When you have made the decision to decorate a room in your home, it can be pretty tempting to launch in headfirst and go crazy buying art and trinkets.
For those of us with the interior bug, it can be super easy to become overly inspired by our many Pinterest boards on home design, and many people end up going crazy during a remodel.
But one aspect of the remodel that doesn’t tend to capture our imaginations quite so much is the flooring.
Getting new flooring is often regarded as a pain and a messy affair to sort out; when actually, it is one of the key components of your remodel that you should consider.
New flooring can easily breathe life back into a room, as it’s something we see every single day, even if we don’t consider it as part of the ‘decor.’ But before you jump in and start ripping up your carpet with earnest, here are a few things you need to consider.
How functional does my new flooring need to be?
Sure, you may love the idea of a glossy, soft shag pile carpet. After all, who doesn’t dream of scrunching up their toes in a beautifully cozy carpet as soon as they step out of bed in the morning?
But unfortunately, for many households, thick carpets are a big no no. Why? Two words: children and pets. If you have young children, you will know only too well how spillages and stains can become a part of your everyday life.
So, with this in mind, a luxury carpet isn’t always the best option, especially if you are only going to end up spending more money on getting the whole thing repeatedly cleaned!
For pets, especially cats and dogs, carpets can be dangerous as their claws can sometimes get hooked on them, not to mention that carpets easily gather dust and pet hair.
If you share your home with your children and a few pets, it may be better for you to consider hard flooring instead.
What style do I like?
As mentioned above, your flooring can play a huge role in the aesthetics of your home.
Why not visit your local flooring store to see what types of flooring they have on offer, if you don’t know what you are drawn to at this stage?
Go with your gut feeling, but also bear in mind what will look good in YOUR home. Sometimes, what looks amazing in a showroom can look completely different on your property.
Will it work in the room I have in mind?
Picture the scene: you have just had your new kitchen flooring laid down, and something just feels ‘wrong.’ You look at it from every angle, turn the lights on and off, and then it hits you: the flooring is simply way too dark for the room.
This can be disastrous, and the last thing you want is having to spend time and money repainting your room a lighter color and having new light fixtures installed.
If the room you are redecorating doesn’t have much natural light, always opt for a lighter flooring option, such as beech wood laminate. It will make the whole place look much more airy.
