THE RIVER MAGAZINE | Spring 2019 13 E very room in a home has a unique purpose and every family is different, so even before you begin thinking about styles and colours there are a multitude of things to consider. It can sometimes be quite daunting especially if you’re looking to tackle more than one room at the same time. For example if you have children, your floors will inevitably take more of a pounding, you may need to consider softness for floor play or crawling. If you are a ‘shoes off’household you will probably worry less about these practicalities. But to make it a little easier, let’s walk through the house room by room to discuss the most popular options that will also look amazing for longer. BATHROOMS Due to the obvious water spills, the best flooring options will be impervious to water and still be warm underfoot. Amtico, vinyl and woven vinyl, sheet Marmoleum, sealed cork and rubber are all top of the list. If underfloor heating is a consideration, then your options may be more limited as you will need to make sure that the flooring and preparation are compatible. So, bathroom priorities are: - Warmth underfoot - Anti-slip - Easy to clean STAIRS & LANDINGS We walk exactly the same path when climbing up and coming down our stairs, so stair carpets are prone to uneven pile crushing. Low level loop pile or flat weave carpets are best to avoid this uneven effect. Shorter piled twist or velvet carpets are also popular but a good quality carpet, with a higher density wool content will look better for longer. For stairs, Sisal is the best out of all natural floor coverings and I would recommend choosing a mottled or flecked colour as Sisal can stain and the natural markings will prevent any stains from standing out. Even better, get the carpet stain-guarded, most manufacturers offer this for an additional £5 per metre. Stair runners If you want to make a feature of your staircase, then a runner is the way to go. This is where you have some of the bare stair visible on either side. Runners can be fully made from regular carpet so you can use the same carpet on hallways and landings and then edge the carpet on the stairs with binding or whipping. Alternatively you can pick a ready-made runner. You can then either go for a complementing carpet for landings, bare or painted floorboards or continuing the runner. Other stair choices are just to paint them, although this can be a slippy option, or cover the stairs in wood or even Amtico. For stairs, consider Colour: Patterns, stripes, flecks and deep or darker colours are all really practical on staircases. It’s a narrow area where lots of spills can occur so again, a practical colour will mean your carpet will look fresher for longer. Spills should be cleaned up as quickly as possible with dry kitchen roll followed by gentle dabbing with warm water and a bleach free carpet soap. Pile height: Avoid loose, long and uneven or chunky piled carpet for even wear. HALLWAY Hard flooring is the most practical choice for this area and there are some fine looking solutions so that the first glimpse into your home sets a style and standard for the rest of the house. Marmoleum Tiles Available in Victorian designs, these are perfect for a period property and make an elegant statement. Amtico have brought out some designs in their new Deco range that are also perfect. Wood Great for open plan layouts or whether you’d like the same floor throughout, we would recommend rugs or mats to protect the most vulnerable areas from water. Rubber Available as tiles or in sheet form, and is extremely hard-wearing. Cork This gives a warm and natural feel with hypoallergenic properties. Unlike other interior decisions, when considering flooring you will probably have to factor in a practical element based on your individual home. by arabella budd Arabella Budd, Director of Lordship Flooring and interior specialist