STEP INSIDE LIVING SPACES
Lounging Around
Here Liam Walker, Owner of
independent flooring store Best at Flooring, offers his guidance on
specifying the right flooring for a lounge area.
If your customers are looking for a new flooring for the living room, you’ll understand the importance of getting it right. It’s often the busiest room in the house, and the place you want to unwind and relax after a long day. Therefore, it is essential that the flooring they choose is both durable and comfortable, as well as appealing to their own unique style.
To help you guide your customers to make the right choice, we’ve rounded up the advantages and disadvantages of some different flooring options.
The Comfort of Carpet
Soft, warm and luxurious – it’s understandable that carpet is such a popular choice for the living room. Carpet is available in a large range of looks and depths so it is easy to find the right option to compliment your décor. However, it is important to choose a high-quality carpet, as cheaper options will wear quickly.
It could be wise to advise your customers to also choose something which is more hardwearing for the living room as this space will encounter such a high footfall. Plus, if you have children and pets it would be wise to carry out a deep clean the carpet on at least a monthly basis.
Wood It Be a Solid Choice?
Although a more expensive option, solid wood flooring is popular due to its timeless style and unrivalled quality – it’s the only type of flooring that can get better with age! However, a solid wood floor requires a bit of extra TLC to be maintained, so a customer will have to be prepared to look after it. Also, note that a solid wood floor cannot be used with underfloor heating – opt for engineered wood if this is an essential for your customer.
If some customers find that a solid wood floor would look too cold and not feel as comfortable underfoot then they could consider adding in a huge, cosy rug for extra warmth.
An Engineered Alternative
Engineered wood is a great alternative to solid wood as it offers the look of traditional wood flooring but with extra resilience to changing heat conditions. It is still a real wood flooring, but is made up of multiple layers making it more
28 | Tomorrow’s Retail Floors
versatile. Engineered wood can be used in rooms with underfloor heating.
Luxurious Laminate
Laminate flooring can be an excellent solution if you want the look of a solid wood floor without the burden of extra maintenance. Laminate appeals to many as it is easy to clean and install, and is available in a large range of styles. If your customer is set on wanting a wooden floor but, due to their budget or lifestyle, a solid wood floor just isn’t appropriate, laminate could be the perfect alternative as there are so many variations which all come at reasonable prices. Also, why not offer a stylish rug to give their lounge that extra bit of warmth?
It is vital to understand the individual needs of your customer before making a choice. If money and maintenance is no issue, a solid wood floor may appeal. If your customer wants the look of a wooden floor but has limited time and money, laminate is the perfect all-rounder. Or, if comfort is number one on their list of priorities, carpet may be the best option! Most of all, ensure your customers have all the essential information before making their purchase.
The bottom line is that it all comes down to what budget your customer has, what look or feel they envision and their lifestyle. Spending some time to fully understand your customer and their individual needs is likely to result in a happier and more satisfied customer.
www.bestatflooring.co.uk www.tomorrowsretailfloors.com
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