Cormar’s recently launched Zenith range is the perfect option for those seeking durability without compromising on style. Zenith is manufactured using new and exclusive Ultralux polypropylene, providing a sumptuous softness that feels luxurious underfoot without compromising on performance, while its neutral palette allows for seamless integration into any room.
Getting cosy in classic style, naturally
Rita Bancroft • November 11, 2024
This year’s trend feature shows a return of warmer, nature inspired collections and growing desire for practical flooring solutions.
Richard Allen, sales director at Karndean Designflooring, said: “This autumn interior designers are finding inspiration in the seasonal hues of the open landscape, blending contemporary, retro and traditional styles for a cosy lived in feel that’s soulful and soothing.
“Inspired by some of the rarest and most precious materials around the world, our new Art Select collection has been designed to complement these natural colour palettes, from soft neutrals to moody darks and joyful bold hues, and provides outstanding versatility to express individuality with a bespoke floor.
“It’s reassuring to see stone flooring gaining renewed attention this season. Art Select offers a go-to collection of captivating designs that will bring any space to life, from the classic opulence of marble and reinterpretations of more humble stones such as Ceppo di Gré to the pearlescent beauty of onyx, a material not suitable for flooring in its natural state due to its fragility.
“Herringbone flooring also remains a firm favourite, adding
texture and a sense of movement to our homes. Combining classic beauty with a contemporary twist, Art Select presents a curated collection of new wood designs in full plank and herringbone sizes that can be combined in interesting patterns, from the freshness
of Artisan Oak and the smooth grain of French Oak to the
rustic character of Holm Oak.”
In 2024, interior design trends have shifted from cool and minimalist to cosy and cocooning, inspiring an array of warm neutrals. This shift emphasises muted, textured interiors, featuring natural elements like terracotta, rich woods, and organic fabrics that create a comforting and grounded atmosphere. Wool textures, in particular, remain a firm favourite as a way of adding depth and warmth to a home.
Made from 100% Pure New Wool, Cormar’s Shetland wool loop range offers both style and function, making it an excellent choice for creating a comfortable yet sophisticated space. The natural hues in this range blend beautifully with any décor, offering versatility and long-lasting appeal. Whether used as a stair runner or in hallways, Shetland is the perfect option for all areas of the home, making a design statement while also being practical and inviting.
Similarly, the rise of easy-clean, hardwearing materials reflects the desire for attractive yet functional interiors. In busy households, durability is as important as style, and easy-clean carpets offer an ideal solution for homeowners looking to balance practicality with a refined look.
Alternative Flooring are delighted to introduce their latest collection, Anywhere Ca-rPET. Crafted using recycled PET yarn, also known as rPET, Anywhere Ca-rPET fibres are made entirely from recycled plastic bottles, a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional yarn. The process involves collecting, sorting, cleaning, and melting the bottles to create fibres that are spun into yarn. Better yet, Anywhere Ca-rPET boasts a softly spun texture that feels great underfoot. This innovative collection is a part of the ‘Anywhere’ range of synthetic carpets, rugs and runners that are versatile, available in 4 and 5m widths and suitable for use both indoors and outdoors.
By mimicking the beauty and natural appearance of sisal, rPET yarn produces carpets with exceptional longevity, leading to less frequent replacements and lower resource usage. In addition to its practical benefits, repurposing plastic waste into aesthetically pleasing floor coverings minimises environmental harm. With 50 bottles needed to produce 1kg of yarn, and 1kg of yarn being enough for 1m2 of Anywhere Ca-rPET, this innovative solution is both efficient and sustainable.
Image Caption: Alternative Flooring, Anywhere Ca-rPET Bouclé
Re-source Runner with Tramlines Budapest Border
“Crafted using recycled PET yarn, also known as rPET,
Anywhere Ca-rPET fibres are made entirely from recycled
plastic bottles, a sustainable and environmentally friendly
alternative to traditional yarn.”
Durable and long lasting, Anywhere Ca-rPET is the ideal choice for high-traffic areas or made as a stylish yet functional rug and runner, plus, there is no need to worry about accidental spills, as it is also stain resistant.
UK flooring trends continue to emphasize convenience, style, and sustainability, and Furlong Flooring’s latest product, Universal Clic, perfectly embodies these themes. Universal Clic, a 12mm engineered wood flooring solution, is a response to modern consumer demands for easy-to-install, durable, and stylish options. The product merges the visual appeal of real wood with the simplicity of laminate installation, thanks to its superior click fitting system.
With home improvement trends favouring versatile, eco-conscious materials, Universal Clic aligns by offering compatibility with underfloor heating and being crafted from EUTR-certified wood. Its durability, supported by a 3mm wear layer, makes it a top choice for high-traffic areas, addressing the practical needs of both residential and
commercial spaces.
Available in eight on-trend natural hues, from light to dark oak
tones, Universal Clic offers something for every interior design style. As homeowners and businesses look for long-lasting,
low-maintenance flooring, Universal Clic positions itself as a
stylish, sustainable, and future-proof flooring solution that
taps into key industry trends for 2024.
Furlong Flooring stands behind the quality of Universal Clic with a
15-year residential warranty and a five-year commercial warranty, providing peace of mind for both homeowners and business owners. Available in a generous 190mm width and 1900mm length, Universal Clic offers a stylish spacious look that can transform any room.
