What is it that most binds together a room? What helps a space feel cohesive, and properly designed?
Well of course, there are many elements that factor into this overall impression. But the truth is that often, it’s the simplest and most fundamental components that make the most visual and utilitarian impact regarding how we perceive a space.
As you consider integrating an open-plan design within your house, especially connecting two essential spaces such as the kitchen and living room area together, these questions may be on your mind.
In this post, we’d like to make the case that most often, it’s your flooring choices that have
the most impact. Here’s why:
Flooring is functional:
It’s important to recognize that flooring is not solely an aesthetic choice. For instance, carpeting is often unsuitable when used within a bathroom, and often within a kitchen, too. The last thing you need is stains from dropped food or containers, and the regular footfall traffic within a kitchen space means that tiles or laminate flooring is much easier to clean.
That said, most people prefer some kind of soft fabric flooring within their living room, because relaxing with our shoes off, walking around barefoot, and preventing exposure to cold tile during the winter months is something we consider essential for our living rooms. So, how should you fuse both rooms’ flooring choices in the most logical way?
What type of flooring material is most suitable?
Often, wooden laminate works best in order to keep a comfortable, inviting and nice blend between style and functionality. Remember, large rugs can also be placed to add further comfort to a particular space, such as a lounge seating area.
Thinking of the distinct visual flair of each space, it’s good to consider how the tones and colour variations will impact certain areas. For instance, you may decide to have darker wood inlaid into your laminate so that certain definitions or ‘boundaries’ can be defined, or perhaps you’d prefer long side-on ‘planks’ of laminate that elongate the space and help it seem larger.
What style of flooring material is most effective for an open-plan living space?
Often, solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring requirements work best. Laminate is much more affordable and can provide an incredible visual result, too.
Ideally, you should opt for flooring that retains its aesthetic impact, can be cleaned easily, and is durable. With a relatively neutral flooring set you can place additions like rugs or quality carpets and truly enhance the visual flair, albeit temporarily.
How should I curate my open plan flooring?
It’s a great idea to utilise a renovation and remodelling firm able to help you make the most excellent design decisions; to squeeze more value out of the space.
Oaklands serve as a fantastic renovation firm able to help you with all levels of your kitchen and living room design, including a long-term change in flooring, matching the two spaces together perfectly.
We’d love to help answer any questions you may have, the more the better!
You can contact us at any time, or feel free to call at 0116 277 2252.