What flooring sells? The selections experts make on Selling Houses Australia

When selling your home, the aim is to create broad appeal and not put anyone off with extreme design and décor. While this might seem boring, it’s all about setting the scene where potential buyers can imagine themselves moving in and making themselves at home- with their own furniture, art and accessories. If the colours existing are too bright, inconsistent throughout rooms or garish, they become distractions. It can also make rooms feel dark, cluttered or small.

This is where the neutral colour palette comes into play. And it doesn’t have to be dull! The key to a successful neutral colour palette is to include lots of various textures for warmth and interest. Wendy does this beautifully throughout every episode. Focusing on flow, light and consistency, she creates welcoming spaces through the use of warm, natural colours and finishes. They are appealing because they make the rooms feel bigger and brighter. In terms of flooring, this can mean lighter-coloured timbers like timber laminate flooring, natural rugs and soft carpets in neutral tones.

The Hobartville home was a great example of using a neutral palette to change the look and feel of a home. While Wendy changed the floor plan to feel less pokey, the new carpets within the bedrooms and stairwell (Soul Elements, Lake Malawi Creek Bend) refreshed the spaces. Working with a tight budget, the hard flooring was not replaced in the living spaces. A clever technique to create a lighter palette was to use the same neutral-style rug throughout several spaces. Harlow Ariel rug in Beige was used as a tool to create a lighter, consistent feel without having to replace flooring.

Up in the trees, the Hornsby Heights home was a mish-mash of styles, small rooms and an unappealing floor plan. After the plans were tweaked, Wendy was keen to lighten the spaces and take the focus outside to the spectacular views. Taking inspiration from nature, the palette was natural and earthy. Belleza Orsano Pumice carpet in the bedrooms was a practical and beautiful selection. The real hero was the new open-plan living and kitchen space that felt spacious and connected through the change of floor plan and simple palette. The versatile laminate will be flooring that the new homeowners will love for years to come. To finish the look, a jute rug (Atrium Natural Jute Polo) and Harlow Hunter in Natural were included to add depth.

• If you feel like you need new flooring when getting your home ready for sale, focus on what will appeal to a large audience. Lighter tones, warm palettes and practical finishes are always a good choice.
• It’s ok to just change some spaces if there is damage. Replacing carpet in the bedrooms is a great way to make something feel fresh and new, for example.
• Balancing a new look with a return on investment is always a tricky task. That’s where Flooring Xtra can help! Let them make some suggestions to fit within your budget.
• When preparing your home for sale, it’s probably not the time to take big risks in terms of the look and feel of your home- especially when it comes to larger investments like flooring or paint.
• Rugs are an excellent tool to help during your campaign if you don’t want to make changes. While you can’t cover a big hole in your floor, they can be helpful to lighten a space, zone an area or make it feel consistent or cosy. The plus side is- you can take the rugs with you when you’re done!

Selling Houses Australia provides entertaining viewing each season, but also valuable lessons in what to do (and not to do!) when selling your home. We love seeing how they use Flooring Xtra selections to elevate homes ready for selling. To learn more about the season, you can read everything here– including how to view the episodes on Foxtel.

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’s highly resistant to scratches, dents and stains, with the top layer, known as the wear layer, usually made of a aluminium oxide or melamine resin which enhances it’s durability.

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 a pet-friendly rug?

A pet-friendly rug is a must in a home with dogs and cats! Look for attributes such as washable features, anti-stain qualities and non-loop pile fibres (for pet paws to get caught in).