Should I Get Rid of My Carpet?
Hard floors aren’t for everyone, but they have serious upsides – and downsides that are easily mitigated by a rug
There are plenty of practical as well as style-based reasons for keeping your carpet, but if you’re teetering on the edge of a new look and toying with the idea of parting ways with an all-over floor covering, this should provide inspiration for making that leap.
First off, consider that the Scandinavians are rarely wrong when it comes to interior design, so if swearing off carpets is good enough for them… Of course, you’ll need a fabulous alternative, underfloor heating would be a wise addition, particularly downstairs, and some areas might need softening or breaking up with a rug. Otherwise, go to town on hard flooring.
First off, consider that the Scandinavians are rarely wrong when it comes to interior design, so if swearing off carpets is good enough for them… Of course, you’ll need a fabulous alternative, underfloor heating would be a wise addition, particularly downstairs, and some areas might need softening or breaking up with a rug. Otherwise, go to town on hard flooring.
Go for a cool, vintage look
Vintage style isn’t always easy to achieve with a sleek carpet, but with reclaimed flooring, it’s a different story. Wooden boards and planks like these, rescued from schools, town halls, gyms – and even French chateaux – are widely available both untreated and fully renovated. What’s on trend? Herringbone patterns or super-wide boards.
Vintage style isn’t always easy to achieve with a sleek carpet, but with reclaimed flooring, it’s a different story. Wooden boards and planks like these, rescued from schools, town halls, gyms – and even French chateaux – are widely available both untreated and fully renovated. What’s on trend? Herringbone patterns or super-wide boards.
Make like the Mediterraneans…
With its old-fashioned connotations, a floral patterned carpet in powdery colours is a hard look to pull off in a contemporary home. However, swap the material to ceramic or porcelain tiles and you might find yourself suddenly suffering from Barcelona Gothic Quarter apartment envy.
In this country, underfloor heating is a must-have, as is a simple decorative scheme, setting off flea market finds that echo the style of the tiles.
Find out how to care for encaustic cement tiles
With its old-fashioned connotations, a floral patterned carpet in powdery colours is a hard look to pull off in a contemporary home. However, swap the material to ceramic or porcelain tiles and you might find yourself suddenly suffering from Barcelona Gothic Quarter apartment envy.
In this country, underfloor heating is a must-have, as is a simple decorative scheme, setting off flea market finds that echo the style of the tiles.
Find out how to care for encaustic cement tiles
…or steal some Swedish style
Nothing could be more affordable or easier to live with than pine boards – it’s just a case of ripping up carpets and renovating.
What to know in advance? Yours will probably have gaps between them that need filling or closing, otherwise ground floor rooms will feel draughtier than before. Also, pine doesn’t conduct heat well – and might warp – so they’re not great paired with underfloor heating, either.
Nothing could be more affordable or easier to live with than pine boards – it’s just a case of ripping up carpets and renovating.
What to know in advance? Yours will probably have gaps between them that need filling or closing, otherwise ground floor rooms will feel draughtier than before. Also, pine doesn’t conduct heat well – and might warp – so they’re not great paired with underfloor heating, either.
Cut the cost with paint
Manky old carpets getting you down, but a bit short on cash? Painting the floor – whether floorboards that have been sanded back or ply boards screwed down over the top – is an economical approach to getting a smart alternative.
Patterns can easily be achieved by masking off areas with lengths of tape (buy a good-quality roll to achieve crisp lines).
Hottest tip: use a tough, low-sheen, floor-specific paint for the best finish and durability.
Manky old carpets getting you down, but a bit short on cash? Painting the floor – whether floorboards that have been sanded back or ply boards screwed down over the top – is an economical approach to getting a smart alternative.
Patterns can easily be achieved by masking off areas with lengths of tape (buy a good-quality roll to achieve crisp lines).
Hottest tip: use a tough, low-sheen, floor-specific paint for the best finish and durability.
Ease your passage into an open-plan hallway
If your front door leads into an open-plan hall and living room, or if your living area opens straight onto the garden, having carpet that’s going to get dirty every single time someone steps in just doesn’t make sense.
