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Category: Interior Design Tips

How to Use Leather Floors in Your Home

Posted on by torlys

Leather floors make a luxurious, bold statement in any home. Their soft and warm surface provides comfort, while the elegant leather pattern acts as a centerpiece, creating a truly unique and sophisticated space. If you love the idea of leather floors but aren’t quite sure how to style them in your home, TORLYS has the answers you need.

Not only are leather floors aesthetically pleasing, they also have a lot of practical features – they are durable, versatile, and quiet. TORLYS has gathered the benefits of leather floors, as well as the best rooms to feature these unique flooring options.

The Benefits of Leather Floors

Aesthetics

Leather floors are available in different colours and designs. They bring a rich feel to a home with their natural warmth and create an elegant sense of style. With styles available in multiple colours, homeowners can choose from bold or neutral hues to suit their home’s existing décor. And, like a pair of leather boots, these leather floors will wear over time, creating an even more beautiful aesthetic.

Sound

Not only do leather floors provide comfort, but they can reduce the noise in different areas of your home. Leather provides exceptional sound insulation, absorbing the sound of heavy footsteps, making your home a more calm, quiet space.

Durability

While they are soft underfoot, leather floors are surprisingly durable. Apart from being easy to maintain, all leather floors require is an easy wipe, sweep, or quick vacuum to collect any dirt or dust. Even though leather floors can stain and fade, the natural ageing effects make them look better with time.

TORLYS Leather Tile in Novara Black

The Best Rooms for Leather Floors

For some, aged leather floors have more character and warmth. But if you would prefer to keep your floors looking new for as long as possible, ensure your leather floors are installed in dry areas without much sunlight.

Bedroom

Bedroom flooring trends vary from time to time, but nothing screams stylish like leather. Leather floors are sexy, soft, and warm to the touch, making them a wonderful choice for your bedroom floors. Just imagine hopping out of bed on a cold rainy morning and your feet landing on your leather floors. Bring the rich look of leather floors into your master bedroom for a grand look and a cozy feel.

Walk-In Closet

Carry your leather floors from your bedroom into your walk-in closet. Being a low-traffic area that adds resale value to a home, closets are perfect for your leather tiles. Plus, you won’t have to worry about tracking in mud or dirt on the floors in this part of your home.

Home Office

Home office with TORLYS Smart Floors Leather Tile in Modena Wine
TORLYS Leather Tile in Modena Wine

Add warmth and elegance to your home office. If you have a love for luxury, you can make your home office elegant and more spectacular by adding leather flooring. Don’t be afraid to use your personal sense of style to make your office space into a bold statement – you’ll find yourself making more use out of it than you expected.

Living Room

Cozy up next to the fireplace while watching a movie with leather floors under your feet. Living rooms are a place for relaxation and make for a great entertainment space. The welcoming touch of leather will wow your guests while making them feel at home.

Dining Room

One of the most popular rooms for leather flooring is the Dining room. There is no better way to establish the Dining Room as a formal space than with leather flooring. These floors make the room feel grand without appearing overdone to your guests.

Plus, if any food or drink happens to fall on your floors, you can feel confident as TORLYS Leather floors come equipped with TORLYS CorkPlusTM Blue underlay with added Microban® antimicrobial product protection, inhibiting the growth of mold and mildew under your floors.

Leather Floor Maintenance Tips

Maintenance of your leather floors does not need to be complicated! Leather floors are durable, but there are small tricks to make them last a lifetime. Ensure you close your blinds to prevent unnecessary fading, pick up your furniture instead of dragging it, and clean up spills right away to keep your leather floors looking beautiful. Take care of your floors and they will give you years of comfort and beauty.

To maintain your TORLYS Leather floors, simply vacuum or sweep your floors once a week. Clean up any spills with a cloth. When a deeper clean is deemed necessary, use TORLYS EcoCare Cleaning Kit once a week or as needed.

