Month: April 2020

The hallway plays a big part in the overall look of your home and is often taken for granted. When we think of redecorating, we get excited about the living room, bedroom and kitchen but often the hallway is one of those forgotten rooms. It’s actually one of the most important places in the home with it being the first room you step foot in and giving that all important first impression.

Aesthetics

With any big purchase, there’s no point unless we love the way it looks. A flooring can make or break a room, so it’s important to get it right! It’s also very disruptive and expensive to change, so you’ll need to make sure that you’re going to like it in five years’ time. As we’ve said previously, the hallway is the perfect opportunity to give fantastic first impression. If you’re really wanting to show off with a striking impression, then solid wood in a herringbone arrangement will certainly do the trick. It’s known for really giving the wow factor to your guests and works well in an open space like the hallway.

Although solid wood is a very desirable option, a lot of us are put off by its price tag. If you’re looking to get the luxurious look of real wood but at a cheaper price and easier maintenance, then Luxury Vinyl Tiles and laminate come in very realistic impressions of natural products.

Durability

Since everyone who enters and leaves your home has to go through the hallway, it does experience a lot of footfall, probably the highest in the home. With this being said, something that will withstand high foot fall while still looking good as the day it was bought is ideal. Of course, wood flooring comes out on top again, offering unbeatable durability and will last a generation and is likely to outlive even the person who laid it! Therefore, not only does wood present a beautiful plush look for your hallway but will last a lifetime too.

Laminate and LVT are known to be very durable and will last a substantial amount of time, but it’s likely you’ll need to replace it a lot sooner than wood. So even though wood’s original price tag is a lot higher than these flooring options, it can often end up paying for its self with its longevity.

Maintenance

The hallway is somewhere a lot of dirt from the outside gather and get a lot of shoes wiped on it. In terms of maintenance, laminate and LVT are much easier to keep clean than wood flooring with them being resistant to scratches, stains and water. Wood on the other hand is susceptible to scratches and stains and is no good when it comes into contact with too much water, as it causes it to warp and swell.

However, there is one quality that wood has that makes it superior to its competitors. You can sand down and refinish wood a number of times depending on its thickness or wear layer. This will eradicate any stains, scratches and general wear and tear. This should not normally need to be done for the first 15-20 years, so you can only imagine how long these beautiful floors can last and with an area like the hallway!

Have Your Say

What flooring do you have in your hallway? Share with us in the comments below!

Remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and discussions. We’re always finding new ways to improve our stock, so keep up to date!

The image features our: Painswick Silky Oak (HE6001).

The post First Impressions – Flooring for The Hallway appeared first on Blog & Advice Centre – Luxury Flooring & Furnishings.

This post appeared first on https://www.luxuryflooringandfurnishings.co.uk

We all want our bedroom to be a haven for relaxation and style, as well as representing our personality and taste. However, getting it exactly as we want it is easier said than done unfortunately, with practicality, space and budget always getting in the way. However there are ways you can spruce up your bedroom without having to break the bank, and we’re here to help inspire you.

Make Your Bed the Centre Piece of the Room

Although it doesn’t come as a surprise that the bed is dominate feature of the bedroom, a lot of us don’t make the most of it. A bed isn’t just for sleeping in, it can really brighten up your room and plays a large part in the room’s overall style and theme. Therefore, a good place to start is to centre things around the bed – other furniture should accommodate the bed, not the other way around. Then you can go forth and pour your personality into it! If you’re a fan of a rustic look, then a wood headboard will work wonders. Introduce fairy lights, treat yourself to a characterful bedspread – this is really important to get right as it will set the tone of your room – so if you’re going down the route of a nautical theme, then start this off by a large nautical bedspread! Don’t forget to decorate your bed with lots of fancy cushions in a range of patterns and textures…

Mirror Mirror…

Not only do mirrors serve a practical purpose, but they look great too! Don’t think you have to go for a plain mirror, there’s plenty of statement mirrors available too and they don’t always cost a fortune. A great place to go looking is antique stores, which often sell big grand mirrors at a more affordable price.

