Keep it clean
When you are hoovering, check your carpets for any stains or marks that may have appeared. As soon as you do spot a stain, make sure to treat it as soon as possible. Ensure that you always have carpet cleaners to hand, and use the right formulation for your carpet, according to what material it is made of. Likewise when spillages happen, act fast to help prevent permanent staining to your carpet. Follow the specific instructions on your carpet cleaner so that you get the full effect.

Avoid marks
Heavy furniture such as sofas and tables can leave dents in your carpet that are hard to get rid of. Try to move furniture regularly, even if only by a few inches, to avoid damage to your carpet. Similarly, sunlight can bleach coloured carpets. As well as causing the colour to fade, UV rays can actually damage the carpet fibres. Minimise this by keeping windows or blinds closed during the sunniest parts of the day, or consider applying a protective window treatments such as ultraviolet blocking film to your windows.

Protect
If you are buying a new carpet, many companies now offer stain-resistant materials. Alternatively, carpets that are already in place can benefit from stain protection treatments. Consider using rugs to protect specific sections of your carpet such as high-traffic areas, or areas more at risk of spillages such as next to the sofa. Make sure the room is well ventilated to help prevent a build-up of moisture, as this can affect carpets. Keep your carpet fresh and free from bacteria by regularly using a carpet cleaner. If you do not have your own carpet cleaner you can easily rent one to use, or hire a professional. Consider it a worthwhile investment as it will prolong the life of your carpet.

1. Your Lifestyle

First and foremost, make sure you think about how you and your family use your home. For example, if you have a couple of pets and some very active children then deep, plush carpeting might not make the best choice.
Think about how the flooring will be used on a day to day basis, and take into account how much maintenance and cleaning you’ll need to put up with for each material.

2. The Location

Of course, those lifestyle considerations will differ depending on the location in your home which you’re looking at.
In general, it’s best to reserve more upscale options for areas such as the living room, while high traffic areas should use flooring with more durable options, such as slate, tile, or wood. Similarly, rooms which are likely to experience higher than normal levels of moisture should avoid materials which may warp.

3. The Cost

Cost is always going to be a concern, and you should remember that, since flooring is priced per square foot, your costs can rise quickly. On the plus side, this often means that you can afford to use more expensive materials in smaller areas.
Luckily, you should be able to choose most materials without cost being a factor. This is because nearly all will come in several grades of quality; synthetic carpet is cheaper than wool, and laminate wood is cheaper than hardwood.

4. The Environmental Factor

Not always something which homeowners spend too long thinking about, but certainly something that you should take into account.
It’s becoming increasingly important to make your flooring eco-friendly, and there are several great options available. Recycled glass tiles, cork, and bamboo are all options for the eco-conscious.

Picking out flooring might seem tricky, but all you have to do is think about these four main areas to have your choices whittled down in just a few minutes.

Cost
Price will clearly be one of the main things to consider. It’s almost always going to be less expensive to refinish the floor instead of replacing it, as this means taking into account the cost of the new wood, installation, and treatment. You might be able to offset that cost by doing some of the work yourself, but hardwood floors typically require the attention of a professional. You will have to buy or hire the equipment and materials for refinishing, but the cost will be lower and you can usually do the job yourself.

Appearance
What do you aim to accomplish by refinishing or replacing your floor? If you simply want to restore the original appearance, replacing the boards might be overkill. However, if you need to change the style or direction, you’ll probably need a full replacement. You’ll also need to replace wood which has become warped or badly damaged, as refinishing cannot remedy this.

Time
You might think that refinishing won’t take as long as replacing, but this isn’t actually the case. Refinishing can take from four to five days – often longer if you complete the job yourself – during which time the floor must remain untouched. Replacing generally doesn’t take as long. You’ll also require more equipment for refinishing, whereas replacement requires only the basics. If you’re thinking of refinishing simply because you believe it involves less effort, think again.

Age
Some factors are simply out of your control, and the most important one is the age of the wood. Older floors may resist refinishing, usually because they have already been through the process several times or because the surface wood is now too exposed. Very old floors should really be replaced instead of refinished. You might also find that older floors lack the proper thickness, and structural integrity may have been compromised during their long life.

There’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to replacing vs refinishing, but taking this information on-board can ensure that you make the right decision.

Pliable and Practical

Cork flooring is incredibly durable since it resists cracks and is impermeable to gases and liquids. It’s also quite flexible, which means that indentations caused by furniture will quickly bounce back. If you don’t like the way a room is arranged, just change it around without worrying about sunken marks!
Additionally, cork is practical in the long run since its colour penetrates the whole way through. This means that it won’t change as it becomes worn down, unlike wood and vinyl, substantially extending its life. Its millions of air-filled chambers will even act as barriers against both sound and heat-loss.

