Pattern and colour make a comeback

Fashion-wise, pattern is back in vogue and it appears the same is true of flooring – including the great British favourite, carpet. However, choosing a patterned carpet is a tad more complex than buying a plain beige twist, requiring a great deal of forethought to ensure it won’t date too quickly or clash with existing furniture.

If the thought of patterned carpet brings back memories of vibrantly coloured swirls, take comfort from the fact that modern patterned carpet is far more subtle, designed to add extra visual interest to a base of natural colour palettes without being overbearing and dominant.

As for the designs, stripes and delicate floral patterns are equally popular. Stripes are the most versatile, working well in both contemporary and traditional interiors, while floral patterns are generally better suited for the latter. Manufacturers to look out for include Vorwerk Carpets (its stripey Modena design uses a combination of colours and is tufted in 100 per cent polyamide for comfort, durability and low maintenance) and Axminster Carpets’ romantic Royal Seaton Calico. Some carpets, like Alternative Flooring’s new Random Contour soft wool and sisal combo, use the texture of natural fibres to create pattern.

While carpet is still the dominant floorcovering, many people prefer the ease and practicality of wood and laminate floors, which although not as capable in terms of design and pattern, are breeding a new generation of style options. Scandinavian influences that once fuelled demand for light-coloured beech and maple have given way to richer and more exotic dark woods along with ever-popular oak in various shades. Budget and location will largely determine whether you choose solid wood, engineered wood or wood-effect laminate – the latter now even more realistic with the introduction of wide plank styles, such as Quick-Step’s Vogue and Largo wide planks.

Stone in its many different guises (slate, marble etc) is another option that offers tremendous variety in terms of colour, texture – and pattern, if you choose a variegated tile. Once only considered suitable for homes in hot climates, the availability of under-floor heating makes this type of hard flooring a viable option in any location. Especially practical and hard wearing in kitchens and conservatories, some stones come with added extras, as in Fired Earth’s slate flagstones, which are occasionally punctuated with fossilised lichens and ferns etched into the slate as a result of pressure over millions of years.

For a different look, consider rubber (infinitely durable and available in sheet as well as tile format and in every colour of the rainbow), leather, metal and cork. Another eye-catching option that looks stunning as a floor or wall tile in a shower room or cloakroom is Murale Ciottoli Pebbles.

Hard or soft underfoot, today’s floors are anything but boring!