How To Choose Flooring For Your Home
Beautiful herringbone wood in this scandinavian inspired room - via The Klein
The floor is a key design element of any room and it is an element that can often be overlooked. Choosing the right flooring isn’t always straight forward as there are not only many different types to choose from including tiles, concrete, wooden flooring and even carpeting, but you need to consider many other factors including durability, moisture, maintenance, lifestyle, personal preference and of course how much it will cost you. And, not forgetting colours, textures and patterns.
In this article from Nicky Percival Interiors, based in Tunbridge Wells and working on interior design projects throughout Kent, Sussex and London, we look at flooring materials and how you can make the right decisions for your property.
Moisture, Water and Humidity
It’s very important to consider the type of room, as for example a bathroom or shower room is going to have to withstand water and fluctuations in humidity and so a wooden floor may not be the best answer as wood is prone to warping and buckling if water stands on it for any length of time. Your best options are porcelain and ceramic tiles or a concrete floor.
Amount of Footfall
Things to consider here are children, pets and any elderly or disabled members of the family. You want flooring that will stand up to the rigours of wear and tear. If you have dogs, you don’t want a floor that will scratch easily and if accidents do happen, it makes sense to have flooring that can be cleaned easily and quickly. Here you may find a wooden floor isn’t the best choice and tiles such as vinyl and porcelain will be better options or a hardwearing carpet could be just the thing.
The practicality of the door mat sunk to flow with the oak floor from Fine Oak Flooring
Maintenance
If you want a floor that is easy to maintain and keep clean, look no further than tiles. However, if this not a concern, wooden floors will look amazing, whether solid or engineered and you can put down rugs and runners in areas that are heavily used. If you choose carpet, consider the colour carefully as a light cream carpet will show every spill or muddy footprint.
Remember, some materials will require more maintenance if you want them to continue to look good in years to come. Regularly sweep and vacuum wooden floors to prevent scratching from dirt and dust.
Allergies and Sensitivity
You will need to consider if anyone in the family has asthma or any respiratory allergies or if anyone is sensitive to chemicals or cleaning materials that may need to be used. In these situations, think carefully about using carpets as allergens such as dust and pollen can become trapped in the fibres, although if you have your heart set on this option, there are hypoallergenic carpets that repel dust and mites.
Measure Up for Cost
So, if you have got this far and considered all of the components you need, the next step is to work out how much of your chosen flooring you need. Measure your room carefully and work out the size in square metres. Whether your choice is carpet, wooden flooring or tiles, all vary dramatically in price and you will need to calculate how much you are prepared to spend.
Top Tip
You do not have to have the same flooring throughout your home but it’s really important that there is a flow and pay particular attention to junctions between rooms.
What To Do Next
If you have read our article and become a little bemused with the many different types of flooring and the criteria that you need to consider, then do get in touch with Nicky Percival Interiors on 07773 372158 or email nicky@nickypercival.co.uk for a without obligation chat. Installing the wrong flooring could be a very expensive mistake!