Flooring that wows

Although flooring should be both practical and hard-wearing, we also want it to have the wow factor.  There’s nothing like walking into a room and seeing beautiful hardwood flooring, or a stunning pattern.  Here’s our guide to flooring that will never fail to impress.

Gorgeous natural wood

You’re always guaranteed the wow factor with a hardwood floor.  This beautiful, warm flooring is an investment which will last you for a lifetime if you maintain it well.

Whether you want a traditional look or the on-trend parquet, hardwood adds both character and depth to any room.  Choosing the species and colour allows you to get the perfect look for your home.  Hardwood can be refinished up to seven times over its lifetime, which means you have the choice of altering it.  When you have it refinished, you can change the colour if you would like something different to fit in with a change in interior decor.

Not only is hardwood a stunning, durable investment, it is also easy to keep clean.  Hardwood floors even improve indoor air quality as they do not harbour allergens or dust.

If you buy sustainable wood, it is one of the best eco-friendly floors, as it is made from a natural material and has longevity.  You can also buy reclaimed wood to be ultra sustainable, as it is has been used and repurposed.  This tends to have real character, as it has a tight grain.

Another option is engineered hardwood, which is made with plywood and a top layer of solid wood.  It is a very stable type of wood flooring which conducts heat well and can be used with underfloor heating.

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Just as good as the real thing

If you don’t want to have hardwood in your house, or you want a lower cost alternative, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is a fantastic choice.

This stunning flooring is incredibly versatile and hard-wearing.  You can choose from a wide variety of design options from realistic stone or wood finishes (with the pattern of a wood grain), in herringbone, tile or plank formats.

LVT is slip and spill resistant, as well as scratch and water proof, making it an ideal option for busy family homes and bathrooms.  It has a strong core which makes it durable and long lasting.  Properly maintained, it should last up to twenty five years, giving great value for money.

Cleaning LVT is easy, as you can use warm water and liquid detergent.  It doesn’t warp so it can be left to dry with no issues.  This makes it easy to scrub clean and get rid of dust, dirt and allergens.

This is gorgeous flooring that is comfortable underfoot, keeps its beautiful finish and will stand up to family life over the years.

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How to do open plan flooring

With an open plan house, it’s usually best to use different types of flooring for each area according to how it will be used.  You can still have a great flow through the house, by choosing from the same colour family.

For example, you could have LVT or engineered hardwood in the kitchen for durability and hardwood in the hallway or study areas.  The lower the contrast, the less the change between flooring types will be noticeable.  It’s a good idea to use level changes such as steps to start a different type of flooring, especially if they are of varying thickness.

Bringing in some patterned LVT tiles in areas like the laundry allows you be even more individual.  Make sure the undertones match the other flooring and it will flow perfectly.  Natural stone tiles also provide a great contrast to wood flooring.

Flooring in neutral colours with plenty of texture is an easy way to make sure flooring in a open plan house both flows and looks amazing.

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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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Get cosy with carpet

You want your home to be cosy and welcoming, especially during a cold winter.  Carpet is perfect for that warm and inviting feel, plus it has many added advantages like its softness underfoot and natural insulating qualities.

Why choose carpet?

A plush, comfortable carpet can make all the difference to a room when the weather is chilly.  There’s nothing like a soft, cushioned feel underfoot on a winter day.

Wall to wall carpet, the most comfortable kind of flooring, has made a comeback recently and is much easier on the feet and joints thanks to its cushioning.  Whatever your budget, you can find a cosy carpet which looks gorgeous.

Having carpet keeps the room warmer as it is a great thermal insulator.  The room will warm up faster, with less energy than a hard wood floor, because carpet has a low density.  It can even help reduce your heating bills, as it traps and retains the warmth in the room.

Carpet also keeps your home quieter as it absorbs sound so well, ideal for not waking up the kids once you’ve finally got them to sleep!  It also gives a soft landing for any falls, especially on the stairs, which is great if you have young children or older people in your household.

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Which carpet is the cosiest?

Wool carpets are always a great choice for a cosy room, they are luxurious and indulgent.  They are soft underfoot, allowing you to go barefoot in the lounge or bedroom without feeling the cold.

This natural material is non-allergenic and actually improves the air quality by trapping dust particles in the air.  Although it can be more expensive than synthetic carpets, it is worth the investment as it is long lasting and durable.  Wool has natural flame resistance and energy efficiency, trapping the heat in the room to make it warmer.  Another advantage is that wool is eco-friendly as it is a sustainable material.

