Housebuilder installs recycled carpets in new homes

Cora Homes has fitted its new properties with carpets made from recycled plastic bottles and discarded fishing nets. This aligns with the housebuilder's policy of building houses in a sustainable and eco-friendly way.

The carpets prevent waste plastic from being disposed of in landfills. The fitting of carpets made from 100% recycled materials has been a hit with homebuyers, who have been surprised at how good the carpets look.

Plastic bottles are being processed to make yarn for the carpets. Traditional synthetic carpets contain oil, but these recycled ones require no extra oil. The underlay is made from 84% recycled materials.

The commercial director of Northamptonshire based Cora Homes, Matt Wright, said:

“The idea of having recycled carpets, saving plastic going into landfill, was a huge selling point for the flooring – it fits in perfectly with our ethos of sustainability.”

Many carpet manufacturers have reduced their impact on the environment or have plans for more sustainable carpet production. Many manufacturers use recycled materials in carpets and renewable energy sources in their manufacturing buildings. Another way to make more eco-friendly carpets is to use natural materials such as wool or sisal.

Not many housebuilders fit recycled carpets in new houses, but if you want more sustainable carpets in your North Wales or Chester home, visit a local carpet retailer to see their range of carpets that contain recycled or natural materials. These are available in a wide range of colours and patterns suitable for any décor style.

Tarkett refreshes IQ Optima range

Tarkett has unveiled the revitalized colour spectrum of its IQ Optima collection of vinyl flooring.

The range now has a diverse selection of 55 subtle tonal hues ranging from soothing blues and gentle coral to vibrant greens and sunny yellows, catering to various interior design schemes.

Originally designed for healthcare settings, Tarkett's IQ Optima line is designed to be versatile for both commercial and residential spaces, offering durability to withstand heavy use, along with resistance to heavy loads, stains, scuffs, and chemicals.

The maintenance of IQ Optima is very straightforward, requiring only a simple dry buff to restore its pristine appearance, eliminating the need for floor wax or additional finishes. This vinyl flooring is manufactured with minimal chemicals, promoting healthier indoor air quality. It is certified as being suitable for those suffering from allergies and asthma.

IQ Optima is available in rolls or tiles. The tile option allows for a personalized touch by mixing and matching colours to create unique designs.

Tarkett is committed to sustainability by minimizing its environmental footprint and offering a recycling initiative for repurposing old flooring whether made by Tarkett or not. The company's carbon emission reduction efforts are endorsed by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and align with the objective of limiting global warming by 1.5 degrees

Manufactured in Sweden, Tarkett's vinyl flooring is available through flooring services in the Chester and North Wales region. Installation is quick as it involves simply adhering the flooring to the subfloor with adhesive, although uneven subfloors require levelling before the vinyl is installed.

Six popular carpet tile design themes

Carpet tiles are available in a wide variety of colours that can be used in multiple design themes. The power of colour adds personality to a room. The colour of the floor is the tonal base to a décor style.

Here are the colours of six popular décor themes:

1. Pop

The Pop theme features bold and vibrant colours such as bright blue, purple and red that evoke visions of sunny weather, as well as tropical jungles.

2. Scandi

Scandinavian style is commonly associated with minimalism, along with pastel shades that are subtle and calming. Scandi style features natural colours to create elegant and sophisticated rooms.

3. New Luxury

Gold, aqua and navy carpet tiles with contemporary furniture and fitting create the opulent and glamorous look of new luxury.

4. Retro

Retro style often features yellow, orange and brown; nostalgic colours that evoke memories of the past.

5. New Natural

The New Natural look has the colours of the natural world, mainly blues and greens, that are designed to remind you of misty meadows and green hills.

6. Grey

To some, a grey-themed room is smart but dull, but to others, the silver tones of grey are sleek and impart a sense of calm reflection.

Whether you pick one of these design themes or prefer your own flooring style, you'll find an extensive range of carpet tiles at North Wales flooring shops. If you use carpet tiles in two or more colours associated with a style theme, you can lay them in various patterns to add a personalised touch to a room.

Smart ways to enhance the beauty of wood flooring

Wood and engineered wood flooring in North Wales homes is popular for its natural look and durability. Wood flooring, whether solid wood or laminate, makes a style statement in any room, but enhancing its beauty requires careful design choices for the rest of the room.

