What’s the ideal flooring for sunny rooms?

With the summer months now upon us, UK homes are seeing an increasing amount of sunlight enter their rooms. While not a vast number of properties here in Britain boast a dedicated sunroom, most residences will have one or two living spaces that enjoy the best of the day’s rays. These rooms are lighter and brighter than other areas around the house, but while this can be a blessing, such spaces require more careful consideration when homeowners select flooring.

Depending on its quality, some floor choices can fade under the sun’s concentrated UV light, so it’s important for purchasers to understand how different flooring is impacted by sunlight. In the next sections, we’ll take a closer look at how three types of floor coverings cope when they’re installed in a room that receives a lot of natural light.

Vinyl floors

Vinyl has become a popular option to floor UK homes. Durable and more cost-effective than natural stone tiles, it is also exceptionally simple to install and care for. It’s worth noting, however, that not all vinyl flooring is created equally, and this means that some will be more susceptible to fading under the sun than others.

Householders who are considering fitting vinyl flooring within a room that will be exposed to plenty of sun should speak to product suppliers and manufacturers first. With expert knowledge, they will be able to inform homeowners of how well each individual vinyl option can stand up to strong sunlight. In a number of cases, property owners may find they’re ready to replace their flooring and redecorate by the time any fading has become obvious, but it’s still worth understanding lifespan of any flooring solution prior to buying.

Laminate floors

Laminate can be a smart choice for bright, sunny rooms. The majority of laminate solutions won’t fade beneath the sun’s rays, making them highly suitable for installations in living spaces that get a lot of light. However, it’s still a wise idea to fit laminate flooring so that the individual planks run away from a room’s windows. This way, any sunlight entering will fall along the length of each floor plank, instead of across their width, avoiding any sign of sun damage. For its ability to withstand the sun’s rays, laminate flooring is a favoured choice for both conservatories and everyday rooms that have multiple windows.

Carpeted floors

Finally, for its luxury look and feel, carpeting is a favoured floor option here in the UK. Celebrated for its warmth, comfort and the vast variety of colours and patterns available, it’s not tricky to see why. While carpets can work in brighter rooms, and many are now made with additional UV protection, they can fade over time, leading to mismatched areas that can be noticeable in larger rooms. Carpet tiles can offer an ideal solution where householders are keen for a softer floor option in their sunny living areas. When a carpet tile becomes sun damaged, it can easily be replaced or rotated with others periodically to lessen the effect.

With a variety of options on offer, homeowners should carefully consider the use of the room and the desired look to select a suitable flooring option for a sunny room.