Hello AT,
My husband and I have been searching for apartments and have found one that has everything going for it: great location, safe neighborhood, comfortable amount of space, and a big deck and backyard. The big drawback is the carpet (below). I'd like people to feel at home when they come over, not like they're waiting for the dentist. I want to lay down huge area rugs, like these (pictured here).
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We can't afford to cover wall-to-wall, so I'm wondering whether the contrast will make the carpeting even more obvious. Any decorating tips to make up for the ugly carpet? 
Selena - I can't afford to rip out my carpet and put in hardwoods.
I'm a big fan of Persian/Oriental rugs and have them covering almost every square inch of carpet.
I think if you choose the right rugs, it won't matter too much that they're on top of carpet.
Pick rugs that you truly love and make a statement and I think you'll be OK.
view boomer's profile
I have rugs on top of a very similar carpet. I think if you have either a small amount of the oatmeal tone in the area rugs or else a similar texture, things will look fine.
view hitthosekeys's profile
Don't trip.
view Kurt's profile
I think I'd try to make the contrast as apparent as possible- choose the rugs as if you were dealing with tile the same color as the wall-to-wall, or something.
I have seen thick dark shag on wall-to-wall look fantastic, for example.
view stonelake's profile
Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone! I'm liking the ideas of going for the same texture and even actually going for a contrasting look. But what texture would "go" with Berber carpet? Is it easier to get carpet cut down to size rather than getting area rugs?
view selena's profile
Hi Selena -
I used to own a condo that had a cement slab floor under the awful, old, and strangely colored shag carpet that was there when I bought it. At the time the only affordable choice for me was to put down neutral berber wall-to-wall carpet over the whole place (~1800 sq. feet). I also disliked the sterile look of the berber, so as soon as I could afford it I bought some inexpensive oriental style rugs. I found one of mine at Home Goods, but there are plenty of other places to find them, and many rug shops will let you take rugs home on trial to see how they look in your place. I made sure to use a good rug pad so there would be no chance of color bleeding into the carpet, and I never had problems with tripping. The condo had a semi-open floor plan so the rugs were also a nice way to define the room areas.
view Tobermory's profile
I bought a place that I *love* save for the wall to wall WHITE carpet. (Who has white carpet??!!) Anyway, I've been slowly covering major traffic areas with bamboo area "rugs", which are really just roll out hardwood floors. They have tons at World Market, but I've seen them all over.
Or you could cover them in fancy schmancy vinyl just like Grandma did. :)
FYI- I just got a pretty jute runner from West Elm for $30. I think they have a few rugs on sale right now.
view pxlchk1's profile