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Introduction   The holiday season is upon us, and there's nothing like transforming your home into a cozy, festive space to celebrate with family and friends. As you start decorating the tree, hanging the wreaths, and adding warm lighting, don’t forget one of the most essential elements of your home’s holiday atmosphere: the floors! This Christmas, Flooring Hut is here to help you prepare your home with beautiful, durable, and comfortable flooring options that make your space as inviting as a holiday wonderland.   Why Flooring Matters for the Holiday Season   During the festive season, your floors will experience a lot—holiday gatherings, bustling guests, children playing, and perhaps even the occasional spill. Choosing the right flooring not only enhances your holiday decor but also ensures you’re prepared for the season’s activities. Flooring Hut offers a variety of flooring solutions that combine style, durability, and easy maintenance to make your home holiday-ready.   Flooring Ideas to Enhance Your Holiday Decor   - Warm and Cozy Carpets for Living Rooms and Bedrooms There’s nothing quite like the comfort of carpet underfoot during the colder months. Carpet adds warmth to any room, creating a soft, inviting atmosphere perfect for curling up with a hot cocoa or opening presents with loved ones. Flooring Hut offers a wide selection of carpets in rich, festive colors like deep reds, greens, and neutral tones that complement your holiday decor beautifully. With options from trusted brands, you’ll find carpets that add both comfort and elegance to your holiday-ready home. - Hardwood Flooring for a Classic, Timeless Look If you’re aiming for an elegant, classic holiday feel, hardwood floors are the perfect choice. Not only do they add a touch of sophistication, but they’re also incredibly durable, making them ideal for high-traffic areas. Flooring Hut’s hardwood collection includes a variety of finishes and tones, from warm oak to rich walnut, that provide a natural, welcoming ambiance to any room. Add a soft area rug in front of the fireplace or tree, and your living room will look like a scene straight out of a Christmas movie. - Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) for Durability and Style For homes with lots of holiday guests or playful children, luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) are a fantastic choice. LVT offers the look of natural wood or stone with the added benefits of water resistance and durability. Perfect for kitchens, entryways, and family rooms, LVT can withstand spills, stains, and heavy foot traffic, all while looking stylish. Flooring Hut’s LVT range comes in various colors and textures to complement any holiday theme, from rustic cabin vibes to sleek modern decor. - Laminate Flooring for High-Traffic Areas If you’re hosting holiday gatherings or family parties, laminate flooring is an excellent option for high-traffic spaces. Laminate is resistant to scratches and easy to clean, making it ideal for busy rooms like dining areas or hallways. Flooring Hut offers laminate in a range of designs that mimic the look of wood and stone, allowing you to create a festive look without sacrificing practicality.   Tips for Keeping Your Floors Looking Great During the Holidays   Your floors are bound to see extra activity over the holidays. Here are some tips to keep them looking their best with a little help from Flooring Hut’s cleaning and care solutions:   - Place Mats at Entrances: Holiday guests bring joy, but they can also bring in snow, mud, and dirt. Placing mats at the entrance and rugs in high-traffic areas helps prevent dirt from reaching your floors, preserving their beauty and longevity. - Quick Clean-Up Kits: Accidental spills are almost a holiday tradition. Flooring Hut offers specialized cleaning kits and products for different flooring types, ensuring that spills are easy to manage without leaving stains. Keep these handy, especially near the dining room and living areas. - Use Furniture Pads: Moving furniture to make room for the Christmas tree or rearranging for holiday parties can cause scratches on hard floors. Flooring Hut provides furniture pads that prevent damage to your floors, keeping them scratch-free and party-ready. - Choose Pet-Friendly Flooring Options: If you have pets, you know how they love getting involved in holiday excitement! Flooring Hut offers pet-friendly flooring options, like LVT and durable laminate, that resist scratching and are easy to clean.   How Flooring Hut Can Help You Get Ready for the Holidays   At Flooring Hut, we understand that preparing your home for the holidays involves a lot of work, and we’re here to make flooring choices easy and enjoyable. Here’s how we can help bring your holiday flooring dreams to life:   - Wide Selection of Holiday-Ready Flooring: From plush carpets to LVT flooring and classic hardwoods, we offer a range of options to suit any holiday decor theme. Browse our collections online or visit us in-store to find the perfect fit for your home. - Expert Advice to Guide Your Choice: Not sure which flooring best matches your holiday style? Our flooring experts are here to provide personalized advice based on your space, lifestyle, and budget, helping you make a choice that you’ll love all season long—and beyond. - Convenient Shopping Options: Flooring Hut’s user-friendly website and app allows you to shop from the comfort of your home. With detailed product descriptions and customer reviews, it’s easy to find flooring that suits your holiday vision. Plus, we offer samples so you can see how the colors and textures work with your festive decor before making a decision. - Installation Guidance and Support: Installing new flooring can be a big project, but we’re here to help make it hassle-free. Flooring Hut offers comprehensive installation guides and resources, and our experts are available to answer any questions you may have. Need a professional installer? We can recommend trusted professionals in your area. - Seasonal Deals and Discounts: To make your holiday home transformation even easier, Flooring Hut offers seasonal discounts and deals on a variety of flooring options. Check our website for promotions that let you upgrade your floors while keeping within your holiday budget.   Create a Festive, Floor-Friendly Home This Holiday Season with Flooring Hut   Preparing your home for the holidays is all about creating a warm, inviting atmosphere where memories can be made. With Flooring Hut, you can find flooring solutions that elevate your home’s holiday charm while providing durability and ease of maintenance. From the soft feel of new carpet under your feet to the timeless look of hardwood, our flooring options help you celebrate in style and comfort. Ready to deck the floors? Visit Flooring Hut to explore our holiday-ready flooring collections and find out how we can help make your home a welcoming retreat for the festive season. 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Flooring Hut is pleased to announce the launch of our updated carpet and flooring written quote service, aimed at delivering clarity, transparency, and professionalism to our valued customers. This service is designed to offer a multitude of benefits for businesses and consumers alike. In today's fast-paced business environment, ensuring that both parties clearly understand the terms of a transaction is paramount. Our carpet and flooring written quote service is designed to provide a comprehensive, legally binding document that fosters trust and mitigates misunderstandings. The benefits of using a written quote from Flooring Hut include: - Clarity and Transparency: Our written quotes provide a detailed breakdown of costs and services/products, ensuring that everyone involved has a complete understanding of the transaction. - Legal Protection: We stand behind our written quotes, which can serve as legally binding documents in applicable situations, providing an added layer of security for our customers. - Comparison: Customers can easily compare our quotes with others, allowing them to make informed decisions and identify the value we provide. - Budgeting: For customers, a written quote from Flooring Hut offers a clear view of expected costs, aiding in financial planning for larger projects or purchases. - Record Keeping: Our written quotes establish a paper trail for both parties, simplifying record-keeping and providing valuable documentation for accounting and tax purposes. - Professionalism: By providing written quotes, we demonstrate our professionalism and commitment to our customers, ensuring they receive the best service possible. - Commitment: Our quotes include an expiration date, encouraging prompt decision-making and safeguarding against unexpected price increases. Flooring Hut is a respected name in the flooring industry, dedicated to providing innovative and high-quality flooring solutions to both consumers and trade customers. With a commitment to customer satisfaction, Flooring Hut offers a wide range of products, including luxury vinyl tiles, carpets, hardwood flooring, sheet vinyl, and laminate flooring, catering to diverse needs and preferences. Read the full article

