A bright red carpet covering the interior of an abandoned Mexico City mansion, a sisal carpet stretched over furnishings and a carpeted bathroom are among the floor coverings in our latest lookbook of 10 interiors with bold carpets.
Not only can carpets bring more texture and statement colour to an interior setting, but they can also help to insulate homes, especially if used in combination with a layer of underlay.
These interiors showcase how carpets in unusual shades and carpets displayed in unexpected ways can bring a unique look to homes and offices.
This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring hotel interiors with decadent jewel tones, kitchens with marble surfaces and residential interiors informed by biophilic design.
Arches Apartment, Spain, by PMAA
Spanish architecture studio PMAA overhauled the interior of this top-floor apartment in Barcelona’s Raval neighbourhood. The apartment is characterised by white-painted partitions with arched openings that run through and divide the interior of the home.
The living area, which is raised on a slight platform, was blanketed in a cool, sea green-toned carpet juxtaposed against the stark white walls. A large modular sofa wraps around the columns of the arched partitions.
Find out more about Arches Apartment ›
Nagatachō Apartment, Japan, by Adam Nathaniel Furman
London designer Adam Nathaniel Furman renovated the interior of this formerly “claustrophobic” Tokyo apartment, adding a bold, pastel and sugar-sweet colour palette.
A low-pile, lilac carpet extends through the interior of the home and serves as a base for a rainbow of pastel hues that cover the walls, joinery and furniture throughout.
Find out more about Nagatachō Apartment ›
New York Office, US, by Halleroed
In New York City, Stockholm studio Halleroed made a bold feature out of plush blue carpets and wood panelling throughout the interior of an office building that covers almost 17 stories.
The interior scheme was informed by movies created by American filmmaker David Lynch. Most of the walls and surfaces of the interior were clad in veneer panels made from Makore wood, which is native to central and western Africa.
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Apartment A, Belgium, by Atelier Dialect
A rectangular stainless-steel bathtub sat on top of a heavy grey carpet form part of this Antwerp apartment, which underwent a contemporary renovation by Belgian design studio Atelier Dialect.
The primary bedroom has an open-plan design that adjoins an en-suite bathroom. Both spaces are linked by a grey carpet that covers the floor, and minty-green lacquer that stretches across the walls and ceiling of the open-plan spaces.
A reflective tub sits in the middle of the room in front of a wall of subway tiles.
Find out more about Apartment A ›
Mexico City mansion, Mexico, by Masa gallery
This 1970s mansion in Mexico City was used as a setting for the inaugural exhibit from Masa gallery. The venue was decorated with bright red walls and also features expanses of red and golden-hued carpets.
The mansion, which had been vacant since the 1970s, was kept as the gallery found it and decorated with works by a number of Mexico City-based designers and architects.
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Barcelona apartment, Spain, by Arquitectura-G
Located in the Ensanche district of Barcelona, this 149-square-metre apartment was renovated by Spanish studio Aqruitectura-G, which was assigned with opening up the interior and drawing in natural light.
The studio adapted the floor levels of the home to zone different areas across each floor. In the living area, a warm-hued sisal carpet extends across the stepped levels of the space, while also covering and wrapping around built-in seating, tables and other surfaces.
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New York apartment, US, by Harry Nuriev and Tyler Billinger
Crosby Studios founder Harry Nuriev and his partner and CEO Tyler Billinger renovated their NoLita apartment in Manhattan, New York City, in shades of violet. A heavy-pile purple carpet was fitted in the living area amid grey tile-clad surrounding walls and floors.
“We wanted a space that was not only elegant, but also liveable – we wanted to create a cosy sanctuary, which is why we used a warm grey as the base colour, and a vibrant purple as the supporting to give it that Crosby signature boldness,” said Billinger.
Find out more about the New York apartment ›
London townhouse, UK, by Studio Hagen Hall
Architecture office Studio Hagen Hall transformed this townhouse in north London, decorating its interior with a scheme that nods to 1970s Californian modernism.
The lounge includes a custom sofa upholstered in a mustardy, orange-hued velvet. Beneath the sofa and across the walls, a peach carpet covers the surfaces as well as a circular ottoman at the foot of the sofa.
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Casa Lana, Milan, by Ettore Sottsass
In 2022, the Triennale di Milano museum reconstructed the interior of a Milanese apartment that was designed by Memphis Group founder Ettore Sottsass.
A magenta-coloured carpet runs through the interior of the replica apartment, while wood-clad and boldly upholstered soft furnishings in contrasting blue hues were also placed in the room.
Find out more about Casa Lana ›
Winona House, Canada, by Reigo and Bauer
At Winona House, a family home in Toronto that was designed by local architecture studio Reigo and Bauer, residents and visitors are met by a bright blue carpet in the entrance hall that covers the stairs to the home’s upper levels.
Pops of colour were added throughout the home, including on the exterior, which features a hot pink-painted entrance that is surrounded by black shingles.
Find out more about Winona House ›
This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring pop-up shop interiors, kitchens with marble surfaces and interiors with stone furnishings.