First impressions count

“For narrow hallways, we’d recommend a parquet herringbone
or patterned design as it will naturally draw attention and trick
you into thinking it’s a wider space.”

This summer, Karndean will present new designs to its premium Art Select range. A collection first introduced in 2006, Art Select is the jewel in the crown so they are very excited about this upcoming launch. 

Stella added: “You can expect our refreshed Art Select range will look to fill the gaps that have naturally revealed themselves over time. I can’t give too much away at this stage, but I can say that the new collection will consist of an exceptional selection of designs, including unique timbers and rare stones, each with a hand scraped emboss for a truly authentic look.

A simple yet striking stair runner elevates the entrance to a home and adds a splash of personality, style and comfort to any hallway space which explains why this contemporary trend is seeing no signs of waning say Cormar Carpet Company.

loop ranges are becoming increasingly popular as a way of adding style, safety, and comfort to a staircase. The addition of a canvas taped border provides another dimension to your stairs and offers the opportunity to bring in a co-ordinating or contrasting colour. 

The naturally textured Fairisle collection from Cormar is available in a variety of stunning neutral tones to complement any colour scheme or decor. Fairisle is produced using 100% Pure New Wool, in a premium quality 3-ply heather yarn, making it not only delightfully soft under your feet but also durable and long-lasting. Ideal for traditional or modern homes and available in both 4 and 5 metre widths.

“Stair runners using wool loop ranges are becoming
increasingly popular as a way of adding style, safety, and comfort
to a staircase.”

An easy clean carpet is also a popular choice for a well-used hallway space. Comar’s Primo Naturals is stain-resistant, bleach-cleanable and comes with a 10-year stain and wear warranty to eliminate the stress that comes with the thrills and spills of busy family life. This range is manufactured in a palette of sophisticated tri-colour heather shades and is available in 4 and 5 metre widths.  

Amtico recognise that hallways are a great space for beautiful flooring to make a statement but need to be practical enough to withstand busy daily life.

Launched in January, Décor x National Trust is the second collection in collaboration with the National Trust. This new edit comprises of five distinctive designs inspired by the captivating architecture and ornate features of Kedleston Hall, a property built by renowned British architect Robert Adam in the 18th Century.       

“As with all Décor products, the new designs are proudly
Made in Britain, in Amtico’s Coventry factory, and all come
with a lifetime warranty.”

Corinthian, and Temple Diamond provide a choice of beautiful wood and stone LVT flooring finishes. Reimagined for the modern home, the unique geometric shape of Venetian Parquet Wood and Stone was inspired by Lady Mary Curzon’s beautiful 1903 peacock dress, which is displayed at Kedleston Hall. The beautiful gilt fretwork cabinet by famous London cabinet maker John Linnell, provided the inspiration for Akari Lattice, blending authentic woods and effortless pattern. The Corinthian design delicately balances squares, diamonds, and circles to create an elegant design and was influenced by Robert Adam’s beautiful ceilings. And the Temple Diamond design has a history of its own, inspired by the Temple of Venus, a ruin in the Roman Forum. 

As with all Décor products, the new designs are proudly Made in Britain, in Amtico’s Coventry factory, and all come with a lifetime warranty. 

Abingdon Flooring’s wool carpets bring British-made quality to make any entrance grander.

“Nothing says welcome home quite like a wool carpet,” says Charlotte Coop, marketing manager, Abingdon Flooring. “And with our wool carpets, we bring that welcome with the quality that’s synonymous with British carpet manufacturing.

“One of our newest wool carpets is the loop pile of Charter Plain Loop from our Wilton Royal family. Its heavy domestic rating is perfect for hallways. Made from 100% wool, Charter Plain Loop is a hardwearing loop in a range of 12 natural colours. Featuring our extra durable three-ply yarn, it’s a luxurious look in any hallway.  

“The carpet features our fleece backing for more flexibility and less risk of damage to skirtings and wall when installing. In narrow hallways this is something that shouldn’t be underestimated. As a plus for homeowners, the fleece also has a more comfortable underfoot feel. Most hallways will also benefit from Charter Plain Loop’s 2.5m width option which cuts down on wastage.

‘We offer a 12-year warranty with Wilton Royal Charter Plain Loop, so any hallway can benefit from a welcoming and luxurious wool loop pile carpet that’s made to stick around.” 

The entrance hall is a great place to try something different, says Moduleo’s marketing manager, Orla Kerr: “When you spend a lot of time in a room, say the kitchen or living room, you naturally want a floor that’s calming and restful so people often play a little safer and will generally opt for a wood plank. But when it comes to areas where you spend less time, like the entrance hall, where you want to make an impact, there’s a chance to be a little more expressive. 

“When you spend a lot of time in a room, say the kitchen or living room, you naturally want a floor that’s calming and restful so people often play a little safer and will generally opt for a wood plank.”

“We designed the Moduleo Roots collection around these playful combinations, letting people choose between different material looks that work in harmony. With Roots, homeowners can be confident in choosing a wood plank in living areas and then finding the perfect matching tone in a concrete, stone or terrazzo tile for the entrance hall.

