50 Living Rooms That Prove Carpet Can Be Chic

Carpet in the living room may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's certainly not an automatic design no-no either. Rather than dismissing it entirely, sometimes, you just need to embrace it.

Aside from being a soft to place to stand, living room carpet can make a room feel cozier and more colorful. Have carpet in your own living room? Here's 50 ways to make it work.

01of 50

Pile On The Rugs

We all know that one rug can look great on top of carpet, but so does two. Layering multiple rugs on top of carpet creates a multifaceted look full of texture that will take your living room up a notch.

Repeat Carpet Colors

For a seamless living room carpet look, pick carpet that is full of colors and vibrant tones and repeat those colors elsewhere in your space, like in accessories, throw pillows, or furniture.

Use Carpet To Make Your Living Room Feel More Spacious

Dealing with a small space? Pair lightly-colored carpet with similarly colored walls and glass accents for a living room that will feel brighter and more open than it really is.

04of 50

Use Floor Pillows

Need extra seating? Place floor pillows on your living room carpet. Not only do these provide a convenient spot to sit and chat, but they also act as an extra accessory to jazz up your carpet.

Bring in Other Rooms

Just as you can create a cohesive look with similar coloring in the carpet and the furniture and accessories that surround it, so can you create a cohesive look by mimicking the look of the carpet in other spaces as well—like the kitchen cabinets. This works well with open-concept areas.

Add A Pop Of Plum

Plum accents are the ideal companion to dark gray carpet in your living room. Consider adding a few touches of plum through throw pillows, blankets or vases.

Echo Patterns

Living room carpet is an easy way to tie in fun patterns and texture. Repeat those patterns and texture (or ones similar to it) elsewhere in your space, like in wall art or throws.

Bring In The Boho

A simple cream-colored carpet is the perfect base layer for a boho rug and some cozy floor couches. Finish the look with a dramatic, show-stopping houseplant and some complementary wall art.

Consider Your Walls

Adding carpet and unsure what color it should be? If your walls are white or off-white, try installing carpet in a similar shade. It can give your living room a marvelously minimalist feeling.

10of 50

Embrace (Subtle) Texture

Bringing texture into your living room doesn't have to mean covering it in wicker or velvet—it can also mean embracing it small ways, like choosing a more prominent weave or tuft in your carpet.

11of 50

Don't Forget Color

No matter how you style your living room and its carpet, don't forget some kind of contrasting color, even if you're going with a monochrome look. A dash of color in something as small as a picture frame or decorative bowl can help break up the space and keep it from looking too drab.

12of 50

Bring in Small Patterns

Think of your living room carpet like a blank canvas and your furniture like the paint it sits upon it. And though your canvas shouldn't be covered in stuff before paint is added, a little pattern never hurt anyone. Try out a carpet with a small pattern and see for yourself.

13of 50

Time For Tan

An additional stylish look for your carpeted living room is tying in furniture that's slightly darker than your carpet and pairing it with a rich accent color. The room will feel coordinated, but not too matchy-matchy.

14of 50

Never Forget Neutrals

Sometimes, a neutral carpet is the best one in your living room, especially if your decor style is more maximalist. Keeping things simple will help keep things from becoming chaotic.

15of 50

Don't Forget the Classic Black And White

living room carpet ideas black and white

For a living room with a timeless feeling, pair your lightly-colored carpet with off-white walls and black accents. Eye-catching black is further highlighted by the cream tones of the space, showing why contrast can be your home decor's best friend.

16of 50

Go For Gold (And Gray)

For a stellar color combo, go for gold and gray. Gray carpet gets a reputation for being boring, but it's the perfect blank slate when it comes to pops of bold and classy gold.

17of 50

Break Up The Floor Space

Break of the monotony of a sea of carpet by placing floor accents, like baskets and bins, on top of it. Not only will they provide some helpful storage, but they'll provide visual interest too.

18of 50

Keep It White

For a room that feels breezy, bright and everything in-between, use a cream or off-white carpet paired with white furniture and walls. Keep things from feeling too clinical by tying in one or two small and subtle pops of color.

19of 50

Make It Cozy

For a living room you'll want to be in 24/7, break out the highest-of-the-high-pile-carpet. Extra-tall tufts create a soft and welcoming feel, and your floor might just be as comfy as your couch.

20of 50

Get Inspired By Rugs

Who says that rugs have to have all the cool patterns? Take a page from rugs' book and use carpet that's full of designs and color, like this Persian-rug-style carpet.

21of 50

Get Some Geometric Texture

Create a unique space that will set your living room apart with some geometrically textured carpet. Textured triangles, circles, and squares can give your floor a personality all of its own.

22of 50

Pair Your Walls

As you're starting to see, the coloring of your carpet is a great jumping off point for the coloring of the rest of your living room. One way to incorporate your carpet color is by using it as the background or base tone in wallpaper or wall art.

23of 50

Bring In Woody Tones

Living room carpet in earthy and woody tones can give your space an old-world vibe, and it will pair perfectly with wooden accents, like cabinetry or ceiling beams.

24of 50

Make It Dotted

For a fun, down-to-earth pattern, use dots in your carpet. They'll provide a touch of personality to an item that so many simply ignore.

25of 50

Put A Plush Rug On Top

Give your living room a little extra style (and a little extra coziness) by placing a plush rug on top of your carpet.

