Current at: 08 July 2008
Putting problem floors in their place
Floors are among
the
most unforgiving parts of
the
home. They demand attention, will penalise anyone who tries to short-change
the
m, and even when attention and expense is lavished, will not necessarily stand out.
While stains, carpets in hideous colours or worn and tired wood panelling inevitably seem to attract attention, only
the
most highly polished and carefully maintained wood will stand out as a home’s ‘feature’. For
the
most part a good average floor passes off without comment.
Because
the
y suffer so much daily wear and tear, floors must be durable as well as attractive. If you have decided on a suitable material, colour and texture, consider running it through all
the
main rooms. The first thought is that this will look boring and unimaginative, but unless your home is vast with extensive, clearly defined areas, it will be easy on
the
eye and promote
the
‘flow’ from one room to ano
the
r.
Of course this may not appeal, but if you don’t want a continuous
the
me try and ensure your choices complement and blend into each o
the
r. Sudden changes of colour and texture between rooms can jar and gives
the
impression of a composition thrown toge
the
r on
the
basis of cost ra
the
r than aes
the
tics. You can always break up
the
monotony with striking, unusual rugs and carpets.
If your floors are depressing you and you don’t have
the
time or finances to undertake replacements,
the
re are techniques that can be used to camouflage
the
worst of
the
problems. The obvious answer is rugs, but work on
the
basis of less being more. Too many rugs will only draw attention to
the
fact you have something to hide.
One large rug, strategically placed, is
the
preferred option. For larger areas consider a carpet in traditional patterns. Furniture can also be used to draw
the
eye away from
the
floor. Pull items away from
the
wall and minimise open space. Table and wall lamps are better for illumination than overhead lights, which shine directly down on to
the
floor.
Remember,
the
place of a floor is underfoot, so don’t let floor problems get on top of you.
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