Choosing something different in the entrance is a great way to add instant character and personality to a home. Our six design themes guide homeowners in possible combinations, so it’s really easy to find an entrance hall floor that’s different and unexpected, while balancing perfectly with the calming and restful looks of living spaces.” 

Create a wow factor with Hugh Mackay’s Deco Collection which includes 43 colour options over 7 beautiful designs, that comprise of four textured loops and three flatweaves. The three flatweave designs are available in 4m width, and the four textured loops come in both 4m and 5m widths.

The Deco Collection sits beautifully against their Habitat LVT Collection. Habitat is available in ten colours and has two plank designs and two herringbone designs. All designs come with smart four-sided bevelled edges and have two glue and two click installation options. 

“The Deco Collection sits beautifully against Hugh Mackay’s
plains and their Habitat LVT Collection.”

Made in Belgium, the Capture range is Quick-Step’s best ever laminate floor. That’s because Quick-Step’s designers have recreated every detail of natural wood with surfaces that look and feel just like the real thing. Knots, cracks and grains are tracked with 20 times the texture of other laminate floors and with a finish that has just the right amount of matt or gloss, Capture has created a new level of realism in laminate flooring. 

And when it comes to hallways and entrances, everyone will appreciate Capture’s impressive scratch and stain resistance that will see it remain spick and span for years to come. Plus, its waterproof construction means that dirty boots, soaking wet coats and muddy paws won’t damage or mark the floor, no matter how long they hang around. 

“Quick-Step’s Capture laminate is the ultimate entrance
hall floor. Impossible to tell apart from real wood, yet with the durability, scratch resistance and ease of cleaning that comes
with premium quality laminate flooring.”

Capture is available in 18 decors including the rustic Cracked Oak Natural to the sophisticated Chic Walnut, classic Natural Varnished Oak and trending Painted Oak Rose, so there’s a Capture floor for any entrance. 

Life is not always black and white, is it? It’s not even beige and grey as much as it used to be. 

Tarkett told us they see that more customers are finally looking for some colour in their lives. And, when it comes to colours there are two which the paint guys can’t stop talking about.

Through all the magazines, the blog posts, the various influencers content reviewed by the team, Tarkett have honed into two recurring threads: French Grey, which is basically a lovely, subtle green- grey and a husky tone of powder blue - to keep our lives simple, Inspiration by Tarkett have called this French Blue.

“These tones re-emerged in kitchen design a while back and are claiming a foothold now throughout the home.”

Steve Urwin, retail marketing manager at Tarkett explains, “These tones re-emerged in kitchen design a while back and are claiming a foothold now throughout the home. They are perfect for creating a colourful first impression, and our Farringdon design is the ideal vehicle for these cool and welcoming colours.   

Urwin adds, “Black and white is classic styling of course, here we’ve mellowed the white to an ivory tone which works so much better with the highlight colours and added some finishing touches in the form of inlay strips and a diamond border all available to order”.

The new colours are available now as part of the Inspiration by
Tarkett collection.                      

Available in 4 metre and 5 metre widths and insect resistant to the industry gold standard Woolmark Level Two; Adam Carpets offer a durable and comfortable choice for anyone looking for a stylish and inspirational impact to wow visiting guests. 

Choose one of their woollen hard-wearing carpets to minimise the daily impact of foot traffic. Adam carpets are made with premium blends of wool and the best nylon 6.6 to achieve the best performance and appearance retention. Most use blends of accredited 100% UK-grown wool for a lower carbon footprint.

“Nexus adds a playful touch of strong shape which brings
any interior to life. To be had in sumptuous yet bold colours
for a striking look.”

way to make a statement and leave a lasting impression in any hallway. Offered in a range of scales and complimentary and calm colours, they work with any room scheme. Hallways are now more than ever seen as an essential key interior space in the home. That’s why their woollen carpets are a perfect fit, bringing that sense of comfort and warmth using renewable natural fibres.  

Nexus adds a playful touch of strong shape which brings any interior to life. To be had in sumptuous yet bold colours for a striking look. 

With LeoLine homeowners can make an entrance as unique as
they are, says Stuart Reeves, sales director for the leading cushion
vinyl manufacturer. 

“Everyone wants their home to make a great first impression
and because the hallway isn’t a ‘regular’ room where they
may entertain or relax, homeowners tend to think more freely
about the design of their floor. 

“Bolder looks inspired by classic ceramic tiles like Evora can be one way of making hallways stand out in older homes. Modern properties might look towards the concrete tile of Challenger or maybe even dare to use the marble of Stromboli or the new Celeste. Whatever look the homeowner wants for their hallway you’re sure to find it in LeoLine. And, of course, there’s also a huge range of welcoming wood looks including herringbone, chevron and painted styles for something a little different.

“Thankfully, because LeoLine’s easy to fit, durable and simple
to look after, it can bring all of these looks without the cost,
hassle and worry that often comes with the real thing. A good
quality entrance mat and regular vacuuming is all that’s needed
to keep any LeoLine hallway floor ready to make any entrance
feel extra special.”