Hi, Thanks for the suggestions. I have owned the home for 2 years and the carpet is at least 12 years old it has paint stains (po was an artist) and some pet stains. I know the new carpet is good quality since the offer is from someone who is in the flooring business. I want to spruce up the space anyway and this would allow my child to play on clean carpet for the cost of installation. We are doing a lot of projects and really could use the monetary savings. I like the idea of cream since it could work with my floral wallpaper up in the bathroom. I know gray is pretty but I think the natural trim may look off with it. Off to check teh galleries...

I had a very similar looking room with a very similar looking carpet and even the tile at the entry way. A rug would work over the wall to wall carpeting. DO NOT get a cheap polyester one, get a good natural fiber one. I got a great deal on a wool Persian style rug, but a woven wool or heavy cotton one would work too. Not sure about something like sisal, those were out of my price range. Otherwise a cheap olefin/polypro. one like they sell in discount stores will curl on the ends and really, really not stay put and eventually set itself in a non-flat shape you won't be able to hang/stretch back out. I started with one like that, hated it. Have a small area one like that now over our carpet, hate it again. As it is, prepare for constant rug creep no matter what, even if you get a rubbery under pad. Even if you try tacking it down. Best bet is high-end heavy carpet and just readjust every once and a while.

I did this with a worn out wall to wall carpet in my bedroom because I knew I was remodeling and would be replacing the old carpet with wood flooring. I cleaned the carpet and then put a very large area rug on it and it was fine. Mine was a large Karastan in the classic Kirman pattern. I just finished my remodel and am using the same rug except over the hardwood floors. It worked for me because it looked as though the rug was intentionally used over the carpet. As others have posted, it would depend on exactly what the layout was but I don't see why it wouldn't work. I have seen area rugs being intentionally put over wall to wall in living rooms as part of the design.

Thanks for sharing; I enjoy reading these lists every year. They give me flashbacks to the BHG and HGTV decor boards, circa 1999/2000 ... experts and posters alike were very sure and very giddy that stainless steel appliances would be “out” by 2000 .... but go ahead and get them if you want to ruin your kitchen and life!!! :D I so wish I could go back and reread those old threads. Granite countertops were also predicted to go out of style VERY SOON (2001) and never be seen again. I don’t mind the idea of trends. They’ve been around forever. Cars, decor, fashion, etc. Some new things are introduced, some old introduced as new again, interesting conversations are had, sometimes they can be inspiring, some people rebel, they almost always go too far, people want to barf just looking at another [whatever was run into the ground], and it starts again. I majored in sociology, but also worked in the design field, so can get very long-winded and super boring on this sort of subject. Anyway, I love earth tones, have always decorated that way. I love warm tones, wood, etc, but can certainly appreciate other styles, too. Marketers always try to herd us all into an either/or mentality. I’ve always believed there’s plenty of room for everything, as well as lots of ways to work with a mix. And I’ve managed to find new treasures for my earth toned surroundings, even during the cool-toned gray, frosty blue, and white era. ;) ETA: See! I warned you I’d get boring! Y’all are thinking, “Nobody asked all that”. :D