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The 20 Toughest Carpet Stains to Remove and How to Remove Them It happens to the best of us - you’re carrying a plate of food, pouring a glass of wine, or coming back from a muddy walk, and before you know it, there’s a stain on your carpet. During Christmas, with all the hosting and festive gatherings, spills are almost inevitable, but these mishaps can happen at any time of year. So, what do you do when it happens? Every stain is unique and needs a different approach. To help, we’ve identified the most commonly searched stains people need advice on and teamed up with cleaning expert and How Clean is Your House? host Aggie MacKenzie. She’s shared her best tips for tackling even the trickiest stains, so you can keep your carpet looking its best this festive season and beyond. The 20 toughest stains to remove from carpet and how to tackle them Every day, people spill countless substances on their carpets, prompting frantic searches for how to remove them. But which stains are people searching for how to clean the most? Rank Carpet Stain Annual Google Searches 1 Paint 284,400 2 Blood 270,120 3 Slime 221,280 4 Candle wax 211,200 5 Nail polish 208,920 6 Grease or oil-based stains (gravy, butter, mayonnaise) 117,360 7 Chewing gum 101,280 8 Wine or beer 97,800 9 Vomit 73,440 10 Pen ink 70,560 11 Coffee or tea 69,600 12 Pet feces 69,480 13 Pet urine 51,840 14 Makeup 41,880 15 Chocolate 31,200 16 Tomato based sauces 20,280 17 Bleach 17,280 18 Milk, cream or cream liqueurs 16,080 19 Mud 13,080 20 Glitter 11,880 1. Paint – 284,400 annual searches If you're planning home improvements or redecorating next year, paint will likely be a part of the process. Unfortunately, paint spills are a common mishap, shown by the fact that people search for ways to remove paint stains over 284,000 times each year worldwide. While preventing stains is ideal, most stains can be removed with the right approach and some elbow grease. If you’ve spilled acrylic or latex paint, start by gently scraping away any excess paint with a utensil like a putty knife. Next, spray a solution of warm water and dishwashing detergent onto the stain and blot with a white cloth. This prevents transferring any dye from the cloth to the carpet. Avoid rubbing the stain, as this can push the paint deeper into the fibers, making it harder to remove. Rewet the area and continue blotting with a clean cloth, repeating the process until the stain is gone. For oil-based paint spills, the method is similar but needs an extra step. Before applying the detergent solution, use paint thinner to loosen the paint. Be cautious with paint thinner, as it can spread the stain if not carefully applied. 2. Blood – 270,120 annual searches Blood might seem like an unlikely stain, but it’s the second-most searched stain removal query in the world. Removing human or pet stains like blood from carpets requires quick action to minimise staining, odours, and bacterial growth. On how to tackle a stubborn blood stain, Aggie says, “Blot the blood with a clean cloth or paper towel to absorb it, but don’t rub, as it spreads the stain. Use a cloth dampened with cold water to gently blot and lift the stain. Mix one teaspoon of washing-up liquid with two cups of cold water. Dab the solution onto the stain with a clean cloth, working from the edges inward. Blot dry and repeat if needed. Top tip: “For stubborn stains, apply a small amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide directly to the area. Let it sit briefly, then blot with a damp cloth. Test on a hidden spot first, as peroxide may bleach fabric.”  3. Slime – 221,280 annual searches Slime might seem like an even more surprising stain than blood, but it ranks as the third-most searched stain removal query worldwide. A popular gift for kids at Christmas, slime can easily turn into a sticky situation for parents. While it may seem like an impossible stain to remove, don’t worry - there is a way to tackle it. If you ever find yourself with a slime spillage, scoop all the slime away you can with a spoon. Then, mix hot water with white vinegar and blot the stain gently. Dab with a clean towel and repeat the process until the slime is all gone. How to remove different stain types, according to Aggie MacKenzie We bring all sorts of substances into our homes, and with that comes the inevitable risk of spills on our floors. From the runny to the sticky, the oily to the colorful, stains come in all forms. Some can be grouped by their consistency, ingredients, or just their messy nature, and each type has its own unique removal method. Biological human or pet stains  Stains like blood, vomit, and pet urine are unfortunately common mishaps that can happen in any home. While cleaning these stains may not be pleasant, there are effective ways to handle them and get your floors looking good again. Vomit: Vomit is one of those stains that no one wants to deal with, but it’s something that has to be cleaned up quickly. Aggie offers the following advice: “Wear gloves and use a scraper to remove solids. Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda to absorb moisture and odors, let sit for 15–30 minutes, then vacuum. Afterward, apply washing-up liquid and vinegar with warm water, then apply an enzymatic cleaner designed for pet stains to address any lingering odors.”  Pet urine: Aggie suggests, “Absorb as much liquid as possible, then mix equal parts vinegar and water, pour onto the stain to neutralize ammonia, then sprinkle bicarbonate of soda. Follow with an enzymatic cleaner, rinse with water, and blot dry.” Sticky stains  Sticky stains, like wax or chewing gum, are notoriously tough to remove, so they might call for some unusual tactics to get rid of them. Here are Aggie’s top tips for removing stubborn sticky carpet stains: Candle wax: Aggies top tip is, “Fill a plastic bag with ice, place over the area to allow it to harden the wax. After it’s hard, you can chip away at the wax with a utensil. Then wipe away what remains with a damp cloth.”  Chewing gum: Aggie says, “Chewing gum on pavements is bad enough, but if it’s landed on your carpet, scrape away the worst, then put ice cubes over the residue until it’s brittle and chip away with a blunt knife.”  Grease or oil stains  Grease and oil stains in general see over 117,360 Google searches worldwide. Removing grease or oil stains, like mayonnaise or gravy, from carpet can be tricky, but with the right steps, it’s manageable. To get rid of these tough stains, Aggie says: “Start by blotting the stain immediately with a paper towel or clean cloth to absorb as much grease as possible. Avoid rubbing, as this can spread the stain. Next, sprinkle a generous amount of bicarbonate of soda or cornflour over the stain to absorb the grease. Let it sit for 15–30 minutes, then vacuum thoroughly. “Add warm water mixed with washing up liquid and apply the solution to the stain using a clean cloth or sponge, dabbing gently without soaking the carpet. Use a soft-bristle brush or an old toothbrush to work the cleaning solution into the carpet fibers gently. Then, blot the area with a clean, dry towel to lift the loosened grease. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone.”  Tannin stains  Removing tannin stains (like coffee, tea, wine or beer) from your carpet usually needs quick action to effectively get rid of them. These types of stains can be stubborn but are usually water-soluble, so you have a good chance of success with the following advice. Aggie says, “Use a clean white cloth or paper towel to blot the stain. Then, mix one teaspoon of clear washing up liquid with one cup of warm water and apply the solution. For older or stubborn stains, you can add a tablespoon of clear vinegar to the solution. Use a soft-bristle brush to gently apply the mixture to the stain, being careful not to scrub too hard, as this could damage the carpet fibers.”  Top tip: “If there's a lingering odor from drinks like beer, sprinkle a light layer of bicarbonate of soda over the damp area. Let it sit for 15–30 minutes, then vacuum thoroughly. “For red wine, you can use soda water, which is about 85p in the supermarket. Douse in soda water and, using a clean white towel and work from the outside in, dab, dab, dab and re-wet until all the colour is out of the carpet and onto the towel.”  Dairy stains Dairy-based stains can be some of the most odorous, as substances like milk, cream, or chocolate contain spoiled proteins and fats that cause unpleasant smells. Here’s what to do if you spill a dairy-based substance on your carpet: “Blot the stain with paper towels or a clean cloth to absorb liquid. For solids, gently lift with a spoon. Use cold water and a mild soap solution to clean, then blot with a damp cloth. If odors remain, use vinegar or bicarbonate of soda.” “If you spill milk, pay special attention to neutralising odours with bicarbonate of soda or vinegar, as spoiled milk can leave a strong smell. Baileys or cream liqueurs should be treated quickly to remove both the cream and alcohol components. If the stain has dried, apply the washing-up solution and blot repeatedly to lift residue. “If you spill chocolate, scrape off as much solid chocolate as possible before applying any water or solution. Use cold water to prevent the stain from spreading or setting. Apply the washing-up solution and work gently, blotting repeatedly to remove the stain.” Acidic stains Acidic stains tend to refer to sauces, like tomato based sauces, hot sauce or other foodstuffs like cranberry sauce. The longer acidic stains sit, the more likely they are to set and cause permanent discoloration, so it’s important to remove these quickly and effectively. Aggie shares a simple step-by-step guide on what to do if you spill an acidic substance on your carpet: “Use a clean white cloth or paper towel to blot the stain. Start at the edges and work inwards to prevent spreading. For thicker sauces, like tomato or cranberry, use a spoon or dull knife to lift off as much of the solid residue as possible. Mix one teaspoon of washing-up liquid with one cup of cold water and dab the solution onto the stain using a clean cloth or sponge. Avoid scrubbing, as this can push the stain deeper into the fibres. If the stain persists, mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Dab this solution onto the stain and let it sit for five minutes, before washing off with cold water.  “For light-coloured carpets with lingering stains, apply a small amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes, then blot with a damp cloth.Test this method on a hidden area first, as hydrogen peroxide can lighten certain fabrics. “Tomato stains often contain oils. If the stain has an oily residue, sprinkle a small amount of bicarbonate of soda over the stain after applying the washing-up solution. Let it sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming. “Hot sauce may leave behind bright red or orange pigments. Apply a bit of the vinegar solution if the washing-up liquid doesn’t fully lift the colour. Cranberry sauce can leave a sugary residue. Ensure the stain is fully rinsed to avoid attracting dirt later.” The dos and don’ts of cleaning your carpets  Aggie also shares her top dos and don’ts when it comes to cleaning your carpets to avoid any costly mistakes. Aggie’s carpet-cleaning ‘dos’  Blot, don’t rub “Gently blot spills and stains with a clean cloth or paper towel. Rubbing can spread the stain and push it deeper into the carpet fibres.”  Spot-test cleaning products “Before applying any cleaning solution, test it in an inconspicuous area to ensure it doesn’t discolour or damage your carpet. A top tip is to hang on to any small offcuts. That way, if you have a stain later on and need to treat it with a solvent, you can use the offcut to test on before you risk bleaching the carpet!”  Act quickly “Address spills and stains as soon as they happen. The longer they sit, the harder they are to remove, especially with festive treats like red wine or cranberry sauce.” Vacuum regularly “Vacuum daily or every other day to prevent dirt and debris from embedding into your carpet fibres, especially during times of year like Christmas, which often means more foot traffic.” Use a Carpet Protector Spray “Apply a carpet protector before big celebrations, for example Christmas parties, to shield your carpet from spills and make stains easier to clean.” Aggie’s carpet-cleaning ‘don’ts’  Use too much water “Oversaturating your carpet can damage the backing and lead to mould or mildew. Use water sparingly and always blot dry.” Use harsh chemicals “Avoid bleach or overly harsh cleaning agents, as they can discolour your carpet and damage its fibres.” Ignore lingering odours “If a spill involves dairy, alcohol or protein-based substances, clean thoroughly to prevent sour smells. Consider an enzymatic cleaner for odours.” Skip the rinse “If you use a cleaning solution, always rinse with plain water afterwards. Leftover residue can attract dirt and make the carpet look worse over time.” Delay professional cleaning “If you have a large, stubborn stain or delicate carpeting, don’t hesitate to call a professional. Trying to DIY a difficult stain can sometimes make it worse.” Methodology Flooring Hut used Google Keyword Planner to find out the number of Google searches per year for each type of stain. Expert commentary was provided by Aggie MacKenzie. Read the full article

