See before you buy! The benefits of using our Room Visualiser to help choose your new flooring.

The Flooring Xtra Room Visualiser is a tool that can be accessed on the website. It allows you to upload an image of your room (or a room image from our gallery) and view different types of flooring within your own space. You can compare different styles of flooring or even different colours or timber stains. This is a helpful option for customers who are having difficulty choosing between colours or are just curious to see what a particular product might look like in their very own home. The products available to view range from hard flooring to carpet. Imagine if you have only ever lived with timber flooring in your bedroom, for example, and you’re thinking of getting wool carpet installed- this is the perfect opportunity to help you visualise what it might look like!

Do you have lots of ideas? Love the idea of a modern farmhouse? Or was it Hamptons style? Or was it New York loft inspired? You are not alone, particularly in a time of inspiration being at the fingertips of everyone, all the time. The Room Visualiser is handy to narrow ideas down without bringing millions of samples into your home. Test our ideas with no commitment and narrow down your choices before testing physical samples.

There are real benefits to seeing your ideas within the intended space. Sometimes with the abundance of inspiration we think something might work well- that in reality would look very different. For example, you might be interested to see what dark flooring might look like in your home, after seeing beautiful images on Pinterest. The Room Visualiser might tell a different story, making the space look too dramatic for your taste, or contrast too much to the existing fittings or finishes. On the other hand- you might find it’s perfect and you’re one step closer to finalising your decision!

Visualisation tools are just one way to help make your selection and, of course, aesthetics are not the only driving factor in your decision making. Budget, practicality, ease of maintenance or suitability will also be important elements to consider. Do you have pets? A young family? Is your property a rental? Do you want to make your home warmer? Do you have allergies? Are you on a tight budget? Narrowing down your choices will come with big questions and your local Flooring Xtra experts are here to help set you on the right product path.

The Room Visualiser will be very helpful when you’re making decisions with other people. Often one person in a relationship will be very visual and able to imagine what a material or space will look like whereas the other person may need prompts to spark their imagination. This way you can compare and share ideas with others, your family, your designer or your friends.

Our tool is quite simple to use and only requires three simple steps. Head to the Flooring Xtra home page and launch the Room Visualiser. Either upload in image or your room or choose one from our gallery that best matches your space. Start playing with different products and styles to reimagine your home! There are some helpful tips on the website to ensure you get the best results from the visualiser.

Flooring samples are an important step in the selection process and we suggest seeing physical representations of your selections within your actual home as they can appear differently to what’s on the screen. We recommend viewing your samples in the following spots around your home to help you choose with confidence and ensure they suit your unique lighting and decor:

• Near an external doorway where natural light flows in as this gives a true sense of colour and texture.
• Beneath a table or chair leg to see how the sample pairs with your timber tones.
• Next to a skirting board or painted wall to check how the finish complements the surrounding surfaces.
• In a hallway with wall lighting. This type of lighting tends to cast strong shadows and can change how colours appear.
• Beside your current flooring to see whether patterns or textures blend well.
• Draped over stairs so you can observe how light and shadow from the riser affect the tread.
• Under full-length curtains to assess how the fabric’s texture and pattern interact with the sample.
• Directly under mixed lighting—incandescent, halogen, and fluorescent—so you can see how different light types affect the sample.

What is a hybrid flooring?

Hybrid flooring combines the attributes of vinyl and laminate flooring. It features the rigidity of laminate flooring (meaning it can be installed in a floating system) and the wear layer performance characteristics of vinyl planks (very resilient!). It’s a great option for busy family homes.

Is laminate flooring professionally installed?

Flooring is best installed by professionals who are highly skilled and experienced. They have all the necessary equipment and are there to troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

What is the best type of carpet for a home?

Choosing new carpet for your home is a big decision and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every home and family are different. Do you have pets? Small children? Is your home a holiday rental? Each carpet fibre and structure lends itself to a different look and budget and you can read more about them all in our Carpet Guide.