How to keep wood flooring clean

The most important thing is to follow any specific advice you were given when you purchased the wood flooring. Don’t be afraid to ask retail experts or the manufacturer any specific questions about looking after your floors. However, here is some general advice which should help.

The best way to keep wood floors clean is to introduce a regular cleaning programme. It doesn’t need to take long and the small amount of time that you invest will definitely pay off. Lighter shades of wood will show up stains and scratches more easily so you may need to clean more regularly. However, don’t leave darker woods for too long either as the longer dust and dirt is left, the harder it can be to remove.

To keep the cleaning down to even more of a minimum, you should definitely invest in mats for your front and back doors – and encourage visitors and residents to use them! These days, you can get pretty, themed or neutral mats to match the style and décor of your home. A quick wipe on these mats will prevent unnecessary dirt being trailed through your home. A shoe rack in the hall can also help as it encourages people to take off their shoes before entering the main area of the house. Wet and muddy shoes should always be kept out of the house altogether as these can cause the most damage. Runners and rugs placed in high traffic areas can also help to keep dirt and scuffs to a minimum.

However, even with precautions such as these, your floors are bound to attract some dust and dirt just through everyday living. As a minimum, your wood flooring should be swept or hoovered at least once a week, although more regularly would be ideal. Use a soft brush, making sure it doesn’t have bristles which will scratch the floor. When vacuuming, make sure you use a light attachment which won’t scrape or drag on the floor – some vacuum cleaners now come with specialist wood flooring attachments so look out for these. Exercise caution if using a heavy vacuum cleaner as damage and dents can be caused by accidental dropping.

Floors should also be regularly wiped. Use a damp cloth or a damp mop. The mop or cloth should never be dripping wet as this can damage the floor – it can lead to warping or water stains.

Some wood floors benefit from specialist waxes and polishes. However, always make sure you refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations for this.

Wood floors require no more special care than carpets, tiles or linoleum. A simple maintenance routine will protect your investment and keep your floors looking great for as long as possible.

Tips for creating a 50s-style home

Colours: Homes were colourful but not garish in the 50s. Colours such as powder blue, lemon, pale pink, aqua and red will create a particularly authentic look. There are also many 1950s-style designer wallcoverings on the market these days, creating that retro look easy and affordable.

Prints which became popular in the 50s and make good designer wallcoverings include polka dots, stripes, stars, bright florals and ‘atomic’ graphics which are very typical of the era.

Flooring: Typical flooring in the 50s was tiling and black and white squared tiling is particularly iconic. Wood flooring was also popular and will help to create the right look for your 50s home. American walnut flooring will look good, for example, and engineered wood flooring can be a practical choice for areas where humidity may be a problem.

Furniture: 50s furniture is still relatively easy to come by online and in vintage homewares shops. A few key pieces will help create the look you’re aiming for. Not only that, reproduction 50s pieces are also easy to find, given the popularity of the style. This option can be quicker and sometimes cheaper than buying original pieces.

Fifties furniture often had clean lines and was made from wood, Formica and chrome. Eames-style pieces were a key look and it’s worth searching for them on eBay or amongst second-hand sellers.

Furniture such as stools and sofas can be re-upholstered using 50s-style fabrics and curtains and blinds also add to the look. Barkcloth and cottons are a good choice and are readily available these days in 50s-look prints.

50s kitchen: The kitchen is an important feature in any 50s-style home and here you can really go to town with retro appliances and styling. Think about crockery in a 50s style such as spots, florals or other brights. Accessories such as pans, baking items and linens will also help to achieve that cosy look from the past.

Details: The little details in your home will help to make it look 50s. You can buy items now which look retro but have modern functions, such as digital radios, clocks, phones and more. Rugs, throws, cushions and ornaments in keeping with the era will pull everything together.

Getting ideas: To get ideas for your vintage-style home, look up images of 50s kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms etc. online and analyse the aspects which create the look. Watching old films and TV shows from the 50s is also a good way to get inspiration. Browsing magazines, both old and new, will help you get a feel for the right shades, textures, pieces and styles.

Tips for a country-style kitchen

Materials matter – Natural materials typically look better in country kitchens – choose brick, ceramic, wood and stone, where possible. Wood flooring creates a good basis for a country kitchen. Popular types of wood flooring include oak flooring, walnut flooring and engineered wood flooring.

The right shades – Neutral and understated colours work best, such as creams, whites and mushroomy earth tones. However, for a pop of colour, light blue, pale sage green and muted yellow can all work too and give the kitchen a vintagey look.

The details – One of the nice things with a country-style kitchen is that you can get away with having some of your accessories on show, such as crockery and ingredients. Glass cabinets, display shelves and hooks are great for showing off plates, cups and other country-style touches.

