How to Choose a Carpet for Your Bedroom

Your bedroom should feel cosy, tranquil, and inviting each time you step inside, helping to melt all stresses away. Carpet is an ideal way to create a soft, comfortable, and stylish environment, as it can tie your interior design together while providing luxury and warmth underfoot.

Yet, you might wonder about the best pile and colour for developing a serene, welcoming space. Read the following advice on how to choose a carpet for your bedroom.

Select a Hile Pile Carpet for Unrivalled Softness

Everyone wants to sink their bare toes into a soft, snug carpet when climbing out of bed each morning. Consider adding a high-pile carpet to your bedroom if this is a must-have.

Wool is a superb option, as it is crafted from natural fabric and oozes softness and luxury day after day. However, contemporary synthetic carpets can feel just as sumptuous but are more durable throughout the years, as they may withstand moderate to high foot traffic. Consider a chunky carpet with mixed cut and loop piles and a variable pile height.

Choose a Versatile or Contrasting Colour

The carpet colour you choose should complement your taste, interior colour palette, and bedroom’s textural elements. Select a hue that works in harmony with your wallpaper and/or paint, bedding, furniture style, and window treatments.

The beauty of carpet is that it has the power to unite interior design choices or add a splash of contrast for a bolder aesthetic. For instance, a black carpet could stylishly clash with all-white walls, pulling the eye toward your plush flooring.

However, if you want to create a versatile space to complement various interior design changes over the years, you cannot go wrong with neutral hues, such as cream, grey, or beige. It will allow you to change your décor without hassle.

Consider Your Bedroom’s Lighting

Your bedroom’s lighting should determine the carpet colour you pick. Similar to paint and wallpaper, a room’s lighting can determine your flooring’s appearance. For instance, if you are lucky enough to enjoy lots of natural light in your room during the day, you will not regret installing a cream or grey carpet.

However, if your room is on the darker side, opt for a darker shade for a warm and welcoming environment. If in doubt, talk to our helpful team for advice or request to take a sample home with you to see how different options will appear in your bedroom.

Visit Our Carpet Shop for Advice

At A Flooring Boutique, we understand you might need to browse various carpet samples to find the right colour and pile for your bedroom’s interior design. For this reason, you shouldn’t hesitate to visit our carpet shop in Balham to pick the perfect flooring for your home. Our friendly staff are more than happy to answer questions and provide information to help you make an informed choice. Once you have made your decision, we will organise for a skilled carpet fitter to professionally lay down your chosen flooring to match your bedroom’s size and shape.

A Fresh Space: How to Keep Your Carpet Clean in Spring

As spring days become a little longer and sunnier, you might find you and your family spending more time outdoors. As good as a little fresh air is for the soul, ample time outdoors could cause damage to your carpet you’ll want to avoid.

A high-quality carpet deserves routine TLC, and we have just the tips to help you care for it throughout the sunnier seasons. Keep your home fresh by reading the following tips on how to keep your carpet clean in spring.

Remove Shoes at the Front Door

As you and your loved ones might spend more time outdoors when the sun starts to shine, now might be the perfect time to introduce a new house rule of removing shoes at the front door.

Also, place a shoe rack in your hallway to encourage your partner, kids, or visitors to slip off their footwear when stepping indoors.

Keep your socks on whenever possible, as bare feet could spread dust, dirt, and debris across your flooring.

Lay Down a Welcome Mat

Even if you establish a no-shoes rule in the home this spring or summer, your other half, children, or guests might enter the house before slipping their footwear off their feet.

For this reason, lay down a welcome mat to catch dirt, debris, and moisture while giving people a safe place to stand when removing their shoes.

Choose a design that harmonises with a plush carpet to add an extra layer of texture, colour, and personality to your interior design.

Vacuum Regularly to Combat Pet Shedding

Dogs and cats famously shed their winter coats in spring to prepare for warmer temperatures from March to August.

Keep your home looking and smelling fresh and fragrant by vacuuming your carpet regularly, as it will help you say goodbye to excess fur, odours, and pet stains.

Even if you don’t own a pet, you must vacuum often to banish allergens, dust mites, and dirt from your carpet fibres, helping to retain its aesthetic appeal day after day.

