Hard floors a top choice for practicality

20th February 2012

When deciding on the flooring of a newly redecorated room it can be hard ensuring that the material you choose ticks all the right boxes.

Whichever area of the house is undergoing the revamp treatment, the design and materials you choose have to be appropriate for the function of the room, but any stylish homeowner will be anxious not to allow convenience to compromise appearance.

Luckily with a bit of time and effort it should be possible to find flooring that does both - leaving you with a practical and attractive base from which to decorate the rest of your interior.

Katie Crolla, a designer at interior design studio NoChintz, says that there are several factors that need to be taken into consideration when flooring your home, but points the benefits to hard flooring.

She says: "Hard floors are very practical for cleaning, but sometimes need to be softened with a rug in areas such as the bedroom or living room."

Hard floors encompass a range of man-made and natural materials from natural stone flooring, such as granite floor tiles or marble flooring, to wood or concrete floors.

While it is worth taking the time to consider your specific requirements carefully, most of these surfaces will prove to be a practical choice for almost any room in your house and, as Katie points out, can be "softened" with furnishings.

Hard floors also have the advantage of offering a variety of shades and colours, so you can choose the perfect tone to create the right atmosphere for your interior.

"Rooms that have low ceilings generally benefit from lighter colours on the floor," Katie advises.

Although darker floors are still a popular choice in both wood and natural stone, for a spacious, modern feel lighter tones tend to work better.

However, ultimately your choice of material will come down to personal taste so have a good look round and don't be afraid to experiment with different samples before making your final decision.