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.









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



Comments

  1. Sharon, Those are great examples of flooring that you have chosen, We wish we hadn't put ceramic tiles in the kitchen, it is so cold under foot at this time and anything being dropped on the floor doesn't stand a chance!
    Sarah x

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sarah, we have exactly the same problem, about 10 degrees colder in winter than upstairs and any dropped just smashes...hope you're having a good week! Sharon x

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  2. Those are all great choices. When we lived on the west-coast of Canada we had ceramic floors in our kitchen and it was fine. But, we now live in a colder climate and they are out, instead we chose to have a cork floor put in our kitchen. It is attractive, warm and easy on the legs and feet. I love the look of marble and limestone, if I were wealthy, one of those would be my choice for a bathroom, but I would want wood for the rest of the house. I love the old wood in our house, it's warm and comfy.
    Fun post!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Cindy, yes I forgot to mention cork is lovely underfoot, and is quite soft to walk on as well, much nicer than ceramic tiles. I agree with you, I love the feel of wood underfoot, it's my favourite flooring choice. Happy week for you! x

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  3. Ótimo post, Sharon!...eu adoro tapetes porém tenho o mesmo problema que você, minha casa é térrea, tenho quatro gatas, então o jeito mais prático e higiênico é colocar tapetes apenas nos dormitórios...o restante da casa é em cerâmica branca, que apesar de muito fria no inverno e bem fácil de sujar é também prática e exige pouca manutenção e ainda amplia visualmente os ambientes.
    Beijos e uma linda semana para você, amiga querida.
    Sílvia

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  4. Wonderful Design Blogs, Such a great list. Thanks for sharing all these blogs all are very useful to every one.
    Carpet and Home Cleaning Services

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