What is a good idea is swapping it for a single hard flooring that runs throughout the entire ground floor. It’s not only practical, the continuity will stretch space visually, too.
If your front door leads into an open-plan hall and living room, or if your living area opens straight onto the garden, having carpet that’s going to get dirty every single time someone steps in just doesn’t make sense.
What is a good idea is swapping it for a single hard flooring that runs throughout the entire ground floor. It’s not only practical, the continuity will stretch space visually, too.
Bare your stairs
To a degree, the Victorians had it right by having stair runners that could (fairly) easily be ripped up and replaced when they got worn. Carpeting across the whole width and length of a staircase will only result in a worn, dirty patch running right up the middle.
So the practical option is either a runner or painted treads – with the painted finish coming in cheaper, easier to maintain and just a paintbrush away from a whole new look.
See 11 creative ways to pimp your stairs
To a degree, the Victorians had it right by having stair runners that could (fairly) easily be ripped up and replaced when they got worn. Carpeting across the whole width and length of a staircase will only result in a worn, dirty patch running right up the middle.
So the practical option is either a runner or painted treads – with the painted finish coming in cheaper, easier to maintain and just a paintbrush away from a whole new look.
See 11 creative ways to pimp your stairs
Keep stains in check
Whether your dining area is part of an open-plan living space, you’re a fan of TV dinners, or you have pets (or, even messier, children), ditching the carpets for flooring that’s easy to keep stain-free makes real sense.
Choose a mid-tone colour or, better still, a patterned design to hide everything from crumbs to paw prints, and a low-sheen finish that will reflect light without showing off smudges.
Whether your dining area is part of an open-plan living space, you’re a fan of TV dinners, or you have pets (or, even messier, children), ditching the carpets for flooring that’s easy to keep stain-free makes real sense.
Choose a mid-tone colour or, better still, a patterned design to hide everything from crumbs to paw prints, and a low-sheen finish that will reflect light without showing off smudges.
Continue into your child’s room
What’s the best flooring for a kid’s room? Anything that’s easy to clean, is tough underfoot, and will go with any colour scheme when they (constantly) change their mind about the décor as they grow older. In other words, probably not carpet.
Wood flooring is an option, but a vinyl lookalike as here will be tougher, softer and warmer underfoot, as well as easier to clean and maintain. Soften it with a (preferably washable) rug for bare tootsies.
What’s the best flooring for a kid’s room? Anything that’s easy to clean, is tough underfoot, and will go with any colour scheme when they (constantly) change their mind about the décor as they grow older. In other words, probably not carpet.
Wood flooring is an option, but a vinyl lookalike as here will be tougher, softer and warmer underfoot, as well as easier to clean and maintain. Soften it with a (preferably washable) rug for bare tootsies.
Up the comfort factor
If ditching your carpet will achieve that boho-chic industrial combination, go for it, but you’ll need to soften tiled or concrete floors in living spaces. Warmth, created by underfloor heating, will make any hard flooring feel luxurious, but a smattering of rugs (make sure the backings will conduct heat) will make the floor more inviting – and add texture and pattern, too.
Tell us…
What have you swapped your carpet for – or would you change it after looking at these ideas? Tell us in the Comments section.
If ditching your carpet will achieve that boho-chic industrial combination, go for it, but you’ll need to soften tiled or concrete floors in living spaces. Warmth, created by underfloor heating, will make any hard flooring feel luxurious, but a smattering of rugs (make sure the backings will conduct heat) will make the floor more inviting – and add texture and pattern, too.
Tell us…
What have you swapped your carpet for – or would you change it after looking at these ideas? Tell us in the Comments section.
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Feeling chilly just looking at this living room flooring? Well, don’t, because these stylish tiles are actually not that hard and not really cold underfoot, either. Say what? They’re made from rubber, which makes them forgiving, hard-wearing and easy to keep clean. Plus they come in a range of lovely colours and can be paired with underfloor heating.
7 ideas for using patterned tiles outside