Patterned Vs Solid Color Carpet: Which Is The Better Investment?

Carpets can add insulation, cushioning, and a sense of style to your floors. But with so many options to choose from on the market and with all the carpet floor trends making the rounds lately, finding the right one for your home can be daunting. To narrow down your choices, however, you can start by weighing in on whether you want a solid color or a patterned carpet. One definitely has more advantages than the other, although either can work pretty well in any room, provided they are paired thoughtfully with complementary furnishings.

A solid color carpet, as its name suggests, features a single, uniform color throughout its surface. Hence, it can blend seamlessly with any design style or room aesthetic. Depending on its shade, it can also make a small room feel bigger. On the other hand, a patterned carpet can pretty much dictate the overall style of a room with its conspicuous design and details. That said, it can be challenging to find furniture, wall color, and decor to match its aesthetic. Based on these differences, a solid color carpet makes for a better investment when thinking of versatility, ease of styling, or even staging, for when you are ready to sell your home. 

While not as popular today, patterned carpets used to be at the forefront of home styling in the U.S. Specifically, between the 1950s and the 1960s, carpets featuring floral, geometric, and abstract patterns were ubiquitous. Though they never left the scene in the following decades, more households eventually switched to carpet options with simpler colors — a foreshadowing of what would later become the rise of minimalism in home design at the turn of the century. More recently, patterned carpets had a resurgence, although one could say that modern iterations are no longer as loud and overstimulating as the dated designs of yesteryear.

Still, even with more toned-down patterns and designs, experts are iffy on how patterned carpets can offer more than just a touch of boldness and personality to spaces. They are also more worried about these floor coverings setting homeowners back once they decide to sell their properties. Since not everyone can appreciate the artistic elements of patterned carpets, the sight of unusual or bold patterns alone can deter buyers and lower your home's resale value.

Then, there's the cost. Due to weaving complexity as well as the number of colored fibers used in making patterned carpets, these tend to cost more upfront than the solids. So, if you are thinking of selling your house in the near future, patterned carpets for a makeover, styling upgrade, or even just home staging is a no-go.

In the past, patterned carpets had an edge over solid color carpets, as the former could easily conceal dirt, stains, and other blemishes, making them ideal for high-traffic areas in the house. However, modern solid carpets, made of varying synthetic materials, are now able to keep up, as these carpet types are designed to be more resilient against stains and tears. With this in mind, solid carpets now have the upper hand over their patterned counterparts. Not only are they viable for high-traffic spots, but they also ensure cohesion by providing a solid base or canvas for all the furniture and decor present in a room.

Solids also create an illusion of making small spaces seem bigger due to the lack of disruptive patterns, though this mostly depends on the shade of the carpet. Light neutrals can make the room brighter and feel more spacious, while darker colors inject sophistication and drama. Meanwhile, bold colors can add personality, but they may also limit decor and styling choices for a room.

Cost-wise, solids are generally more affordable, as they do not involve intricate designs. Along with their broader market appeal, they are a safer bet if you're styling your home for potential buyers. Real estate experts say solid carpets often lead to faster offers and fewer objections. That's because home buyers like to envision living in the space during site visits, and it may be hard to do so when they see distracting and busy patterns on the floor coverings.