Blot Any Stains

If you or a loved one walks dirt into your home or causes an unwanted stain or spillage, you must clean it right away.

However, if you rub at it too vigorously, you might remove the mark but destroy the pile and, in turn, your interior design.

Keep your carpet clean and fresh by blotting at a stain, as it is gentler to the fabric and will prevent unnecessary spreading.

Change Your Carpet

A brand-new carpet could help you freshen up your beautiful home this spring.

Our Balham carpet fitters can replace your current flooring with a plush carpet that will create a soft, inviting, and stylish environment.

Every type of carpet you could want is available from us, from calming neutrals for a flexible aesthetic to vivid patterns for an extra splash of colour and personality.

Also, you can choose from various blends to complement your taste, such as shag pile, plush velvet, or deep-textured frieze. Call our friendly, helpful Balham team today at 0208 673 9900 to organise a carpet installation, or feel free to visit us in-store.

5 Ways To Keep Your Newly Fitted Carpet Looking Brand New

Have you recently had a carpet fitted and want to keep it looking its best for as long as possible?

At A Flooring Boutique, our team are trained in fitting carpets, but we know that once the carpet is down, you will want to keep it looking as good as new to help keep your home looking clean and cared for.

Here, we will walk you through our top tips for keeping that new carpet feeling for as long as possible. Enjoy!

Lose The Shoes!

Our London carpet suppliers at A Flooring Boutique always advise our customers that if they want to keep their carpets looking brand new and smelling great, then they need to lose the shoes!

Even if your shoes are clean, they can track in trace amounts of dirt that can build up and cause discolouration. So, if you want to keep your carpet spick and span, make sure everyone takes their shoes off at the door!

Baking Soda

Sprinkling baking soda onto your carpet can help you to keep it looking and smelling fresh and new for longer.

Many carpets accumulate water, particularly in humid climates, which can heighten the susceptibility of the fibres to trapping dirt and grime. By sprinkling a light coating of baking soda onto your carpets, you can trap that moisture and give a fresh smell to your home while also keeping your carpet’s colours vibrant.

Get a High-Quality Hoover

Even if you don’t wear shoes over your carpets, they will still trap dirt in the fibres. So, to keep your newly fitted carpet looking amazing, you must invest in a Hoover with immense suction power. This will help remove loose dirt and prevent the accumulation of dust and fluff in the carpet, which can heighten allergies. Also, if you have pets, we recommend getting a hoover that is designed to suck up pet hair, as many of the cheaper brands cannot handle kitty or dog hair without overheating!

Steam Clean

Steam cleaners are a must-have if you have a heavily carpeted home. Also, if you have pets in your home, you may find that a steam clean once a month will help to keep fleas and stains at bay!

Steam cleaners do require a bit of care to prevent scalding, so make sure you carefully clean each room in sections to ensure the carpet gets a deep clean. We recommend steam cleaning your carpet, followed by a brisk vacuum to help remove the dirt the steam has pulled onto the carpet surface. This will keep the carpet looking clean and brand new!

Deep Clean Twice a Year!

Nope, a deep, professional clean is not only for carpets that are of a lighter colour!

Many people are surprised to learn that even if they have a deeper coloured carpet, it can show signs of dirt accumulation, which can make it look old and worn. So, to keep all the carpets in your home looking fresh and new, we recommend hiring a professional carpet cleaner. Many of these devices can be rented and also come with a water vacuum to prevent the carpet from becoming sodden. This will brighten the carpet and keep your home smelling great!

Should You Fit a Carpet Yourself? Pros of Professional Carpet Fitting

It is an arduous task. Trying to find the perfect carpet to match your décor or style.

 

Carpets have many pros, such as retaining heat, being more comfortable to walk on, and even preventing accidents. That is, of course, provided they are fitted correctly, which is often only guaranteed if a professional fits them. 

 

So, if you have found the perfect maroon carpet to match your living or bedroom, is it worth spending extra money on a professional fit? Yes, it is, and here are five reasons why from our team at A Flooring Boutique!

 

Precision Fit

There are few, if any, rooms in the modern home that are a perfect square. Even if they are, that doesn’t mean that fitting them with a carpet will be easy!