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Have you recently looked at your luxury vinyl flooring and noticed it’s looking a little rough? Or maybe you had an accident and dropped something heavy on it resulting in damage? In these instances, many people simply leave it and “make do” with their forlorn flooring. But what if I told you there was a solution? In this guide, I take a look at how to repair vinyl flooring using DIY solutions. There is a little skill and patience required, but I am confident anyone can make quick repairs if they try! Repair or Replace - Which is the Best Option While flooring options like linoleum and carpet are supplied in rolls, the benefit of LVT flooring is that it’s supplied in planks or tiles. This allows you to take a different approach to repairs and instead of making spot repairs to parts of the floor, it’s much easier to replace an entire tile or plank. The downside is that you have to keep a stock of spare vinyl flooring for potential replacements which adds to the cost. However, the upside is that the work involved isn’t half as complicated or time-consuming as trying to cut out and spot-fix sections of individual tiles. Repairing Glue Down LVT Flooring Glue down LVT flooring offers the benefit of not having to lift multiple tile sections unlike click LVT flooring, but you do need a way to loosen the adhesive. - Outline the damaged plank and find a matching replacement plank (so the patterns line up properly). - Use a blow dryer to heat the damaged tile to loosen the adhesive. - Once sufficiently heated, use a utility knife to cut along the joint lines. - Remove the damaged LVT tile. - Prepare the replacement tile and glue it in place. - Apply pressure on the edges to make sure it is secured. The main issue here is loosening the adhesive, otherwise, you have to try and prise the tile free while the adhesive is still bonded and this can be a nightmare and cause damage. If you have access to a seam roller I advise using that to roll the joints so that the replacement tile sits flush with the surrounding flooring. Repairing Click LVT Flooring When looking at how to repair vinyl flooring, click LVT flooring certainly requires less skill. However, it is more time-consuming: - Identify the damaged plank and find a matching plank from your stock of spares. - Find the closest wall to the damaged plank and remove the skirting boards. - Remove the click LVT flooring row-by-row until you reach the damaged plank. - Remove the damaged floor piece. - Click the replacement tile in place. - Replace the existing floor row-by-row until you reach the wall. - Replace the skirting boards. The skill is to find the closest wall to the damaged tile as this results in removing and relaying the least amount of tiles. This means you can avoid lifting and relaying the entire floor! Once you have relayed the tiles, make sure that the expansion gap is still present between the last row of tiles and the wall (unless the tiles have already expanded). Tips for Damage Prevention and Maintenance Over-order when buying luxury vinyl flooring I know that this means additional expense, but if you order a little more than you need, you have spare tiles for replacements. In the long term, you will typically save due to the larger order quantity and spreading the delivery cost as opposed to trying to order single planks or paying for an entire box when you only need a couple of replacement tiles. Clean your LVT flooring regularly As with any type of flooring, regular cleaning and maintenance is the key to minimising damage. Ideally, you should dust, hoover, and mop your LVT flooring weekly and this is one of the simplest in-depth LVT flooring insights I can give. By removing dirt and debris, you eliminate the potential for scrapes and scratches. Expansion gaps can help with warping and seam damage A common mistake I see is during installation, people not allowing a sufficient expansion gap between the last row of tiles and the wall. This is imperative because, over time, the tiles can expand and contract with changing temperatures. With no expansion gap, the tiles have nowhere to move and this can cause bowing and bulges. Only mo your vinyl floor lightly Most vinyl flooring is either water-resistant or waterproof. However, these things have limits. Therefore, I advise that when mopping your floor, only use a minimum amount of water. Don’t soak the floor. This helps prevent water damage and warping. Keep Your Vinyl Flooring in Good Condition With DIY Repairs I hope this guide on how to repair vinyl flooring has given you some inspiration and renewed confidence. As you can see, you don’t have to “make do” with damaged flooring. Instead, by keeping a small stock of luxury vinyl planks or tiles, you can make quick repairs and undo any damage! Read the full article

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There are many different types of LVT flooring and Karndean is often considered one of the top choices. However, when selecting suitable LVT flooring there are many considerations, one being waterproofing. This is especially important if you want to use the LVT click flooring in a room with a higher moisture content such as a bathroom or conservatory. In this article, I answer the question, of is Karndean flooring waterproof, and the other features of this vinyl flooring. What is Karndean Flooring? Karndean is a company that procedures LVT (luxury vinyl tile) flooring in a range of styles, designs, and installation types. Composition and Construction Karndean flooring is made primarily of vinyl and each tile is constructed from five layers - 2 PVC backing layers, a high-definition aesthetic layer (that contains the pattern and color), a clear PVC embossed wear layer, and a top PU protective coating layer. This type of LVT flooring is available in several installation options or types including: - Gluedown - Loose Lay - Rigid Core Gluedown Karndean flooring is installed using adhesive and sticks to your subfloor to create a firm bond and a stable floor that has no room for movement. Alternatively, the loose lay system is a type of LVT click flooring where adhesive isn’t used. Instead, it is loose fitting and locks into place together with the special friction grip backing. Lastly, the Karndean rigid core range features a thicker vinyl core that makes the flooring more durable. Karndean flooring designs and patterns include: - Wood - Stone - Abstract The wood LVT flooring is meant to emulate natural hardwood floors for that premium look and you can get them in a range of tones and wood types. Similarly, their stone options mimic traditional stone or concrete tiled flooring and are typically available in various shades of grey and beige. Lastly, if you want to make a bold statement with your flooring, Karndean has a range of abstract patterns. These fantastic styles utilize various geometric shapes such as diamonds and triangles together with complementing colors to give you something completely different. Does Karndean Offer Waterproof Flooring? Karndean flooring has several qualities concerning waterproofing that make it one of the best LVT options for kitchens and bathrooms: - Waterproof vinyl backing. - Waterproof adhesive. - Resistant to stains. The combination of the waterproof vinyl backing and waterproof adhesive means that no water should soak through the flooring. Additionally, the wear layer is resistant to stains so you don’t have to worry as much about food and drink spills in your kitchen if you have this type of flooring. Water Resistance vs. Waterproof It’s important to understand the difference between water resistance and waterproof as they mean two different things and thus have an impact on the usefulness of your flooring choice: Water resistance means exactly that - the surface has some resistance to water but it is not infallible and there is a maximum resistance level that can be exceeded where water damage would start to be experienced. In contrast, waterproof means that the surface has a completely infallible barrier to water and it will prevent water damage even in higher levels of prolonged exposure. Usually, waterproofing has categories though, and waterproofing could mean repelling simple splashes, up to protection against full immersion. Karndean states that its LVT flooring is 100% waterproof and not just water-resistant so it offers some of the best protection available for bathrooms. This is achieved via the combination of the impervious vinyl backing, and waterproof adhesive. Comparison With Other Flooring Options So, we now know that Karndean flooring has a host of favorable properties including waterproofing, but how does it shape up compared to other popular flooring choices including the following: - Carpet - Hardwood Flooring - Other LVT flooring - Ceramic Tiles Carpet is not known for its water resistance and it is perhaps the worst flooring type in this regard. Water and liquids simply soak into the carpet and can cause damage. Similarly, while water can lay on top of hardwood flooring, it can also soak in between the planks and cause swelling and warping which can be detrimental. Many other LVT flooring brands also have excellent water resistance and in general, vinyl flooring is one of the better options in this regard. Ceramic or porcelain tiles are also superb for water resistance as the water will not soak into the tiles or grout. This type of flooring is generally more expensive than Karndean and LVT flooring though. Karndean - An Excellent Waterproof Flooring Option So, is Karndean flooring waterproof? Yes! It should be impervious to water which makes it perfect for use in rooms with a higher moisture content and the risk of spills such as kitchens and bathrooms. I still advise taking care when using Karndean flooring, however, and try to mop up any spills or excess water quickly to maintain water resistance and to be on the safe side. Read the full article

