planning on selling anytime in the next whenever - unless we win lottery.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Have you thought about stripes? Just on the stairs, it can look great. Used to be only £££ brands like crucial trading or Roger oates (fab but eye watering prices) but there are more reasonably priced ones now. You have to make a decision about how to lay it on landings etc where you change direction, but it gives a great graphic look and because you have several colours it's not quite so 'blocky'. Then you could pick out toning or complementary colours for the rooms. Just a thought!

Is sisal a bit slippy for stairs? We have a stripey runner on ours and it is great, I love it. Have v thick underlay beneath and it all seems v hardwearing.

As long as you don't go for really smooth sisal - it's okay to fit on stairs. It will tell you on the back of the sample if suitable for stairs.

Check out Brockways and Westex for lovely stripes - and not at Roger Oates/Crucial Trading prices, but still v good quality. If you landing doesn't suit, you can do the landing in a plain carpet, which then comes down the first step - and then stripes on stairs.

Think a plain, strong coloured carpet would work too - just not taken in to other rooms upstairs, just h/s/l.