Details such as artworks, an Aga, old-fashioned taps and a butcher’s block can all further help with creating a rustic kitchen. Statement items such as a chandelier can also work in a country-style kitchen, creating contrast and drama.

On the island – Kitchen islands are classic country kitchen and will also create extra workspace and storage space in your home. Choose a wood finish for rustic style and charm. You can even have your kitchen designed so that all the appliances such as the hob and dishwasher are all on the island, leaving the rest of your kitchen for storage and preparation. If you’re short on space, you can even get a breakfast bar on the end of the island.

Furniture – Items such as free-standing cabinets and wooden chairs can add to the look of your country-style kitchen – you can get these secondhand and renovate them yourself or you can now buy many pieces with the right look brand new. The great thing about country kitchens, as opposed to modern ones, is that mixing and matching is fine and odd plates, chairs, cutlery and napkins will all add to the charm of the look.

Mix and match – If you like the olde worlde country kitchen look but don’t want your home to look too old-fashioned, don’t be afraid to mix modern and traditional styles, as long as you do it right. For example, wood cabinets and rustic wood flooring can still work with modern appliances and sleek worktops.

Fabrics and wallpaper – Well-chosen fabrics and wallpaper can help achieve the desired look in a country-style kitchen. Popular patterns include gingham, florals and dots. Look at designer wallcoverings sites for ideas and consider patterned touches such as table cloths, curtains, blinds and cushions.

Browse interiors magazines and books for more ideas on country-style touches for your kitchen.

Improvements to help you sell your home

Declutter: Clutter creates an impression of mess and a cramped space. Decluttering doesn’t need to cost anything and can really make a dramatic difference to the way that your home is perceived. Make sure that your home follows the old saying, “A place for everything and everything in its place”. You can start by getting rid of things that you no longer like or use – consider giving them to charity or selling on eBay. Then make sure everything else is tidy and put away. You may want to invest in some nifty storage solutions.

Maintenance: If there are little jobs you have been putting off, now is the time to do them in order to give the best impression of your house. Make sure pesky little niggles such as leaky taps are fixed and that your home is in generally good repair. Ensure the garden is tended to and the lawn mown and that any holes or imperfections are addressed. Potential buyers will be much more confident if they can see a home has been well cared for.

Updates: Clearly, you might not want to spend too much money on revamping your home only to move out but it can be worth doing some updates for the benefit of buyers. For example, if the paintwork is looking shabby, it won’t cost too much to repaint but your home will look a lot better for it. If your carpets are stained and threadbare, it may be worth seeing what the floorboards are like underneath or investing in wood flooring. Details like wood flooring, including walnut flooring, oak flooring and engineered wood flooring, can be very appealing to house buyers as they are easy to look after and associated with quality. Alternatively, you could replace the carpet with a smarter version.

Neutrals: If you have unique tastes, you may want to consider toning them down in order to sell the house. The 70s patterned wallpaper and bright carpets may be your dream but they might just as easily be someone else’s nightmare and it’s a shame for something changeable like decor to put a buyer off.
 
Experts usually advise using neutrals such as cream paintwork and plain wallpaper, whereas wood flooring is a good choice because it goes with anything. Loud and bright décor can be overpowering whilst neutrals let the space speak for itself and enable potential buyers to see the house as a blank canvas for their own ideas.

You do not need to spend more money than you can afford when you are trying to sell your home – after all, it can be an expensive time anyway. However, a small investment can make all the difference and help you find the right buyer for your home quickly.

How to care for engineered wood flooring

It has the appearance of classic solid wood flooring but its structure is much more stable. However, even though engineered wood flooring is very durable, it still needs to be looked after properly and carefully to ensure it stays looking its best and lasts for as long as possible. It doesn’t need an excessive amount of maintenance – just the level you would apply to any part of your home that you have invested in.

Many people choose engineered wood flooring for rooms where there is a risk that it might get wet – kitchens or bathrooms, for example. However, this doesn’t mean you can allow your wood flooring to become sopping wet and you must be careful when cleaning it. Mopping the floor is fine but make sure you wring the mop out thoroughly so that you are wiping a damp mop over it, rather than waterlogging the floor. If it gets wet, dry it quickly to prevent water damage.

Scratching is also a concern with wood flooring, even engineered wood flooring. However, if you take adequate care, dents and scrapes can be kept to a minimum. For example, obviously you should avoid walking across your engineered wood floor in stilettos and we recommend that you ask guests to take heeled shoes off too. In addition, avoid dragging furniture when you move it – always lift where possible. In cases where furniture might naturally shift, such as when you stand up from a chair, invest in some furniture pads to prevent this from marking your engineered wood flooring.

Apart from for hygiene reasons, it’s also a good idea to prevent dust building up on your engineered wood flooring because it can cause tiny scratches. Make sure the floor is swept or vacuumed regularly as well as wiped with a mop. Leaving mats at front and back door entrances (and encouraging people to use them!) will prevent unnecessary dirt and dust from being trailed into your house.