When installing wood flooring for the first time in a room, it's important to decorate the room in a complimentary colour palette. Though wood is mainly shades of brown, there will also be subtle hints of other colours such as orange, red, grey, or yellow. Homeowners can use a colour wheel chart to find the opposite colours to decorate the room in. For instance, blue can balance wood that contains hints of orange or yellow.

Many are tempted to continue the wood theme by adding wood furniture to a room with wood flooring. Instead, consider using a variety of other textures, such as woven fabrics, metal or leather. Features such as wooden chair legs and wood frames can be used for photos and wall art.

A wood floor can feel hard underfoot, making the room feel less cosy and relaxed. This can easily be fixed by adding deep pile rugs for extra comfort. Rugs can be used to define room areas like a home office space.

When choosing wood flooring options at a flooring company in North Wales, be mindful of the look of the rest of the room and how it complements the natural beauty of wood.

Budget friendly flooring

Good flooring is the foundation of interior design. Different rooms have different functional requirements, and the flooring must meet their needs to avoid future problems or further costs. High footfall areas like hallways or kitchens need to be highly durable to withstand the traffic.

The good news is that decent flooring doesn’t have to cost you the earth. With over 50 years of family history in the trade, Home Style Carpets and Flooring can offer a wide range of durable, comfortable and affordable flooring options.

Carpets

Carpets offer a range of benefits including insulation, energy savings and underfoot comfort.

Carpets reduce noise pollution as the soft surface acts as a barrier, particularly on the upper levels, reducing impact noise for people on the lower floors.

Up to 10% of heating can be lost through a floor if it doesn’t have adequate insulation - carpets can help retain warmth in your home.

Risk of injury by falling can also be reduced by carpets as the softer surface can reduce impact and is less prone to slipping hazards making carpets a great choice when considering infants or others who are less able to walk.

To see our full range of carpets and related services we offer such as fitting, underlay and door trimming, click here.

Carpet Tiles

Carpet tiles are individual squares of carpet that can be slotted together to add texture and warmth to your living space. Installation can be tailored to meet your budget and a professional installer from our team will get the job finished with minimal disruption.

Compared to other flooring options, carpet tiles can save money thanks to the relatively short installation time and will also save on waste and area easy to transport.

Carpet tiles are highly versatile and can be used for virtually any space from the living room to the bedroom and there are dozens of designs and potential combinations to choose from, whatever your style.

Carpet tiles are known for their long lifespan and hardwearing nature. Because they are low-pile and tend to attract less dirt, cleaning them is as easy as regular vacuuming.

You can look at our range of carpet tiles and designs and sizes here.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate is made of several different layers that are pressed together and have a durable, photo-realistic surface layer.

Laminate flooring is hard-wearing and can withstand the heavy footfall wear and tear that comes with a busy house, the top layer protecting against scratches and scrapes.

It is very easy to maintain and clean. Sweeping regularly and using a damp cloth or laminate floor wipes will ensure your laminate flooring stands the test of time.

Laminate flooring gives the impression of a wooden finish at far less cost than real wood and is well known to be very easy to fit.

Our range of vinyl flooring options and services, including fitting, design advice and no-obligation quotes can be found here.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring is a type of synthetic flooring composed of several layers of different materials, such as PVC, plastic and fibreglass. The layers are sandwiched together and form a highly durable, hard-wearing and aesthetically pleasing floor surface.

It is widely considered to be a highly durable material, making it a great choice for a high quality floor in a high-traffic space.

Compared to other options and because of its layered construction, vinyl floor is more comfortable underfoot with a more padded feel compared to hardwood or stone. It can also help rescue echo and noise.

Because of its insulative properties, it can help retain heat and help maintain consistent temperature throughout the home regardless of the time of year.

As it is composed mainly of PVC, vinyl flooring is waterproof, making it perfect for areas prone to spillages such as kitchens and bathrooms but with a number of designs available to choose from such as wood and stone effects, it can add a great new look to any room of your choosing.

Vinyl flooring is so easy to install that you can do it yourself and potentially get a room finished in a few days. To reduce disruption further and get the job finished quickly and to professional quality, we can fit it for you.

You can browse our range of vinyl flooring designs here.

With a range of over 3,000 products, Home Style Carpets can help you achieve the perfect floor for your needs. If you’re looking for stylish and affordable carpets, vinyl flooring, carpet tiles or laminate flooring around Chester, Wrexham and North Wales, call us for a no-obligation quote today.