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Wooden floors<br />
Best for a sophisticated look<br />
When it comes to home improvements,<br />
there are many investments that can add<br />
significant value to your home, and one of<br />
them is wooden flooring<br />
Wooden floors can look amazing and<br />
depending on which type of wood you<br />
choose, can be very long-lasting and<br />
hard-wearing. There are so many different<br />
types of wood you can choose from that it<br />
can seem a little overwhelming but, in short,<br />
the main decision is whether to opt<br />
for hardwood or softwood.<br />
Hardwood is the timber obtained from<br />
broad-leafed and deciduous trees, such as<br />
oak; extra-hard maple; beech; sycamore;<br />
teak; mahogany; ebony; and handsome<br />
walnut; cherry; bamboo and dark Australian<br />
ironwood which, as its name implies, is the<br />
hardest of the lot.<br />
Softwood comes from conifers, such as<br />
pine, spruce, fir and hemlock. It’s cheaper<br />
than hardwood, but it can be dented<br />
far more easily, therefore it needs to be<br />
particularly well sealed and fitted in areas<br />
with lighter use – and not, for example, in<br />
hallways, corridors, kitchens or the<br />
children’s playroom, where there is a lot<br />
of daily activity.<br />
Carpet<br />
Best for a cosy feel<br />
This looks and feels great in bedrooms<br />
and on staircases – and it has a practical<br />
purpose, too, as it muffles sound and<br />
creates a sense of warmth and comfort.<br />
With a multitude of design and textural<br />
possibilities, carpets are a really versatile<br />
option for flooring in most homes.<br />
Clever use of colour can transform the<br />
feel of a room. A light-coloured carpet will<br />
make a room appear bigger than it is while<br />
a dark carpet can hide stains and dirt more<br />
easily. Plain carpets are timeless and can be<br />
used alongside any decorating style, giving<br />
you more flexibility with wallpapers and soft<br />
furnishings.<br />
Using the same colour throughout the<br />
house gives a spacious feeling and can<br />
link different styles from room to room<br />
with ease.<br />
Neutral shades look modern; keep it clean<br />
and simple or pair with bright wallpaper<br />
if you want to avoid being dull. Patterned<br />
carpet has been enjoying a renaissance<br />
recently. Using fashionable patterns, whether<br />
a contemporary design or classic floral,<br />
ensures the flooring is the focal point in the<br />
room. Textures can add another dimension<br />
to any room – using a deep-pile carpet can<br />
create a really soft, cosy atmosphere.<br />
And there’s more...<br />
The days of having just carpet or wood in your home are over, as the choice of durable<br />
materials is vast.<br />
Laminate: Never truly out of fashion thanks<br />
to the wide choice of styles, designs<br />
and quality available, laminate flooring is<br />
basically a compressed fibreboard plank<br />
covered by an image of wood, stone or tile,<br />
with a protective overlay.<br />
Engineered wood: A popular choice<br />
because it is cheap and the fact that its<br />
structure makes it even more stable than<br />
a solid piece of wood.<br />
Floor tiles: A good option because they are<br />
easy to lay and come in so many different<br />
materials. Natural tiles are bang on trend<br />
and include limestone and polished<br />
granite which can work in a period or<br />
contemporary interior, too. Expensive, they<br />
will, however, last for years and grow more<br />
beautiful with age.<br />
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are a good<br />
alternative to natural materials – they’re hard<br />
wearing, light and easy to lay.
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