Take a walk on the wild side as floors get bolder

But the soft option has steadily fought its way back and now carpet is the height of fashion.

A yearning for softer, warmer textures underfoot and a trend for colour has given carpet the edge over hard floors.

Victoria Redshaw, who runs Beverley-based trend forecasting company Scarlet Opus, is on the flooring fashion prediction panel for Fun on the Floor – the carpet industry's latest campaign.

"Colour is definitely bolder and people will be much more adventurous with carpet," she says.

She has helped to compile the following trend tips:

Eastern Odyssey

This is a huge trend that will bring much needed colour to this darker season.

In addition to the bright sari shades the colour palette is updated by the addition of rich spice and dark maroon tones inspired by monsoon rain and mists.

Maroon is a key colour. A visual opulence is reinforced by the use of an orange-toned gold as well as burnished copper and brass.

Mash-Up patterns include Kashmiri's, Boteh borders and Buti florals. This trend is not about co-ordinating, it is about lively mixes of different patterns on upholstered seating, wallpaper and oversized detail on wall decal motifs, curtains and carpets.

Bold carpets can save room schemes from a chaotic look.

Victoria says: "Striking orange, pink jewel coloured and deep maroon shades of carpet in thick velvet pile forliving rooms and dining rooms help to pull the diverse look together and provides a foundation for this highly-patterned trend."

Imperial Glamour

A trend is emerging for oversized furniture and huge pendant lighting.

The use of looming scales will also see furniture units introduced that resemble huge monolithic slabs of stone and create dramatic atmospheres, taking their reference from Communist buildings and monuments. Carpets play a huge role in conveying on-trend colour in large blocks.

There are also military influences that resemble the embellishments on high ranking uniforms via metallic seating, tables and decorative brocades, jacquards and heavy velvets on upholstery with wide braid trims.

This colour palette includes caviar black, royal blue, rich damson, purple and Russian red.

Plain carpets in deep jewel colours such as dark sapphire blue or dark amethyst make stunning flooring options.

Black or dark carpets are used as the background for rich floral patterns, ornate paisleys and gold-toned scrollwork for curtains and upholstered seating. Fur trims on cushions add Russian glamour and dark options for wood furniture have high shine finishes.

Victoria says: "The mood is sophisticated, it is a serious design style that is sumptuous and uses dull gold, gloss and velvet surface finishes to create a deeply luxurious look in dark berry colours against a black backdrop."

Plain and Simple

A palette of putty hues provides a bare but warm foundation. Carpets play a key role to create the calm, soothing feel. Subtle, quiet pattern comes in the form of self-coloured, raised, matt/shine and opaque/ transparent pattern elements on white bedding, lampshades and tableware. Very simple repetitive and mirroring geometrics eg Chinese Boxes also embellish textiles, furniture and tableware and help to convey harmony and balance. Wave textures and rippling patterns express a calming ebb and flow while scalloped edges on tableware and textiles convey a sense of rhythm. Broad undulating ribbon formations form the basis of new seating and lampshade shapes.

Soft luxurious wall-to-wall carpets are key to this look and will open up the room.

A magic garden

Neon is the hottest trend of summer 2010, with bright colours on the catwalks, on the high street and now in homes. Fun on the Floor has noted a significant increase in inquiries for vibrant carpets. Bold acid colours such as yellow, fuchsia, coral, emerald and cobalt blue can transform the look and feel of a room in one easy step.

King & country

In 2009, Chanel hosted the most elaborate fashion show of the year surrounding models with an enormous barn and piles of hay. Rural colours dominated, with deep greens, sand and wheat creating "country chic".

This trend is destined to start filtering its way to the home. The King and Country trend it is not about severe austerity, but rather cheerfulness. Simple patterns inspired by the reworking and recolouring of classic men's suiting fabrics and plaids are used to create carpets, upholstered furniture with patches of appliqu, cushions, throws, lampshades and even wallpaper.

For more details visit www.funonthefloor.co.uk; www.scarletopus.com