The Alternative Blog

The Big W’s – The Alternative Guide to Flooring

What? And Where? And not to mention How?

Are questions that Alternative Flooring is asked all the time.

A few tips

Hallways

It makes sense to choose a more robust carpet in high traffic areas and remember that patterned carpet hides wear and stains. Hallways and landings are the perfect place for pattern and colour. Timeless stripes and tailored herringbones can elongate any hallway but look out for pattern – dots, geometrics and even animal print.

 

Sitting room

The world’s your oyster here as it’s a medium traffic area, so as long as the carpet or rug is resilient you can go patterned or plain.  If you choose patterned carpet to make a statement then use natural, textured accessories to keep the focus on the floor.

Bedrooms

As the bedroom has less footfall indulge in lighter shades and keep it soft. Go as luxurious as you can as there’s nothing quite like padding barefoot across a cosy woolly carpet.

The Alternative Guide to Flooring

Now not many people know this, but there is invaluable tome called ‘The Alternative Guide to Flooring’ so if we haven’t answered your questions above, have a read by clicking here. This handy online guide is a great resource with six jam-packed chapters. It’s available at the foot of the home page. Highlights include:

Alternative Flooring’s modern mix of carpet, rugs and runners have won numerous awards. This opening chapter guides you through the natural and wool flooring ranges, matching suitability with decorating options. It shows you how to use these designs creatively in interior spaces.

Alternative Flooring’s winning team of 80 pre-cut runners in natural fibres and wool are packed with pattern in a crescendo of colour. Quirky, stripy, patterned, or plain, these runners don’t stop at halls and stairs, but can add fun throughout the home.  Patterned runners are a great way to create strong impact in a narrow corridor too.

There’s an Alternative runner that speaks to everyone.

And for the ultimate personalisation, there’s ‘Make Me a Rug’.

Our revolutionary ‘Make Me a Rug’ online service means that everyone can get designing. At Alternative we have a rug for all rooms in your home. Always choose the largest size you can and if gives a generous, comforting feel. Decorating with rugs opens up a world of possibilities and the chance to do something different – this is what Alternative Flooring is all about.

Installation techniques and tips from the experts, means that your flooring can be fitted perfectly every time. Good underlay is key for that underfoot luxury feeling and is a great insulator too.

This may not be quite be as colourful as our rugs and runners chapters but this chapter is priceless if you want to learn all about how to care for and clean your natural fibre flooring.

Q&A’s always make great reading and we put ourselves in your shoes and have come up with some questions that we think you’d ask.

For example, lots of you ask us about Seagrass flooring on stairs. The natural oils in Seagrass make this slippery, so we don’t recommend this installation and suggest selecting sisal or coir instead. It’s all here – from what to use in kitchens and bathrooms to what to do about those pesky moths.

We finish by thinking ‘What else do I need to know?’ Here there is information about health and allergies, widths and samples to sustainability and suitability.

Alternative has that spark of curiosity that inspires flooring to be different. This award-winning brand engages with you, embraces the creative spirit and enjoys unconventional thinking.

The Alternative Guide to Flooring is here to help and inspire.

If you want inspiring ways to use patterned flooring with confidence and flair in your home then there is the Quirky B brochure, featuring over 30 patterned carpets with collections by great British designers Margo Selby and Ashley Hicks.  All made in the UK.

Enjoy!

The Alternative Guide to Flooring