Make Your Flooring Flow

A sense of continuity throughout the home will always give a stunning effect, but how do you make your flooring flow?  If it sounds like a challenge, the good news is that it’s actually not.  Using complementary materials and colours will give that feeling of flowing from one room to another.

The benefits of creating flow with flooring

A house that has a visual flow between rooms feels curated and is visually stunning.  It is easy to end up with a patchwork effect over time but if you keep thinking of the house as a whole, you can create a feeling of continuity, and flooring is a big part of this.  Using two or three paint colours from the same family throughout the house will also achieve this, but if the flooring materials do not complement each other it will still give a jarring effect.  Our eyes are drawn quickly to things we see as disjointed or odd and this is same when moving through a house.

If you are renovating or moving into a new build, it is simple to create flow as you choose all the materials.  When it is a home that you have lived in for years, it may be that the flooring doesn’t flow, so bear in mind the house as a whole as it comes to replacing the flooring over the years.

Having a house that flows organically from room to room may also be advantageous if you are looking to sell in the future.  When a buyer walks into the house and the first impression is of a house that is beautifully decorated, rather than a patchwork, it’s a lot more likely that they will consider buying it.

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Can I use different materials in different areas?

Yes, absolutely – in fact, it’s best to use different materials in different areas as some will have higher foot traffic, or be more prone to moisture, and you want the flooring to be durable enough to withstand its environment.  When choosing flooring, you always want to pick the most appropriate material for the area.

For example, hardwood flooring is gorgeous but may not be durable enough for the kitchen area in a busy family home, but there are other materials such as LVT and engineered hardwood that look very similar and are more suited to heavy foot traffic.  Using this in the kitchen and hardwood elsewhere will still give a sense of flow as long as you pick from the same colour family.

If you are using the same material in a few rooms, you can still play around with patterns and textures to make the rooms different.  For example, style of natural stone and tile can be mixed together easily and different patterns in the kitchen to the laundry.  Just make sure that the undertones of the materials will blend together.

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What to consider

To create a flow through your home, you want to make the flooring as continuous as possible. Using the same flooring throughout a large open plan space is essential for this and also makes the space appear even bigger.  Area rugs in the same colour family are great for adding a cosy feel where necessary.

When it comes to wood flooring, have it all run the same way, especially in an open plan house.  Whilst there are of course exceptions, this will give the best sense of flow.

With carpet, it is a good idea (and easy) to use the same carpet from room to room to give you that sense of flow.  It is also easy to find a beautiful carpet that is durable enough for all rooms and still soft underfoot.

If you are using different flooring materials in different rooms, you can still make it flow with a smooth transition.  Choose materials with a low contrast to each other to keep the flooring consistent.  If the materials are of a different thickness, use level changes to bring them in, like steps, edging detail or doorways.

Keep the same colour family to ensure there are no visual jolts between rooms.  Use a colour wheel (there are many free online) to help with this.  Using the same flooring tones will make sure the rooms flow naturally into each other.  An easy way to do this is to stick with neutrals and use a lot of texture for visual interest.

For the transition to a newer part of the house, ie an extension, consider wood or wood effect flooring to a natural stone tile for a stunning effect.  Use shades that complement each other for a clean, flowing change.

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Whatever look you want to achieve in your home, we can help with all your flooring and carpet needs.  Contact us here to book a free estimate with our friendly and professional Herts Carpets team today!

 

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