 

The best reason to hire a professional carpet fitter is because they can customise the carpet to fit any room. London carpet fitters will usually come to the home to assess the room shape and the tools they need to get the carpet to fit perfectly. Yes, different room shapes and carpet types need different tools; you won’t be able to do that kind of precise work with a Stanley knife and a how-to guide online!

 

No Mistakes

You’ve spent weeks planning the décor of the room, and at last, the carpet has been delivered. The last thing you want is for it to become shredded due to a craft knife or incorrect cutting technique!

 

When you hire a professional to fit your carpet, the mistake rate drops to zero (in most cases!), and you will be left with a great-looking, seam-free carpet that has been fitted to the shape of the room. 

 

Warranty

If you buy a carpet to fit it by yourself, if you do not fit it as you need to, you may void the warranty of the carpet and spend a fortune having to purchase more carpeting materials. If you hire professional carpet fitters, any errors on their part will not void the warranty of the carpet and will save you money should you need to get more carpet delivered to your home.

 

Increased House Value

Yes, if you are looking to sell your home in the future or you are planning to rent it out, you will want to have any carpets fitted by a professional. 

 

Even though it may not seem like something that can be spotted, estate agents and letting agents can spot when a carpet has not been fitted by a professional and may decrease the value of your home or its rental value, so while it may be an additional cost in the short-term, long-term, opting for a professional fitting can earn you more money!

 

Time-Saving

Most people think that with the use of YouTube and a bit of hard work, they can master any skill set and end up with professional-looking results. 

 

Sadly, that’s not the case! Hiring a professional fitter will save you a lot of time, and, of course, the job will be completed quickly, giving you a professional addition to your home.

 

So, if you want a gorgeous fit to your home’s carpet, call our team at A Flooring Boutique today!

Cosy Carpet Trends for Winter

As winter gets into full swing and the temperature drops, your home becomes a refuge from the chilly outdoor weather. It’s important to create a warm and inviting space to fight off the winter blues, and one of the most effective ways to achieve this is through the right carpet choices. Our carpet specialists have put together the cosy carpet trends for winter that will transform your home into a snug haven.

Luxurious Textures

Winter is the ideal time to indulge in the luxurious comfort of plush carpets. Imagine sinking your toes into soft, velvety fibres as you step out of bed on a cold winter morning. Carpets with deep piles and thick textures not only add warmth to your space but also create a sense of opulence. Go for neutral tones like deep greys, rich browns, and warm creams to enhance the feeling of luxury in your home. You will find a great range of textures and colours at our carpet shop. If you are unsure which carpets are right for your space, then our London carpet fitters and specialists will be more than happy to guide you.

Warm and Earthy Tones

Winter often brings a monochromatic landscape outside, so why not infuse your home with the warmth of earthy tones? Consider carpets in shades of terracotta, olive green, or warm burgundy to evoke the cosiness of nature. These colours not only create a visually appealing space but also make it feel connected to the natural world, even when it’s cold and frosty outside.

Nordic Inspiration

The Nordic concept of hygge, centred around cosiness and contentment, is a perfect fit for winter interior design. Bring the hygge spirit into your home with carpets featuring Nordic-inspired patterns and designs. Think about classic geometric shapes, simple lines, and neutral colour palettes. These carpets add a touch of Scandinavian charm and create a serene and comfortable atmosphere.

Layered Rugs

Create an extra layer of warmth by incorporating multiple rugs throughout your home. Mix and match contrasting textures and patterns to add visual interest while providing additional insulation against the cold floors. Layering rugs not only enhances the cosy feel of your space but also allows for easy customisation, letting you switch up the look as the season progresses.

Eco-Friendly Options

In today’s world, the importance of sustainability cannot be overstated. Winter is an excellent time to make environmentally conscious choices, and that includes your carpet selection. Opt for eco-friendly materials like recycled fibres or natural wool. Not only are these options kinder to the planet, but they also contribute to a healthier indoor environment, making your home a safe and sustainable sanctuary.