The advantages of mirrors don’t stop there. If you have a smaller bedroom, then mirrors can help it look larger, creating the illusion of more space. This works especially well with a full length mirror too, allowing your room to appear taller.

Do Up Your Old Furniture

Interior makeovers don’t have to break the bank. Repurposing old furniture is a fantastic way of freshening up your interior without having to spend a fortune. You can sand down wood furniture to eradicate any scratches, dents or stains. Perhaps add a coat of paint to mix things up too? Often there’s nothing wrong with the actual furniture it just looks a bit tired! Having a go at this is certainly worth the effort and will save you a lot of money. Perhaps there’s a piece of furniture from another room that would work perfectly in your bedroom that you didn’t first think of?

Sand Down and Refinish Your Floor

Here at Luxury Flooring we’re a big fan of wood flooring and it’s become an increasingly popular choice in rooms like the bedroom. If you’re lucky enough to have wood flooring in your bedroom but it’s starting to look worn, then a great project is to sand it down and re finish it. Flooring can make or break a room and a newly renovated wood flooring will create the perfect backdrop to your dream bedroom.

Paint

While this is something we all know improves things but a lot of us put off, you can get much more creative than just adding a coat of paint to your existing colour. Paint is inexpensive and will dramatically improve the look and feel of your room. Why not opt for a feature wall or paint the walls all different colours? Make sure the colour you choose works with the rest of the room– pastels are a great choice, tuning into that relaxed bedroom vibe that we’re all after.

Be Clever With Lighting

Decorating the walls can be something as simple as adding lights to your walls and bam, you’ve got instant decoration. Even introducing new bedside lamps is a cheap way to upgrade your bedroom’s look. You can really incorporate your style through lamps too, with many attractive designs and sizes available. Depending on the type, a bright light can be dimmed to create that desirable cosy bedroom atmosphere.

Who said you had to spend a lot to completely transform your rooms look?

Have Your Say

Do you have any tips to share with is on how to spruce up your bedroom? Let us know in the comments below!

Remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and discussions. We’re always finding new ways to improve our stock, so keep up to date!

The image features our: Studley Forest Oak (EO2060).

The post Creating the Dreamy Bedroom Space appeared first on Blog & Advice Centre – Luxury Flooring & Furnishings.

This post appeared first on https://www.luxuryflooringandfurnishings.co.uk

Many expecting parents decide to find out the sex of their baby before it’s born, however there are still the few that enjoy the surprise. This then often influences decisions around how to decorate the nursery, whether to go for the typical blues and pinks, or whether to try and keep the room as neutral as possible, using shades of greens and yellows. However, it’s not just the colour of the walls which needs to be considered, but also what the most suitable flooring option is too!

Solid And Engineered Wood Flooring

Although not such a clear choice for a child’s bedroom, both wood options unquestionably come with their own benefits. Unlike carpet, real wood flooring doesn’t lose its colour over time. It’s also considerably more durable, looking newer for longer whereas carpet can tend to appear worn and trodden in, particularly the more wallet-friendly options.

In terms of damage, one of the main causes of damage to flooring in children’s bedrooms is when it gets discoloured or stained due to spillages. Although there are a number of cleaning products out there to help deal with spillages and stains on carpets, it’s arguably a little more difficult to get them out of wood flooring. Having said that, if you have chosen to lay wood flooring in the nursery, as long as you act quickly in the event of a spillage, you should find that no lasting damage has been done. If over time you find that stains do appear on your floor, with a solid or an engineered wood product, you’re able to sand it down and the floor will look as good as new. With a carpet on the other hand, you may find you need to replace the entire room, making it more costly in the long run.

Wood flooring also never goes out of fashion and can even add value to your property, so if you want to use the nursery for other purposes or even look to sell the house in the future, there should be no issues with this at all!

Carpet

A popular choice for bedrooms, due to its homely and soft feel. This is especially good for young children, as it’s gentle against their skin and warm when playing on the floor. It also looks pleasing, so it is easy to see why carpet is an obvious choice for a new baby’s room.

