Each year we see different trends emerge across interiors as a whole, and flooring is no exception. With advances in technology and changes in consumer tastes, 2022 is set to bring a variety of flooring trends to the mix to revamp your home.

Check out some of the top trends to watch out for and feel inspired to change up your home this coming new year:

Parquet flooring

While this isn’t a new trend, it’s set to make a big return next year. Parquet flooring has been featured in interiors since the 16th century. It has long been a statement look for both traditional and contemporary homes.

The colours of parquet flooring give it a distinct look. Last year, warmer tones take centre stage. However, for 2022, cooler shades are stepping into the mix. Both warm and cool colours work well in homes and create a twist on the traditional trend.

Laminate flooring

Laminate flooring has received a welcome upgrade in the past few years. This affordable alternative to solid wood gives a similar effect and has a variety of styles and colours to choose from. Trends in laminate flooring to consider are herringbone and diagonal patterns, as this makes the space look larger and visually appealing.

Vinyl flooring

Another popular trend re-emerging for 2022 is the versatility of vinyl flooring. This option has advanced in the past few years, and high-quality options are an excellent choice for high-traffic areas. Next year’s new flooring options will see waterproof, high durability, and better quality solutions for the home. Plus, luxury vinyl plank is becoming a firm favourite for an affordable alternative to wood floors.

Wide plank flooring

Many wood plank sizes come in standard sizes. However, wider planks are a top choice for interiors in 2022. A wide plank offers the illusion of opening up the space and creates a clutter-free aesthetic. In addition, many laminate and wood flooring options will start to open up to wider plank sizes to give you more choice when choosing the best flooring for your home.

Rustic flooring

Shabby chic or rustic interiors are always a big hit, and flooring trends are following suit. This unique style offers texture and warmth in the space while giving it an individual look. Rustic flooring looks great in both traditional homes and contemporary spaces. There are several types of flooring panels to consider to get this look, including distressed sawn and brushed texture. Each has different features and appearances to achieve the perfect contrast in your living space.

Sustainable flooring

Sustainability goes beyond trends for 2022 and is a part of our Green Select products in our effort to establish sustainable standards for our customers. For example, here at aflooringboutique.co.uk, we want to bring everyone the best flooring options. In 2022, our options will include greener alternatives to help you make the best flooring choices.

While some trends come and go, we’re sure the above flooring options will be with us for a few years yet. So if you’re considering a flooring refresh in 2022, give these top trends a try.

With an increasing number of companies now deciding to allow their staff the permanent option to work remotely some or even all of the time, having a productive and inspiring home office is more important than ever. So if you have a room in your house that you’re thinking of converting into a workspace, here’s some advice on how to create an office that inspires creativity and productivity.

Decor

When it comes to decorating a home office, it’s important to get the basics right. For example, it’s a good idea to choose a colour scheme that is both calming and inspiring – blues and greens are fantastic choices because they tend to evoke a sense of focus, whereas grey can be dull and demotivating. Then, there are decorative extras to consider that will take your home office to the next level. Houseplants are a great choice because they not only help to purify the air but they can also boost mood, productivity, and creativity. In addition, you might like to add some inspiring artwork or photographs to the wall or bring in a coffee machine for that much-needed caffeine boost!

Flooring

You want good quality flooring that exudes professionalism to get you in the right frame of mind for working when you enter the room. Our wooden floor specialists in Balham can help you to find the ideal style for your space and needs. The great thing about getting wooden flooring is that you can layer up rugs to add a cosy vibe to the room, matching the colour scheme you selected in the step above.

Furniture

Now it’s time to fill your office space with some furniture. The most obvious items you’ll need are a desk and chair, and it’s important to take ergonomics into account when choosing these. Good back support and the ability to adjust aspects such as height and the position of the armrests are key in an office chair, and you might even want to think about getting an adjustable desk; this enables you to stand for part of the day.

