Inspiration Choosing Pattern

Inspiration

C H O O S I N G  P A T T E R N

In the home, flooring is as much of a big, blank canvas as the walls yet they often get overlooked when it comes to pattern and design. Though it may be easier to change the patterns which adorn our walls if we tire of them compared with our floors, it doesn’t mean you have to play it safe and stick to plain, neutral flooring. We have put together some tips for how to choose (and use) patterned floors so that they completely transform your living space and demonstrate just how enduring they can be when done well.

Focus on Floors
There is so much choice when it comes to flooring; carpet, engineered wood, tiles, luxury vinyl tiles, natural flooring the list is endless. Add different laying patterns, colour tones, decorative designs into the mix and for some it can be overwhelming which is perhaps why pattern is admired in the showroom yet often avoided at home.
Of course there is plenty to consider when it comes to choosing new floors and decisions shouldn’t be taken lightly given the investment they are and their permanence however, statement floors can have as much impact on setting the tone and style of a room as wallpaper does and therefore shouldn’t be shied away from through fear or lack of knowledge.

How to Choose
Though there is a lot of choice, the same factors which impact any new flooring decision still apply when considering patterned and design flooring, so it isn’t as difficult as you might think to find something which will work in your home. Ultimately you need to go for what you like, avoiding trends as the flooring being fitted in your home will certainly last longer than they will!

What room are you fitting it for?
Design flooring becomes the focal point of a room therefore you will want it to be seen. Though it can brighten up small, dull spaces you need to think about where it will make an impact and where it can be enjoyed. Similarly, it needs to be in keeping with the use of the room for example a lounge where you relax will need a pattern that complements this action so nothing too busy or obtrusive. Size of the room naturally plays a part as it does with any flooring decision, patterns using lighter colours will open up smaller spaces making them feel bigger than they are whereas darker colours bring a comfort to cold open spaces

What is the age of the property?
Certain designs will lend themselves better to certain properties than others. For example, a modern geometric pattern would look out of place in an old cottage with rustic beams and open brickwork the same way retro looking vinyl tiles would look out of place in a crisp modern, newly built house. Researching the interiors of homes of a similar age is one way to fuel your inspiration as well as using online room visualisers. Brands such as Amtico have a room visualiser section on their websites where you can upload a photograph of the room/s you are looking for new flooring for and see how different types of pattern and design work in that space.

What is your budget?

Patterned and decorative flooring isn’t necessarily more expensive than something plain however the time it takes to manufacture and install will be factored into the cost as some patterns are made to order so be conscious of this when discussing your flooring options and choosing your pattern.

What is the size of the room?
As mentioned above, lighter coloured patterns in smaller rooms help open them up while darker colours will make a space feel more cosy and snug. The size of the rooms will also impact the size of the pattern being laid and the layout of the design, for example, long planks running parallel with the length of a room will make it appear longer as will a diagonal laying pattern, larger tiles with minimal grout or stripping in between also have this effect. In bigger rooms, busy, intricate patterns can be distracting while smaller rooms seem to be more forgiving with these kinds of designs.

What to Choose
As design and patterned flooring has increased in popularity, you can get pattern on pretty much any type of flooring nowadays (or create pattern using it).

Hard Flooring
Hard floors are easy to maintain, keep clean, they are long lasting and are pet and child friendly which is why they have become such a popular choice for flooring. You can also get really creative with it, even wood or wood effect flooring can be laid in so many different designs now and work well when combined with patterned luxury vinyl tiles to break up and divide open plan living spaces. Still a bit pattern shy? Look at bordering or different design motifs as your focal point rather than wall to wall pattern.

Carpets and Rugs
With pattern the mind easily jumps to hard flooring and pretty tiles but this doesn’t mean that people who prefer carpet cannot have design floors too. There are so many different colour combinations and patterns available in carpets now they can easily be made a design feature the same way hard flooring can. From stripy stair runners to herringbone or wool weave there is plenty of choice, though the brighter colours do tend to be made from natural materials, 100% wool or a wool blend which aren’t ideal if you have kids and pets as they aren’t stain resistant or as easy to keep clean.
Not ready to go full patterned carpet? Then brands such as Crucial Trading can help with their bespoke rug building service which allows you to put in your specifications (size, colour, material etc.) and play around with all sorts of combinations to create a rug which still makes a statement.

Now what?
In our showroom we have plenty of design ideas and samples to view and to help feed your imagination along with knowledgeable staff to offer advice and answer any queries you may have about making your floors the focus of your home.