TORLYS Smart Floors Leather

Condo with TORLYS Leather Plank Genova Chocolate floors
TORLYS Leather Plank in Genova Chocolate

TORLYS Leather redefines what a contemporary and sophisticated floor can be. To create a uniquely beautiful flooring experience, explore TORLYS Smart Floors Leather collections. These floors will inspire you to create a bold, original, and adventurous space in your home. Available in tiles and planks, TORLYS Leather floors accentuate the distinguished styling and allure of leather to create a bold presence in any space!

If after reading this blog, you’d like to try leather floors, find a trusted TORLYS dealer near you through our Dealer Locator.

Summer Design Trends for Your Cottage

Posted on by torlys

Summer is here which means we’re spending more days at the cottage. With less travel happening, the warm weather months may have you thinking about getting your cottage ready for a summery staycation! Whether you have a traditional cottage or a beach house, TORLYS has the design trends to brighten up the look of your second home. Below are some tips for creating a beautiful and comfortable cottage this summer.

Keep Paint Colours Light and Airy

Regardless of whether you have a vintage, rustic, or modern design style, the choice in paint colour will set the tone for your cottage. The goal is to keep the space light and airy by choosing paint colours that are simple and have a neutral base, inviting as much light into the room as possible.

It can be difficult to select your paint with so many colour options available. Make this decision simple – paint everything in an all-white palette! Picking the ideal white for your summer home can be influenced by its surroundings. Consider the flooring, furniture, and any additional accessories you already have in your space. To help guide you in making the right decision, see how designers choose the best white paint colours to give your cottage an uplifting, easygoing feeling.

Create a Cozy Cottage with Décor!

Cottage Bedroom Decor
Source: https://www.styleathome.com/interiors/article/interior-cheerful-summer-cabin

The best way to achieve a cozy cottage look is through accessorizing with your favourite décor items. Lighting is essential to set the mood for a space. By layering different types of lighting – general, task, focal, or decorative – it can create the ultimate cozy room.

Décor with pops of colour in a complementary palette can add character to your space. Incorporate colour through accessories like books, flowers, graphic paintings, vibrant dishes, or cushions. Adding lots of these accessories in varying colours makes the space shabby chic. Or you can opt for a more muted colour story with simple additions for a cleaner look.

Cottage Flooring Options

TORLYS offers a wide range of flooring options that meets the unique demands of cottage living. We have a few recommendations that will perform well and look great in your cottage.

Living Room with TORLYS Reclaime Laminate flooring in Wilson Oak
TORLYS Smart Floors Laminate Reclaime in Wilson Oak
  • Laminate: TORLYS Smart Floors Laminate’s collections exceptionally durable material is designed to withstand an active household while being virtually indistinguishable from hardwood – for a fraction of the price. No matter what you get up to at the cottage, worry less with laminate. Plus, select TORLYS Smart Floors Laminate collections are waterproof!
  • Hardwood: The brilliant look of TORLYS Smart Floors Hardwood is matched by its intelligent design. A new TORLYS Hardwood floor captures the beauty of natural wood and is gap, cup and dent resistant.
  • Cork/CorkWood: TORLYS Smart Cork and CorkWood™floors really do have it all. They look and feel great, plus they’re a renewable resource, making them an ideal choice for your second property!

Visualize your Cottage

Having trouble imagining what your cottage design will look like with new flooring and décor? Try TORLYS Room Visualizer, which provides a close estimation of what the flooring will look like once installed in a variety of room scenes, including your own cottage! This let’s you preview your favourite floors with your colour palette to to get a sense of how your space will look once it’s all put together.

No matter what you decide, the accessories along with the painted walls, new décor, and TORLYS floors will create a perfectly balanced cottage space for you to enjoy this summer!

Header Source: https://www.cottagesandbungalowsmag.com/design-ideas/colorful-vintage-cottage/

How to Style Light Floors in Your Home

Posted on by torlys

Light floors open rooms up to make them feel bigger and brighter, creating a contemporary, artistic style to a home. They’re popular in Scandinavian interior design, are less sensitive to sunlight and show less dent and scratches than their darker counterparts.

