5 Small Space Solutions for Carpet and Flooring

Lighter colours generally make a room feel bigger than it is. Think lighter grey, beige, brown and muted colours for carpet and lighter stain timber or timber-look flooring. With this said, big and bright is not what everyone is looking for with their interior design scheme. If you’re seeking cosy and intimate, dark and rich colours will work a treat.

Rugs are a floors best friend. They protect the flooring in high-traffic areas and add a layer of colour, pattern and texture where spaces need it most. If you’re wanting the room not to feel pokey, gravitate to styles that have a flatter pile and are an appropriate size. Having a rug “float” in a room tends to look out of place so while it may seem counterintuitive, go bigger. Anchor the rug under some or all of the furniture legs. Lighter colours and subtler pattern and texture will work too.

To maximise the illusion of space, lay the floorboards in the direction of the longest length so the eye follows this line. There are two schools of thought when it comes to the board width. In terms of scale, it makes sense to go for a narrower board- however- a wider board will have fewer lines, therefore less to “busy” the space. The best way to select board width is to be guided by style (but even here there are no firm rules). If your home is contemporary, a larger board will look fantastic. If you live in a smaller period home or apartment, narrower boards can look a treat.

While the flooring is important to consider individually, also think about the flooring placed on top and how it will be positioned. For example, slightly elevated furniture, such as a sofa that has legs rather than a solid base to the floor, will give a lofty, airy feel. Furniture which is also created from materials that are translucent or slightly reflective is helpful too. Being able to see through, under or around the furniture impacts the perception of space and size- and it also means seeing more of that beautiful flooring underneath!

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.