Decided to upgrade your house's flooring? So, now what?
Choosing new flooring can be tough. There are so many things to consider, so to help out, here are some tips and things you should take into account before you make any decisions.
1. Atmosphere
Before you even think about colours, the first step in choosing your new hardwood flooring is to think about the type of atmosphere you're wanting to create in the room. Will it be somewhere for the whole household to relax in? Or rather a room that you will see every day? Think about how you want to feel when you're in this room - relaxed or ready to tackle the day? Once you've worked out the vibe you're aiming to establish in the room (or rooms), you're ready to step into full design mode.
2. Colour
Some may think the colour of your floor shouldn't matter because it'll be covered with furniture. Well, it's quite the opposite. Colour can actually have a massive impact on the overall atmosphere of the room. If you choose the wrong colour, the space could end up looking and feeling totally different from what you envisioned.
When deciding what colour your new hardwood flooring will be, have a think back to the atmosphere you were wanting to create in the space. If it will be a space with constant foot traffic, like the kitchen, for instance, you want to avoid paler colours, as each and every mark and dent will show up and be very obvious. You especially want to avoid pale colours if you have kids!
It's also imperative to think about this room in conjunction with the rooms surrounding it. For instance, if you're looking at flooring for an open space area, keep in mind that this flooring will have to be laid across each room in the open space. So, make sure you're 100 percent happy with the colour!
A final word of advice with colour... Remember that dark colours can make a room feel smaller and also give it a bit more of a professional, industrial vibe. So again, have a think back to the atmosphere you want to create. Dark colours may hide stains but it could also be the make or break of the room.
3. Surroundings
Another incredibly important point to consider is what furniture you will be including in the space. If you already have furniture, lay out a few samples of hardwood flooring against the furniture to see what matches best. Or, if you're starting entirely from scratch, make sure to factor furniture into your thought patterns when considering which kind of hardwood flooring you'll choose.
As we mentioned earlier, make sure you also factor other rooms into this point. Open plan areas will need the same flooring for some continuity, so make sure the flooring you choose matches the furniture in all of these rooms.
4. Budget
One final point to consider is whether you're on a budget or not. Hardwood flooring can be expensive, but the results are worth it. So, before you go making some big decisions about which hardwood flooring you'll use, compare prices. If you're not on a budget, go for gold! But chances are you'll probably want to factor your finances into it first. If you are on a budget, that doesn't mean you can't still create an amazing space. Rather, you'll just have to be extra critical in those thinking and planning stages and make sure you're definitely happy with your choice before investing in your flooring.
There you have it - some great tips that could end up making or breaking your home. If there's one thing you should take away, it's that the key is to think everything through from every angle before you make any decisions.