Since pale floors aren’t used as often as dark floors, people are unsure of how to style them and find it difficult to design their space with them. But we’re here to tell you not to shy away from light floors. With the right paint, furniture, and understanding of different wood shades, you’ll be able to find the right light floors for you.

Pale Floors to Suit Your Walls

If you love the colour of your floor and want to keep your space light and airy, consider painting your walls at least two shades darker or lighter from your floors. This will prevent the two surfaces from blending in together while keeping it fresh.

TORLYS Laminate Colossia floors in Denali Oak

If you’re looking to add some pops of colour, you can try going the darker route. The great thing about light wooden floors is that you can use darker, dramatic paint without making the room look small and enclosed.

Take paint samples home with you and see how they look on your walls at different times of the day and to see how they look next to your floors. Comparing a picture to an in-store sample just isn’t as reliable because a room with a southern exposure will make a wall look brighter and lighter while a room with a northern exposure has walls that look darker and duller.

Choose the Right Colours

When selecting an accent colour for your pale floors, follow the feel of your floor. If your flooring has cool hues to it, select accents that are cooler. Blues, bright greens, purples, and grey-greens are all considered cold tones. You can also bring in white furniture with blue undertones to create a cool feeling and looking area.

TORLYS Laminate Fjord in Aurlands Oak

Pale floors with warmer hues work well with warm colours such as soft white. These colours include golds, yellows, oranges, and reds. You can also make green into a warmer colour by adding yellow to it. If the feel of your floor and your accent colours don’t match, your light hardwood could actually make your walls look dull. To find out the true hue of your floor, put a clean white sheet of paper to make the undertones of your floor pop. Check online resources to find out what the latest colour trends are and to find inspiration for warm, comforting hues and bright colour pops.

Use the Right Wood Accents

TORLYS Laminate Park Lane in Venice Oak

If your existing accents and furniture are a different hue or grain of wood than the light hardwood floor you want, never fear, you can make it work. Wood with different finishes can go together, we just recommend you follow these general guidelines.

  1. Before you select your new hardwood floor, look at the wood in your home. What species is it? Pick a floor that is in the same wood family to create a cohesive look. Light wood has a more modern feel than darker wood such as cherry, so try to keep the mood of the wood consistent and your room will come together.
  2. When it comes to matching grain, here’s the rule: do or don’t! You should either include multiple grains of wood in your space or stick to one. Avoid having one area of the room with different grains of wood and the rest of the area featuring only one.
  3. If you are combining wood finishes and grains, bring them together with one bold, distinctive accent colour. Splash the hue on your walls and include it in accent pieces around the room to bring the space together.

TORLYS has a wide selection of flooring that will open up any space to make your home feel brighter. While darker floors tend to be bold and dramatic, pale floors are contemporary, airy and artistic.

Visit your local TORLYS dealer to see what we have to offer and to speak to a knowledgeable sales representative about our collections and to discuss what flooring would be best for your home. You can also browse online and order samples that will be delivered right to your home.

How to Choose the Right Floors – 8 Top Tips

Posted on by torlys

Replacing the floors in your home takes time, research, and lots of thought. That’s why it’s important to make the right decision and choose an option that will look good and last for a long time. The goal is to invest well and not have any regrets in the future.

Remember these tips during your floor-buying journey:

1. Think Like an Investor

Ask yourself these three questions:

  1. Will I like these floors in five years?
  2. Will I like them in ten?
  3. Are they durable enough to withstand my active lifestyle and maintain their looks?

Think about how far your money will go. Spending a little less now could mean spending more in the future.

2. Know Your Stuff

Spend some time doing research. Research different flooring brands and compare their philosophies, practices, and products. Remember that flooring is more than what meets the eye and, while it is important it looks good, it’s also important you decide what features and benefits matter most in your home.

For transparent information, read online reviews and ask your network about their opinions for different products.

