I agree with you. Now, do you mean color/patterned like in the movie theaters when we were kids? Or do you mean bas relief patterned? Do you mean swirls and flowers and leaves? Or just some business-office-looking subtle houndstooth or check type pattern? I have posted my staircase here several times, and I used colored movie-theater-patterned w-t-w for that and I love it.

I don't have any wall to wall, but I do like patterned wall to wall in traditional houses. (I guess I don't consider the modern checked berbers patterned)

Since it is not commonly used often, it translates almost as if you are trying to do a "period" look. Or, sometimes they look commercial because they are used in the hospitality industry.

I think people are afraid to use it because it covers such a large area--so it dictates a lot of the scheme, and people are wary of pattern anyway. Many people say they are "afraid of color" but I find that they are actually more "afraid of pattern".For some reason a patterned oriental or persian rug reads more "neutral" than patterned wall to wall. Neutral meaning that people ignore the pattern when choosing other patterns.

A lot of patterned w-t-w seems to show up in European interiors.

A dear friend has patterned wool floral w-t-w in her master bedroom, inherited from the PO. She doesn't love it. I sure do, though. A kind of sea green with cream-colored flowers.

O, below is a link that gives you a general idea of what I'm talking about. I'm not fond of primary colors in patterned carpet, nor stripes and checks. Basically I don't like modern designs.

Pal, I think you're right about people being afraid of pattern more so than color. Which is why I can't wait to have the checkerboard tile laid in my kitchen and utility room floors!

The more I think about it, the more I really want a patterned carpet for our front room. :(

Here is a link that might be useful: Pattern Carpet

I love that look but it's pricey when done with a quality carpet.

Play around with the Karastan site. They have some beautiful patterns.

Just checked link and it's not going anywhere. Tried to take a pic and it wouldn't let me...anyhow, go to karastan.com and check them out. The William Morris is gorgeous.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

I don't care for it because I don't care for carpet at all. Hardwood is our choice. Patterned wall to wall is just too busy for my personal taste. I'm not even crazy on using alot of rugs on our wood floors. The bare minimum LOL.

tina

I do love some of those patterns. I can picture it in a front parlor, giving it an Old World Flavor.

Ah, you mean patterned like I have on my stairs. I get so many complements on my stairs. I say if you want it, go for it. Depending on how much square footage you want, you may do very well at a carpet remnant store. That's where I got mine.

"Seriously, why don't people use this very much? For large rooms I think a pretty carpet with a pattern is the perfect touch."

Patterned W2W carpeting looks fabulous in large rooms with open areas without much furniture on top of them. Hence the use in movie theaters, hotel lobbies and stairwells in homes. It makes the space seem more pulled together than having large open beige areas.

I have seen patterned W2W carpeting installed in homes but it is usually installed with a border or conversely the patterned area is the border set against a solid center.

I suppose it could be done and done well depending on the space. I could see it used in a rec room or home theater. For a front room I think it would need to be installed with a border. JMHO.

I have a patterned w2w carpet in my master bedroom, and like the look. However, DH says that for the money we paid, it should have been the best carpet in the house and instead it's probably the cheapest (made). We have cats that sometimes go crazy with the clawing, and this carpet is easily shredded and hard to repair. We should have looked more into the back of the carpet instead of just the front. :)

In a past house that was custom-built I ordered flower-patterned wall-to-wall Axminster carpet that came from England and I loved it. One was in mostly red tones with beautiful flowers which went into the dining room and another had paler colors in a different pattern which was used in a very large and rather elegant family room. No one else had anything like it and it really went with the English country house decor. However, this was about 15 years ago and I now live in a different house and don't really know what's in style now. On the other hand, if you love a certain look and have the furniture that will go with the carpet, why not go for it? You're the one who has to love it. (Well, and of course your husband too, although men for the most part seem less invested in decor decisions.)

Let us know what you decide.

Patterned can look nice:

{{!gwi}}

Lots of inspiration:

{{!gwi}}

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It's not installed yet but I put a deposit down on patterned wall to wall in a trellis pattern for my upstairs hall and stairs (will be cut and bound as a runner - and also an area rug for downstairs. I got it on deep discount because it's been discontinued and cannot find the pattern online but this is the colorway:

No border in my small space and I could not afford the coordinated runner with smaller border so we kept it simple. The pattern is a trellis pattern, which which looks like it is made of a twisted ribbon, with a small flower at each intersection.

This is the only area of wall to wall in our house - every other room is hardwood or tile - but we'd have to move out while refinishing the floor under the carpet so we decided to go for a "posh hotel" style carpet in our 120 year old house. I will post pics when it is done.

People don't use it much for two reasons. 1) carpet is not trendy at the moment in general 2) patterned carpet is way way way more expensive than plain carpet. I mentioned we got a closeout piece - to do the same job in the scroll pattern I posted with coordinated runner would have been over $2k for my small hall and stairs. We are paying about $1100 for what we got. To do it in a patterned berber (harlequin) would have been about $700. Patterned carpet is a pretty high end product.

Thanks Dilly, those are beautiful! Kg, I really like the pattern and color of your carpet. I want my area rug to be similar to it.

The back of our LR will be the part with the large area rug with a lot of empty space between the walls, so I'll get the effect of having wtw carpeting.

I also agree about cats and that type of carpet. They're drawn to flat rugs! I must practice my hissing. Works every time. :)

My DD put carpet on her stairs and down the hallway.....I was a bit shocked when I saw it...it was patterned.....guess she saw the surprise on my face....because she said, "This is what they are doing in all the new model homes"....guess I am out of date~~