It may seem unlikely, but some of the best floors we’ve ever seen are those that have employed unusual materials rather than your standard wood, tiles, carpet or linoleum. Here’s some of the most outlandish we can think of, and we think you’ll agree that the creativity behind of these ideas is off the scale!

Old Leather Belts
TING is a design company that creates luxury products from salvaged materials. Recently they’ve been sourcing old leather belts, removing the metalwork, hand-cleaning them and then processing them as flooring. What you’re left with is an attractive, subtle and hard-wearing floor, with the colour and pattern balance predetermined before a single one is laid down. Ideal for a clothing store!

Bottle Caps
Take a look at the Bone House in Texas, an artists’ studio with an eye-catching bathroom floor created from thousands of colourful bottle caps. As an example of sustainable architecture this is hard to beat, very low-cost, zero carbon use, and removing waste from the environment. But given the amount of time you’d need to spend finding all the caps, it’s probably only suitable for very small rooms. A similar but more neutral effect could be gleaned by using pennies.

Paper Bags
Tearing old brown paper bags into shapes and laying them down allows for beautiful patterns. You simply arrange them however you want and then put a thin layer of polyurethane over them to seal the floor. Owners of floors such as this reckon they look like a hybrid of cork, hardwood and leather, and we’d imagine they’re pretty pleased with the price-tag as well!

Wine Corks
The perfect flooring solution for a vineyard, or anyone with a passion for the fruits of the vine, wine cork floors look lovely, and feel great beneath your feet too. A floor of this was created for another room at the Bone House, with around 72 corks per square foot needed, so if you’d like to follow suit, better start drinking.

So, how to minimise the damage? There are several measures you can take.

Firstly, if there is any room where you particularly don’t want them tracking through, either train them from an early age to stay out, or use a gate to keep them out (admittedly less effective with a cat). Get into the habit of closing doors after you.

Buy a decent doormat and give the dog’s paws a wipe whenever it enters the house, especially after a walk, and even more especially during wet weather. It’s not a bad idea to keep a bottle of water by the door to rinse the worst of the mud out of the hair as well. Placing a small towel under the catflap can also help, but your cat won’t thank you for washing it down every time it comes home!

Vacuum carpets, and sweep floors, on a regular basis, perhaps weekly, to scoop up any hairs or dried mud. Your carpets ought to get a thorough clean at least twice a year to remove stains and odours.

Trim claws once every couple of months, and keep a spray bottle at hand to discourage your cat from sharpening its claws on the carpet, curtains or furniture.

Lastly, bathe your pet every so often too. Your dog probably won’t mind so much a soaking from the hose in the garden, or even a dunk in the bathtub, but with cats you’ll probably need someone else to keep it in the kitchen sink.

We’re all familiar by now with the most common measures we can take to make our homes more environmentally-friendly such as installing loft and wall insulation; fitting solar panels; installing low-energy bulbs and recycling as much as possible, but one aspect that is often overlooked is flooring.

There are in fact numerous flooring solutions that look good, don’t cost a fortune, and are very beneficial to the environment. Let’s discuss a few of them.

Cork
Cork is a fantastic material for flooring which is why it has been used for centuries. It’s very durable and comfortable, and it’s naturally resistant to mould and mildew, useful to know when you live in a mild climate such as ours. The cork is harvested from the bark of cork oak trees which are common in Spain and Portugal. So the tree doesn’t need to be cut down and can provide material for generations, and there is a fairly low carbon footprint for transportation too. One last plus – cork flooring results in very little waste. It’s one of the best green flooring options in our book.

Rubber
Similar to cork, the rubber tree doesn’t need to be destroyed during the harvesting process. Rubber is great because not only is it hugely functional – non-slip, easy to maintain and durable, but it is very sustainable – at the end of its lifespan rubber can be reused in many cases, or if not, in landfill there is little risk of harmful chemicals seeping into the ground. It’s also good when it comes to cleaning – just a bit of warm water will do the job in most cases, no need for harmful cleansing agents.

Recycled Carpet
If you’re wanting to install or replace a carpet then it’s worth asking your suppliers if they feature any ranges that incorporate recycled material. Many manufacturers have seen the appeal of “green flooring solutions” and have at least one range available. This type of flooring tends to cost a bit more, but it should last just as long.

A ceramic tile floor can be a beautiful, eye-catching design solution for many homes, however because it is a hard tile, it can be unsuitable for certain applications.

If you’re considering a tile flooring option then here are some aspects to keep in mind:

Water-Resistance
Ceramic tiles are most often found in the kitchen or the bathroom, where their glazed finish protects them from humidity, water, and stains, seeping in. This also makes them very easy to maintain – if a liquid spills, just wipe them clean. Anyone carpeting a kitchen will have cause to regret it at some point! Remember that whoever is laying your tiles must treat them, and the grouting in-between, if they are not pre-glazed, to prevent water incursion and the accompanying risk of mould.

Long-Lasting Ceramic tiles have a good reputation for durability and can last for years before they need to be replaced, even in rooms like kitchens and bathrooms which see heavy footfall. The other big advantage here is that if a tile does crack, it can be switched without too much difficulty. A collection of spares can be stacked in a small space, ready for application if needed. Do remember though that because of their weight, ceramic floors are often unsuitable for upper floors, and you will need to check with a professional installer before going ahead.

Advantages over other floorings If any of your home’s occupants suffer from allergies then tiles are a good idea. Although tending to be more expensive than carpet, they harbour far fewer dust and pollen particles. They’re also usually less pricey than wooden floors. Usually tiles are wipe-clean with just the odd light hoovering needed to keep them looking attractive. Note also that tiles are available in many shapes and designs, so just as with carpets, you’re in no way restricted if you want a particular style in a room.

Consider your requirements. Does the carpet in each room need to provide noise insulation, or add colour? Must it be durable or need only infrequent cleaning? How much money can you afford to spend on it? If you’re doing more than one room then will the colours match if they border?

Padding. The various thicknesses of the padding placed beneath the carpet will not only absorb sound, but provide extra warmth and help to reduce wear-and-tear to different degrees, so it’s worth investigating the options.

Look at your lifestyle. Is the carpet going to be placed in a high-traffic zone, such as over the stairs or in the living-room? Do you have children or pets that are likely to be running around on the carpet with dirty feet? If so you’re better off looking at something like Berber or textured carpeting than plush. Carpet tiles are a good idea if staining is anticipated, as they can be cheaply and easily replaced, and a stock of them stored in a cupboard. Woven wool is useful for stairs, as it is quite heavy-duty.

Styles. Remember that light-coloured carpets will add the illusion of space to a small room just as wallpaper or paint does on the walls. They also make furnishings stand out. Whereas darker colours are better for hiding unsightly stains. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of patterned carpets available so take samples if that’s the option you’re going for to ensure they suit. It’s also possible to get some good quality eco-carpets now that reduce the impact on the environment of their manufacture.

Sourcing carpet. There are many places where you can buy carpets, but in most cases you’re probably better off sticking with a specialist provider that offers a large range and can give good advice. Similarly, when it comes to something that can dramatically affect the look of your home it’s best to have it fitted professionally. Get quotes broken down into materials and fitting so that you can make comparisons easily.

Aftercare. Always check with the supplier that aftercare and maintenance needs of your carpet and adhere to them. There are many types of warranty available so check you’re only paying for one that reflects your needs.