The positioning of your laptop or desktop computer is also vital for maintaining good posture when working, so be sure to find a detailed guide online to follow. When picking a desk, check that you have enough room for all the electronics, documents, stationery, and other items you need. A cluttered space can induce feelings of stress, so also consider whether you need any storage space such as drawers or pen holders.

Lighting

Lighting is a key consideration for a home office, but one that is all too often overlooked. Natural light is best if possible. However, be sure not to position your desk in such a way that the sun shines directly on your computer screen, as this can cause glare and eye strain. The same goes for artificial light sources. Having an adjustable desk lamp can be helpful for directing light precisely where you need it and ensuring that you don’t struggle to read paper documents. If you have a habit of working on your computer late at night, you may also want to consider getting a pair of blue light-blocking glasses in order to minimise the potential impact it has on your sleep.

Now that the clocks have gone back and the temperature is starting to drop, you might be thinking about how you can turn your living room into a cosy sanctuary to keep the winter chill at bay. After all, there’s nothing more comforting for most people than being curled up inside in the warmth with a hot chocolate as the snow drifts past your window! So here are some of our top tips on how to make your living room extra snug this winter.

Address issues with draughts and insulation

Check if there are any places that heat is being lost from your living room. The most likely culprits are external doors and windows, especially if you don’t have double glazing. Draught excluders that sit at the bottom of doors can be an inexpensive solution, as well as keyhole and letterbox covers. Meanwhile, hanging thick curtains can help to block the heat from escaping through the windows and also increase the cosy vibes of the space. If you have a bigger budget, wall insulation could make a big difference to both the temperature in the living room and your heating bills.

Get a cosy new carpet

One of the most effective ways to make your living room cosier is to have a luxuriously soft carpet fitted. Here at aflooringboutique.co.uk, you can find all sorts of comfortable and stylish carpet options in a variety of materials, patterns, and colours to suit your existing decor and personal preferences. However, you could choose warm colours, such as deep reds, vibrant oranges, and rich purples, to keep as much warmth and cosiness in the room.

Not only is carpet great at retaining warmth in a room, but it also feels lovely underfoot. On the other hand, if you love the look of our wooden flooring, you could always consider getting a fluffy rug or two to soften the space during the winter.

Decorate with warmth in mind

In addition to carpet and rugs for the floor, there are lots of other decorative options that will instantly make your living room look and feel cosier. Here are some of our favourites:

• Add a warm blanket and plush cushions to your sofa – having lots of different textures, and layers in a room is an effective way to make it feel warmer and more inviting.
• Avoid putting large items of furniture in front of the radiators, as this will prevent the heat from circulating in the room.
• Install floating shelves above the radiators to deflect the heat into the room rather than have it rise to the ceiling.
• Get an oil diffuser to fill the room with ambient fragrance – warming winter scents such as cinnamon, clove, frankincense, fir, and vanilla are fantastic choices.
• Choose soft and warm lighting (for example, lamps and wall lights) rather than cold and bright overhead lights.
• Burn some candles for a cosy flickering glow and the atmospheric sound of a burning wooden wick – extra points if you choose one with a wintery scent!

If you want to feel cosy while at home, make sure to consider the above tips to turn your home into a cosy sanctuary.

The stunning appearance of a wooden floor doesn’t last without the right kind of maintenance. What’s the point in pouring money and effort into a floor if you’re not going to look after it? Don’t worry – you don’t have to get on your hands and knees every day to ensure it stays looking beautifully polished. Use these six tips if you want to ensure that the ‘wow’ factor lasts longer than just a few months.

1: Dust Every Single Day

Dust accumulates far quicker than you’d think, so be sure to sweep the floor daily. Depending on the size of your home, it shouldn’t take longer than a few minutes, so schedule it into your usual daily cleaning routine. This is especially important if you have fluffy animals running around the place!

If you’ve still yet to install a wooden floor, use our wooden floor specialists in Balham – it’s always better to start with a high-quality service for easier maintenance afterward!