Jon Flannigan, Head of Product at Headlam said, “In line with wider interior trends, there is a shift away from cooler tones and greys, as homeowners look towards warmer neutrals, including subtle shades of orange and richer biophilic palettes of earthy greens and deep blues. To fulfil this shift, Crucial Trading is launching five additional colours to its Weather Watching collection in November, introducing new yellow-toned neutrals to its portfolio. Made from 100% British wool to assure longevity and comfort, the new shades are inspired by the British landscape to complement the collection’s existing palette of soothing smoky tones, bringing the shades of nature indoors,” he says.
“When it comes to material choice, the trend for natural
fabrics cannot be denied. Wool, alongside other natural alternatives such as sisal and jute, remains incredibly popular as demand prioritises sustainable, more organic materials.”
“Alongside preferred hues, there is a return to heavy textured carpet, with larger twists and chunky loops being re-introduced. Unlike low-level carpet alternatives, these are incredibly tactile and softer underfoot.
“When it comes to material choice, the trend for natural fabrics cannot be denied. Wool, alongside other natural alternatives such as sisal and jute, remains incredibly popular as demand prioritises sustainable, more organic materials. Offering environmental, aesthetic and practical benefits, wool fibres are naturally durable, highly insulating and naturally stain resistant, making it ideal for high-traffic spaces. Over 50% of Crucial Trading’s product portfolio is now wool; it is a category that is only growing,” he says.
Image Caption: Crucial Trading, Sisal Big Boucle Accents Antique Gold
The vast range of designs and colours available from Ulster Carpets is the result of a constant evolution process.
With nearly 25 different ranges and over 500 different colourways, there is something for every taste, but that doesn’t mean that Residential Designers, Clare Jenkinson and Calvin Pope, aren’t always looking ahead.
Following this year’s successful launch of 6 new colours in the Danish-inspired Habitüs range, the two designers are already hard at work developing some new Axminster and tufted loops ranges which are due to be unveiled in 2025.
“It takes time to develop new designs and colours, so we are
normally working a year or two in advance,”
explained Calvin Pope. “Our patented axminster weaving technology gives us complete freedom, and this has resulted in some fantastic new designs.”
Colour is one of the more difficult areas to predict and,
as Clare Jenkinson outlines, they have to keep a close eye on trends. “There has been a clear move towards rich, warmer colours and that is very much in play with the new additions to the Croft and Strönd designs in Habitüs. For every design, we look at a wide palette of colours before narrowing it down to the final choices.”
Greendale have launched a new interior design concept for their members. iD – Interior Design by Greendale, was shown for the first time at The Flooring Show in Harrogate.
“We’ve taken the very latest trends and put them all in our iD sample box. This allows our members, their consumers and interior designers to match up carpets with paints, fabrics and other interiors items easily.” says Eamonn Prescott , Chief Executive at Greendale. “The box will be updated with fresh sampling, as new trends emerge.”
“We’ve taken the very latest trends and put them all in our iD
sample box. This allows our members, their consumers and interior designers to match up carpets with paints, fabrics and other interiors items easily.”
says Eamonn Prescott, Chief Executive at Greendale.
“The box will be updated with fresh sampling, as new
trends emerge.”
For more information contact:
Alternative • 01264 335111 •
www.alternativeflooring.com
Cormar Carpets • 01204 881234 •
www.portal.cormarcarpets.co.uk
Furlong Flooring • 01322 628700 •
www.furlongflooring.com
Greendale • 01432 852000 •
www.greendalecarpets.co.uk
Headlam • 01675 433000 •
www.headlamgroup.com
Karndean Designflooring • 01386 820200 •
www.karndean.com
Ulster Carpets • 028 3833 4433 •
www.ulstercarpets.com
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Learn all aspects of flooring installation at the Uzin Utz Campus in Stafford. The state-of-the-art facility provides diverse training opportunities throughout the year. From subfloor preparation, LVT fitting, wet room installations, wood floor sanding and sealing, as well as resin flooring installation, each course is designed to inspire and equip you with essential skills. With prices starting at just £75 per person, you will not only gain valuable knowledge but also lunch and refreshments, a certificate of achievement, a Uzin Utz Campus T-shirt, and exciting giveaways.
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BUSINESS NEWS
Imports of soft flooring including wall-to-wall carpet and rugs were up 8.8% to £74.75m in March, according to HMRC data compiled by The Furnishing Report. With this increase, imports of carpet grew faster during the period than alternatives like vinyl.
GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index decreased by four points to -23 in April. All measures were down in comparison to last month’s announcement. These are the current findings of the GfK Consumer Confidence Barometer (CCB) powered by NIM. The CCB has been published jointly by GfK and the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM), the founder of GfK, since October 2023.
Likewise Group, the UK flooring distributor, has announced its audited final results for the year ended 31 December 2024.
GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index increased by one point to -19 in March. Two measures were up, two were down and one was unchanged in comparison to last month’s announcement.
The prices of carpets and other floorcoverings fell 1.8% in March 2025, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics. This is the second consecutive month of falling prices, with carpets seeing a drop of 1.7% in February, down from 2.5% growth in the same period last year.
As of 1 April, Herman and Age Mulder will take over the management of Rinos as Managing Directors. They represent the fifth generation to join as shareholders of the family business, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Milco Visscher will start as commercial director on 1 May. The current managing director, Peter Kuipers, will oversee the transition and step down on 31 July.
Imports of flooring to the UK this February were up 7% when compared to the same period last year, reaching a total value of £127.9m, according to figures compiled by The Furnishing Report.
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