3. Understand Quality

Make sure you’re getting your money’s worth by knowing the answers to these questions:

  • How are the products made?

Is the company’s construction process accessible? If a company is transparent about its manufacturing process then they don’t have anything to hide.

  • Does the company provide good customer service?

Is there a way to get in touch in case of any problems? It’s important to have easy communication with a company you buy expensive products from.

  • Where is the product sold?

Products sold in big-box stores are generally all about price and aren’t as reputable when it comes to long-lasting performance.

4. Know Your Indoor Environment

Nobody knows your home’s indoor environment like you do. If your basement is very humid, consider waterproof flooring. TORLYS has several beautiful waterproof flooring options you can explore using the product filter on our website.

Try to understand the benefits of different certifications and their impact of compliance with strict environmental standards. For example, CARB (California Air Resources Board), NALFA (North American Laminate Flooring Association), and FloorScore®. Floors with these official seals meet or exceed the toughest indoor quality standards, offering peace of mind to homeowners.

Discounters tend to treat flooring as a commodity instead of as a key ingredient in your home renovation. Product malfunctions, especially related to indoor air quality, have recently come from discount flooring warehouses. That’s not an accident. A lack of concern for product quality and caring only about price leads to errors that homeowners end up paying for. Keep this in mind when making your purchase.

5. Visit a Reputable Flooring Store

Visiting a reputable flooring store can help you discover the right floors for you. Retailers who specialize in flooring know their stuff, so why not take advantage? Discuss cost, materials, and installation for a better understanding of what’s out there. Specialty retailers also work with experienced installers, which saves you time and trouble.

Find a trusted TORLYS dealer near you through the Dealer Locator on our website.

6. Buy a Brand Name

Some people consider brand names overrated. But the reality is, established reputations can take a lot of hard work to achieve. It takes many years of providing good quality, reliable products, and excellent customer service to build a strong name.

Choosing a company like TORLYS as your flooring provider means you can rely on your flooring for years, or decades, from the day of your purchase.

7. Discuss Warranties

Don’t believe everything a company says about its quality. A general rule of thumb is good quality products come with good warranties.

Things to look for in a warranty:

  • A Pro-Rating: If a brand’s warranty is prorated you don’t lose value for your product if you need it replaced over time.
  • A Satisfaction Guarantee: These guarantees mean that you get a trial run with the product before a full-blown commitment.

TORLYS Peace of Mind Assurance provides a superior warranty, assuring you peace of mind for years to come.

8. Visualize your flooring

Once you’ve done your research and settled on some flooring options, it’s time to understand how the floors will actually look in your home. Consider ordering samples of flooring so you can see the colours up close and in person. This also allows you to see the flooring under your lighting and against your existing décor.

TORLYS also offers helpful options like our Room Visualizer tool to help preview any TORLYS floor in a variety of scenes –even in your own space! The Visualizer provides a close estimation of what the flooring will look like once installed.

With these eight tips, you’re sure to make an informed, confident decision when it comes to your new flooring.  Through the taking the time to research and think through your decision, you’ll be happy with your investment for years to come. If you choose TORLYS, you can start browsing your options at our website today!

Helpful Tips for Selling Your Home

Posted on by torlys

Deciding to sell your home can be an exciting time but without a plan, it can be stressful! Making choices of where to invest your time and money back into your home to increase its value can be difficult. Before you put your home on the market, you’ll want to ensure you are getting the most out of your investment.

But before beginning a slew of renovations on your home, do some research on the market. If this is your first time selling a home, ease into it and educate yourself. Your home is likely your biggest investment, so it’s worth doing some research to get the most out of it.

3 Tips for Selling Your Home

1. Know the market

You’ve likely heard people refer to the real estate market as being best for buyers or sellers.

  • In a buyer’s market, there are more homes available than homebuyers. This gives potential homebuyers an advantage.
  • However, in a seller’s market, there are more home buyers than viable properties available. This is when you can relax a bit.