For the best effect when layering rug on top of carpet, use a rug that's a different shade of the color of your carpet.

26of 50

Fall Head First For Pattern

A simpler, toned-down carpet means there's room for dramatically patterned ottomans or chairs. Instead of bemoaning your carpet's boring sensibilities, embrace what it allows you to do.

27of 50

Make It Elegant

A neutral colored, low-pile carpet with a subtle pattern paired with elegant furniture and gilded accents creates a regal look that's sure to stand out.

28of 50

Love Your Lines

A carpet covered in long lines is the perfect addition to a lusciously linear space. When paired with tall windows, long sofas and geometric coffee table, a linear-patterned carpet ties the whole look together.

29of 50

Keep It Simple

You don't have to cover up your carpet—either with furniture or rugs. A simple look can look just as good as more maximalist one. For the best effect, make sure all your furniture and decor coordinates well with the carpet, since there won't be much of it.

30of 50

Try Out Beige and Navy

Another winning color combo is beige and navy. Beige carpet is easy to find (and affordable!) and pairs wonderfully with a touch of navy, for a subtle nautical look.

31of 50

A Walk On The Wild Side

living room carpet ideas animal skin rug

Another way to add a unique pop of style is by laying an animal skin rug on top of your carpet. This looks even better when a coffee table or another central piece of furniture sits upon it.

32of 50

Don't Be Afraid To Match

Don't have the time (or headspace) to pick perfectly complementary colors for your carpet and living room furniture? There's an easier way—make them all the same color. Using different shades of the same color will provide a coordinated look with minimal effort.

33of 50

Incorporate Subtle Color

You can bring in more than one color into your carpet without a bold pattern or colorblocking. Instead, look for carpet with multicolored tufts, which provide a subtle touch of color.

34of 50

Pair Plush With Velvet

For a subtlety luxe look, pair plush carpet with a few touches of velvet, like in a throw pillow or ottoman. The richness of the carpet will easily complement the lushness of the velvet accents.

35of 50

Get A Vintage Look

living room carpet ideas washed out pattern

Hardwood flooring isn't the only way to make your living room look older than it really is. For an equally vintage feeling, use carpet with a washed-out pattern for a subtle centuries-old look.

36of 50

Bring In The Beautiful Blue

Who says living room carpet has to be neutral? It can also be rich and bold too, like this beautiful shade of blue. For a cohesive look, repeat the color elsewhere, like on the sofa or in wall art.

37of 50

Use Furniture To Coordinate

An easy way to tie in your beige carpet to your living room (without making the whole space beige) is to have a piece of furniture that nearly matches it. Doing this makes the space feel cohesive, but not overwhelmingly carpeted.

38of 50

Create Contrast

For a rich and visually pleasing look, pair a lighter colored carpet or rug with deeply colored walls. The two will contrast one another and create a grown-up space that will never go out of style.

39of 50

Blend in Your Coffee Table

carpeted living room ideas with coffee table

For a pared-down living room that doesn't feel too cluttered, pick a coffee table that has a similar color as your carpet. This works especially well with lighter colored carpets, and it can really open up a room.

40of 50

Bring in Bold Rugs

Just as you can have bold living room carpet, you can also have a bold area rug on top of it. This is a great choice if you want to go for a colorful look without the commitment.

41of 50

Adding A Rug Of A Similar Color

If you want to add a rug to your living room carpet, but don't want it to blend in too much, pick a darker rug with a subtle pattern on it. This will create contrast and bring in some extra style.

42of 50

Tie Together Blue, Gold, and Cream

living room carpet ideas blue gold and cream

Create the classiest living room by pairing cream carpet with dark blue and gold accents. Together, the color trio creates a rich, visually pleasing look that's ready for the fanciest of dinner parties.

43of 50

Match Your Rugs and Wall Art

living room carpet ideas matching frames

Not looking to show off your carpet? We get it. Instead, place a colorful or unique rug on top and match its color or pattern with your living room wall art. This will draw the eye away from your beat-up beige.

44of 50

Add Baseboards

Trim can really tie together a room, and it's no different when it comes to carpeted ones. Make sure your living room has baseboards—not only do they protect your walls, but they provide a nice buffer between the carpet and the wall too.

45of 50

Double Up On Texture

One of the best things you can do in you decor is to combine texture, especially when it comes to carpets and rugs. A textured rug atop a textured carpets can give your living room a unique, high-end feel.

46of 50

Pair Flooring

Another great way to boost your living room's personality is by pairing simple-as-can-be carpet with a fun floor texture, like vintage tile. Together the two highlight one another, while preventing either one from feeling too dominant.

47of 50

Break Out The Giant Rugs

living room carpet ideas with southwestern

A room-sized rug is a great answer to the question of what do with unwanted carpet.

For the best look when using a room-sized rug, leave a small carpet border surrounding the rug to create contrast and complexity.

48of 50

Get That Woven Carpet Feeling

For a taste of something different, a carpet with a subtle weave and low pile mimics the look of wicker. It's an easy way to bring in texture, and low pile carpet is easier than most to keep clean.

49of 50

Pair The Carpet With The Curtains

Another great way to incorporate the look of your carpet throughout your living room is by using similar curtains. That way, your carpet colors are seen vertically and horizontally.

50of 50

Place A Contrasting Rug

A bright or richly colored rug against a sea of neutrals brings in a lovely touch of color that makes your living room uniquely you.