interior solutions
Home Flooring
The unsung heroes of every room, Luke Rix-Standing runs through the key pros and cons of some of the most popular flooring materials.
T
hey may not be the latest 3D-printed armchair or voice-activated speaker system,
but your floors are, quite literally, the foundation of your home. A classic blend of fashion and function, a floor must tie a room together while fulfilling a range of - very important - practical requirements too. While aesthetics are a key consideration, in general, flooring should be relatively unobtrusive. It’s the defensive midfielder of home decor: If you don’t notice it, it’s probably doing a good job. Different flooring options will suit different parts of the home, so it’s vital to think carefully before coming to a decision. You don’t want your bathroom floor going soggy from shower spray, or a cold playroom surface punishing your children’s knees, for instance.
WOOD Summarising wood flooring is like summarising a clothing fabric - there’s a lot of different forms it could take. Oſt-neglected soſtwood floors can work wonders in low-footfall areas, but as the name suggests, they can struggle with the rough and tumble of a busy family home. Most modern wood floors are hardwood - highly coveted surfaces that can also add serious value to a property. Relatively pricey, prone to scratching and potentially sensitive to moisture, hardwood flooring is nevertheless popular in living areas for its elegant appearance and underfoot warmth. For a tougher, cheaper alternative, try laminate - fibreboard printed with a high-res image of a wooden finish, which these days can look practically as good as the real thing.
“A CLASSIC BLEND OF FASHION
AND FUNCTION, A FLOOR MUST TIE A ROOM TOGETHER WHILE FULFILLING A RANGE OF - VERY IMPORTANT - PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS TOO.”
TILE For such a popular flooring choice, tile has a long list of drawbacks: It’s relatively difficult to repair if it cracks or gets damaged; the grouting easily accumulates dirt; sock wearers risk slipping; it gets extremely cold in wintertime - and it’s not even that cheap. But a tough, durable surface makes tile pet-friendly, and most flooring shops offer a near-infinite array of colours
16 / PROPERTYMAIL
and patterns - from Victorian florals to abstract collage - so in terms of aesthetic appeal and style, the possibilities really are endless and tiles can look truly striking. Te bathroom surface of choice for generations of homeowners, being easy to clean, tiling also brushes up nicely in the kitchen and pantry.
CARPET A go-to for rooms with soſt furnishings, carpet can be both chic and cosy has refreshingly clear pros and cons. Te good: It’s warm, insulating, generally cheaper than wood or tile, and can be fashioned into almost any design. Te bad: Stains easily, struggles with moisture, traps dust and pet hair, and needs to be replaced when worn down.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