If it’s a seller’s market, making renovations is generally considered a must. Ask for the help of a realtor to determine what the market trends, their predictions, and what is or isn’t selling in your neighbourhood. If you have some time, hold off until the market is best for you and your home.

This also includes knowing your home’s selling point before and after renovations, and calculating how much those renovations will cost. Homes in certain neighbourhoods might sell easily because of their location, while others need some special touches to attract buyers.

2. DIY (what you can)

To get the most bang for your buck, tackle renovations that you can do yourself or with the help of friends and family. Hiring contractors to get the job done can be costly, lowering your chance of getting the best return on your investment. However, make sure you don’t take on a job that’s too big or complicated!

3. Know your home’s worth

One of HGTV Canada’s go-to contractors, Bryan Baeulmer, says that depending on how old your home is, doing no renovations at all could be the smartest route to take. He says old homes requiring complete renovations can have hidden problems that blow your entire budget. This leaves you with no profit or less money in the end. If this is your situation, put your home on the market for a little less.

Not doing any renovations might prevent you from cashing out short-term, but it could also save you from spending money on large, hidden issues. To avoid this, we recommend updating your home from time to time rather than waiting until the entire space needs a remodel. Keeping your home in good shape will help you in the long run.

How to Best Spend Your Money When Selling Your Home

The best thing you can do when selling your home is highlight its assets. Choose renovations that will boost its value while skipping over those that won’t add to your home. Potential buyers may steer clear from your home if they see a need for renovations — even if they’re easy to do. Complete these simple projects on your home to make it move-in-ready.

Here’s a list of low-cost renovations that can easily increase your home’s value:

1. Paint

Paint roller in paint
Photo by KJ Styles on Unsplash

A fresh coat (or two) of paint can brighten up your home, making it look new, clean, and livable. Choosing the right neutral colours can also modernize your home and make it appeal to a larger crowd, while using a colourful palette may alienate potential homebuyers.

2. Backsplash

Adding a new backsplash to your kitchen or your bathroom gives you a chance to add some new design elements to create a stylish space. Tiles and grout are generally inexpensive and can be installed without hiring expensive contractors. Try it as a DIY project and see how much of an impact some new tiles can make.

3. Basement

Finishing your basement makes the most of your home and adds livable space. Families need room for kids and their friends to play, or even a quiet space for parents to relax. Basements can serve as playrooms, offices, an extra TV room, or even another bedroom. Adding some drywall, paint, and finishing the floors makes a huge difference. Use the product filter on our website to find the TORLYS floors that are best for basements.

4. Home staging

Staging your home to appeal to potential buyers has proven time and time again to be a great way to sell your home faster and for more. Home stagers use furniture and décor to maximize your space and help buyers imagine themselves in a clean, new home.

You can choose to hire a professional stager or, if you’d rather, stage your home on your own. To do so, start off by depersonalizing your home, decluttering, and emptying out all closets and cabinets. Buyers want space and storage, so making it look like you have plenty will make them think your home is bigger than it actually is.

5. Professional photographs

When it comes to real estate, investing in professional photography is important. All listings are now posted online, and potential buyers are always clicking through the web, hoping to find their dream home. Digital camera shots or cell phone pictures just aren’t good enough to make the best of your space. Low-quality photos make a space look old, dingy, and unappealing.

For more on this topic, read TORLYS blog about small home renovations that can pay off big time.

The Importance of Curb Appeal

Spruce up your curb appeal to have potential buyers impressed before they even enter your home. Depending on your budget, you can do either small updates like fixing your front gardening and painting your front door, or something a little more extravagant like building a front porch or repaving your driveway.

House with bad curb appealHouse with good curb appeal

6 Simple ways to improve your curb appeal

  1. Simple, groomed landscaping
  2. Outdoor lighting
  3. Large, modern house numbers
  4. Freshly painted front door, window trims and railing
  5. New front porch
  6. Smooth, crack-free driveway

If you’re preparing to sell your home, make sure you do everything you can to get the most for its value. As many people’s largest investment, it’s worth the extra effort to make changes to your home before selling. We hope you found these tips on knowing the market, the importance of doing the work yourself, and taking the time to understand the market to be helpful while you prepare to sell your home!