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Flooring Hut Marks the Arrival of the New Year with a Renewed Commitment to Excellence Worthing, 4th January 2024 – As the calendar turns to a new year, Flooring Hut is excited to embrace the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. The company takes this moment to reflect on its achievements, express gratitude, and outline its vision for the upcoming year. With immense appreciation for the unwavering support of our customers, partners, and stakeholders, Flooring Hut acknowledges the pivotal role they played in the successes of the past year. Their trust and confidence have been fundamental in propelling the company forward. Looking ahead, Flooring Hut renews its commitment to delivering exceptional carpets and flooring that exceed expectations and drive value for our customers. Fuelled by a dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction, the company pledges to uphold the highest standards of quality and reliability. Paul Brewster, CEO at Flooring Hut comments "For those seeking the latest in flooring design and style, 2024 will bring a wealth of options to explore. Whether you're looking to embrace sustainability, create a timeless look with classic patterns, or experiment with modern materials, this year's trends have something for every taste and lifestyle”. In the spirit of the New Year, Flooring Hut envisions a year of growth, collaboration, and continued success. The company is excited to embark on this journey, navigating the evolving landscape with resilience, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. As Flooring Hut looks forward to the opportunities that 2024 presents, the company extends warm wishes to all for a prosperous and fulfilling year ahead. About Flooring Hut We are a trusted provider of top-quality flooring solutions, including carpets, wood flooring, LVT flooring, and more. Committed to customer satisfaction, Flooring Hut offers expert advice and a wide selection of flooring options to suit every style and budget. Read the full article

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Ahh the bedroom, for many is the haven in their home - it’s the place they go to drift off to sleep after a tough day at work. It’s a room that represents comfort, cosiness, and relaxation and to achieve this you have to get the right flooring. Flooring plays an important role in our bedrooms and it can be tricky trying to choose the right one. I want to help and remove some of that difficulty and below I look at how to choose the best flooring for bedrooms including considerations like softness, noise reduction, and allergens. Comfort and Softness Although the bedroom isn’t one of the most used rooms in terms of foot traffic, we spend a lot of time in there asleep so we still want to be comfortable! There’s nothing worse than waking up in the morning to rush to the toilet only to dance over your ice-cold bedroom floor! Therefore, think about which flooring options are the softest and give the best insulation for your bedroom. Carpet excels here as it’s considered one of the warmest flooring types but LVT flooring and area rugs are great too. Aesthetics & Design Options Most people want their bedroom to look fantastic and have a particular style or aesthetic when designing it. This has to continue with the flooring and although comfort is important, don’t overlook the style either. LVT rigid core flooring, hardwood, and engineered flooring work great in virtually any scenario and can match multiple bedroom decors. Carpet can be trickier, but it is available in a wider range of colours and patterns so you can mix and match easier. Noise Reduction I’d estimate that 90% of bedrooms in the UK are not on the ground floor of a house - it’s just a common layout feature. Bedrooms are usually upstairs, while the kitchen and living room are often on the ground floor. Because of this, you have to consider noise reduction when choosing the best flooring for bedrooms. No one wants to hear you stomping around in your bedroom at night! Carpet again is great for soundproofing and LVT flooring and laminate have some sound dampening too. Typically, hardwood flooring and tiles are considered to be the worst for noise reduction as they can echo and footsteps are usually louder. Resisting Stains and Allergens As we spend long periods asleep in our bedrooms, it’s important to consider allergens and how the flooring helps suppress them. Typically, carpets are one of the worst options for allergens as they can get trapped in the carpet fibres easily and linger. In contrast, smooth floors like LVT flooring, hardwood, engineered wood and tiles provide little to no crevasses and cracks for allergens to be harboured and are great if you suffer from allergies. Budget Considerations When re-decorating or upgrading the flooring in any room you have to work to a budget and most people don’t have unlimited funds to spend. Laminate and carpet are usually the cheapest options with LVT flooring being slightly more expensive. Hardwood floors and tiles are typically the most expensive. However, with all these flooring options, the cost can vary greatly depending on the quality, thickness, style, and other factors. For example, you could easily pay as much as a basic hardwood floor if you choose a carpet made from high-end materials and with a thicker pile. Popular Bedroom Flooring Options To finish, let’s look at a few of the best flooring for bedrooms with their pros and cons. Vinyl Flooring LVT flooring is a great option as you can mimic hardwood or stone flooring but benefit from improved comfort, padding, and soundproofing. LVT flooring is easy to install too as many types can be self-installed without the need for adhesive. Carpet Next to vinyl flooring, bedroom carpet is the best flooring. It’s comfortable to walk on, provides improved insulation and warmth, and is available in a huge range of styles, colours, and depths to match your bedroom decor. Hardwood Hardwood flooring looks luxurious and is the best option for style but it has its problems and is one of the coldest options for bedrooms with poor noise reduction. Area Rugs If you want to negate some of the drawbacks of hardwood and vinyl flooring you can add an area rug which acts like a mini carpet. An area rug can improve soundproofing and make your bedroom warmer and more comfortable. Laminate Laminate is more often used in kitchens and bathrooms but it can be suitable as a budget option for children’s bedrooms because of the increased wear and tear. Transform Your Bedroom With The Right Flooring Option So, to summarize, to choose the best flooring for bedrooms you have to consider comfort, style, cost, soundproofing, and health. Carpet, LVT flooring and area rugs work fantastic in bedrooms for those who favour comfort and usability whereas hardwood flooring, tiles, and engineered wood floors are better if you want to make a statement and want the ultimate stylish bedroom. Read the full article

