It's Just a Carpet? The Evolution of PRS Carpet Colours and What It Tells Us About Society?

The trends that dictate how landlords decorate their homes and that inevitably overspill into their PRS investments, are rooted in our social fabric and warrant some attention?

Its been around five years since I last bought a PRS property and how times have changed. Whilst excessive legislation, new forms of tenancy, and draconian tax laws are providing food for thought, the biggest shock I have faced as a born again landlord, is the frankly unexpected, sector wide transition from beige to grey carpets.

Of course, this is only mildly less shocking than the transition from brown to beige that occurred between 2000 and 2015. None the less, it is taking some getting used to. The carpet fitters that came to price our latest foray into the PRS were well briefed on the latest trends, they didn't even bother bringing other colours:

"You'll want grey then? I'm sick of fitting grey carpets, they go for your eyes after a bit, but that's what everyone wants" (Scott the Carpet Fitter)

"In a rental, are you kidding?" (me)

"Especially in a rental." (Scott the Carpet Fitter)

Of course they were 'landlord greys', a direct relation of 'landlord browns' and 'landlord beige', which describes a family of carpets that have been appropriated by landlords for all but high end properties, and which have a consistency more in line with wire wool than sheep's wool. There have been other changes too, the price for one, which has leapt salmon like, despite only marginal improvements in quality. The underlay strategy has also evolved, no longer should cheap underlay be replaced each time a carpet is changed, but instead a premium underlay should be selected to improve carpet feel and provide longevity.

"You won't need to change it every time you change the carpets, it gives a better feel and lower noise transmission. Should last you a good few tenancies".

James (Carpet Fitter)

Whilst I am naively hoping to never have to buy carpets again and I'm not sure how many tenancies equate to a "good few", the advice was universal and appeared sound. As a result my tenants are now enjoying some lovely 'landlords greys' with reduced noise transmission underlay.

So what does the transition from brown to beige to grey say about society? Whilst I could make an attempt to link colours to national mood or events, or come up with some other vague concept, the real answer is..... absolutely nothing. In choosing the colour of the carpets for their investment property, landlords are simply balancing their own tastes with their desire to appeal to the widest spread of possible tenants (as they see them). However, they are also by proxy dictating the home aesthetic for millions of people in the UK, but that is the subject to another blog!