Discover beautiful ideas and smart tips and tricks to create lasting style underfoot
QWhat flooring will make a room look bigger?
A There are a few tricks you can do with flooring to make the most of a small space. Look for lighter coloured flooring – think cream carpets, light natural tones and whitewashed wood-effect flooring. The light and neutral colours will help to open up the space and give it an airy feel.
Eline Belo, design manager at Moduleo, shares her expert advice: ‘When it comes to installation, ensure that the planks run parallel with the longest side of your room. This will help draw the eye and create the illusion of lengthening the space. If you’re updating several rooms at once, choose the same floor throughout to allow for consistency and an open-plan aesthetic.’ Installing large format tiles or wider planks, keeping the floor fuss-free and reducing the amount of join lines will also help to encourage a spacious feel.
Flooring is a big investment, so it's important to make sure you get it right first time by choosing the best flooring for your space, your budget and your style. We’ve spoken to the experts and picked a selection of our favourite solutions for every room to help you find your way through the flooring minefield and achieve the look that you and your bank balance will both be happy with.
QWhat flooring adds the most value?
A Solid wood flooring can add the most value to your home – its natural appeal and durability means it can stand the test of time both practically and when it comes to your interior style. ‘Wooden flooring also provides other advantages,’ explains Darwyn Ker, managing director of Woodpecker Flooring. ‘It offers excellent insulation properties and is also hypoallergenic, as it does not harbour dust mites, pet dander or other allergens, promoting better indoor air quality.’
If your budget doesn’t stretch to solid wood, consider engineered wood flooring or luxury vinyl tiles which are great alternatives, providing the look of the real thing at a purse-friendly price. These solutions can also be used in bathrooms, unlike solid wood, without fear of water damage.