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Karndean flooring is a type of LVT flooring known for its quality, durability, and easy maintenance. If you are looking for a robust flooring solution then this is it. But, what most people forget is that you do have to put effort in to keep your flooring clean! Therefore, in this guide, I look at how to clean Karndean flooring including exploring its properties, and a simple cleaning routine you can work into your everyday schedule. Composition and Surface Characteristics Let’s take a look at the composition of Karndean flooring and its innate characteristics before learning how to clean Karndean flooring. This type of LVT is made from five different layers including: - 2 PVC backing layers. - 1x high-definition aesthetic layer. - 1x clear PVC embossed wear layer. - 1x PU protective layer. The backing layers add depth and durability and allow things like adhesive to be added if needed for installation. Next, the high-definition aesthetic layer is what contains the printed pattern and colors. For example, you can get click Karndean flooring that emulates real wood or stone. Ontop of this there is an embossed PVC wear layer which further improves the durability and what gives resistance to foot traffic. Lastly, there is a top PU protective layer which gives the waterproofing and protection against things like UV rays. So, for cleaning, Karndean flooring is relatively simple - it has a smooth surface so hoovering, dusting, and mopping are all easy. Additionally, it’s waterproof so you can comfortably use a mop and water without risk of damaging the flooring. Everyday Cleaning Routine Dirt, grime, and spills are typically more visible on LVT flooring like Karndean as opposed to flooring like carpets. Therefore, where possible, I advise cleaning your Karndean flooring daily. The process takes between 5-10 minutes so don’t worry about losing hours of your day cleaning! We can separate the process into three parts - dusting, mopping, and drying. Part 1 - Dusting / Hoovering I see many people mopping their floors directly without dusting or hoovering first. Don’t do this! It’s important to try and get all the debris and dirt up first so that it doesn’t get trapped in your mop. You can use either a soft-bristled brush or a vacuum cleaner to dust your Karndean floor and prepare it for mopping. If you are using a vacuum, check the manufacturer's guidelines to make sure that it is suitable for use with LVT flooring. Part 2 - Mopping Once you have dusted the floor it is now ready to mop. You can mop simply with hot water, but using a pH-neutral cleaning agent will yield better results and help remove any tough stains. Use approximately 50ml of cleaning solution to 8-10 liters of water and gently mop your floor. Make sure that you wring off excess water before applying your mop to the floor. Although Karndean flooring is waterproof, you don’t want to needlessly splash excess water onto the tiles as it will increase the drying time. You may find that you need to apply more pressure to remove tough stains and if they don’t budget, try using a non-abrasive pad and scrub the floor by hand in the stained areas. Part 3 - Drying Because of the smooth top surface of Karndean flooring, it is more slippery compared to carpet. As a result, you have to let it dry thoroughly before walking on the floor again. Let the flooring dry naturally and don’t try to dry it by hand as this could cause smearing. As you need to let it dry, consider when you want to mop the floor too. Ideally, you want to do it at a time when you know no one will want to walk on the floor and potentially undo your hard work! Periodic Refreshing When looking at how to clean Karndean flooring you have to consider periodic refreshments too. If you clean your floor daily or several times a week you can keep it in great condition. However, every so often, we advise “refreshing” your floor to help it keep its luster and original quality. This should be done once a year or every 18 months depending on the foot traffic and how much wear and tear the floor is subject to. For Karndean flooring, there is a special refreshing kit you can buy which includes a removal solution to get rid of floor polish and dirt, and a refresh solution that revitalized the protective layer. Keep Your Karndean Flooring Looking Immaculate With Regular Cleaning Although Karndean flooring has some inherent qualities such as durability, a PU protective layer, and waterproofing, you still have to take care of it and clean it regularly. Creating a regular cleaning routine including hoovering, dusting, and mopping will make sure that your LVT flooring always looks immaculate and as good as the day it was installed. Read the full article

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If you suffer from allergies you know how debilitating they can be which is why it’s important to take extra care when making home improvements. While we often think about the furniture, coverings, and things like air fresheners, what about the flooring? I find this is often overlooked but the floors in your home can be a harbor for allergens so you have to get the decision right and look at the best flooring for allergies. This is what I take a look at below including the common types of allergens in flooring, and the top hypoallergenic options to reduce the reactions you experience. Common Allergens in Flooring Let’s start by looking at the common allergens found in flooring that could cause a reaction for people suffering from conditions like hayfever or asthma: - Dust - Mold - Pollen - Pet dander - Grass - Dirt - Mildew Some of these allergens such as pollen, grass, and dirt are brought in from the outside and are difficult to avoid as they can cling to our shoes and clothes. Similarly, things like dust and pet dander accumulate naturally and are a by-product of human or animal presence in homes. Allergens like mold and mildew can be avoided with proper cleaning and house maintenance and these are rare to find in your flooring. Hypoallergenic Flooring Options To combat the above you need to pick the best flooring for allergies and this starts with a simple premise - flat flooring with a lack of crevasses is better suited for those with allergies as the allergens can’t get trapped easily and can be dusted or hoovered up quicker. You essentially need a flooring type that is easy to clean, but that can also be cleaned thoroughly. Easy-to-clean surfaces allow you to get rid of allergens quicker and minimize the chance of allergic reactions. Carpet Considerations In most instances, carpet is the worst option for those with allergies. This is because of the pile and the individual carpet threads - they provide a safe harbor for allergens and even with the most thorough hoovering, allergens can remain trapped in the carpet pile. The key, however, is the carpet depth. A living room carpet, for example, with a relatively shallow pile is easier to hoover and will be better for people with allergies compared to a deep pile carpet. So, you can use carpets, but stay away from deep pile options. Vinyl and Allergies LVT flooring is fantastic for those suffering from allergies. This flooring is made primarily from vinyl with a top wear layer. It is supplied either in planks or tiles and they lock together to form a smooth flooring finish. Because of this smooth finish, there is no place for the allergens to get trapped and they will simply sit on the surface. Combine this with the ease with which you can clean vinyl flooring and you can keep the allergens at bay. Hardwood Flooring and Allergies Like LVT flooring, wood flooring is a great option for those suffering from allergies because of its smooth finish. Hardwood flooring is typically made from materials like oak or maple and is installed in planks. The smooth top layer allows allergens to be quickly removed, but it is not quite as smooth as LVT. There can be gaps between the planks, and depending on the wood, it can have features like knots and divots where allergens could linger. Laminate Flooring for Allergy Sufferers Laminate flooring is essentially a cheaper version of LVT flooring and it is also one of the best choices for those suffering from allergies. It is available in a wide range of styles and patterns and often mimics traditional hardwood or stone floors. The durability is not quite as good as LVT, but it’s inexpensive and one of the most affordable flooring options. Because of the tight interlocking tiles or planks and the smooth top layer, it repels allergens too, and is easy to clean. Tile and Allergy Concerns Ceramic or porcelain tiles are a good choice too, particularly in rooms like kitchens, conservatories, and bathrooms. The tiles are especially durable and can withstand UV rays, moisture, and spills. For allergies, tiles benefit from a smooth top layer compared to something like carpet and they are one of the easiest floor types to clean. The downside is that they are also one of the coldest flooring types and are usually more expensive than things like LVT, carpet, and laminate. Combat Your Allergies With the Right Flooring Type With the best flooring for allergies, you will be surprised at the positive effect it has. Options such as LVT flooring and laminate give allergens nowhere to hide which means you should experience fewer reactions and feel healthier in your home. Read the full article

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The living room is the focal point of the household for many families in the UK. We sit here to watch TV, play board games here on the coffee table, and even eat meals or relax with a drink. Because of the importance of the living room, it’s important to make it feel comfortable and inviting and in this guide, I look at how to make your living room cosy. This includes simple tips like choosing carpets for living rooms, the decor, and adding personal elements. 1. Make Your Living Room Private Privacy improves cosiness and gives you a greater feeling of security. Perhaps you have a large window in your living room? Without proper covering, this can greatly reduce the privacy of your living room - especially if your house is positioned on a main road where plenty of people walk by. A dual combination of blinds and curtains can block the outside world out and make your living room infinitely cosier. 2. Use Fresh and Uplifting Scents Scented candles, incense sticks and potpourri are the way forward in your living room and while I wouldn’t add them to an essential living room checklist, they enhance the cosiness infinitely. When choosing scents and fragrances for your living room, try and stick with fresh and uplifting scents as opposed to heavy, musky scents. 3. Do You Need to Use the Overhead Light? I can count the times I’ve used my living room overhead light on one hand! Instead, when it gets dark I switch on the lamp in the corner of the room. Using an overhead light greatly reduces the cosiness of your living room and makes everything bright and stark. In contrast, using side lights or a lamp gives you the light you need while keeping that intimate and cosy feel. 4. Look at the Seating Arrangement If your seating arrangement is spread out with sofas or chairs at the opposite ends of your living room, it can make the space feel empty and uninviting. Instead, try and make a cohesive arrangement where the seats are closer together. The key is to strike a balance between cosiness and practicality with walkways and floor space. 5. Consider Your Colour Schemes I get that light is important in your living room so many people choose white as the main colour for their walls. This works, and it certainly makes your living room feel fresher, but the lack of warmth and colour can also reduce the cosiness of the room. Instead of white, stick with lighter colours, but consider something like beige or magnolia or even something warmer like a creamy-yellow. This subtle hint of warm colours can improve the cosiness greatly while still making the room feel light and fresh. 6. Sentimental Items Add a Personal Touch In my living room, I've got a few sentimental items such as canvases containing photos I’ve taken, and a couple of ornaments from my parents. Having small items like these make your living room cosier and much more personal. Oftentimes we fill our living room with generic decorations and ornaments and this can feel a little sterile so add that personal touch instead. These personal items can stir fond memories but also serve as a talking point for guests. 7. Add Natural Elements and Greenery If you are a nature fan you can kit your living room out with greenery and natural elements. The simplest thing to do is to place some pot plants on places like your mantlepiece or windowsills. Many people created dedicated shelving on their living room walls too where they hang additional plants. Having flowers and plants in your living room makes it inviting but also gives points of interest to look at. If you don’t want the hassle of trying to keep the plants alive, buy fake ones! 8. Reduce Sharp Lines and Edges This is a more subtle tip but can be especially effective. Did you know that sharp lines and edges can make a room feel less cosy and comfortable? It’s true! If your living room has sharp edges and lines it can feel cold and clinical - more like a surgeon than somewhere to relax! Instead, look for furniture with rounded edges, and try to break up sharp lines. Make Your Living Room a Haven of Comfort With These Tips I hope you have some food for thought on how to make your living room cosy and the above tips are all simple to implement. Maybe it’s time to take a trip to a home store and buy a few plants, or make your living room look warmer with a fresh coat of paint. Whatever you do, do what you are comfortable with and make your living room work for your family! Read the full article

