Selecting the perfect carpet or timber flooring for your home can be quite overwhelming because there are so many options to choose from. When I’m starting that journey with my clients much of the initial stages of each selection appointment is actually explaining the differences and telling them why one item might be better than the other, and whilst I’d love to work with everyone and help them with their home I of course can't.
So, my first bit of advice is to deal with a quality brand. To go to a store that has a great range, where you can find all of the options available for your home and know that you're dealing with quality, and people who know what they're talking about. That way you'll be guaranteed to get the advice that's right for your home and your needs.
all images by James Treble from his local Flooring Xtra store
When it comes to CARPET there are two basic categories, the synthetic range and the naturals, being wool. Some people are under the misconception that synthetic carpets are harder and wool is softer. Well, one of my favourite synthetic fibres is Triexta. It's made with a combination of synthetic materials and by-products from the sugar industry, and the results is a carpet that's soft to touch but so easy to clean, perfect if you've got pets in home or little children who can sometimes be as messy as pets.
But new technologies means that the products that we all know are ever changing and evolving. This is also another reason why you need to come in store and touch and feel products for yourself.
I admit to loving wool carpet. Not only is it a 100% natural fibre, it's just so textural that I feel my hands want to touch it, and when it comes to cleaning any spills, well, all you need is warm soapy water.
It also provides you with a lot of options when it comes to texture...
all images by James Treble from his local Flooring Xtra store
TIMBER… where do you start? There are a range of options available from laminate to hybrid, to engineered timber, and each of them have different benefits. So, which one's right for your project?
LAMINATE flooring is a great option because it's so hard wearing and easy to maintain. The floorboards click together creating a floating floor and because the profile is so thin it's a perfect option for those of you renovating and covering existing floors, or maybe for your brand new home as well.
If you're after an easy to clean very adaptable timber look flooring, then HYBRID might be the right choice for you. It's a composite material that provides a 100% waterproof surface, meaning it's perfect to run into wet areas like kitchens. It's also super thin, meaning it's perfect for renovations where you might be covering existing floors or multiple floors, creating a unified look throughout your home.
ENGINEERED timber is a layer of 100% natural timber on to a ply backing, resulting in these beautiful wide boards that have the rich textural finish of natural timber in a wide range of pre-finished surfaces. Many of these can also be solid fixed, so, of course you need to check when you're in store which option might be right for your project.
Watch the video below to discover more ...
filmed at Flooring Xtra Sydney Inner West store
As you can see there is a lot to consider when selecting the right carpet or timber flooring option for your home, but I don't want you to feel overwhelmed, because you too can go into your nearest Flooring Xtra store, just like I do, and get the advice from the experts. Because one of their stores is located right near you, in fact they're located all around Australia.
James Treble has three decades of accumulated experience in the Building Industry, Real Estate and Interior Design and regularly shares his knowledge and experience in adding value to properties through effective design & styling. James is also an ambassador for Planet Ark and firmly believes in sensible purchasing, recycling and creative re-purposing. Watch his free videos on YouTube, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram for plenty of Design information. Most of James' knowledge is also accessible via Practical Design Online Course.
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