As with anything to do with home improvements, a lot of the design decisions you make will depend on how much money and time you’re willing to spend. Then there’s the question of whether you want your flooring to stay in keeping with your existing décor, or whether it’s time for a change and you want to make your flooring the main attraction, contrasting it with furniture or accessories you already have.
In this guide, we’ve examined lots of different design styles and types of homes to bring you the best products that will work best in those spaces – we’re positive we’ll find something to suit your taste and budget! So, let’s dive in.
There are a couple of different factors to keep in mind before you jump into picking a new carpet or type of flooring. It needs to work to all your requirements, including budget, taste, lifestyle, and condition of your home. You should start with your budget, and how much you’re willing to spend on new flooring. This will help to eliminate some options right away, making your choice a lot easier.
Once you have your budget sorted, the next thing to consider is the overall effect you’re attempting to create. This again will depend on your existing décor, but more importantly, on the requirement of the room you’re redecorating. For instance, there’s no point in trying to emulate the stark, sleek lines of an industrial warehouse loft, if the room is used by small children to play with lots of soft toys and games. Conversely, the star of your bedroom may be your king-sized bed or patterned wallpaper, and you may not want a busy printed carpet to overwhelm that space.
If you live in a modern home – anything built within the last 50 years – then you’ll appreciate how it typically has large, airy, and regularly shaped rooms. Anything goes in this age of home, from traditional décor to something more cutting-edge. How you choose to style it is up to you - we recommend something that leans into the more contemporary elements of interior design, for instance, the maximalist or the monochrome trend, but it’s entirely up to you.
This trend’s biggest rule is more is more! So, if you’re thinking of matching flooring to your existing décor, then go for the carpet or flooring you like, and don’t worry about clashing colours, textures, or styles. We love patterned carpets like zebra print, as it makes a ‘walk on the wild side’ statement in any room or on the stairs, and taps into the current fad for tropical or jungle-themed patterns. It’s a wool blend, so it’ll be long-lasting and keep your rooms warm – but maybe not as hot as the African plains!
This trend works beautifully in modern homes, but also fits in well in an older house which may be darker and narrower. You may already have lighter-coloured sofas or walls, so all the attention here is focused on the floor. This look toughens up any décor, or if you have a new build that’s just a white box, can add some drama and interest.
We love deep and dark wood-effect vinyl for this look - the black tones draw the eye down to what we call the ‘fifth wall’ in the room, the floor. This also works well if you like the monochrome look, or if you want to take inspiration from Art Deco interior design.
If you want a chic style that off interior designer vibes, then stick to one colour, such as black, grey, or dark brown, and just choose various tones of it throughout the room. Make sure you include plenty of natural light and perhaps a metallic colour to bounce the light. We’ve provided some more inspiration in our Ideas Hub, including our grey living room decor ideas.
If you’ve already chosen black and white as your décor, then a floor that emphasises that pairing is a no-brainer. We love diamond-patterned vinyl because it looks elegant and timeless. But we’re also fond of how our customer has added pops of pastel colours to their kitchen. It reminds us of Neapolitan ice cream and is a fun and friendly way to completely transform monochrome. And it’s making us hungry, too!
When we talk about an older home, we mean any home that’s over 50 years old. This could be a Victorian villa, a 1930s chalet bungalow or even a 1970s townhouse. These properties often have period features – moulded ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, picture rails, dormer windows, and narrow staircases – which may need to be considered when you’re choosing flooring to match your existing décor. Or you may just want to pick your favourite floor based on how soft the carpet feels or how pretty the pattern of the vinyl is!
If you’ve chosen beige tones in your home and you want to highlight them further, then be our guest! The simplest way to match your existing décor with this look is to incorporate another element – whether it’s a subtle beige carpet, adding earth shades or elements from nature, exposing brick or beams and adding plants or grasses in vases.
This idea rolls out the red carpet, literally. You may already have – or want – elements of the boudoir or the theatre in your home, so this suggestion makes more of that look by adding a sumptuous red carpet and golden, silver or glass highlights. We’ve got several ruby red looks to choose between, as well as some amazing inspiration from our clients on our Flooring Ideas page.
There are two ways to take this trend, either towards a cosy cottage look (see above) or the more masculine lines of an old-fashioned study or library. Tartan carpet ticks all the boxes – it’s soft, hardwearing and makes a statement. The tartan pattern is familiar but it’s not likely that anyone else you know will have a carpet like this, while the colours can be subtle enough to fit in with any existing décor.
If you’re looking for something that can work well in any space, from a 1950s flat, to a new build or a stately home, then we’d suggest anything from the new Sonata collection. This luxury vinyl clicks together and copes brilliantly with splashes or stains, resisting water and heat. It looks good and wears well in a modern or traditional setting because its herringbone pattern is classic and timeless.
In this section, we’ll go through all the favourite types of flooring available in-store, online or can be shown to you by one of our Floorologists on a home visit, and list the advantages of each so you can make an informed choice before you buy.
Enduringly popular for a reason, there are a host of reasons to choose carpet. During a cost-of-living crisis, the most important one is how well it insulates a room and how much money you can save on energy bills. Carpet retains warm air longer than any other flooring and provides a comfortable cosy environment in your room whether you’re standing or lying on it.
Other benefits of carpets include:
This is an affordable option for anyone considering changing up their flooring to suit their décor. Laminate is made from wood pressed together rather than solid planks, so it’s better value for money than natural timber. Other benefits of laminate include:
It looks just like real wood - because it is! The clever construction of engineered wood lies in its many layers, which are glued together against the grain. So, it has more stability than a solid plank of wood as it won’t expand or contract. The other great reasons to choose engineered wood include:
While these aren’t the same product, several similarities make vinyl or luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) a great choice as flooring for your home. As well as being at a keen price, it’s made from strong, hardwearing materials, so it’ll last for a long time and so offers great value for money.
The other great reasons to choose vinyl or LVT are:
If you’re keen to find out more about the different ways you can match a new floor to your existing décor, then why not go to your local Tapi store and discuss it with our friendly Floorologists, or book a free mobile showroom appointment for our team to come to you if you'd like to find out more about Tapi's services.
Published: 04-01-2023