Floored!

With the wet weather these past few weeks, I've had my mind on my carpets which are taking a beating with young adults up and down and in and out.  It's a constant battle to keep carpets clean...so I'm on the look out for alternatives.

So today I'm talking flooring, once again it's all down to personal choice and how you like to live.  There are so many choices out there we don't just have to choose wall to wall fitted carpets anymore.

In climates where you don't have so much rain, it's much easier to keep carpets clean.  In rainy, muddy England, however, where it rains on average 109 days out of 365, having a fitted carpet in your entrance hall seems impractical.

And if you have children and dogs, the necessity for practical flooring is even more important.

Some older homes tend to have original wooden floor boards, which is lovely and tactile but can be a little bit cold underfoot.   I'd still choose bare wood floors over a fitted carpet any day of the week, but I would cozy it up with a rug under the bed or dotted around the room for extra warmth!  Bedrooms are after all, about getting cozy and intimate.

I sort of have my own rule about carpets - anything above the stairs can be carpeted ie. bedrooms/studies etc. but below stairs (sounds like Downton Abbey) should be practical and easy to clean, so for me that means rubber, ceramic tiles or wooden flooring or you might be lucky enough to have original limestone flooring.   I love the feel of sisal or coir flooring, which is both practical and great looking.  Unfortunately you can't use these natural products on staircases as they give off a natural oil which makes the steps slippery.   Carpets in bathrooms are a no-no, stick to wooden flooring, rubber or tiles.  

So I'm leaning towards bare wooden staircases as well.  They are easy to clean when you only have to wipe them down.  You can paint them crazy colours, add wallpaper, add some fun script, there is so much you can do.

Think about the traffic that comes across your front door.  Most entrances, hallways and kitchens see more foot work than any other space in the home, so it makes perfect sense to lay practical flooring. Rubber flooring is another option and comes in a variety of designs.  Ceramic tiles are cold in winter, so perhaps you want to think about installing underfloor heating.  Wooden floors are much more tactile and warmer in winter, but keep a space cool in summer, so you have the best of both worlds.  If you don't have the option of laying underfloor heating, you can always add runners and rugs to the ceramic tiles to soften up the look and give the space the cozy factor.  Any spills and drips can always be rubbed out with a little elbow grease.

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rubber flooring

Rugs

limestone flooring

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The possibilities are endless.  It's about choosing the right flooring for your family circumstances.

Think outside the box, wall to wall carpets aren't the only option available.

Until next time!

Sharon

xxx