Did you get an actual quote on wood? It may not be as expensive as you think.

Is this a '70s house? Ours had a sunken living room that we had raised. We wanted a cohesive look and had all the floors replaced. If you can't do the entire floor in wood, a wood border with an inlaid carpet might look better than your current wall-to-wall.

I think the only thing that will look "right" is hardwood to match what is there, or replace the carpet. An area rug that size would be outrageous $$, but what about layering an area rug over part of it?

I could layer an area rug but what to put underneath, wood? you think that's the only thing that will look right, correct?

I would ONLY lace in new hardwood - Tile would look ridiculous. How about keeping the inlay carpet that is there as it is most likely even with the hardwood, and adding another carpet over it that's a bit larger. Then it would simply look as if you have all wood, with an area rug.

That's what I think. Anything but wood or a new carpet is going to look like an afterthought or patch and the difference in price for wood vs. something else for that size room is not going to be significant.

I found this pic of tile inset in a wood floor, but something like this is surely going to be more than adding wood:

A way to add wood if you're worried about matching existing - but again will be expensive:

IF you can match the hardwood, do; however,

If you cannot get a good match to the hardwood you have, then the right tile would not look any more ridiculous than a mismatched wood or even having a rug atop and hiding a beautiful hardwood floor.

A brick tile or gray slate tiles could work well and define your sitting area as well as the rug/carpet has; in fact, I'd much prefer gray slate tile to replacing the carpet with carpet.

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1328&bih=617&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=N5anXerkEebr_QatjIGoCA&q=gray+brick+tile+floor+in+den&oq=gray+brick+tile+floor+in+den&gs_l=img.12...6109.6749..8216...0.0..0.93.455.6......0....1..gws-wiz-img.v-LgVRkVwtE&ved=0ahUKEwiq3PTe5qHlAhXmdd8KHS1GAIUQ4dUDCAY#imgrc=R31fcVfrkoncbM:&spf=1571264064735

maddielee - That's what I"m suggesting except why bother with the plywood. I'm assuming that the floor is pretty even now and the old carpet will act as a pad for the new one.

Carpet squares might be an option.

And the problem with the inset is what exactly?

Even if you put wood in, you're going to throw an area rug on top. If you don't like the carpet that's there then change it to something different or use some Flor Carpet Tiles and change the appearance.

I don't see any negative in a carpet inset

If the carpet has pet smells or stains and you want it gone, rip it up and see what's beneath it and ascertain the actual thickness of the adjacent hardwood.

While it is far from a perfect solution, that plywood suggestion can be a budget friendly one -- the one suggestion from someone that understands "BUDGET option".

(maddielee)

If there is plywood or particle board beneath the carpet, then, once out you remove the nails and/or staples, etc., you can paint the subfloor with porch paint until you decide what to use to replace the carpet and can budget for it. If thin "finish" plywood would make the formerly carpeted area the same level, as the hardwood, you could sand that and then stain or paint that.

What if you replace the carpet with another carpet that looks like sisal and then you can layer an area rug if your choice on top? I think that would look intentional. I think replacing it with tile, and adding an area rug on top, would look bad.

We have carpet insets in both our living and family rooms as it allows us to have oversized coverage without any worries about fading/discoloured wood underneath. Think it really depends on the style and thickness of the carpet as to whether it looks like an inset or an area rug and ours definitely looks like the latter.

I agree with Design Girl -- just throw an area rug over it that's a little bit bigger and let the old carpet be like a pad. If you're that grossed out by the old carpet, get it deep cleaned. That could tide you over until you can afford to do the hardwood job.

If you think you will never be willing to invest in having hardwoods done properly, then honestly I'd just get the carpet redone with something you like. It'll look way better than tile, and won't creep, buckle, etc, when you vacuum it.

look for a totally simple berber in a neutral -- like beige. it'll basically look like the type of woven area rugs that are so popular these days.

great ideas. thank you, everyone! several different options.......

The inlaid carpet looks fine. I'd make other decor changes to the room first and see whether you like the room better. For example, things seem to be squished along the window wall. Curtained windows, bench, TV and cabinet, basket. Whereas the tall wall is completely bare. The lone table is smallish, transparent and delicate, vs the more sturdy style of the sofa and chair.

I'd move the TV to the empty wall for a start, and put a good size floor plant between the TV and window. Add 2 pieces of wall art, one to the left of the TV and one between the windows. Add a pair of end tables and a weightier coffee table. Put a rug over the carpet.

I am so very happy to hear someone else hates carpet inlays as much as I do! We want to downsize, so are house shopping now. Our current house had wall to wall carpet in all areas except the kitchen, family room and all bathrooms has nice travertine tiles. We replaced the wall to wall carpet in livingroom/hallway with laminate and found great luxury vinyl that matches the laminate for the bedrooms. It looks ok because it was wall to wall, not inlay we replaced. I would have preferred tile, but too prohibitive.

Now as we are looking it seems all the houses have these carpet inlays. We live in Palm Springs area and it seems people here love carpet in bedrooms and carpet inlays surrounded by beautiful tile in their great room. I absolutely detest carpeting of any kind and I have allergies. We have found several houses we like but I said no because I can not think what to replace those carpet inlays with. I am DOWNSIZING and replacing that inlay with tile will be extremely expensive, not to mention it may be difficult to match the surround tile. I've seen pics where others replaced inlays with laminate. UGLY! suggestions greatly appreciated!

Ginger

Does anyone have an inlay carpet and have they laid an area rug over it?

Just bought house that has inlay carpet in two rooms. Carpets are old and trying to place area rugs over them. But the new area rugs are buckling and not laying flat. We tried 1/4 inch pad and it made problem worse. Suggestions?

thick rugs that are not very flexible have less chance of buckling. but a thick rug over carpet looks kind of ridiculous and can be a trip hazard.

any chance you can just replace the old carpet with new, or hardwood?

The wood floors are refurbished from an older home and would be impossible to match. The inset is not in proportion to the room so replacing the carpet still won't look right.

Consider an option mentioned above: create a frame with new wood around the space and then insert new wood in that area that doesn’t match the old, but compliments it. OR, if that is prohibitively expensive…replace the carpet with plywood sub flooring and then place an area rug on top to cover the plywood.

Thanks! I think we are going to have to replace carpet with sub floor. Appreciate suggestions!

I have a large and beautiful area carpet but it will not cover the large inlaid. I think I have to replace the inlaid carpet with a cordinating color and then put my area rug on top. Any other ideas?