2: Clean Spilt Liquids Immediately

Liquid and wood don’t work well together. Without cleaning spills straight away, the liquid may expand the wood, causing irreversible damage over time. To avoid this, get into the habit of mopping up any kind of spill immediately, even if it’s just a few drops of water.

3: Take Off Shoes Indoors

If you don’t have a no-shoes indoors rule, now would be the time to start one. There are plenty of reasons for banning outdoor shoes indoors – one of them being the dirt trodden in from outside will only harm your wooden floors. For those who don’t like going barefoot around the home, purchase a separate pair of shoes strictly for indoors or enjoy a comfy pair of slippers.

4: Do a Monthly Clean

Using a special wood floor cleaner, be sure to perform a monthly clean to keep your floor looking perfectly polished. Not only will this ensure any leftover dirt or dust is eradicated, but it will also provide a layer of protection to keep the floor looking shiny for longer.

5: Use a Soft-Bristle Brush for Your Vacuum

If you choose to vacuum your floors, it’s imperative that you use a soft bristle brush when vacuuming. Otherwise, you run the risk of causing scratch marks that are very difficult to cover or fix. With enough sweeping, though, you won’t have to vacuum your wooden flooring too often.

6: Add Furniture Pads to All Furniture

One thing you might not consider when it comes to wooden floor maintenance is the damage your furniture might be doing. The legs of your sofas, tables, and chairs could end up scratching the wooden floor, especially if they ever get moved around! Of course, you want to avoid this, so be sure to add furniture pads to all furniture that’s in the room with the wooden flooring.

It’s not just the initial cost and fitting that goes into a consistently polished wooden floor; with such a beautiful floor comes the price of regular maintenance. These six tips will ensure your wooden floor impresses for years to come.

When designing a living room, you will have to decide what type of flooring you should choose. Usually, people opt for one of three options – wooden flooring, vinyl floors, or carpet.

While hardwood and vinyl floors look great in the home, they aren’t always the best option for the living room – the space where comfort and warmth are a priority. If you want to ensure a comfortable and homely living area, this is why you should choose carpet.

The Variety of Styles

Some people conjure up boring images of the same-old standard carpet when thinking of a carpeted floor, but in reality, there are plenty of textures, colours, and patterns to suit all individual tastes. By shopping with us at aflooringboutique.co.uk, you will find all sorts of styles, from brightly coloured stripes to muted shades with a soft feel. Plus, we also offer carpet fitting, ensuring a professional appearance and increased longevity.

For Extra Warmth

The last thing someone wants is a chilly living room. After all, it’s your safe space to relax at the end of the day, whether that involves curling up with a good book or sticking on your favourite show. Luckily, a carpet provides an extra layer of warmth to help you enjoy those moments more. Due to it covering any gaps and holding the heat, you’ll notice the temperature difference as soon as it’s down. If the temperature is a big issue for you, opt for a thicker carpet and a darker shade.

Carpet is Safer

Carpet is always the better option for those with concerns over slips and falls, as there is much less chance of slipping on a soft, fluffy floor. This is important if you have mobility issues or you live with anyone who does!

To Mute Sounds

Most people don’t want to hear sounds all throughout the home. Unfortunately, with a type of flooring other than carpet, the chances of hearing what’s going on in the bedroom upstairs increase. However, with carpet, the added layer of thickness keeps the annoying sounds at bay, allowing you to relax without interruption.

To Spend Less Money

Compared to other types of flooring like hardwood, carpet is a much cheaper option, so if you have a large living room or a small budget, you can still create a stylish living room. Plus, it’s cheaper to maintain – rather than having to buy special cleaning solutions, vacuuming regularly and taking care of spills quickly is enough to ensure it lasts a long time.

It is Cosy

More than anything, carpet is the better option for a living room because it is far cosier than any other option. The soft feel on your feet combined with the overall homely appearance helps turn your living room into the most relaxing spot in the home.

