How flooring can make your home look and feel more spacious

There are several factors that influence how we perceive the size of a space and light is a major factor. Darker floors draw our eyes down, defining the boundaries of a room, and influencing the viewer’s perception of the room’s width and depth. With this in mind, steer towards lighter tones when selecting both hard and carpet which will reflect rather than absorb the natural light. We have compiled an in-depth analysis of the subject of Dark flooring vs light on the blog!

With recent technological advancements, the same flooring can run through the whole home, including in wet areas. When installing a water-resistant product, the seamless look and feel of the floors create a flow, without the changing of materials which generally occurs. The eye glides through the rooms without a visual stoppage. Water-resistant products are practical, perfect for homes with pets and kids and are a beautiful option for a busy house!

The direction the flooring is installed will play a role in how big or small the space will appear. As a general rule of thumb, laying hard flooring boards parallel to the longest wall will help. Installing floorboards this way also draws the eye along and can be similarly achieved with herringbone patterns that are inherently directional in design.

Design features of the floor plan may impact your decision here, of course. If you consider a hallway the flooring will generally run lengthways, in turn, this may impact how the rest of the flooring is installed.

The actual size of a timber flooring or timber-look board (products such as hybrid timber flooring, vinyl and laminate flooring) influences the feeling of space too. Larger boards look fantastic, particularly in contemporary homes blessed with space, or that is open plan in style. If space is not at a premium, wide boards can help visually. The wide boards will create less of a distraction with minimal lines and seams- the fewer joins, the bigger the room will feel.

The addition of floor rugs in the home brings warmth and interest, depending on colours, textures and patterns that are chosen. It’s very important to choose the correct size of rug to ensure that small spaces don’t feel compromised. As a guide, the rug should be larger than the furniture it’s placed under. For example, in a living space, the rug should be longer than the sofa and preferably have at least the front two legs of the sofa sitting on top of it. Make sure you can still see some of the flooring between the rug and the wall!

Consider a few design details. Selecting a rug that is similar to the floor colour (for example, a neutral warm rug with warm-toned hard flooring) will be more of a layer rather than a focal point. This also rings true with the texture and pattern. Opt for subtle patterns or no pattern at all and a lower pile style for minimal visual impact. At the end of the day, a rug helps a room feel cosy- so if space is very tight, it may be best to do without it at all.

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 polypropene carpet are also resilient.

Is vinyl flooring good for a kitchen?

Vinyl flooring installed in a kitchen is a great option. It’s durable and easy to clean and some products are also water resistant. Perfect for busy family homes!

What is laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring is constructed from several layers to create the appearance of timber or stone. Laminate floors utilise cutting-edge photographic technology to simulate the grain, stain and texture of wood at a fraction of the price. It is highly resistant to scratches, dents and stains, with the top layer, known as the wear layer, usually made of an aluminium oxide or melamine resin which enhances its durability.

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.