Floors demand both practical and decorative consideration. The selection of floor covering will have a big influence on the way a room looks.
But how do we make the right selection? First, give top priority to eye appeal and function, which are the two most important "jobs" of a floor covering.In support of eye appeal, the choices are almost infinite. Carpet, installed wall-to-wall, gives softness, color, texture, sound absorption and homeyness. Area rugs offer the same qualities as wall-to-wall, though on a lesser scale. These rugs can add just the right punch of color or pattern to complete the room.
Vinyl and tile offer easy maintenance and a variety of color choices. Ditto for wood flooring. Marble and other stone flooring add elegance but need a bit more maintenance.
As far as function is concerned, how a floor covering will be used should have a big influence on the selection. All of the above mentioned coverings are durable simply by their nature. But pattern, color and texture must be considered for each individual use.
In heavily trafficked areas, a top-quality product is essential. Hard flooring such as wood or tile would be the first choice. Heavy-duty carpets that are tightly woven and have a short pile work well also. If carpet is the choice, use a medium to dark color, preferably with some pattern in it, to keep the floor looking good.
In areas of little traffic, delicate colors and ultra-plush carpets are OK.
To make a small room look big, avoid patterns on the floor. Don't forget that the grout around tile makes a pattern, too. A small tile with a bright or contrasting grout will create a checkerboard pattern that can shrink a room quicker than hot water on cotton.
If you're trying to define a space, area rugs help do the trick. To unify, one great expanse of floor covering achieves the goal.
Did you ever consider having the floor be a room's focal point? It can happen. Exquisite Oriental rugs or creatively designed area rugs can accomplish this with flair.
Whether the floors in your house are bold or subdued, they make a fashion statement, like it or not. So choose wisely.
Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, a licensed interior decorator and winner of the Aurora Award for Interior Design, writes this column weekly. Her booklets, "The Mystery of Color" and "Sketchbook of Window Treatments Ideas," are available at $5 each or both for $9. They may be ordered from Sadez & Son, 3375 Tamiami Trail N., Naples, FL 33940. Please include name of your newspaper in the order.