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Original poster

White carpets - I need your views urgently!

40 replies

AuntLucyInPeru · 15/03/2012 18:13

Hi all. Major barnstorm in the Peru household. Independent verdicts needed Grin

We're redecorating and dressing a 4-bed contemporary house we own (built 2004) in a village just outside a big Eastern university town. We need to pick carpet colour now. Carpets are in every room apart from the entrance hall and the through kitching-living space (which has laminates).

DH has picked white carpets, on the grounds that this is almost exclusively what showhomes (Barratt Homes etc) are using this year.

I say that white carpets might look good in showhomes but no woman would ever pick them, and women buy houses, so we should go for something a bit more beige.

We have a standoff.

Ladies of MN, I leave it in your hands. Are white carpets the right choice in a house which is being 'done up' for sale?

We don't live there, so no prob about damage in the period leading up to sale.

OP posts:
Original poster
AuntLucyInPeru · 15/03/2012 18:16

Sorry - in case it's not clear, this is a house we want to sell, so we're tarting it up to make it as appealing as possible. Walls are white, all furnishings will be 'Dwell' styley...

OP posts:
crazygracieuk · 15/03/2012 18:22

I would rip out the white carpets if I bought the house.

minipie · 15/03/2012 18:22

If I viewed a house with white carpets I would think the owners were nuts probably spent a lot of time away from home. And I would think I'd probably have to replace them all within a year after the effects of normal life had kicked in.

You are right.

What about pale grey? More modern looking than beige and would go well with white walls and Dwell style furniture.

fishyfairy · 15/03/2012 18:24

I've been looking at a few new builds in London and the carpets have all been along the brown/beige side. Including a hideous dark beige that DH instantly christened "dead mouse". We put an offer in on that house so it's not something that would have entirely put us off but would have been something we'd replace reasonably fast.

I'd go with something more beige if I were you - white wouldn't necessarily put me off when I looked at it, but I'd curse you to hell when I realised how much of a drama it would be to keep clean. A creamy/beige will have the look you're trying to achieve but will also be more functional for someone living there. Can you convince your DH to go the right way for green reasons - the white carpet will just be chucked out when it's bought.

noddyholder · 15/03/2012 18:25

Silvery grey or beige if you must Grin!

Lougle · 15/03/2012 18:26

Never, never, never white Grin

Every spot, every spill, every stain, every scuff. Every rainy day - you won't avoid it.

No way

HettyKett · 15/03/2012 18:26

Yes, a soft grey would be much, much better than white or the ubiquitous beige.

Vickles · 15/03/2012 18:28

When house hunting last summer - we viewed a lovely house that had white carpet in the hallway and into the lounge. It actually made me feel quite uncomfortable and nervous, as I had my two children with me. The vendors were in their 60's and their family had grown up and moved out. I knew that I had to rip them out - at great cost... so the house wasn't for us. Not just because of the carpets of course... but, it was the first thing I noticed about the house when I walked in. I was hit with a negative straight away. And, that is not what you want when selling a house.

You are right on this one... find a way to compromise. A lightish colour with flecks in it maybe... Or, wooden floors in well used areas.

noddyholder · 15/03/2012 18:29

I used grey in the last development I did and the pg=hotos looked amazing and it sold in 2 days. It was all white too bar one very dark room and it worked in all of them

Original poster
AuntLucyInPeru · 15/03/2012 18:29

Remember, this is not about what you would choose for your own home (obviously no family in their right mind would pick white) -it's what will look the smartest/most aspirational/ most 'now' and will therefore get the highest price.

And no, environmental arguments (about perfectly good carpet being ripped up and thrown out in a year) will have no away with DH. This is a financial decision only.

OP posts:
Original poster
AuntLucyInPeru · 15/03/2012 18:31

We did silver grey in our last development too, but it was in a much higher price bracket. Likely selling price of this one is c£270k, so family income of £60-£70k.

