The secret’s out: choosing the right flooring is probably one of the most important decisions of your entire remodel project. The floor is the foundation of your room (well not the literal foundation, but you get what I mean), so choosing the right type of material is a super important part of creating a space that’s as functional as it is beautiful.
The COVID19 pandemic has been the catalyst for change in nearly every area of our lives, including the way we use our homes. With folks spending more time inside their own four walls, they’re taking this opportunity to tackle home renovation projects that have been on the bucket list for years.
When planning house renovations, North London homeowners need to consider their flooring options carefully. The team at Combit Construction, builders in North London, understands flooring, that’s why we’ve taken the time to create this list of practical and aesthetically appealing options:
1. Hardwood
There’s nothing new about hardwood flooring, but it remains an all-time favourite for two reasons: it’s beautiful and it works. Available in a huge range of colours, styles, finishes and plank widths, hardwood offers a solid and durable option to complement any décor style.
If you’re renovating an existing home, that old carpet might be hiding original floorboards. And even if you find they’re badly marked and worn, it’s not too difficult to restore wooden flooring and bring it back to its original glory.
2. Engineered Hardwood
Love the wood look but need something a little more budget-friendly? Engineered hardwood is gaining momentum across the UK because it offers excellent durability at a price that’s more affordable for the average homeowner.
Constructed from layers of ply with a thin layer of real wood on top, engineered hardwood is super hardwearing and looks very similar to solid wood once installed.
3. Tiles
Durability and style – floor tiles remain a popular flooring option as 2021 unfolds. And that’s because tiles can withstand nearly anything that life throws on the floor! Timber look-alikes, terracotta, porcelain, marble, natural stone… there is a tile option in whatever colour, shape and finish suits your home, your taste, and your budget. And many of these trendy tile options are leaving homeowners drooling.
4. Concrete
Now here’s one who’s poor reputation is taking a change – the last few years have seen concrete make its way into homes as versatile and modern flooring option!
Durability, low maintenance and cost-effectiveness are not the only reasons that homeowners are installing concrete floors. Polished concrete complements the modern, industrial style to perfection and it’s an excellent option for allergy sufferers. Worried that concrete might be too cold? Consider installing underfloor heating or offer a touch of extra luxury with a floor rug.
5. Carpet
Cosy, practical and always beautiful, carpet is an ever-popular option that works for most house floor plans. Nowadays, carpets come in every colour, style and design you could ever want (and a heap more besides!). From the traditional woollen, nylon and cotton products to modern carpet tiles and organic fibre options, carpet will always be in vogue.
Hot tip: for attached houses or families with children or pets, carpet also has great noise absorption properties.
6. Vinyl Plank
Vinyl plank is quickly rising in popularity for several reasons: durability, water resistance, commercial-grade wear-n-tear properties, low maintenance and style, to name a few. Vinyl plank is a guaranteed to suit nearly every floor plan layout and is available in a variety of décor styles including wood, tile and cement.
One of the beauties of the vinyl plank is that if one or two ‘planks’ become damaged they can be easily lifted and replaced, without having to replace the entire area – now, how’s that for budget-friendly?!
7. Bamboo
Bamboo is more than just food for pandas – in recent years, its reputation as a sustainable and hardwearing flooring option has steadily grown. With many of the same qualities as hardwood flooring, bamboo provides an attractive and durable surface available in a range of colours.
If eco-friendly options are high on your list of priorities, bamboo flooring is the way to go – unlike traditional timber, bamboo grows quickly and can be harvested with very little environmental impact.
Choosing a Floor Colour/Pattern
The colour and style of your flooring is super important to the overall aesthetics of the room. Remember, dark colours absorb light; light colours reflect it. While patterned flooring can be used to draw attention to a focal point or create a feature, if it’s overdone, it can create too much visual noise.
So, plan your rooms from the floor up. Think about what you need to get out of your flooring and choose materials that will stand up to the test of time and use. Be creative. Be prepared to think out of the box. And most of all, choose a flooring that you can enjoy for many years to come!