So, if you want a comfortable and stylish living space, browse our great selection of carpets and use one of our professional fitters to help you make that happen.

Upgrading your flooring can completely transform the look and feel of your home, and you can’t beat the luxurious look of wood when it comes to adding the wow factor to your property.

However, with so many different wooden flooring options available, how do you choose the right one for your home and your lifestyle?

From laminate to LVT, real to engineered, keep reading to find out the pros of each wooden flooring type so you can pick the perfect one for your property.

Laminate flooring

Laminate wood flooring has become increasingly popular in recent years and can be a great choice for families on a budget. It is scratch-resistant, water-resistant and long-lasting. Plus, it comes in a wide variety of different styles, so you are guaranteed to be able to find the perfect type for your home.

Other benefits include:

• Affordability
• Pet-friendly
• Low maintenance
• Suitable for underfloor heating
• Easy to install

Solid wood flooring

Another popular choice, solid wood flooring has been around for years and offers some great qualities for both modern and traditional-style homes.

One of its most advantageous features is that it is the most durable of all wooden flooring types. It can also be refinished to look brand new, so if it starts to look a bit tired, you can easily refresh it without spending much money.

Other benefits include:

• You can stain solid wood to any colour
• Very luxurious
• Pet-friendly
• Low maintenance

Solid wood flooring should always be fitted by a professional floor fitter.

LVT flooring

Although not technically wooden flooring, LVT, also known as vinyl click flooring, does come in wood effect finishes and is a great low-cost option for homeowners who like the look of wood. Ideal for high traffic areas of your home such as the living room, hallway, and kitchen,  LVT flooring is incredibly easy to install, durable and water-resistant. It is also the perfect flooring for people with pets who are worried about damaging more expensive flooring options.

Other benefits include:

• Can be used immediately
• Suitable for underfloor heating
• Styles to suit all tastes
• Low maintenance
• Does not scratch easily

Engineered wood flooring

Designed to look and feel just like solid wood, engineered wood flooring is incredibly versatile. The main benefit of choosing this type of wood flooring over solid wood is that, due to the way it is manufactured, it is less prone to movement and, therefore, can withstand rapid changes in temperatures and humidity.

In terms of style, you can stain engineered wood to any colour, and it always provides a luxury finish.

Other benefits include:

• Very long-lasting
• Provides warmth
• Pet-friendly
• Low maintenance
• Can be installed using wood floor underlays and floating
• Easier to install than solid wood flooring

If you are still not sure what type of wooden flooring you should choose for your home, our wooden floor specialists in Balham are ready and waiting to help you. Whether you are looking to install wooden flooring in one room in your home or you want it throughout, we can advise you on the best type of wood for both your home and your family’s lifestyle.

If you are thinking about installing vinyl flooring in your home but are not 100% sure if this is the right choice for you, you have come to the right place.

Vinyl flooring is known for being a cheaper alternative to more expensive flooring types such as real wood and tiles, but what other benefits does it offer?

Let’s take a closer look.

Vinyl flooring is long-lasting

As long as it is installed properly, vinyl flooring can last anywhere up to 20 years. For optimum durability, look for high-quality vinyl that has been well manufactured. Here at aflooringboutique.co.uk, we offer the best vinyl flooring on the market, with options to suit all tastes and budgets.

Vinyl flooring is sturdy  

If you are looking to lay vinyl flooring in high traffic areas of your home, such as the kitchen, the living room, and the hallway, you will be pleased to hear that vinyl is extremely sturdy. In fact, it is one of the most hard-wearing flooring solutions available today.

Vinyl flooring is easy to install

Whether you are planning to lay your new floor yourself or you prefer to leave this task to the professionals, vinyl flooring is known for being easy to install. The only thing you really need to take care of is making sure that the ground you are laying the flooring on is completely flat before starting.