A more cost effective alternative to pure wool is a wool mix carpet.   Usually, this is a mix of 80% wool and 20% synthetic, which adds durability.

Synethic carpets can also be super soft, like those with polypropylene fibres.  These are great for family homes, where there is likely to be heavy foot traffic, but you still want that indulgent feel.  Robust and durable, they are easy to keep clean and retain their appearance well over the years.

Cut pile carpets are the softest, especially velvet (also known as plush) and freize.  This means that the loops of fibre attached to the carpet backing are cut at a length and/or angle rather than left intact, which is called looped pile.

Make sure you check the Tog rating, which is the thermal insulation, to get an idea of how warm the carpet will be.  Underlay also gives an extra layer of insulation and makes the carpet even softer underfoot.

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How to keep them at their best

Once you have your perfect carpet installed, you want to keep it looking and feeling like new.  Carpet is easy to maintain with regular vacuuming, at least once a week.  Make sure you have a vacuum cleaner with decent suction, so it has the power to suck dirt and dust out from the carpet fibres.  Use a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar and/or brushes for a cut pile carpet, but for a loop pile carpet, you need one without a beater bar or brush.

It’s also a good idea to have some clean cloths, white paper towels and stain remover to hand in case of any spills. The sooner you can deal with them, the less likely they are to stain (see here for our guide to dealing with stains).

Yearly professional cleaning will also help maintain your carpet, get rid of any germs and stains, and bring back that fresh feeling.

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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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How to tackle stubborn carpet stains

We all know that feeling when you spill food or drink on the carpet.  It’s usually the red wine and not the water that spills!  These things are inevitable though, so it’s best to be prepared.  If you need to tackle stubborn stains there are various methods you can try.

Plan for the worst!

Always keep a few things to hand so you can deal with any spills immediately.  Some clean cloths, or white paper towels (avoid patterned ones as the ink might stain the carpet) are always useful for soaking up liquids.  It’s a good idea to have a carpet cleaner and stain removers ready as well, so you can start dealing with the problem immediately.  Make sure any cleaner or remover is suitable for your carpet, especially if you have a wool one.

Alternatively, you can make your own carpet cleaner with a half and half mix of vinegar and water, with a small spoonful of baking soda. Spray over the spill until the area is damp.  Leave for ten minutes, then blot with a clean cloth.  You can repeat this as needed, then leave the carpet until it is completely dry.

As soon as an accident happens, blot the spill on the carpet.  Don’t rub it, as this can make it sink further into the carpet fibres.  If you are using shop bought cleaner, follow the instructions.

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Tackling stubborn stains

There will always be times when you can’t deal with a spill immediately, or you find a stain that you weren’t aware of.  You can try commercial cleaners, many of which are designed to tackle specific stains, or make your own solution.  The really difficult, stubborn stains like blood, ink and nail varnish may take some trial and error.  It’s a good idea to try any home-made solution on a small area of the stain first to see if it works, and to make sure it doesn’t damage your carpet.

Here are some things you can try for the most common household stains:

Coffee

It’s easy to spill coffee in that morning rush for caffeine.  Blot it as soon as you can with a clean cloth or white paper towel.  A solution of water and white vinegar (three cups of water to one of vinegar) with a tablespoon of washing up liquid may well get the discolouration out of the carpet.  Blot from the edge of the stain, moving towards the middle.

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Wine

Probably the most common of all the stains is wine, especially red wine.  For a home-made solution, you will need two cups of warm water, a tablespoon of washing up liquid and a tablespoon of white vinegar.  Blot the mixture onto the stain until it lifts.

Candle wax

If you have wax on your carpet, scrape up what you can first with the edge of a blunt knife.  Then place a clean white towel over the wax.  Set your iron to a low heat setting and iron over the towel.  This will melt the wax and it will be absorbed into the towel.  You may need to do it a few times in order to get rid of all the wax.

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Nail varnish

One of the most stubborn, and common, stains is nail varnish.  If it is still wet, blot it to get as much as you can off the carpet.  When it is dry, scrape with the edge of a blunt knife first to remove what you can, then apply a little nail varnish remover, but make sure it is an acetone free one.  Blot with a clean cloth after.

Bear in mind that it can take time and repeated efforts to get really stubborn stains out.

Top tips

There are plenty of tips online for dealing with stubborn stains.  They are easy to find with a simple Google search, or try Pinterest or Instagram cleaning pages.

Professional cleaning is always an option for stubborn stains.  It’s a good idea to do this annually anyway, to revive your carpets, kill germs and give your carpet that fresh smell and feel.

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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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