How to decorate from the floor up to shape your interior look.

Last year, after months and months of searching, my fiancé and I finally bought our first-ever apartment.

We might be looking at it through rose-tinted glasses, given it is our first home, and given the blood, sweat and many, many tears that went into purchasing it, but to us, it’s (almost) perfect.

Except for one area: the floors.

You see, the whole flat is covered in grey, shabby carpet. It’s making the whole apartment seem… tired. And I just can’t stand it any more.

So when the 2016 Choices Flooring Inspiring Choices magazine (which is free, and comes out yearly) landed on my desk at work recently, I practically arm-wrestled my colleagues for it. Because 2016 is going to be the year we say goodbye to that horrible carpet, and hello to floors that actually improve the look and feel of the rest of the place.

Inspiring Choices 2016 has over 100 pages of the latest flooring trends, as well as decorating advice from top interior writers and stylists.

Here are some of the magazine’s top tips for giving your home a room-by-room floor makeover.

1. Kitchen.

Flooring is often overlooked when people start thinking about renovating, but in my opinion it’s one of the most important parts of interior design.

It doesn’t matter which option you choose – floorboards, tiles, luxury vinyl, carpet – you just have to make sure you pick the right colour, texture and pattern for your home.

You should also consider the main purpose of the room you’re renovating. For example, kitchens and bathrooms are very moisture-prone, which is why most places have tiles or slate in those areas, instead of carpet or floorboards.

According to Hana Jo, homes+ features and digital editor, kitchen flooring “should ideally be unaffected by moisture, non-slip, easy to clean and hardwearing, as the kitchen is a high-traffic area.” She also suggests matching your kitchen and bathroom flooring in small apartments especially, “to create a more cohesive look”.

2. Bathroom.

Australian House & Garden features editor Sarah Pickette recommends designing bathrooms and laundries from the floor up, and also happens to be a fan of tiling in these rooms.

“Today’s timber-look tiles and luxury vinyl planks provide a timeless foundation and are so expertly printed you won’t be able to tell they’re not the real thing.”

She also suggests using large-format tiles, which means the eye will experience fewer visual “breaks,” giving the illusion of more space.

3. Living room.

Real Living features writer and subeditor Karlie Verkerk says before the living room is furnished and decorated, it should have a suitable base.

“The living room is a high-traffic area, and will therefore need a hardwearing floor – timber, bamboo, luxury vinyl or twist carpet would best suit this room as they’re timeless designs that are easy to clean.”

You can then play around with rugs to add warmth, texture and colour to the room.

4. Bedroom.

Hana Jo says that as the bedroom is an area you’ll want to feel relaxed and comfortable in, soft neutral colours are best for flooring.

“Soft flooring or rugs will improve sound absorption and will make the room warmer – in appearance and temperature – making it just that little bit easier to get out of bed in the morning.”

5. Dining area.

Sarah Pickette believes a good dining area should be “practical enough to be used for everyday meals yet versatile enough to be dressed up for special occasions.”

This means “robust, stain-proof” flooring is a must – think timber floorboards, laminates or luxury vinyls. Again, a rug can be added to add warmth and visual appeal.

The take-home message from the 2016 Choices Flooring, Inspiring Choices magazine? There are plenty of options out there to suit all tastes, purposes and budgets – and research is everything.

Wish me luck…

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