Viny flooring is easy to maintain

Out of all the flooring materials you can choose from, vinyl is by far the easiest one to maintain. That being said, you still need to make sure that you remove any dirt or stains regularly to avoid scratches or any other damage to the surface.

Vinyl flooring is versatile

Vinyl flooring comes in a wide variety of different styles, so you are sure to find something you love. One of the most popular designs is the replica of real wood, which provides a much more affordable alternative to real wooden flooring.

Vinyl flooring is water-resistant

If your home is prone to spillages, then vinyl flooring is a great option as vinyl is known for its water-resistant properties. This makes it a great choice for rooms in your home that experience high levels of moisture, such as bathrooms and utility rooms.

Are there any disadvantages to vinyl flooring?

As with any flooring option for your home, there are a few drawbacks to choosing vinyl. These include:

• Vinyl is harder to repair than other flooring options such as wood or tiles.
• Vinyl can fade over time if exposed to too much sunlight
• Vinyl is made from plastic, so it is not biodegradable

If you are thinking about installing vinyl flooring in your home, make sure that you pick a reputable flooring company and that you read as many online reviews as possible before making your purchase. Plus, if you want to enjoy maximum longevity from your new flooring, opt to have it fitted by a professional carpet or flooring fitter rather than attempting to do it yourself.

Whether you are moving into a new property or upgrading your current home, choosing a new carpet can be one of the most challenging components of decorating.

With so many different styles, fibre types, and patterns on offer, not to mention the colour, many homeowners decide to stick with what they know rather than embracing a new and exciting carpet option.

If you are struggling to choose the right colour for your carpet, and are already nudging towards the safety of grey, then you need to keep reading.

What affects your carpet colour choice?

There are several factors that you need to consider before you choose a carpet colour for your home or for a particular room, and these are as follows:

• Do you need a carpet that hides stains well?
• What type of mood are you looking to create?
• Do you need to create a sense of space?
• What is the décor style of the room?

Picking matching colours

Colours can be categorised into three main groups:

• Primary colours – red, yellow, blue
• Secondary colours – green, orange, and purple
• Shades that are produced when you mix primary and secondary colours

When it comes to choosing a carpet that will match the existing interior design of the room, you need to look into accent colours i.e. different colours that complement each other.

If you visit your local carpet store, you can ask for a colour chart that shows you exactly which colours work well together.

Cool vs. warm colours

Whether you opt for a cool or warm coloured carpet will be dependent on the space you are looking to cover and the mood you want to create. Typically, colours such as light blue, green, yellow, and light orange are considered to be cooler colours, whereas dark blue, purple, red, and dark orange are the warmer shades.

Dark vs. light colours

If you are looking to lighten up a small space, then a lighter coloured carpet is the obvious choice. However, suppose you want to tone down a room that is overly bright and has an abundance of natural light. In that case, a darker shade may be more appropriate.

Generally, dark carpets make a room feel cosy, whereas light carpets can make a compact space feel larger. As you would expect, light carpets show stains more than their darker counterparts, so this is also something you should take into consideration.

Benefits of each carpet colour

Each colour offers something different. To give you an idea of the different benefits, take a look at six different colours:

Grey:

• Looks clean and modern
• Covers spills well
• Suits a minimalist style
• Best suited to living rooms, bedrooms, hallways

Red:

• Offers vibrancy
• Suits neutral walls
• Is unique
• Best suited to a child’s playroom

Black:

• Covers spills and dirt well
• Offers a classic look
• Suits neutral walls
• Best suited to a bedroom or living room

Green:

• Very versatile
• Can add a touch of luxury
• Very modern
• Best suited to hallways, stairs, kid’s bedroom

Beige:

• Neutral base that goes with most styles
• Can look sophisticated
• Complements minimalist furniture
• Best suited to hallways, stairs, and living rooms

Patterned:

• Hides marks and spills well
• Lots of different patterns and styles available
• Can act as a central focal point in a room
• Best suited to living rooms, dining rooms, hallways, and studies