Carpeting is a great choice for living rooms, bedrooms, dens and other high-traffic areas. It’s durable and less expensive than most other types of floor. Plus, it’s soft and warm under bare feet. Choosing to have carpeting is the easy part. Then you’re faced with a slew of other decisions about carpet fibers and pile. Finally, you ask yourself, “What color carpet should I get?”

Choosing carpet color is one of the hardest decisions to make because there are literally hundreds of different carpet colors to choose from. Ideally, your carpet complements the colors you’ve chosen for your walls and furniture. Carpet colors don’t need to be the exact same shade as the walls, but they shouldn’t clash, either.

So, how to decide what color carpet to choose for your home? In general, colors of carpet fall into one of three major categories: warm colors, cool colors and neutrals.

Warm Colors of Carpet

Warm colors like red, orange or yellow create an eye-popping effect and also serve to warm the room–a great option in cold climates. Warm colors are best in rooms where the furniture and decor aren’t particularly interesting. If you have unusual decorations in your room, a warm-colored carpet will compete for attention.

Warm carpet colors are best used in family rooms, dens and other informal areas for casual entertaining. A dark warm color creates a cozy effect in these rooms.

Cool Colors of Carpet

If you’re laying down carpeting in your bedroom or library, cool carpet colors are the way to go. Calming blues, greens and purples lend themselves well to a serene and peaceful environment. Cool colors also work well in warm climates, particularly water-based hues. A light cool color makes a room feel bigger than it actually is, giving the illusion of more space.

Neutral Colors of Carpet

If you don’t want your carpet to be either stimulating or soothing, consider a neutral color like eggshell, gray or beige. Neutral carpet colors are particularly appealing to many homeowners: They go with just about any decor, and they won’t compete with your walls or furnishings for attention.

If you use neutral colors for these types of floor, and you also have a neutral color on your walls, be careful to choose different–but complementary–shades for each. Choosing carpet color in a tan hue, combined with off-white walls, creates visual interest and is preferable to a room done entirely in the same shade of tan. Also, most homeowners tend to choose carpet colors that are a few shades darker than the walls.