While carpet is a sensible option, it is worth considering all the factors that help you narrow down your preferences when choosing for a new baby. Firstly, if you know the sex, you may have already decided on a theme. But if you don’t know the gender then a neutral colour such as cream, light blue or white may be preferred.

Secondly, babies cannot object to whatever colour flooring you decide to lay down, but, if this is to be their room as they grow older, they may decide that they want something different. If you decide on a bright pink carpet and the child turns out to be a pink hater, you have a problem. Of course if you have kids, you’ll know their taste is always changing. One week they’ll like one thing and the next week they’ll have moved on, not to mention them growing up so fast! That is why we would always recommend a softer neutral colour so it’s hard for them to feel so strongly about it. Still, if spillages occur, then it is more obvious with a lighter floor. It all depends on what’s more important to you.

Luxury Vinyl Tiles

If you’re wanting to be completely practical, then Luxury Vinyl Tiles could be the perfect solution. Unlike wood flooring and carpet, it’s completely waterproof and stain-resistant, so you won’t have to worry if anything gets on it.

On the other hand though, it perhaps doesn’t look or feel as homely as carpet or wood flooring.

LVT isn’t as warm or as inviting as the two previous options, but it does come in a range of styles, colours, patterns and thicknesses meaning you can find the perfect solution for your nursery, should you want a little more practical option.

Ultimately, only you can decide whether you’re looking for the style of wood flooring, the comfort of carpet or practicality of LVT.

Now, once you’ve decided on the very best flooring for your new little darling’s room, it might make choosing a décor theme a little easier.  You’ll both be spending a lot of time in the room, especially in the early days, so make sure you love it.

Furniture

If you do go down the route of neutral walls and flooring, then perhaps you can afford to be a bit more adventurous on cot colours! Pastels are a charming soothing look, baby blues and pinks… clue is in the name! They will also keep your room bright; most people don’t want dark harsh colours in their baby’s room. Even the timeless look of a traditional wood cot, perhaps with shapes cut into it would suit most décors.

We know that cots aren’t the only furniture in a nursery; you’ll also likely consider traditional rocking chairs, bookshelves, and chests of drawers. Whatever furniture you choose for the room, there are plenty of places to buy it!

Walls

Now we need to face it, there is a danger your little tot will draw on the walls at some point, so something that’s easy to cover or replace would be rational. There’s a lot of stickers popped onto walls at the moment, including fun dinosaurs, birds, aeroplanes, teddies and these stickers are also handy as a temporary solution to hiding marks on the wall!

Soft Furnishings

From a practical point of view, a black-out blind would be a great idea to help your little one sleep through the night, by making the room as dark as possible. You can double up by including curtains too, which in addition to making the room as cosy as possible, can also make a real statement, with a variety of designs and patterns to choose from. Some parents even chose to make their children’s curtains themselves, which really allows you to personalise.

Other soft furnishings including throws, cushions and blankets will often match with other elements of the room, such as the colour of the furniture, wood work or curtains, in order to continue a theme throughout.

Having a baby on the way is an extremely exciting and busy time, but there’s no reason why you can’t take delight in decorating their room. Don’t stress about it – use it as a relaxing project and don’t worry if it isn’t complete by the time they come – we can promise they won’t mind!

Have Your Say

How have you decorated your baby’s room? Let us know in the comments below!

Remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and discussions. We’re always finding new ways to improve our stock, so keep up to date!

Have Your Say: Nest Windswept Oak Click Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl Tile Wood Flooring (NESTV127).

The post Which Is The Best Flooring For Your Baby’s Room? appeared first on Blog & Advice Centre – Luxury Flooring & Furnishings.

This post appeared first on https://www.luxuryflooringandfurnishings.co.uk

This post appeared first on http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com

Although you might think that under-floor heating is a modern invention, it’s actually been around since the Roman times with them using it in their bath houses. It’s almost certainly something you’ve heard of even if you don’t have it in your own home. It’s been popping up more and more in the last ten years and we can certainly see it being in every home in the next twenty years! It you’re not already convinced, we’re going to go through the reasons it’s the best option in your home.