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Unveiling the Hottest UK Flooring Trends of 2024 Worthing, 7th November 2023 – Flooring Hut, a leading provider of top-quality flooring solutions, is excited to unveil the hottest flooring trends in the UK for 2024. As the world of interior design and home improvement continues to evolve, so do the flooring trends that shape our living spaces. In 2024, we predict homeowners and designers will be embracing a diverse range of styles and materials to create stunning and functional floors. From sustainable options to classic patterns with a modern twist, next year's flooring trends offer something for everyone. Sustainable Flooring Takes Centre Stage: In an era of heightened environmental awareness, sustainability is key. Materials like bamboo, cork, reclaimed wood, and recycled products have become sought-after choices for those who want to make eco-conscious decisions in their homes. Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP): Affordable, durable, and boasting realistic wood or stone appearances, LVP continues to dominate the flooring scene. Its moisture resistance makes it ideal for areas like kitchens and bathrooms. Wide Plank Hardwood: Wide planks create a sense of spaciousness and modernity in any room. With a variety of wood species, finishes, and textures, homeowners can achieve their desired aesthetic. Herringbone and Chevron Patterns: Classic patterns reimagined with various materials, such as hardwood, tile, and laminate, add elegance and visual interest to floors. Dark and Moody Floors: Dark-coloured flooring, including deep hardwood stains and black tiles, are being used to create a dramatic and sophisticated ambiance. Patterned Tiles: Encaustic and geometric tiles add a touch of uniqueness and visual appeal to floors in bathrooms, kitchens, and entryways. Carpet Tiles for Versatility: Modular carpet tiles are a practical choice, offering flexibility and easy maintenance for spaces that require adaptability. A wide range of patterns and colours ensures they fit any design. Mixed Materials for Creativity: Combining different flooring materials within the same space, such as wood and tile, allows homeowners and designers to create distinct zones and enhance visual interest. For those seeking the latest in flooring design and style, 2024 will bring a wealth of options to explore. Whether you're looking to embrace sustainability, create a timeless look with classic patterns, or experiment with modern materials, next year's trends have something for every taste and lifestyle. About Flooring Hut Flooring Hut is a trusted provider of top-quality flooring solutions, including carpets, hardwood, vinyl, and more. Committed to customer satisfaction, Flooring Hut offers expert advice and a wide selection of flooring options to suit every style and budget. Read the full article

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The kitchen is one of the most-used rooms in the house - we prepare food here, stand and chat, and many people have a kitchen/dining room combo with a dining table where meals are eaten. Aside from the living room, it is often described as the focal point of the house, so a decision like choosing the kitchen flooring is especially important. Because of the high usage and potential for spills and heavy drops, the best flooring for kitchen areas should be robust, durable, and easy to maintain. But which are considered the most popular flooring types and how can you choose the right one? I take a look at this in the below guide - enjoy! Popular Kitchen Flooring Options To get right into it, let’s take a look at the most popular kitchen flooring options including vinyl, tile, and laminate to name a few examples. Vinyl Flooring LVT flooring is especially durable, easy to install and is available in a wide range of patterns and styles that mimic wood, stone, and concrete. These are available as planks or tiles and oftentimes can be installed without professional help. Hardwood Flooring Wood flooring is made from solid wood such as oak, maple, and hickory. This flooring looks incredible but is usually the most expensive choice and more difficult to maintain. Tile Flooring Traditional ceramic tiles look fantastic and have a great variety of colours and styles. The harder materials they are made from make them durable, but this also means they can be prone to chips and damage. Laminate Flooring Laminate flooring is usually the cheapest kitchen flooring option available but it offers a diverse range of colours, styles, and patterns, and the maintenance is excellent. Cork Flooring Cork flooring is relatively cheap and gives your kitchen a more rustic look. It’s great for maintenance and if you want a flooring with minimum upkeep it’s a great choice. Engineered Wood Flooring Engineered wood flooring is cheaper than hardwood flooring as it has a top layer of solid wood, but a core of cheaper compressed wooden fibres. Durability and Resistance Kitchen floors are perhaps the most prone to wear and tear, spills, and damage. Meals are prepared in the kitchen and food and liquids can easily be spilt. Also, it’s not uncommon to drop things like dishes, saucepans, and cutlery - I smashed a plate only last week on my kitchen floor! This increased chance of drops and spills can damage floors easily. Therefore, if you are prone to clumsiness, you may want to invest in a flooring type that doesn’t dent or scratch as easily such as vinyl or laminate. Maintenance Considerations Due to the high usage of kitchen floors, you have to consider the maintenance too. How easy is the flooring type to clean? For example, LVT click flooring is one of the easiest types to clean as you can lightly mop it and wipe away stains in seconds. In contrast, hardwood flooring can soak up stains and tile flooring scratches and dents much easier than vinyl or laminate. You have to select the best flooring for kitchen areas that you can easily maintain and that fits with your usage levels. Style and Aesthetics Everyone wants their kitchen flooring to look good so style and aesthetics play a huge role in the decision-making process too. I find that a great starting point is looking at your kitchen units and decor to see what colour scheme you want to use and which floor colour would work the best. For example, if you have darker wood kitchen units, you may want a lighter flooring option that adds a little contrast. With a colour scheme decided, you should be able to narrow down the suitable flooring options. Hardwood, cork, and engineered wood flooring are more limited in terms of colour options as they typically reflect natural wood colours. In contrast, vinyl and laminate flooring can mimic a range of styles including wood, stone, and concrete and thus usually have a wider range of colours and patterns. Budget Considerations Cost is always sadly a consideration and most people have a set budget to work to. This is unavoidable and if you are looking for a budget option, traditional laminate flooring is considered the best option. Vinyl flooring is also budget-friendly without sacrificing quality, while hardwood flooring is one of the most expensive options but offers the best longevity and durability. Find The Right Kitchen Flooring Solution for Your Needs I hope you are now more informed and have some insight into choosing the best flooring for kitchen areas. There is no definitive answer and you have to look at factors like cost, suitability, and who lives in your household. With these things in mind, you should be able to select the right flooring that gives value for money and will withstand your family usage. Read the full article