OP posts:
NorthernNumpty · 15/03/2012 18:33

We live in one of two new builds, our carpets are beige next doors are ivory almost white. They hate them! Whilst I loathe the sea of beige, at least they are practical.

I think it depends on the market you are aiming for, families will be put off but not young singles/professional couples.

Wooden floors seem to be a winner all round.

NorthernNumpty · 15/03/2012 18:34

Sorry just seen its 4 bed so unlikely to be singles

Heswall · 15/03/2012 18:35

Some pair of plonkers who have no children and never lived in a house before might think wow and love white carpets.

yousankmybattleship · 15/03/2012 18:36

I think white carpets are hideous. Far too Dynasty! I agree neutral is good - beige or something innofensive.

HettyKett · 15/03/2012 18:37

I'd never carpet anywhere in my home, apart from the stairs and landings. Then only when there was no other option. Can't stand the stuff.

No, you should use a shade of grey. It'd reflect the high end trend for bare concrete and give a better sense of space by highlighting the floor space and room height too.

Beige is not a good idea, too dull. Middle class family standard in the UK isn't it?

White wouldn't be good, you'd have to make sure the white wall and woodwork worked with the specific shade and finish of the carpet. It's a very, very difficult look to get right.

CurrySpice · 15/03/2012 18:37

Noooooooooooooooo! No white carpets. Tell your DH that it does not suit your target demographic

noddyholder · 15/03/2012 18:37

Didn't realise wood was an option That would be better. White is I agree naff. A bit footballers wives

misslinnet · 15/03/2012 18:37

I'd be put off by white carpets, as I'd be imagining the mess DS would make of them, and the expense of replacing them with a more child friendly colour.

But then my sister, who has a 13 month old DS, has just had white carpets fitted in her house.

TheCokeMachine · 15/03/2012 18:40

I'm viewing at the moment, and if I saw a house with white carpets I'd wonder why the hell they hadn't just put a wood floor down - I'd be looking to get the price down because I'd need to replace the carpet as soon as I moved in.

White oak boards are good - perhaps you could do them as a compromise?

I guess it depends on who you are marketing too - I've got a baby and pets so white is a no go for me. But to be honest it would have been a no go when it was just DH and me...one glass of red wine spilt at the housewarming and it's ruined.

MusicFlower · 15/03/2012 18:43

I agree with Vickles (think she may have gone to see the house we did. Ok, unlikely really, but ...)

Exactly the same - older couple in their 60's, children left home, pristine house, white carpets throughout. I spent the whole time thinking I would miss my ds growing up because I would be constantly on my hands and knees cleaning them. Yep, and I was nervous because ds who is 3 was with us at the viewing. The estate agent was too - she offered to look after him while we looked in the garden! End result they took the house off the market. It was a family home but I guess no families offered on it.

We are currently renting and have the most fantastic beige coloured carpet that I don't even have to hoover dirt from as it just lifts away!

Lougle · 15/03/2012 19:21

"it's what will look the smartest/most aspirational/ most 'now' and will therefore get the highest price"

But people will see unsuitable carpets and think 'ok, that's another £1000 we have to spend...or even more.'

White just isn't a goer.

Original poster
AuntLucyInPeru · 15/03/2012 19:24

You see, that's exactly what I say, but I'm losing the argument. His view, 'barratt homes sells a squillion homes a year. If they say white, then white it is..'

OP posts:
TalkinPeace2 · 15/03/2012 19:31

but Barratt sell ticky tacky boxes
discerning buyers would not consider white unless the vendor/builder knocked the price back for replacing them at the last minute

grey with a hint of pattern

siilk · 15/03/2012 19:33

My parents put it down upon redoing a new house. They are in 60's and all of us are long gone. My mother now states that it is the worst b**y thing ever and if she ever has another idea like that one just to mention it!

If I was viewing a house that had White carpets down I would be a little put off and thinking right, those will have to come up!!