Sanitary and Safe

Cork is also resistant to mould and termites, so you won’t have to worry about your flooring damaging either the health of your house or its inhabitants. Cork is actually anti-microbial, meaning that it either kills off microorganisms or stops them from growing.
It’s also safer under more threatening situations. Incredibly resistant to fire, cork will only ever ignite or melt if subjected to extraordinarily high temperatures. Even if it does combust, cork only releases a very small amount of smoke, as well as far fewer toxic chemicals than vinyl.

Comfy and Cool

Okay, cork is practical, but you’re probably more concerned with how it looks and feels than how it reacts to fire. Well, good news – cork is also pretty cool. Essentially, people tend to use it because of its ability to provide a natural look which is reminiscent of wood but doesn’t involve tearing down trees.
It’s also lovely to walk on. The fact that cork has a slight give to it means that each footfall is pleasantly cushioned, and it tends to stay far warmer than other types of flooring.

Taking the benefits into account, it isn’t hard to see why cork is becoming the next big thing in interior design.

Floating Floor Advantages

The most obvious advantage associated with floating floors is that they can be laid down quickly and easily to achieve the look of real timber flooring. This means that you can give a room an upscale look without spending too much time or money. You won’t even necessarily have to hire anybody to help.
Additionally, floating floors generally offer strong sound insulation due to the fact that they have been laid over a subfloor system. Wooden flooring can often be noisy for anyone living below you, so it’s nice to have this problem mitigated. Any movement will even be spread across the floor, so unsightly gaps are less likely.
Floating floors are usually pre-coated to provide superior durability, and there are numerous styles to choose from.

Floating Floor Disadvantages

Unfortunately, some of the advantages of floating floors create their own drawbacks. The flexibility of this option means gaps are less likely to appear, but it also means that the boards typically wear out faster. This is especially true in environments which experience frequent variations in temperature, or in those where moisture levels are high.
Additionally, unlike structural wood flooring, a floating floor cannot be sanded once it starts to break down. The sealed finish will offer protection, but you’ll still need to replace the boards once they become too worn. For this reason, structural wood flooring could be considered a better long term investment.

Floating floors are popular for a reason. Not only do they look great, they achieve their style without putting you, or your bank account, through much strain. Just take the drawbacks into account, then consider exactly where you’ll be placing your flooring and how long you’d like it to last.

Ceramic

Ceramic tiles are made from hardened clay – normally mixtures of red or white – and usually feature a decorative glaze. They are baked on the top only, meaning that colour does not run all the way through the tile.

Ceramic tiles are less expensive than other options, and they’re also extremely easy to install. This means they can be purchased and laid down with no need for employing additional labour. However, these tiles are far less durable than stone or porcelain, both breaking and taking stains much more easily. It’s generally best to use them in interior spaces with low levels of foot traffic.

Porcelain

Porcelain is technically a ceramic as well, but is made of white clay using a dust pressing method. This produces a smoothly finished tile which is both denser and more durable than ceramic.

Unlike ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles can be used in both interior and exterior locations due to its strength, and holds up far better in busy areas. Its density makes it less absorbent, and therefore more stain-resistant, and people generally prefer the more upscale look compared to ceramic. However, it is trickier and more expensive to install. This is not a material which is suitable for a DIY job.

Stone

Stone tiles are made from a variety of natural materials, usually either slate, marble, or granite. Easily the most sought after tiling material, stone has a timeless beauty whichboth porcelain and ceramic usually attempt to mimic.

Stone is notably more durable than ceramic, and, while porcelain is technically harder, it’s worth remembering that chips in porcelain will be far more apparent. Of course, stone tiles are extremely heavy, making them the most expensive to install by a wide margin. You’ll certainly need to employ additional help, and may even need the stone to be reworked.

Each material has its own benefits, so all you need to do is decide which benefits are going to benefit you.

Light
One of the most common things people want when they’re renovating a room is far more light. Of course, structural limitations usually mean that this can’t be done directly, but soft, natural colours can create the appearance of light, and capture all the sunshine which does enter your space.
If you want to enliven a poorly lit room, try using a pale pastel colour for the floor. This reflects light, so it makes the room appear optically larger. Laminate or tiling is often best for this task, since it is more reflective and less dense than carpeting.

Space
Yellows and blues tend to make spaces feel much larger and more open, so they can be a good choice for rooms which are a little boxy, or those with dimensions which create tight corners.
For an expansive interior, try using yellow or blue for your flooring – perhaps utilizing tiles or slate. Remember, the effect will become greater as the tone gets lighter. This often proves popular in bathrooms and toilets, since those rooms are usually on the smaller sider.

Isolation
Deep colours such as red and brown serve to contract a room’s space, so using those colours for your flooring is perfect for places in which you would like to foster a degree of seclusion. This is why dark wood is often used in libraries and studies.
Many people find that using either dark brown laminate or dark red carpeting is ideal for creating their own private sanctuary. For added tranquillity, remember to use plenty of soft fabrics and warm tones elsewhere in the room, so things don’t feel too sparse.

If you’re trying to decide which type of flooring is right for you, try thinking about how you want to feel when you walk into the room, then use this guide to narrow things down. Happy decorating!

