Is Wall-to-Wall Carpeting Coming Back in Style? Designers Share

There are a few topics in the design world that can stir a bit of a lively debate, and wall-to-wall carpeting is one. Love it or hate it, we’ve been noticing an uptick in designs with this floor treatment.

We surveyed four designers to find out if it’s really coming back and their overall feelings towards it, and their answers honestly surprised us.

Three Say It’s Back, But Only in Certain Spaces

Designers are often able to get a pulse on the popularity of design choices based on what their clients are requesting. Three of the designers we surveyed have noticed their clients asking for wall-to-wall carpeting more often in the following spaces as of late.

Kids Bedrooms and Guest Bedrooms

Liz Goldberg, founder and creative director at CAROLYNLEONA by Liz Goldberg, says many of her clients are currently requesting carpet in their home’s bedrooms, with the exception of the primary bedroom.

“More of our clients lean towards wall-to-wall carpeting in their kids and guest bedrooms rather than hardwood with layered rugs,” she says. “Then, they add hardwoods to their main bedroom when the budget allows.”

Installing wall-to-wall carpet instantly brings warmth and texture, which is perfect for creating a cozy abode that feels comfortable resting in.

Primary Bedrooms

Jaime Galapo, president and interior designer at Galapo Group Design, actually says more clients have been requesting wall-to-wall carpets in their own bedrooms, but in a very roundabout way.

“When a client asks for a “hotel feeling” in their bedroom, they don’t even realize it starts with the flooring,'” Galapo says. Galapo has been seeing an uptick in this request which is why she’s been designing more spaces with carpet.

She also encourages her clients to make bold design choices when it comes to their bedroom wall-to-wall carpet. Since carpet doesn’t always last forever, Galapo recommends having fun with the process. Whether it’s choosing a bold color or pattern, it could create a unique look when it’s mixed in with the rest of the room’s decor.

Primary Closets

Bre Hance is the founder and principal designer at InHance, an LA-based design firm. However, she works with clients all over the United States, so she has a good pulse on trends on a wide scale. She says almost all of her recent projects have included carpet in the primary closet.

“I would only recommend it if you’re the type of person that will maintain it,” Hance says. “We all know the pros and cons, but it is definitely coming back.”

One Says It’s Not Back, But Should Be

Alice T. Chan, designer and project director at Freemodel, doesn’t believe wall-to-wall carpeting is making a comeback quite yet, but she sure hopes it does soon and is 100% team carpet.

Although carpet isn’t as popular as it used to be, Chan still installs it in today’s homes. She recommends choosing a carpet that has a nice weight to it and pairing it with a thick pad to create a luxe feel.

To create a grounding effect, opt for darker colors like blues, greens, and grays—it will help make the space calmer.

All Four Designers Were Overall Pro-Carpet

Before surveying the designers, we predicted that we’d get mixed results on whether or not they were pro or anti-carpet. But when we asked each point blank, they all identified as team carpet.

However, there were some situations where a few of them said they tried to steer clients away from wall-to-wall carpet.

“We prefer not to use it in living rooms and playrooms, where having hardwood is important for durability and ease of keeping clean,” Goldberg says.

Galapo agrees that you should avoid installing wall-to-wall carpeting in rooms that deal with their extra spills and dirt, like obviously in kitchens or bathrooms.

Lastly, one designer noted that material matters when it comes to wall-to-wall carpeting.

“I’m not a fan of Berber carpets, and there’s nothing worse than cheap carpet and a thin pad,” Chan says. “You might as well leave it at plywood.”