5 Small Space Solutions for Carpet and Flooring for 2025

The material you choose for your flooring has a significant impact on the perception of space. Generally, smoother and harder surfaces create the illusion of a larger room by reflecting more light. Hard flooring options like timber flooring, vinyl flooring, hybrid flooring, and laminate flooring are excellent choices for small spaces. These materials not only enhance the aesthetic appeal but also make the room feel more expansive by bouncing light around.

This isn’t to say that carpets or rugs are off-limits. If you love the comfort and warmth of carpet, consider low-pile options, which are less likely to absorb light and will help maintain an open feel. Similarly, if you’re incorporating rugs, opt for designs that complement your flooring material and use light-reflective colours.

Colour plays a crucial role in making a small room feel larger. Lighter hues like soft greys, beiges, and muted browns work wonderfully for both carpets and hard flooring. For instance, light-stained timber flooring or timber-look vinyl flooring can create a bright and airy feel, ideal for small spaces.

However, not everyone prefers a bright, expansive look. If you want a cosy, intimate atmosphere, deeper colours and richer tones can create warmth and character. Just ensure that your darker floors are paired with lighter walls or decor to avoid the room feeling closed in.

The right rug can be your small space’s best friend. Rugs add a touch of personality, protect flooring in high-traffic areas, and provide an additional layer of texture and colour. When selecting a rug for a small room, keep these tips in mind:

• Size Matters: A large rug can make a room feel more cohesive. Let it anchor your furniture by placing it partially under sofas, tables, or chairs. Avoid small rugs that “float” in the middle of a space, as they can make the area feel disjointed.
• Pile Height: Choose flatter, low-pile rugs for a cleaner and more streamlined look.
• Colours and Patterns: Opt for lighter colours and subtle patterns to maintain the illusion of openness. Modern rugs with simple designs can add style without overwhelming the room.

If you’re installing floorboards, consider their size and how they’re laid. These factors can greatly influence the perception of space:

• Direction: Lay floorboards along the longest dimension of the room to draw the eye and make the space feel larger.
• Board Width: While narrower boards are more in proportion to smaller rooms, wider boards have fewer lines, which can create a less cluttered appearance. Your choice should align with the overall style of your home. For instance, hybrid flooring or laminate flooring in wider planks looks stunning in contemporary homes, while narrower planks suit period-style apartments.

The relationship between your flooring and furniture is crucial for creating the perception of space. Choosing the right furniture style can complement your flooring and enhance the openness of the room:

• Elevated Furniture: Opt for sofas, chairs, and tables with legs rather than solid bases. This creates an airy feel and allows more of your beautiful flooring—be it timber, vinyl, or laminate flooring—to remain visible.
• Reflective and Transparent Materials: Incorporate furniture with glass, acrylic, or other translucent materials. These elements visually “disappear,” making the room feel less crowded.
• Colour Coordination: Ensure that your furniture complements your flooring and rugs. Neutral-toned furniture paired with large rugs in coordinating colours can create a harmonious look.

• Consistency Across Rooms: Using the same flooring material throughout your home helps create a seamless flow, making the entire space feel larger and more cohesive.
• Strategic Lighting: Pair your flooring choices with strategic lighting to enhance their effect. Well-placed lamps and overhead lighting can emphasise the reflective properties of hard flooring or highlight the textures of rugs and carpets.
• Declutter: The less visual clutter in a room, the larger it will feel. Choose multipurpose furniture and keep decor minimal to let your flooring and rugs shine.

What type of flooring is easiest to maintain?

All flooring requires some level of maintenance to ensure it will look good for a long time. All carpet and hard flooring should be swept or vacuumed regularly to remove grit and dirt from the surface (which can lead to scratches and marks). Laminate and vinyl floors are excellent low-maintenance hard flooring options while solution dyed nylon and polypropylene carpet are also resilient.

What are the benefits of a professional flooring installer?

Deciding what new flooring you will install at home is a big deal! There is a lot to consider and it’s an investment which is why it’s important to get the installation done by the professionals- they know what they are doing and are incredibly knowledgable. They have all the right tools, they can problem solve, drawing on years of experience and get things done promptly. Each Flooring Xtra store has its own professional installers so you can relax while the experts get the job done!

Where can I buy carpet?

Flooring Xtra have a wide range of carpets across varying price, fibre and style categories, with stores conveniently located Australia-wide! To find your nearest Flooring Xtra store you can use our Store Finder.

Disclaimer: In some states of Australia, the building regulations for Vinyl Planks, Vinyl Tiles and Hybrid flooring varies. Meaning they may not be suitable for areas requiring water resistance, such as bathrooms and toilets. We advise to always ask your local Flooring Xtra store for the correct advice regarding the local regulations. We also advise to follow the manufacturer’s recommended installation instructions and guidelines, not following the instructions could make the product not fit for purpose, for the area it’s being installed into and void your product warranty. To ensure you get the appropriate product for those areas, please contact your local Flooring Xtra store.