Moody Hues

Contrary to the belief that winter demands light colours, the season is also an opportunity to embrace dark and moody hues. Deep blues, charcoal greys, and forest greens can add a touch of drama to your space. These colours create a sense of intimacy and sophistication, making your home feel like a luxurious and cosy safe space from the winter chill.

A Guide To Winter-Proofing Your Carpets

In winter, people tend to spend more time at home. However, with the drop in temperature, comes the challenge of protecting your carpets from the elements. The last thing you want to do is bring the cold and wet outside conditions in. So, winter-proofing your carpets keeps them looking good and also ensures that they last longer. Here are some practical tips and tricks to keep carpets spotless throughout winter.

Invest in Quality Doormats

The first line of defence against winter’s attack on your carpets is a high-quality doormat. Place durable, absorbent mats at all entry points to capture moisture, dirt, and salt before they reach your carpet. This simple yet effective step prevents these elements from being tracked through your home, preserving the cleanliness and integrity of your carpets.

Create a Shoe-Free Zone

Implementing a shoe-free policy inside your home during the winter can significantly reduce the amount of dirt and moisture brought in from the outside. Put aside a specific area near the entrance for shoes and provide comfy slippers for your family and guests to slip into. This will keep your carpets cleaner and can add a touch of warmth and comfort to your winter routine.

Regular Vacuuming is Key

Regular vacuuming is crucial for maintaining the health and appearance of your carpets, especially during the winter months. Dry winter air tends to make carpets more prone to static, which attracts dirt and dust. Aim to vacuum high-traffic areas at least twice a week if you can to pick up any debris and remove allergens.

Use Area Rugs Strategically

Strategically placing area rugs in high-traffic areas, such as hallways and entryways, provides additional protection for your carpets. Rugs add a decorative element to your home and act as barriers, preventing dirt and moisture from reaching the underlying carpet fibres.

Tackle Stains Promptly

Our London carpet suppliers know only too well that winter brings an array of challenging stains, from mud and salt to hot chocolate spills. Deal with stains quickly to prevent them from setting in. Carefully blot the affected area with a clean, dry cloth or paper towel, and then treat it with a carpet stain remover that is safe for your specific carpet type. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for stain removal to avoid damaging the carpet fibres.

Control Indoor Humidity

Maintaining the right indoor humidity level is crucial for protecting your carpets during winter. Dry air can lead to static electricity, making your carpets more susceptible to attracting dirt and dust. Consider using a humidifier to keep the humidity level between 30-50%, preventing static buildup and preserving the condition of your carpets.

Professional Cleaning

While regular maintenance is essential, scheduling professional carpet cleaning at least once a year is equally important, especially before the winter season. Professional cleaners use specialised equipment and cleaning solutions to deep clean and rejuvenate your carpets, removing accumulated dirt, stains, and allergens.

If you need further advice on keeping your carpets in tip-top shape this winter, don’t hesitate to contact our carpet experts in-store.

How To Choose The Right Colour Carpet For Your Home

If you’ve decided to have carpeting in your home, you’ve made a good choice – it’s a gorgeous way to improve your interior design, and it’s practical for all kinds of reasons, too. However, there is one problem (although it’s a good problem to have): there are so many colours and variations on shades that it can be hard to find the perfect one for your home.

It’s a big decision, no matter how much floorspace you’re covering, and the last thing you want to do is get it wrong because you’ll have to look at it for years to come and not be one hundred percent happy. With that in mind, here are some of the things to consider when you’re choosing the right colour carpet for your home.

What Room?

The first thing to do when you’re choosing the right colour carpet is to think about what the room is used for. Different rooms need different looks and they also have different practical things to think about (like how much mess might be made in them), and that can all have a bearing on the colour of carpet you pick in the end.

A living room or a bedroom might need to be warm and inviting, for example, so slightly darker and natural tones are a good idea. A home office, however, might need to be lighter and more calming, so pastel colours might be a better choice. If you’re installing a carpet in a playroom or child’s bedroom, you might decide that bright colours are the order of the day. That’s why the room itself needs to be thought about before you make a final choice.

