Nothing brings warmth into the design of our homes quite like timber and when it comes to flooring this is one solution that suits any design direction, from classic to contemporary. With so many timber flooring options on the market, however, the common question I get from my design students is: how do you choose the right timber type for the flooring?
Looks aside, I start first with the amount of traffic that the floor will receive, like is it a hallway or a bedroom? Are there children in the household, or pets? These kinds of issues can all help influence which type of flooring is the most appropriate choice. The function of the room is also very important. Busy kitchens for example may deal with continuous spillages of water, and will require a high performing product, and whilst solid and engineered timber can work perfectly well in almost every room of our homes, new water-resistant options allow us to enjoy the stunning looks of timber also into kitchens, laundries and bathrooms.
When it comes to timber flooring and carpet solutions, one brand that I have successfully collaborated with many times, and always recommend for their quality, extensive range and customer service is Flooring Xtra. Following my social media channels, you have surely seen many projects where I have added timber as the choice of flooring in open living areas and right into the kitchen as well. The Hinterland range, for example, is the perfect product for any space which is subject to water spillages as well as intense traffic and wear. This is in fact 100% waterproof, more durable than timber and easy to lay even right on top of most existing floors. And as you can see it’s beautifully textured and great to touch too.
Of course, Flooring Xtra stores have an expansive range of carpets too. Once again, my tip when looking for the product that perfectly suits your needs is to have clear in mind the activities and amount of traffic that each room will have to cope with. Children’s bedroom floor, main living areas, stairs and corridors are all subject to different amounts of traffic and knowing this allows the expert salesperson to offer a selection of products to suit. One of my favourites is the Tromso range of carpet, an incredible undyed wool product which offers a natural slightly irregular texture as well as a range of warm and perfectly on-trend colours, which I have used and recommended many times.
One important element of carpet flooring not to take lightly is the underlay. Although it’s not visible, selecting a high quality, high performing product here will not only help with insulation and make walking around more comfortable, but will add durability to your carpet. Flooring Xtra stocks the 100% recyclable Dunlop underlay, created with Planet Ark’s support, this is one material I recommend above any other underlay.
To peruse the extensive range of solid timber, timber-looks and carpet options for your flooring, I strongly recommend visiting flooringxtra.com.au where the many options are available to see and learn about. You can also download their catalogue and be inspired by the many beautiful images in there. Ultimately, nothing beats visiting one of Flooring Xtra many showrooms where you can touch and feel each of their vast range of products. There, with the advice of the caring expert salespeople, I have no doubt you will choose a product that truly suits your needs.
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James Treble is an ambassador for Planet Ark and firmly believes in sensible purchasing, recycling and creative re-purposing. James 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. Watch his free videos on YouTube, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram for more free information. More of James' knowledge is now accessible via Practical Design Online Course.
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