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Most homes have a hallway and it usually takes a battering as it’s typically joined with one or two outside doors, and connects multiple rooms in your house. Therefore, choosing the right flooring for your hallway is important and this is what I discuss below. Impact of Foot Traffic on Flooring Durability Hallways are naturally some of the busiest places in our houses as they typically connect the most important rooms in our homes. For example, many houses have a downstairs hallway that leads from the front door to the living room, kitchen, and stairs. Moreover, most upstairs have a hallway that connects the stairs, bedrooms, and bathroom. As a result, they are constantly walked on by multiple people which places far greater wear and tear compared to rooms like a bathroom, kitchen, and bedrooms. To make the right choice, think about the number of people in your house, where the hallways are situated, and how foot traffic compares to other rooms. You should then be able to see how important factors like durability and wear resistance are. Durability and Wear Resistance The most important consideration when choosing the best flooring for hallway areas is the durability and wear resistance. As mentioned above, hallways naturally see a lot of foot traffic which means the flooring wears quicker. In terms of durability, LVT flooring and wood floors are excellent. LVT flooring, for example, has a special wear layer on the top which helps reduce damage and protect the flooring. Similarly, the natural toughness and robustness of hardwood or engineered wood floors can resist plenty of foot traffic too. In contrast, carpet is quite durable and lasts for years, but in a location like the hallway, the pile and density of the carpet will soon get squashed. Additionally, carpets stain easier and are more difficult to clean compared to LVT and hardwood so this reduces their effectiveness, especially if people accidentally trample dirt from their shoes as they walk into the hallway. Size and Layout of Hallways I also advise considering the layout and size of your hallway as this could affect the suitability of certain floor types. Oftentimes hallways have a strange shape with lots of inserts from the various doorways. If you have an irregular-shaped hallway you have to consider the flooring patterns and how they would look. Also, consider how the flooring works and if it can easily be cut and shaped to fit your hallway shape. For example, it is easier to cut carpet to fit around strange angles and corners than it is to shape hardwood flooring. Hallway Flooring Options The above factors should already show you the benefits of particular types of flooring for hallways, but below, I outline some of my top pickles together with their pros and cons. Luxury Vinyl Flooring LVT flooring is a top option for hallways as it is durable with its versatile wear layer, is easy to install, and is available in a range of styles and patterns that emulate different materials like wood, stone, and concrete. It’s perfect for high traffic areas and the planks or tiles can be cut easily to fit in irregular hallways. Hardwood Flooring Hardwood flooring is a luxury option and it offers the most stylish option for your hallway. The durable wood can resist heavy foot traffic, but you have to be careful of scratches and marks. Also, real hardwood floors are typically much more expensive compared to LVT alternatives. Carpets Carpet is the best flooring for hallway areas if you want warmth and comfort as it offers far more padding and insulation compared to hard flooring. Carpets can also easily be cut to shape from the rolls to fit around the various doorways in your hallway. The downside is that they wear easier and are not as durable for intense foot traffic. Tile Flooring Tiles are quite popular in hallways as they are incredibly easy to clean and are some of the most durable flooring types to resist the intense wear and tear from hallway foot traffic. Tiles can also be cut relatively easily to fit an irregular-shaped hallway, but because of their quality and the materials (such as ceramic), they are a more expensive option. Area Rugs If you are keen on having a hard flooring type like LVT, hardwoods, or laminate but still want a little comfort and warmth in your hallways you could always use an area rug. These rugs typically cover a larger floor area and add a welcomed contrast and dash of colour to your hallways. The great thing is, is that depending on the type they can also be washed to eliminate dirt and scuffs. Laminate Flooring Laminate flooring is a cheaper alternative to LVT flooring and has similar qualities such as decent resistance to wear and tear. It’s typically supplied in rolls or sheets so it has the slight advantage of being easier to shape around irregular hallways like carpets. However, the downside is that the quality is typically less than LVT so it may not last as long. Combat Foot Traffic With the Right Hallway Flooring Hallway flooring can be tricky to choose because you have to emphasize functionality but you still want it to look great too. Hopefully, with the tips and considerations I’ve provided you can select the best floor for hallway areas for your house! Read the full article

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Have you ever felt that your living room looks a little small or feels a little cramped? This is a common occurrence and many homeowners have to deal with limited floor space in their rooms. You can fit this though and give yourself more space, but also make your living room look bigger. In the below guide, I give 8 simple tips on how to make a living room look bigger including furniture placement, colours, and de-cluttering. After reading this article, you should be able to transform your living room and maximize its potential. 1. Get Rid of the Clutter! The first thing to do when looking at how to make a living room bigger is to declutter! Over time we collect objects and ornaments and our houses can become overcrowded with junk. Take an inventory of your living room and see what items you can move elsewhere or get rid of. A solid decluttering session can work wonders and give you a strong foundation to work from. 2. Utilize Smart Storage Solutions If you can use integrated storage solutions such as in your furniture or your walls this gives you much more space to work with. You take items away from the floor or walls and instead hide them which makes your living room look cleaner and spacious. 3. Use the Same Colour for the Walls and Ceiling If you use a different colour for your walls and ceiling you are creating an immediate barrier and line and this makes corners and space more noticeable. Instead, using the same colour for your walls, ceiling, and carpet makes the space seem less defined and blurred and those harsh edges disappear. You can take a look at living room carpets for inspiration in terms of colours. 4. Make Use of Reflective Surfaces and Objects This is an especially old trick but it works! Reflective surfaces such as mirrors create the impression of more space. I’ve got a large mirror above my fireplace in my living room for example and it works wonders. Aside from mirrors, reflective surfaces in general can help make your living room look bigger so don’t simply go for matte finishes that absorb light. 5. Place Furniture Strategically I can guarantee that most people with smaller living rooms will simply try and cram their furniture against the walls to give them more floor space. While this works in theory, it also shows clearly that you have a small room! Instead, place your furniture strategically and don’t be afraid to bring it out from the walls and place it centrally. When looking at how to make a living room bigger, the key is to live in denial and pretend you have a larger room to work with! 6. Try to Avoid Blocking Views The last thing you want to do in a living room with limited space is to segment it and block areas off from view. This could be via tall furniture such as shelving that is protruding out from walls for example. By blocking lines and minimizing views you are playing into the small floor space and making your living room feel even smaller. Try to remove objects that reduce light and block views so that your living room appears open and larger. 7. Don’t Overlook Shelving If you do want to make use of ornaments, instead of using side cabinets or big storage units, why not erect shelves on your walls? Shelving takes items away from the floor and moves them to the walls. This not only gives you more floor space to work with, but it also makes the room feel bigger. Consider using an array of vertical shelves on your walls too as verticality helps create the illusion of height and space. 8. Choose Your Colours Carefully It’s a fact that some colours give the illusion of depth and greater space, while others make a room feel claustrophobic. Yellow, green, white, and grey are fantastic colours for adding depth to your living room but which one you choose depends on the natural light and theme you want to achieve. White or off-white works in any situation and helps make your living room feel light, airy, and spacious. Yellow tones can also add depth and make your living room feel inviting and cosy. Make a Small Space Feel Immense With These Tips As you can see, even a small living room can feel huge, comfortable, and inviting and a limited floor space poses no barrier! It’s a simple case of thinking logically about things like furniture placement, colours, and lines and enhancing what you already have. While it’s not possible to physically increase the space, the trick for how to make a living room look bigger is to create the illusion of space! Read the full article

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The bathroom is a functional room - it’s not typically a room we relax in unless you are enjoying a soak in the bath! This means that the flooring has to be functional too - especially with the higher moisture content and constant use of water. I understand it can be difficult to choose the best flooring for bathroom areas and I want to make your decision easier. Below, I take a look at important considerations to select your bathroom floor, and three of the most suitable options. Consider Moisture Resistant Options The number one factor for bathroom flooring is moisture resistance. Even a well-ventilated bathroom has a higher moisture content and humidity compared to any other room in your house. Bathrooms are also prone to condensation build up which can eventually leak onto your flooring and cause water damage. This means that you have to invest in the best flooring for bathroom areas that can cope with those moisture levels. The problem is compounded if you have babies or toddlers who love to splash and cause tidal waves in the bath! Best Bathroom Flooring Options I would not recommend real wood flooring options for bathrooms such as hardwood floors and engineered wood flooring. This is because the increase moisture content and potential for water contact can cause swelling and distort the shape of the floor. Engineered wood flooring is usually more water-resistant, and swelling and distortion can be reduced with a special treatment, but this adds to the cost and it usually makes wood flooring too expensive for a bathroom. Instead, my preferred options are vinyl, tiles, and laminate. Vinyl Flooring Luxury Vinyl Flooring is a fantastic bathroom flooring option for several reasons. Firstly, it is water-resistant and copes better with the higher moisture levels of bathrooms. Spills can be mopped easily, and our rigid core LVT and other types can be self-installed without professional assistance. You can get vinyl floor tiles and planks in a range of styles that emulate wood, stone, and concrete flooring and in terms of cost it’s usually much cheaper than hardwood and engineered wood flooring. Tile Flooring Ceramic tiles are the best flooring for bathroom areas if you want durability and ease of maintenance. Like vinyl flooring, ceramic tiles are waterproof and do not suffer any distortion from spills and excess moisture content. From a style perspective, you can use matching tiles for your floor and bathroom walls for a unified look too which isn’t possible with other flooring types. The downside is that ceramic tiles are typically more expensive, and have to be professionally installed. Laminate Flooring Laminate flooring is the cheapest option and it has a decent level of water-resistance. Laminate flooring is usually supplied in rolls or sheets and then cut to fit around the fixtures in your bathroom. It does an adequate job although some people say that it looks cheaper than LVT and ceramic tile options. Slip Resistance and Safety Most bathrooms are small with the average size in the UK being around 2m x 2m squared. Despite this, there is still an increased chance for slips and hazards because of the higher moisture content and the chance for water to pool on the floor. Carpet would be an ideal solution for slips, but carpets just aren’t practical in bathrooms because they would surfer horrendous water damage. Instead, you have to look at the slip resistance and safety qualities of the appropriate flooring types. Sheet vinyl and laminate work great here with the top wear layer adding some protection and safety. Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance Bathroom floors get wet and they can stay wet for prolonged periods. I somehow manage to trail water all over my bathroom floor simply by getting out of the shower! It’s unavoidable so you need to choose a flooring type that you can easily clean and wipe away the excess water. LVT, tiles, and laminate perform great in this area again as their smooth top surface can be wiped easily, and the moisture-resistance means that water doesn’t soak into the flooring. Installation Considerations For installation, the best flooring for bathroom areas is one that matches your skill level and budget. For example, if you have decent DIY skills, you could opt for click LVT flooring as it requires no adhesive and you can lay it yourself. Alternatively, something like ceramic tiles are harder to install and typically need a professional fixer which bumps up the labour costs. Find a Suitable Bathroom Flooring That is Practical and Stylish Moreso than any other room, to find the best flooring for bathroom areas you have to look at the safety, practicality, and style. Bathrooms have a higher moisture content and water can easily be spilled on the floor. Therefore, the flooring type should be moisture-resistant, easy to wipe spilled water from, and minimize slips. This makes options like LVT flooring and tiles excellent choices. Read the full article

