2024 flooring trends to inspire your next home renovation

At the beginning of each year, interior designers predict interior design trends that will impact home refurbishments. Several 2024 flooring trends are expected to inspire those installing vinyl or laminate flooring in Chester and North Wales homes.

Patterned geometric

Architect Andrew Pharis has noticed a demand for floors that feature geometric patterns. Instead of laying vinyl planks horizontally, make chevron or herringbone patterns using contrasting shades of laminate flooring.

Red oak laminate

The most popular type of laminate flooring is light oak, but many prefer bolder shades. Red oak laminate is popular for achieving a Scandinavian feel to a room.

Large format

Large format vinyl tiles are currently in high demand due to their reduced number of joints and numerous waterproof options, making them an ideal choice for use in bathrooms.

Chequerboard patterns

According to interior designer Ashley Biscan, the chequerboard pattern flooring has experienced a resurgence in popularity. While the traditional style features black and white vinyl tiles, more subdued colour schemes can also be utilized for an understated aesthetic. For instance, gray tones with black achieve a modern look.

Wood look

Laminate flooring that looks like wood is a more affordable alternative to solid wood flooring. More and more vinyl flooring manufacturers are also attempting to achieve this look. Elizabeth Vergara, founder of Vergara Homes, believes wood alternatives such as Karndean wood are a great option as they are hard wearing and versatile, making them suitable for many areas in the home.

For the best choices in flooring for your home this year, visit a reliable flooring retailer today.

Interior experts highlight the appeal of wall-to-wall carpets

The release of Sofia Coppola’s new film Priscilla has sparked renewed interest in the interior design community about the use of wall-to-wall carpets in homes.

The film explores the complex relationship between Priscilla and Elvis Presley, whose opulent house Graceland boasts many lavish deep-pile carpets. Despite being set in the eras of the 1960s and 1970s, this film underscores how wall-to-wall carpets remain popular and highly sought after, even in contemporary times.

Several interior designers prefer wall-to-wall carpets in their room designs. American designer Billy Cotton says:

“I’m obsessed with fully carpeted rooms. It’s a love affair that operates on a very visceral level”

Cotton favours pattern carpets in bright bold colours. For example, his design for Lily Allen and David Harbour’s Brooklyn residence boasts a carpet adorned with a charming floral motif from the 19th century.

Dimorstudio, a design studio based in Milan, are specialists in high-end carpets. The owners Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci say that these floor coverings serve to create a warm ambience in a room and contrast well with the austerity of contemporary metallic furnishings.

Emma Burns, a renowned English designer, advocates wall-to-wall carpeting as it seamlessly blends into the perimeter of a room and eliminates unsightly gaps, unlike rugs.

Creative consultant Max Hurd converts patterned rugs to stairwell-fitted carpets, which he describes as “underfoot artwork.”

If you are considering wall-to-wall carpets for your home renovation, visit a carpet retailer in North Wales to see their wide range of carpets in many colours and patterns.

Eight-year-old art prodigy inspires designer rugs

Moooi, a Dutch design brand, has crafted two rug designs inspired by the artwork of eight-year-old prodigy Alf Bärbel Wit Peters. The rugs, named Everything Now and Blinding Lights, echo the styles of famous artists such as Kline, Miró, Kandinsky and Appel, with bold abstract motifs and patterns composed of vibrant colours.

According to a Moooi spokesperson:

"We love the energetic art of Alf and, for us, there are no boundaries in creativity nor the age of a talented designer.”

The young artist does little planning for his designs, preferring to allow the artwork to grow spontaneously. Peters likes listening to jazz as he works. He hopes that his art inspires others to draw. He invites people to make” happy mistakes” as they create.

This is not Alf's first professional project; he has already designed an impressive six-metre mural for an office in Amsterdam. He comes from an artistic family, as his father Antoine Peters is an Amsterdam designer and artist.

While the bright hues and striking abstract patterns featured in Bärbel Wit Peters' work may be too dramatic for carpets in many Chester homes, there are plenty of carpet options available through a local Chester carpet retailer, ranging from simple neutral tones to boldly patterned carpets.

It is doubtful whether any of the carpets at the local retailer are designed by an eight-year-old. However, for tasteful quality sure to light up your home’s most important rooms, a new carpet may be the perfect addition.

Two types of flooring recommended for sustainable architecture

In a recent review of sustainable building materials by Stephanie Stefanovic on the Architecture & Design website, laminate flooring and carpet tiles were suggested for use in sustainable building designs.

Recent developments in carpet tile and laminate flooring technology have made more eco-friendly versions of these traditional flooring products. Stephanie Stefanovic notes that sustainable building materials used to be regarded as specialist niche products but are becoming industry standards, especially with builders and architects who want to reduce the high carbon emissions associated with the construction industry.

However, finding the best sustainable materials is not easy, especially when trying to decipher the jargon and technical specifications of manufacturers' ecological claims.

For residential buildings, carbon-neutral carpet tiles are an optimal choice for sustainability. They integrate backing material with low-carbon emissions and bio-based speciality yarns. Some manufacturers store emitted carbon during production to prevent its release into the atmosphere.

An equally viable flooring option for both domestic and commercial buildings is laminate flooring produced using a low-carbon emission process. Eco-friendly flooring contains no PVC, VOCs or other chemicals, while maintaining a small carbon footprint. Laminate flooring can be clicked together and loosely laid on a floor or affixed using environmentally friendly glue solutions. It is advisable to use laminate flooring that is made with recycled materials.

Anyone interested in installing either carpet tiles or laminate flooring in their Chester, Wrexham or North Wales homes and commercial properties should visit their local retailer to view all available eco-friendly flooring options.

Using commercial carpet tiles in the home

Most commercial carpet tiles are a single dark colour. However, with modern technology, tiles are now available in vibrant colours and patterns that have luxury and style. These are not your average carpet tiles.

The advantages of using commercial carpet tiles in residential spaces are numerous. They possess a durability that makes them suitable for high-traffic areas such as hallways and kitchens. They are fairly easy to install without requiring adhesive by simply sticking them together and laying on the subfloor.

Carpet tiles with a good underlay conserve heat, which can save heating energy and reduce bills.

One of the major benefits of using carpet tiles is how easy it is to repair any damage. A damaged or worn section can easily be replaced with one or more new carpet tiles, making repairs nearly effortless. When purchasing carpet tiles, it's advisable to buy a few extra pieces just in case.

When the time eventually comes for all the carpet tiles to be replaced, many recycling schemes will take the tiles so that they don't end up in landfill sites.

Carpet tiles are perfect for a layering décor style. Start by covering the floor with neutral-coloured commercial carpet tiles, then add several brightly coloured patterned rugs to create an impressive vibrant décor statement.

If you're interested in installing quality commercial carpet tiles for your Chester home or office space, visit your local flooring retailer today and see what options they have available. They will usually install the tiles for you.