Lighting Is Important

The lighting you have in a room will also make a big difference to the carpet colour that might work there. Lighting can actually change how a carpet looks, so the colour you choose initially might not look the same when it’s installed. One way you can solve this issue is to speak to expert London carpet suppliers who have plenty of knowledge and experience and who’ll be able to give you an idea of whether or not that will happen and what the shade might become in different lighting.

To get you started on the right track, rooms with a lot of natural sunlight can have lighter colours like grey, cream, or pale pastels, for example, but rooms with less natural light could have darker colours to make it feel cosier.

Think About Maintenance

Carpet colour isn’t just about how the carpet looks and what colours you like (although that does have to come into it); it’s also worth thinking about how you’re going to keep the carpet clean and maintain it, and the colour can make a difference with that.

In high-traffic areas like hallways and stairs, it might be a good practical move to choose darker colours (and the same is true if you have pets who often have dirty feet), whereas in rooms that don’t get much foot traffic, like a bedroom, you can have something lighter. It will show stains more easily, but there’s less chance of those stains happening in the first place.

Why Stair Runners Are A Good Choice

If you’re looking for a quick but beautiful way to improve your interior, something that can have a fantastic impact (but that you might not have considered immediately) is working on your staircase. After all, it’s something you use every day – guests will as well – and, depending on where it’s situated, it’s also something you’ll see as you move around your home. Why not make it a stunning thing to look at and use at the same time?

One way to really boost the aesthetic appeal of your stairs is to install a stair runner rather than standard carpeting. There are a number of reasons why that could be a good idea, so keep reading to find out what some of them are.

Safety
Safety has to be a big priority in any home, perhaps especially if you have children or older people living there, and your stairs can be a hazard if they’re not properly looked after due to the risk of slips, trips, and falls.

When you have professional London carpet fitters install a stair runner, you’ll add some traction and stability to the area, and it’ll instantly become a lot safer, especially compared to wooden stairs, which can be extremely slippery.

Protection
Your stairs go through a lot of use in their lives, and they’ll naturally acquire wear and tear from the heavy foot traffic they get. In the end, after a few years, your stairs are going to be covered in scuffs, scratches, dents, and even stains.

Adding a stair runner over the top of your stairs gives them an extra layer of protection and really acts as a protective barrier against all those potential accidents and damage. Plus, because you’ll still be able to see the actual stair on either side of the runner, you won’t have to completely do away with the original look you had.

Style
Perhaps one of the most important things to think about when you’re making any changes to your interior at all is how it’s going to look – you’ll want your home to be beautiful and stylish, no matter what you’re updating or upgrading, and your stairs are no exception.

That’s another reason why choosing to have a stair runner installed is a good idea because there are so many patterns, colours, and even materials to choose from that you’re going to be able to find the style that works for you and your home easily, ensuring that your interior design looks stunning.

Sound Absorption
If you’ve got wooden stairs, they’ll look great, but they won’t sound great. Every time anyone goes up or down the stairs, you’ll certainly know about it, and the sound will echo around the house – it’s not a peaceful way to live.

However, when you have a stair runner, you don’t have to worry about that anymore, and instead, you can enjoy the fact that the carpeting absorbs the sound and gives you a lovely, quiet place to live where everyone can be comfortable.

Want Less Cleaning to Do? Choose these Top Flooring Options for Your Redesign

A home that doesn’t need any maintenance and is always perfectly clean would be a dream. It’s also not possible. No matter what, someone somehow has to take care of your property to make it shine like it deserves.

 

That being said, some materials are simply so much easier to keep clean, and these are the materials that will make your life a breeze. To help you pick out what floors to pick up from our Balham flooring specialists, start by understanding just what makes a floor low-maintenance.

 

Top Low-Maintenance Carpet Designs

What Type of Carpet Weave?

 

There are many, many different types of carpet construction. In general, anything low-pile and woven is going to be longer-lasting and require less maintenance. Woven carpets, loop carpets, and low-pile carpets all tend to take on wear and tear like a pro and are usually far easier to keep clean since there’s less room for dirt and dust to hide.

 

What Type of Material?

The material you choose is also going to affect how easy it is to keep your flooring looking great. While wool is natural, breathable, and comfortable, it can also stain more easily. If you want a durable option that’s easy to clean, choose either nylon or polypropylene. Nylon is very easy to clean and can be refreshed with a steam clean to return its natural bounce. Even polyester is easy to clean since it’s difficult to stain.