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Oftentimes more thought is given to the structure, glass, and furniture in a conservatory, but what about the flooring? Conservatory flooring is especially important due to the weather and temperature conditions compared to other rooms in your home. If you choose the wrong flooring, it could fade quickly or get moisture damage for example. Below, I look at the best flooring for conservatory extensions together with some key factors to consider such as sunlight, moisture, and aesthetic choices. Sunlight and Temperature Considerations The point of a conservatory is to be a place where you can relax, get closer to the outdoors, and enjoy the sunlight. This means that most conservatories are prominently made from glass with a UPVC frame. As a result, the contents of a conservatory including the flooring are subject to a near constant barrage of sunlight and UV rays. You therefore need to choose a flooring type that is UV-resistant and won't fade easily. Also consider the temperature as conservatories are usually especially hot during the summer, but can be incredibly cold in the winter. You want flooring that neutralizes those extremes in temperature if possible. Moisture and Humidity Resistance Conservatories are also subject to differing moisture and humidity levels and they can be prone to condensation. Because of this, you need a flooring type that has some degree of water resistance such as LVT flooring or ceramic tiles. It may mean that other flooring types like carpets are not suitable because they can absorb moisture and get damaged easily. Coordinating Flooring With Conservatory Design Although practicality should be your first consideration, I get that you want your conservatory to look fantastic too which is why you have to consider the aesthetics and style of your flooring. Typically, conservatories are light as they feature plenty of glass and white UPVC frames which is why a darker flooring option to add a little contrast could be a great option. Wood or stone effect flooring such as LVT is available in a myriad of colors and patterns that contrast perfectly with the light nature of conservatories for example. Also, think about the furniture you have and how this will fit your flooring choice. Aesthetics and style are the parts you can have some fun with! Best Flooring for Conservatories Some types of flooring work brilliantly in conservatories while others just don’t work like carpet. Below, I have listed my top picks for the best flooring for conservatory extensions. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) LVT flooring is available in tiles or planks and is made mainly from vinyl with a protective top wear layer and a solid vinyl core. This is the best flooring for conservatory areas due to its versatility. It offers water resistance and UV protection so it won’t fade or get damaged easily by moisture. Additionally, LVT flooring is warmer than stone floors or ceramic tiles, and it is available in designs that mimic wood, stone, and concrete floors. You can easily get a style to match your conservatory decor. Porcelain or Ceramic Tiles Tiles are another great choice because of their durability and resistance to water damage and UV damage. They are one of the most durable flooring types and offer better durability than LVT flooring. The downside is that during the winter they are incredibly cold and don’t do anything to make your conservatory warmer. Engineered Wood Flooring Compared to traditional hardwood flooring, engineered wood flooring is a cheaper alternative. It has a solid wood top and bottom layer, but an engineered wood core made from cheaper materials. This means you still get a fantastic look and it is one of the more stylish options for your conservatory. The downside is that because the floor is real wood, it is subject to water damage as it can seep into the planks and cause warping. Stone Flooring Stone flooring is one of the more expensive options but like tiles, it offers some of the best durability to combat the sunlight and harsher conditions of conservatories. Stone floors are also easy to clean when people potentially trample dirt in from the garden! Like tiles, stone flooring can be especially cold in autumn and winter which could limit the usability of your conservatory during these seasons. Bamboo Flooring Bamboo flooring serves as an alternative to engineered wood flooring and it has the benefit of being water-resistant so it shouldn’t warp. The downside is the limited color palette and patterns compared to other types of conservatory flooring. Finish Your Conservatory With the Right Flooring Due to the extreme variances in temperatures and humidity, plus the sun exposure, it’s especially important to choose the best flooring for conservatory extensions. You need a durable flooring type, can withstand UV rays, but also enhances the aesthetics of the room and makes it comfortable regardless of the season. Read the full article

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Click vinyl flooring is a versatile flooring option that has the benefit of being relatively easy to install compared to other flooring types. It does require a little skill and effort, but by following this guide on how to lay click vinyl flooring, anyone can do it! What is Click Vinyl Flooring? Vinyl flooring or LVT flooring is made into planks or tiles and is primarily constructed from vinyl. It is usually a multi-layered product that has a transparent wear layer, an aesthetic layer that contains the pattern and colour, and a core layer. Some LVT flooring also includes an underlay layer or backing. Click vinyl flooring is a type of floating floor that can be installed without the need for adhesive. Instead, the tiles or planks simply lock together, and by leaving a small expansion gap between the wall and outlet layer of the tiles, the floor will expand with heat to fill the space and remain fixed in place. Preparing the Subfloor Your subfloor must be in great condition and while the underlay importance in LVT is debated, preparing your subfloor is not. If your subfloor is uneven or littered with debris, the click LVT flooring may not install properly or could eventually warp. First, remove all furniture in the room so the floor is unobstructed. Secondly, make sure your subfloor is clean - dust and hoover it to remove any debris that could make the planks uneven. Next, check the levelling of the subfloor. Ideally, it should be within 3/16-inch over 10ft. If you find uneven spots over or under this threshold, you will need to use a self-leveling solution. Planning and Layout You shouldn’t start laying your click LVT without prior planning and layout considerations. Many homes have irregular shape rooms and over time, walls can become bowed which can affect the installation. You need to make a starting point for your flooring that is square with the room. I recommend measuring the length of each wall and calculating the floor space you need to cover. This lets you know how many tiles or planks you need. You can also see if any cutting is required to fit the final rows in. Removing Skirting Boards You can’t install your vinyl flooring without removing the skirting boards first. This is because you have to be able to see the walls so that you can line the tiles or planks properly and get the required expansion gap. To remove the baseboards or skirting boards you will need to prise them away using a flat tool like a chisel. They should prise away with a little force but make sure you are gentle to avoid snapping them or damaging the material with the tool. Installing Click Vinyl Flooring With a rough layout and quantity established for your click LVT flooring, you can lay the first row. It’s important to start from one corner and wall of the room and make the first row perfect. If you mess the first row up, this will cause issues for the rest of the installation. You must always follow the manufacturer's instructions (for example, for Amtico's Click Smart range) and they should provide rough guidelines for joining the tiles and setting up the first row. This usually involves scoring and cutting the tongue from the first row and laying it against the wall while maintaining the recommended expansion gap. The next row must then be staggered by a minimum of 6 inches so that the ends of the tiles or planks are not aligned row to row. This typically means that you have to cut the first tile of the second row and make it shorter. It’s then a simple process of laying the click LVT flooring row-by-row. Make sure that you maintain the expansion gap between the wall and the outer tiles as you progress. Finishing Touches and Maintenance The final row can be tricky as this often requires cutting lengthways but the tiles are usually easy to cut with an initial scoring to penetrate the vinyl. Once the entire floor is installed, check your work and make sure that there is still a sufficient expansion gap. Also, check the interlocking of the planks or tiles to make sure they are all flat and are joined properly. Once you are satisfied with the installation you can re-install any skirting boards that you removed initially. Become a DIY Expert and Install Your Click Vinyl Flooring I hope you have found this guide on how to lay click vinyl flooring useful. If you are confident you can save money on installation costs and easily do the work yourself. The process does require patience and planning, but providing you prepare your subfloor, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and get the first row set perfectly, your click vinyl flooring should look superb! Read the full article