Flooring is often viewed as the base upon which interior design is built and is often overlooked when considering the design of a room.
Something practical. Something chosen last.
Flooring also performs several other important functions; these include affecting the appearance of a room, influencing the temperature of the interior, and playing a crucial role in sound absorption. The way that a space is arranged influences how people feel about the area, how individuals move through the space, and how they behave in it. Whether providing a neutral backdrop to a bold colour scheme or making a dramatic statement on its own, flooring plays a crucial role in the ambiance of a room.
The Quiet Power of Neutral Flooring
A room’s interior is calmed down by a neutral-toned floor.
A palette of pale grey, warm beige and soft oak tones combines to provide a balanced look. People in need of attention often shout. All the other things are given room to breathe. The room has a focus on furniture, art and the natural light present, with the floor remaining as a subtle, unobtrusive backdrop.
In the lounge and dining room, a neutral wood floor has proved to be a good choice. This style is calming, ageless and flexible, and many homeowners favour layered real-wood floors from Floor Warehouse for their understated appearance and long-term stability. It doesn’t show its age and can be worn in any season.
The use of natural colours offers a psychological advantage to people. While a wood floor might not actually bring the outdoors inside, it can make a room feel more natural. This can be especially true in a busy home where a natural touch can help to calm you down.
Warm Tones vs Cool Tones: The Emotional Shift
While the difference may not be noticeable at first, colour temperature has an impact on how we perceive a room and the effect it has on our mood.
Spaces with warm-toned flooring, such as honey oak or walnut tones, generally feel comforting and welcoming. In gathering or family areas, tones like these work very well, because here warmth and comfort have to be prioritised.
While a warm floor tone evokes nostalgia and an older atmosphere, cool shades give a cleaner and more modern appearance. While a finish in a light grey hue can impart a room with an airy, modern feel, the overall aesthetic is further enhanced by plenty of natural light and an absence of clutter.
When Flooring Becomes the Feature
In some homes, a statement floor is an important design feature.
Using bold flooring options such as herringbone designs, parquet layouts and chevron patterns can immediately give a room some character.
Alternatively, you could immediately give a room some character by using bold flooring options such as dramatic deep colours. Before the words are even spoken, the viewer’s eye is drawn downwards; the body language sets the overall tone.
This particularly applies to hallways, dining rooms or areas which you wish to draw attention to, where patterned flooring can have a good effect. While a vibrant wall or a selection of bulky furniture can have an impact on the aesthetic of a room, a stunning floor can have an equally striking effect. It eliminates the necessity for bold walls or heavy furniture, giving the space a far more intentional feel.
Dark floors can be a dominant feature if not used with restraint.
It provides a definition.
Texture and Finish: An Overlooked Mood Setter
The overall impression of an interior design is created by a great deal more than colour or pattern. The texture of the fabric also plays its part.
In lived-in, comfortable spaces, materials with a brushed or a matt finish are often preferred for their softer and more relaxed feel underfoot. Formal or dramatic spaces are frequently created by high-gloss or smooth finishes, as these reflect light and also appear more polished.
A room featuring wooden floorboards which reveal visible grain, knots or variations between each plank can have a more authentic and warmer atmosphere than one which looks too uniform.
Creating Flow Throughout the Home
The flooring in a home contributes to the atmosphere it presents to its inhabitants.
Using the same flooring in every area of the house ensures a flow between rooms, giving the house a calm and peaceful atmosphere. The advantages of this style are particularly evident in open floor space designs where the floor functions as a visual link joining all areas.
Each room’s flooring can be used to differentiate its atmosphere; quieter, more subdued spaces have neutral flooring, whereas livelier rooms feature bold and vibrant patterns.
It’s all about intention.
Flooring as the Emotional Foundation
The type of flooring used in any room can really have a significant effect on the ambience of the space.
Relaxed. Energised. Grounded. Inspired.
At the base of every room, the floor sets the overall tone for its space. Whether you have chosen a bold, striking design or a subtle neutral colour scheme, this sets the foundation for everything which is placed above it.
If you style your home in a careful, thoughtful manner, its atmosphere will match. This works subtly but powerfully daily.