If anything is spilled on your engineered wood flooring, make sure it’s wiped up quickly. As we have said, engineered wood flooring is more resistant to moisture than some other wood flooring, but excess water can still cause expansion. In addition, other substances may stain if spillages aren't attended to swiftly. Ink, blood and red wine will all be difficult to remove entirely if you don’t wipe them up soon after they are spilled. Sometimes lacquer on engineered wood flooring can make it less susceptible to staining.

Engineered wood flooring is a durable and attractive choice. It will stand the test of time and keep your house looking stylish as long as you care for it as you would any other part of your home.

How to create a shabby chic look for your home

A shabby chic look can be created on a budget and it creates a very cosy living space. These tips will help you achieve that sought-after vintage styling for your home.

Furniture: Wood furniture, particularly painted pieces, are popular in shabby chic homes. Look in second-hand shops for pieces you could renovate yourself – often they just need sanding down and repainting. Go for solid woods or experiment with painted woods in colours such as off-white, duck-egg blue and ice-cream shades. If wood is too expensive, wicker pieces can work well, especially white or pastel wicker. Avoid dark, heavy furniture and choose pieces that are pale or mirrored to keep the look light and airy.

Items of furniture which can help create a shabby chic look include bureaus, ottomans, hat stands, dressers and linen cabinets. If you want to invest a bit more, touches such as vintage door knobs, wrought iron curtain rods and antique mouldings all the complement the style well.

Flooring: Wood flooring is a good choice for a vintage-style, cosy look and walnut flooring looks especially good. In rooms where there may be moisture, you can still have wood flooring, thanks to engineered wood flooring which is perfect in these circumstances. If you decide to warm things up a bit, a fluffy rug in a bright or pale colour is a great investment. Avoid dark colours which will spoil the effect.

For kitchens and bathrooms, checked flooring or pattered tiles also look great, whilst parquet flooring can work well in hallways.

Colour scheme: Shabby chic homes are colourful places. Often you will have a neutral base (white is popular) interspersed with vintage shades and prints. Whimsical accents such as spots, stripes, prints and florals will give your home a unique shabby chic look – lace also works well. You can add linens such as cushions, tablecloths, bedding, blinds and curtains, throws and napkins.

Accessories: Because the base for a shabby chic home is quite neutral, you can go to town on the accessories. This means you can also change the look of your home more easily as accessories are not permanent. Popular vintage-style items include chandeliers, old-style telephones, mirrors, picture frames, magazine racks, cake stands and more.

The best bit about shabby chic is that it lends itself well to secondhand shopping and it doesn’t matter if everything isn’t absolutely perfect – it all fits with the look! Check out flea markets, antique fairs and charity shops and use your imagination to think how something could be transformed with a little work and creativity. You can also buy many shabby chic items new these days if you know what to look for. Use magazines and design websites for inspiration.

Tips for a Victorian-style home

Victorian-themed decorating can be expensive because the look is characterised by luxury and excess. However, reproduction furniture pieces and accessories are available and part of the fun is looking in flea markets, charity shops and online to gradually build up your collection.

Here are some of our tips on creating that 19th-century British feel in your home.

Colours which were popular in the Victorian period include jewel tones such as deep purples, mauves, burgundies and dark greens. These colours will help to create that antique feel when used on paintwork, soft furnishings and accessories.

Dark, heavy items of wood furniture were often seen in Victorian homes and pieces with dramatic curves and intricate carving are particularly evocative of the era. It's true that heavy carved wooden furniture can be very expensive but don’t let this put you off. Wicker, for example, is much cheaper and can also help you achieve the look you’re after. Look for white wicker (or paint it yourself) and add lace cushions. You can also get items such as little wooden side tables which are more within your budget. Covered with lace or floral fabric, they will look the part but won’t break the bank.

Many Victorian homes featured lots of decorative accessories. When shopping in antiques stores and secondhand shops, look for candelabras, doilies, crystal lamps and figurines. Victoriana accessories don’t have to cost a fortune either – floral and vintage crockery, for example, is now easy and inexpensive to come by. Consider other affordable accessories such as lace cushions, beaded pillows and marble-look tabletops to subtly add to the look.

When it comes to flooring, wood flooring is a good option for a Victorian look. Types of wood flooring which will look authentic include walnut flooring, oak flooring, cherry flooring and more. A rug will also add to the style. Large oriental-style rugs were popular in Victorian times, particularly in dark colours.

Wall hangings and large paintings were common in the Victorian era. Heavy gold-coloured or wooden frames will help you achieve the right look. Don't neglect windows either – long, heavy velvet or silk curtains, tied back with sumptuous tassels, are a good choice.

