Simple ways to extend the life of your beautiful flooring at home

If you’re wanting to make changes at home, feel like a room is “missing” something, or if you’re after an affordable facelift (also if you’re renting!), rugs are an excellent option. They add depth and layering of texture, colour and sometimes pattern. They’re a relatively cheap way to add character to any room of the home. Selecting a rug can feel overwhelming and there are some great tips here. Start with a scan of Pinterest or Instagram to see what styles you’re drawn to and start from there. Choose the largest rug option for your space as a rug that is too small will always stand out. Try to think of what you would like the rug to “add”. Is it for warmth or comfort (something textured)? Is it to recreate a style you like (Bohemian rugs, Shag, Modern, kid friendly rugs etc.)? Make sure you care for your rug just as you do your flooring; it’s an investment after all!

Simple right? Having a house rule to leave shoes at the front door will help minimise the transfer of the outside (dirt, mud, dust etc.) to the inside. Tiny stones caught in the bottom of a shoe have the capacity to scratch or damage hard flooring. Dirt, mud and dust can cause havoc on carpet and rugs. Let’s not even start with stiletto heels! Place a nice shoe rack, basket or storage ottoman at the front door (as well as a stool, chair or somewhere to sit) to encourage the new policy.

Life happens, spills and marks happen, parties, kids and pets happen. Flooring is meant to be lived on, but there will be inevitable spills, marks, scuffs, wine spilt, dirt traipsed through and a muddy paw or two. Ensure you attend to the marks as soon as possible when this happens. Prompt care will make lifting stains and marks a lot more likely to be a success.

If you are looking to replace flooring in your home or if you’re building/ renovating, there are many considerations you should make beyond budget and aesthetics. Selecting the style, material, and even colour of your new flooring should reflect the purpose of the space. Who will be using the area? Will it be in a high-traffic area? Is it in a rental or holiday home? Choosing hard or soft flooring to suit the answers to the above questions and more will help prolong the life of your flooring, which is a win for the earth and your wallet! There are some handy advice for starting your new floor journey here.

How to clean hybrid flooring

Hybrid flooring, like all flooring, requires maintenance to ensure it lasts for years to come. Residual grit, sand and dirt can lead to wear on hard flooring or stains on carpet. Ensure the floors are regularly swept or vacuumed and try to encourage a “shoe-free” home to minimise the transference of the outdoors in on shoes! 

How to clean laminate floors?

Laminate floors, like all hard flooring, should be frequently vacuumed or swept to remove dirt or grit to minimise scratching or wear. It’s also important to clean up any spills as quickly as possible. 

How should you care for your engineered boards?

All flooring requires some level of maintenance and care to ensure it’s longevity. Regular sweeping or vacuuming to remove grit and sand means it’s less likely to scratch flooring. Encourage a “shoes off” mantra at home to avoid traipsing in dirt. There are some great hard flooring care tips on our website.