What term describes the appearance of carpets that may look darker due to normal wear, often referred to as "traffic lane gray"?

The term that accurately describes the appearance of carpets that may look darker due to normal wear, often referred to as "traffic lane gray," is commonly understood as "darker." This phenomenon occurs in areas of high foot traffic where dirt, oils, and other contaminants accumulate in the carpet fibers, resulting in a gray or darker appearance compared to less trafficked areas. Over time, this accumulation can make the carpet seem worn out or faded, but in reality, it is more about the appearance created by the buildup of dirt rather than an actual loss of color or heightening of dark hues in the fiber.

The other options—delamination, fading, and color loss—describe different issues: delamination refers to the separation of carpet layers, fading denotes a gradual loss of color usually due to sunlight or cleaning products, and color loss involves a permanent reduction in the vibrancy of the carpet. Each of these conditions does not accurately capture the specific situation of temporary visual changes caused by traffic, making "darker" the most fitting term.