Energy Efficiency

Generally, under-floor heating requires less energy to run than bulky radiators. This is because it only needs to run on a temperature of 29 degree Celsius or less in order to warm up the room, therefore less energy used resulting in lower bills.

Ease to Run

Under-floor heating needs virtually no maintenance to keep it running smoothly and efficiently. The warmup controls ensure that your heating runs in the most profitable way possible, so you can decide when it comes on and off, meaning you can save on your heating expenses.

Compatible with Most Flooring

You might be thinking, what if my flooring or my dream flooring isn’t compatible with under-floor heating? The good news is that most flooring materials is able to work with this invention, from laminate, Luxury Vinyl Tiles to engineered wood. However, under-floor heating is not compatible with solid wood, due to it shrinking and warping under heat. With solid wood being a popular choice, it can be disappointing to hear that your favourite choice isn’t compatible with this feature! You do get wood’s realistic appearance with the other flooring materials, so you don’t have to sacrifice solid wood’s beautiful authentic looks!

Safety and Appearance

Safety is something we all need to put as a priority, especially if you come from a busy family household! Like anything, as radiators get older they wear out and sometimes fall off the wall – the last thing you want when you have kids running about the place! Sharp edges and hot, you have to be much more careful with radiators. Under-floor heating is tucked out of the way, so nothing dangerous in the way and unsightly radiators!

Of course, there’s probably many of you that want under-floor heating in your home, but the cost and disruption is too off putting. One it’s installed though, you’ll notice a big difference in bills and aesthetics, it will end up paying for itself!

Have Your Say

Do you have any experience with under-floor heating? Share with us in the comments?

Remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and discussions. We’re always finding new ways to improve our stock, so keep up to date!

The image features our: Studley Barn Oak (EO1098).

The post The Advantages of Under-Floor Heating appeared first on Blog & Advice Centre – Luxury Flooring & Furnishings.

This post appeared first on https://www.luxuryflooringandfurnishings.co.uk

When buying new flooring, there are certain key steps to ensuring its longevity. Preparation is key. As the old saying goes: fail to prepare, prepare to fail. One key step is to acclimatise flooring. But what is it? Why is acclimating wood flooring so important, and how do you do it effectively?

To acclimatise flooring, leave the boxes in the room the floor will be fitted in. This allows it to adjust to the room’s temperature and moisture levels. Leave the flooring in its boxes, stacked on top of each other, and open them at each end to let air circulate through the packs. Different flooring types require different minimum acclimatisation periods:

• Solid wood: 72 hours
• Engineered wood: 72 hours
• Laminate flooring: 24 hours
• Luxury vinyl tiles: 24 hours
• EvoCore: No acclimatisation needed

Jump to:

• What is Acclimatisation?
• Why is it Important?
• How to Acclimatise Your Flooring
• Best Practice

What is Acclimatising Flooring?

Acclimatising flooring is the process of conditioning your wood, laminate or LVT to adjust to its new environment. This is the room it will be installed in. 

Through acclimating wood flooring, it is given time to get used to the room’s natural temperature and moisture (humidity) levels. 

Missing this crucial step can lead to serious issues with your floor down the line. 

Why is it So Important?

If you fail to acclimatise your flooring, it may warp, crack, buckle or split. You could also be left with unsightly gaps. 

This is because floors naturally expand and contract. This is even more true for real wood flooring, as they are natural products, which is why their acclimatisation times are longer. 

Every room has its own temperature and humidity levels. Because your flooring is likely to have been stored in a large warehouse, the environment is much different to the one in which it will be laid. 

If you immediately lay your flooring without letting it acclimatise, it will expand or contract due to the sudden change in environment. This is where damage most occurs.

How to Acclimatise Your Flooring

Acclimatising your new flooring is very easy to do.

Simply leave the flooring in its boxes, then open up the end and stack them on top of each other. This allows air to circulate between the boards and helps the flooring to adapt to its new environment. 

The length of time you need to acclimatise flooring depending on the flooring type. Here are our recommendations for the minimum amount of time you should leave your floor to acclimatise.