Designer wallpaper can help you achieve the antique style you’re looking for. Detailed patterns, florals and paisleys were popular, especially in greens, blues and reds with cream and gold prints. Embossed designer wallpaper will also help create that Victorian style. If you don’t want to use wallpaper, consider paint in the jewel tones of the era with a finishing technique such as dappling or sponging – texture was key to Victorian décor.

Magazines and books will help you recognise key pieces which will create a Victorian theme. However, it will also be useful (and more fun!) to visit Victorian buildings and mansions which are open to the public to get ideas. There are plenty in the UK.

Essential tips for choosing wallpaper

However, you need to choose the right wallpaper for your house if you’re to create the desired effect. Whether you want textured wallpaper, detailed wallpaper or a big and bold pattern, these tips will help you choose the right wallcovering and make sure it looks great in your home.

If you haven’t bought and hung wallpaper before and you’re planning to put it up yourself, there are a few things worth bearing in mind. Firstly, wallpaper with a large repeating pattern can be the hardest to hang because you’ll need to match it up carefully if it’s going to look right. If you’ve spotted some designer wallpaper with a bold pattern, you might want to get a professional to hang it for you or ask friends if they’re any good at wallpapering!

These days you can buy some wallpapers that are ready to hang and which therefore don’t need wallpaper paste. This can make things cleaner and quicker if you’re new to wallpapering.

Remember that different types of wallpaper can create different visual effects. For example, large patterns can make a room appear smaller so they can work well in big rooms that you want to make cosier. In smaller rooms a scaled-down print might work better. Don’t forget that you can still go for striking wallpapers without going overboard. Why not paper just one wall and keep the rest of the space muted?

If you want to make your ceilings appear higher, choose vertical stripes as they can help create that effect. Conversely, horizontal stripes can make a ceiling appear lower and also make a room seem wider.

Wallpaper with a light base colour will make a room seem bigger and brighter, whilst darker colours can create the illusion of a space being smaller.

There are so many options when it comes to wallpaper – there’s floral wallpaper, plain wallpaper, geometric patterns, textured wallpaper and more. To help you choose, it can be beneficial to collect some images and samples of the wallpapers you like. Keep them all together on a mood board or in a scrap book. You should start to see themes emerging which will help you to choose your final wallpaper.

Think about the overall theme of your home. Do you want a slick, contemporary look or something a bit more shabby chic? A bold geometric pattern could help you with the former, whilst a cute floral or spot wallpaper could be better for a more vintage-look home.

Textured wallpapers can be used to create visual effects in your home. They draw the eye and can also provide interesting shadow and light effects in your rooms.

Designer wallpaper is a great way to have fun with the décor of your home. You can create dramatic effects and change them again quickly and easily by re-papering.

A guide to choosing wood flooring

Natural wood flooring, which includes engineered wood flooring, offers a classic, timeless look and experts often say that it’s much better for people with allergies as it does not trap dust. If cared for properly, wood flooring wears well and ages much better than many carpets. It’s also easier to clean and care for – if you spill something, it can be wiped up, whereas a carpet could be permanently ruined.

There are many types of wood flooring and finishes available and these tips should help you choose the right floor for you.

If your wood floor is going to be fitted in a potentially damp atmosphere, such as a kitchen or bathroom, it is best to choose engineered wood flooring – it only has a top layer of wood but gives the same effect as solid wood flooring. Engineered wood flooring is far less likely to warp, expand and contract in the same way that solid wood flooring sometimes can. Engineered wood flooring is worth considering even if your home is simply located near a water source such as a stream.

If you are trying to create a particular period style in your home, you may think that reclaimed wood flooring is your only option to create an authentic look. Many people think this but it’s definitely not necessarily the case.
There are so many finishes available these days in solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring – you’ll be surprised at the authentic and aged look that can be created for a fraction of the cost of reclaimed wood flooring. Talk to a supplier about the effect you want to create and view some wood flooring samples before making a decision.

When you’re choosing the finish of your wood floor, think about how and where the floor will be used and the level of protection that you need. Your supplier will be happy to provide some advice and guidance. Make sure you understand clearly how to look after the wood floor as there will be slight differences depending on the finish that you choose. Your choice of finishes includes oiled, UV oiled and lacquered, amongst others.

You’ll also need to discuss the best fitting method. Of course, a professional installer will understand how the wood flooring is best fitted but if you plan to do it yourself, you should do some careful research. For example, engineered wood flooring can be quickly and easily installed using what’s called the floating installation method. For other installations, such as solid wood flooring, it is usually better to glue or nail the wood down.

Once you have chosen your wood flooring and had it fitted, ensure that you care for it as specified by the manufacturer. This includes avoiding high heels on the floor and making sure the wood is not unnecessarily scraped by furniture or shoes. A cleaning regime of sweeping and very light mopping is often enough to keep your wood flooring looking great for years.