Whether it’s because it’s stuck in the past or looks shabby due to years of wear and tear, your flooring can spoil your home’s overall decor. And yet replacing it can be expensive!
The solution may lie in hiding the floor’s imperfections—scratches, cracks, stains—or in drawing the eye elsewhere.
Add Area Rugs or Carpets
Rugs and carpets are indispensable allies in the fight against shabby flooring. Plus, they bring a touch of coziness and elegance to your interior.
Choose oversized carpets if you want to cover a large surface area (to delineate the living room section of an open concept floor plan, for example). Or, lay several smaller rugs here and there to create a series of points of interest in a single room (enough to direct attention away from the tired floor!)
ü Sometimes, to ensure a small area rug doesn’t stand out oddly from the rest of the room’s decor, you will need to pair it with additional accompanying accessories, such as a comfy chair and a lamp, to create a focal point.
Strategically Arrange Your Furniture
If parts of your floor are particularly worn-out, conceal them with furniture. There is, of course, more than one way to arrange the furniture in a room, so think outside the box! The idea is to achieve balance: if one layout makes the room feel lopsided, try another.
Just Paint!
Some types of flooring, like concrete or ceramic, are easily painted. Other materials will require priming with a specially formulated product. Select light tones to make the space feel bigger or darker hues for a more intimate ambiance.
- Good to know: An epoxy coating is also an excellent solution. Look up photos online to get inspiration!
Lay Vinyl and Avoid the Hassle of Renovating
If you think covering up your floor’s most problematic spots won’t be enough to divert attention away from its generally dilapidated condition, why not turn to vinyl? Vinyl flooring is easily installed right over your existing floor (avoiding the hassle of removing the old flooring material, like ceramic tiles) and comes in a wide range of styles and finishes.
Plus, vinyl is durable and simple to maintain!
Refinish Hardwood Flooring, if Possible
Wood is a noble material. So, before you rip it out, it’s worthwhile to at least try to bring it back to life by refinishing it.
- Use a product specially designed to mask defects (to fill in nicks and gouges).
- Sanding is also key to even out the area; it will help remove a few of the surface imperfections.
- Wood paints and varnishes will not only disguise certain flaws, but they’ll also protect the floor from future wear and tear. For a more subtle effect, choose a mat or satin finish.
Consider Self-Adhesive Tiles
Refresh your floor temporarily and cheaply by covering it with self-adhesive tiles. This can be a great option when staging a home for sale.
The installation process is straightforward, with no glue required. Plus, you can change the tiles as you wish to revamp your decor. What’s more, vinyl tiles allow you to camouflage damaged areas quickly without the hassle of a large-scale renovation.
Draw the Eye Elsewhere
One final tip is to play around with your interior decor to focus attention away from your floor to more visually appealing elements.
Hang art, colourful curtains or potted plants to draw the eye upward or toward other details. It’s simple and it works!
You absolutely can give a worn-out or dated floor new life without undertaking any costly renovations. Let your imagination run wild!