Sometimes you really can’t stand the sight of a tired old floor anymore, or your landlord refuses to do anything about a frayed carpet, or your home redecoration plans necessitate leaving the floor until the end. But freshening up your floor needn’t cost a fortune, and especially not if you apply some of these neat quick-fixes…

1. Break out the paintbrush
Don’t put up with faded, mouldy or simply ugly laminate flooring in your bathroom – locate some paint that adheres to laminate and spice things up a little. Match it with your bathroom fittings, or if the room’s looking plain why not give it a splash of vibrant colour? If your laminate has a pattern that can also work in your favour.

2. Rugs!
A few small rugs in strategic locations can distract attention from an ugly carpet or floor. Careful to match them appropriately with the floor colour or pattern. Alternatively, why not go for one large rug? You can find smart designs for decent prices in supermarkets, IKEA, and various high street locations, no need to pay a fortune.

3. Sanding
If your hardwood floor has seen better days, then reserve a weekend to move all the furniture out of the room and hire a sander. They’re not especially expensive when you consider the value it will add to the home, and the learning curve is steep.

4. Cleaning
Similarly, if it’s your carpet that’s on the wane, hiring a special carpet cleaning machine can make a real difference. You can also get electric machines to deal with tiles, and laminates just want a really good scrub.

5. Second floors
If you’re really sick of your floor but have no option except to keep it where it is, then look for solutions such as carpet or rubber tiles that you can lay over it in jigsaw-fashion. Then, when you eventually move house, just pull them up and if you want, you can use them again in your new place.

6. Pretty Pictures
Now, this one is a little bit out-of-the-box, but if you’re the artistic type, or know someone who is, then why not take a plain linoleum floor, and create a mural, or other large image, or a series of smaller images? It gives your room a completely distinct character, and can look pretty cool – picture a black floor with an artwork that glows in the dark, for instance?

As anyone who’s ever had a hardwood floor in the home will no doubt agree, keeping it looking good can be a constant battle. And when they often cost a great deal to put in, it’s a battle you have to put everything into. Here’s some good advice on how to look after you hardwood floor so that it lasts as long as possible:

Cleaning
Avoid using wet mops on the floor as they will over time take off the finish. Instead, try sweeping with a soft broom or a special dust mop. If you want to hoover the floor then be sure to use an attachment suitable for hardwood floors so you don’t pick up any unsightly scratches.

Spills
If left undealt with, spills of any type of liquid, even plain water, can stain your floor, so if you notice one then clean it up straightaway. Use a soft cloth, either dry or just slightly damp and ensure you get it all up.

Footwear
This may sound like stating the obvious, but some types of footwear can be seriously bad news for hardwood flooring – think high heels and studded sportswear. Make a point of removing them at the front door.

Furniture
Heavy furniture can dent or scratch your floor, so use pads made of felt underneath the legs to prevent that, and be careful when moving furniture around. Remember if you use rubber pads these can discolour the flooring. It’s a good idea also to place rugs near external doors in case any loose stones get into the house, as these can also scratch the floor.

Treatments
Depending on the type of hardwood floor you have, different treatment products are suitable, from surface finishes to wax or acrylic finishes. It’s always best to learn from the company that sold you the flooring which treatment you ought to be using, and if the floor was put in before you moved in, then establish the type of wood you have and go from there. Using the wrong type of treatment can at best make it ineffective, at worst damage the floor.

As we can see from the last decade, the issue of flooding in certain parts of the UK is serious, and not one that is going to go away. Even a small ingress of water can cause serious damage to the flooring in your home, often requiring it to be entirely replaced.

If your home is in an area that is susceptible to flooding then the first step should always be to try and prevent water from getting inside at all. Secondly, applying a good quality floor sealant can significantly help keep it getting into cracks.

There are various types of flooring that are more suitable for flood-prone areas, although of course if you have a heavy ingress then the ground-floor and, if you have, one, the basement of your home are probably going to be seriously damaged whatever you do.

As we’ve mentioned on our blog before, rubber is a very versatile flooring type. If you suffer flooding, pull up your rubber tiles immediately and hang them up somewhere to thoroughly dry out. Once they have done, then disinfect them and scrub them down, and also the surface beneath the tiles too, to prevent the buildup of mould and mildew. Don’t re-lay until everything is completely dry.

Vinyl flooring is also effective at keeping water out, but we strongly advise getting all seams sealed properly if you worry about water ingress.

Another good option is ceramic tiles. They look beautiful, and are very resistant to water. Ensure they are professionally laid, and set with thinset mortar instead of mastic. Very durable, treat them regularly to keep water out and you will find them easy to maintain and clean.

Ultimately, if you are unlucky enough to live in an area that is vulnerable to floods then you are likely to experience property damage at some point. It’s best not to put down anything too expensive on the floor if you expect it may be ruined before long, so vinyl is probably the best option cost-wise. Certainly avoid carpet unless you want the hassle and expense of replacing it regularly.