Flooring Type	Minimum Time Needed to Acclimatise
Solid Wood	72 hours
Engineered Wood	72 hours
Laminate Flooring	24 hours
Luxury Vinyl Tiles	24 hours
EvoCore	No acclimatisation needed

Flooring such as solid and engineered wood is of course made from natural materials. This therefore makes them more susceptible to damage from moisture or fluctuating temperatures. While engineered wood had multiple layers, this is made from real wood. Solid wood uses one piece of wood to create the whole plank.

While laminate does have wood in the form of a fibreboard core, there is less of it, which is why it needs less time to acclimatise. 

Luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) may be made from mostly plastic, but this can still be affected by changes in temperature. Therefore 24 hours minimum is recommended for this flooring type. 

EvoCore flooring is a brand new range, made from seven highly-durable layers. These layers mean it requires no acclimatisation.

When acclimatising your flooring, it’s important that the room’s temperature and humidity levels are as they would be normally. 

If they’re acclimatised to an environment that’s different, for example before heating or air conditioning is installed and used, this can cause damages down the line as the flooring adapts to the new temperature levels. 

If your room has heating or air conditioning, make sure they’ve been operating for at least five days before you acclimatise flooring. The same goes for underfloor heating. If you’ve had any work done to the room, such as plastering, allow this to fully dry before acclimatisation. 

In short, the room should fall within 18-24°C, with a relative humidity level of 45-65%. Your flooring should not be any larger than 8-12% humidity before it is installed. 

Best Practice

There are certain best practices you should follow when acclimatising flooring:

• Make sure the room environment is stable before you acclimatise your flooring
• If you floor was delivered on a rainy day and has absorbed moisture, allow extra time for acclimatisation
• Check your room falls within 18-24°C and 45-65% humidity
• Ensure your flooring’s humidity levels are between 8-12%
• Always follow manufacturer guidelines if you’re unsure to ensure your warranty remains intact

To Sum Up

Acclimating wood flooring, and most flooring types, is crucial in protecting its longevity. 

To prevent damages such as cracks, gaps or warping, ensure you follow the step in this guide. For further advice, contact our team today.

The post How to Acclimatise Flooring? appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.

Buying a new floor isn’t just about picking your dream flooring and away you go, you have to think about the accessories which will make your installation smoother and the finished room look the best it possibly can. We sell a range of installation and maintenance and accessories to help you along the way. Here are our best sellers…

Beading: Available in a variety colours, beading is the perfect accessory to complement your wood flooring. It will fill the gap between your planks and the wall or skirting board. Your room will suffer without it, so make sure it’s added to your basket

Underlay: Here at Luxury Flooring we sell an extensive range of underlays for all flooring types with a variety of thicknesses, materials and sound reduction properties.

If the room you are laying your flooring in is susceptible to moisture or damp rising, we strongly advise that you purchase an underlay which contains damp proof membrane. If sound reduction is a priority to you, then look at the decibel rating – the higher the number, the more effective it will be.

Glue: This one speaks for itself. It’s a vital component which seals the joints and planks of your wood flooring together. When laying the flooring, you should be able to run a bead of glue along the tongue of the next board into the groove. This provides the perfect bond creating a stronger and more durable floor that stays together better. It’s also very fast drying, within an hour!

Ramp Profile: This is designed to bridge the expansion between doorways. It should be use when one level is higher than the other, if levels are the same then you should consider using a T profile. All profiles are designed to match our flooring, from a whitewashed oak to dark walnut brown.

Skirting Board: Coming in a variety of colours, widths and heights, it’ll fit perfectly in with whatever flooring you choose. We would always recommend a skirting board to finish off a room and complete your flooring with an elegant and sophisticated touch.

Have Your Say

What accessories can you recommend? Let us know in the comments!

Remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and discussions. We’re always finding new ways to improve our stock, so keep up to date!

The images features our: White Washed Engineered Oak Scotia Beading To Match White Washed Flooring (PRO207).

The post Top 5 Accessories to Accompany Your Flooring Purchase appeared first on Blog & Advice Centre – Luxury Flooring & Furnishings.

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