Why carpet is cool again

The biggest renovation you can make to your home this spring may just be right under your nose — or, rather, your feet. Although carpet often gets a bad rap for being old fashioned, the right carpet or area rug can be a great modern upgrade.

“Rugs (and carpet) are often the most important element in an interior design scheme, for decorative and functional reasons,” says Mary Douglas Drysdale, interior designer and creative director of Drysdale Design Associates in Washington, D.C. “The type and pattern frequently define the character and color of the follow-on decorative elements found within a scheme.”

Another major benefit of carpet and area rugs is the comfort, softness and intimacy they bring to a room.

“When you fill a home with hard surfaces, the first thing you recognize is that it can be loud, echoing and feel cold,” says Seth Arnold, residential brand director for Mohawk Flooring. “It's very rare that you will see a whole house that doesn't come back and use carpet to add that warmth or soften sound.”

Carpet's softness also is a practical choice for families with young children and older individuals who may be injured by a fall on a hard surface.

Here are the freshest carpet and rug trends to incorporate into your home this season to give it a fresh look after the long winter.

1. Decorate in shades of gray

Often overlooked in favor of other neutral tones, gray was one of the most talked about colors in the design world in 2015. It's a great complement to a wide variety of colors, especially shades of blue and yellow that really pop against a gray backdrop. It's also an effective way to temper a room with bold architecture or design elements.

2. Bring on the blues

Another recent color trend making a splash in home design is blue. This cool tone works well in darker shades like navy, light teals or a pale pastel blue like “Serenity,” the Pantone Color Institutes's 2016 Color of the Year. Blue is a great way to bring colored carpet into your home without overwhelming other design elements.

3. Don't be afraid of patterns

Whether it's a subtle, sandlike pattern or big and bold florals, patterns add an element of texture and excitement to a room.

“People are using smaller amounts of carpets and I think that's part of the reason patterns have become more popular,” Arnold says. “So they might not want to put a pattern throughout their whole house, but when they're just doing one or two rooms they start to think a little outside the box. They're a little more adventurous.”

4. Add layers to your style

What's better than one area rug? Two rugs, of course! Washington, D.C.-area interior designer Kelley Proxmire recommends layering a patterned rug on top of a solid colored rug or carpet to add depth and an “anchor” to seating area in front of a sofa.

5. Customize the carpet

“Although not new but gaining in popularity are floor tiles or squares of carpet one can mix and match to create nearly any combination and size to install as an area rug or wall-to-wall application,” Proxmire says.

Feel free to play with color and patterns to find a combination that fits your home's unique style.

Whichever option you choose, be sure to take into consideration cleaning and maintenance to ensure your carpet is long-lasting. Arnold recommends researching what type of carpet works best for your family's everyday routine. No one wants to purchase a carpet and need to replace it just two to three years later due to stains or wear and tear.