Floor Wars (Part 2)
Comfortable Carpet V Stunning Stone V Timeless Tiles
Carpet is the natural choice for rooms where you want both warmth and comfort underfoot. With a myriad of exciting designs to choose from, it can add pattern, texture and colour to your home. Spend as much as you can afford on a quality carpet with a high pile density of 40oz or more that will retain its good looks for longer. An 80 per cent wool/20 per cent nylon mix labelled as ‘heavy domestic’ or ‘extra heavy domestic’ offers the best combination of quality and durability, especially for high traffic areas. If you have children or pets, choose a darker or ‘heathered’ effect style which will not show up every accidental spill or stain. BEST FOR: Living areas, hallways, stairs and landings, bedrooms. TOP TIP: Always buy new, quality underlay when replacing a carpet as it can prolong its life by up to 40 per cent.
Stone is an ancient form of flooring that will truly stand the test of time. With the increasing interest in using natural materials in the home, stone is becoming more popular as flooring for both traditional and contemporary interiors. The colours, textures and veining of stone varies naturally depending on where it is quarried, creating a beautiful, unique look whichever type of stone you choose. Stone flooring is extremely durable, practical and will last for generations. BEST FOR: Kitchens, conservatories, lower floor bathrooms. TOP TIP: For warmth underfoot on a stone floor, try adding a rug or two.
Durable and stylish, tiles have been cherished for centuries as a form of decoration for floors and walls. They are the perfect practical flooring in kitchens, bathrooms and conservatories, and are increasingly used in living areas such as lounges and dining rooms. Large format floor tiles are especially popular for open-plan living areas. Floor tiles allow you to introduce texture and pattern to a room, and can be laid in numerous ways to create different designs, such as mosaic and chequerboard as well as intricate borders. BEST FOR: Bathrooms, kitchens, conservatories, hallways. TOP TIP: When choosing tiles, always buy 10 per cent extra to allow for waste and cutting and mix up tiles from different boxes to allow for variations in colour.