 

Top Low-Maintenance Hard Flooring Designs

If you prefer hard flooring options, then you have a lot of different designs and considerations to make.

What are the Best Designs?

 

In general, anything that doesn’t have deep grain or sunken edges is going to be very easy to clean. Your floors could, therefore, be engineered hardwood, tile, LVP, or laminate. Where you’ll run into problems is with natural or original wood floors that feature a lot of texture, as that texture is where dirt and moisture can hide. However, you can treat original floors and fill in those holes and gaps to give yourself a smooth, easy-to-clean finish.

 

What are the Best Materials?

 

In general, anything that is stain-resistant and easy to mop up and hoover is going to be your best friend. Luxury vinyl plank, ceramic, and porcelain are the best options for tile designs, while laminate and engineered hardwood are the top choices for hardwood alternatives.

 

Protect Heavy-Trafficked Areas

To further protect your hard floors, especially original or engineered hardwood, you’ll want to add additional protection. A large doormat and rubber mat near your front door will help catch dust, mud, and water before it can damage your floors. Swapping over to a waterproofed tile option near your entrances is another great way to minimise wear and tear. You can use rug runners as well.

 

All of these will help minimise wear on your hard floors. When they do need a clean, they’ll be easy to wipe down and bring back to life.

 

These are our best tips for choosing floors that require less maintenance.

How to Keep Your Carpets Clean Throughout Winter

As autumn is in full swing, it’s time to start thinking about carpet care in the winter. While your windows may be firmly shut, there are actually plenty more chances for your carpets to get dirty or damaged during the winter months than during the summer. That’s why it’s so important that you go above and beyond regular carpet maintenance to take care of your carpets.

What Types of Carpets Are the Easiest to Maintain?

 

If you’re in the market for new carpets and are hoping to take out some of the maintenance requirements, then you’ll want to choose a low-pile or flat-woven design. These designs offer less space for dirt to fall down and get trapped, making them easier to hoover and keep clean.

 

You’ll also want to get the best carpet fitters London has to offer to install a nylon option. Nylon is much easier to maintain, especially in comparison to polyester or polypropylene. Even wool carpets, though luxurious and great at helping pull humidity from the air, tend to stain easily.

 

By having the pros install your already durable carpet, you don’t have to worry about dust and dirt coming up from underneath your floorboards, as your experts will insulate your space first with a paper underfloor and then rubber underlay.

 

How to Keep Your Carpets Clean Throughout Winter

 

While carpets that have been professionally fitted and are chosen for their low-maintenance design will, by their very nature, be far easier to take care of, these tips can help everyone maintain clean and beautiful carpets throughout the winter months:

 

1.     Invest in a Large, Good Quality Doormat

 

Mud, dirt, dust, leaves – all of that and more gets brought in after a long walk outside. As the days get shorter and wetter, the amount of dirt and debris you’ll carry with you is only going to increase. That’s why it’s so important to stop all that dirt at the door. This even applies if you have hardwood or vinyl flooring in your hallway, as dirt can get kicked up and spread further throughout your home.

 

In general, you should have a brush mat outside to wipe off mud and debris and then another mat inside to catch the rest. Store your shoes underneath a rubber tray to catch any leftover water, and you’ll immediately minimise your cleaning efforts.

 

2.     Hoover Your High-Traffic Areas Regularly

 

Just capturing the dirt at the door isn’t going to be enough, especially if your front door opens out to the street, where a good gust of wind can blow a lot of dirt and particles into your home. That’s why it’s a good idea to hoover your high-traffic areas once or twice per week. Make sure that you go slow to really create a deep suction and get all the dirt out of the crevices.

 

3.     Consider Rearranging Your Furniture

If you want to avoid wear and tear and reach those inaccessible corners, change the layout of each room (if you can). Swapping things over just a little bit will open up new floor paths to give your high-trafficked areas a bit of a break. It will also open up those areas of your carpet that were previously impossible to reach, so you can evenly clean your floors and not worry about long-lasting dust build-up.