Header Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash

Get Your Home Ready for Spring

Posted on by torlys

It’s March, which means Spring is right around the corner and, most importantly, winter is coming to an end! Our clocks jump forward, we’ll stock up on Easter goodies, and everything around us becomes spring-oriented — except inside your home. Just because you’ve taken your tree down and stopped turning on your Christmas lights doesn’t mean your home is ready for spring. Fear not, TORLYS is here to help you plan and carry out your spring cleaning!

Step 1: Put Away Winter Decorations

If you haven’t already (and no judgement here!), it’s time to put away your tree, bring your reindeer lawn decorations into storage, and take down your front door wreath. And yes, the hardest one of all, it’s time to stop turning on your decorative lights.

Putting away winter decorations means you’re no longer operating in winter mode and you’re ready to take on the new, fresh feelings of spring. Plus, it helps to get you mentally prepared for everything that’s coming up next.

Step 2: Do Maintenance Chores

Homes require a lot of maintenance, especially after the winter season. There’s a reason they call it spring cleaning!

Here’s a list of outdoor spring cleaning tasks:

  1. Check your gutters, downspouts, air-conditioning units, shingles, chimney, foundation vents and outdoor faucets.
  2. Fix any cracks in your driveway, porch, stairs and even in your window caulking.
  3. Use compact soil to fill up low areas in your lawn or next to your home’s foundation to prevent flooding and damage.
  4. Remove any of the firewood you have stored near your home. For your safety, it should be kept at least 2 feet away from the structure of your home and 18 inches off the ground.
  5. Clean outdoor areas like your windows, grill, outdoor furniture, power equipment and more.

Step 3: Do your Spring-Cleaning

Bears aren’t the only ones that hibernate. We (try) to stay inside all winter — And that’s okay! But now that spring is approaching, a lot of bright, natural light is about to get shined on any dirt in your home. Basically, spring cleaning consists of taking care of the things that aren’t maintained throughout the winter but need attention when the weather thaws out.

Here are some spring-cleaning tips:

  1. Clean inside all cabinets and storage areas.
    Clean all your countertops and cabinets, but also go inside your kitchen and bathroom drawers and give them a good wipe. You’ll be surprised at how many crumbs you’ll find!
  2. Give your appliances a scrub.
    Clean inside your fridge, oven, dishwasher, microwave, and washer/dryer. Then, clean them from the outside to make them look nice and new.
  3. Scrub down your walls and your floors.
    Whether they’re drywall or covered in tiles (i.e. your backsplash or shower), laminate or hardwood, they all need to be cleaned. For your floors, use TORLYS EcoCare Cleaning Kit to make sure you get the job done well.
  4. Wash your cloth materials.
    Wash all your bedding (there’s nothing better than fresh sheets!), blankets, area rugs and carpets, and vacuum your mattress.

Step 4: Add your Spring Décor

Kitchen with Avenue Newlands Oak flooring

Once all the boring work is done, it’s time to get started on the fun stuff! The end of winter means it is time to add some spring décor to your home. But, it is important to balance adding some spring accents without going overboard.

  1. Introduce some gardening
    Tulips and daffodils, like most spring bulbs, will bloom just as beautiful inside as they do outside. For instance, force bulbs by planting them loosely in rocks and soil while providing sunshine and water. Within a few weeks, your indoor garden will be thriving. If long stem flowers become unruly, place them in a taller bucket to keep them under control. Flowers’ natural colour will add brightness to any space and liven things up.
  2. Change over accessories
    Store away dark or neutral accessories and replace them with your favourite spring colour. Try to keep it to one colour to maximize punch and focus on small inexpensive pieces like pillow covers and ceramics.
  3. Take a risk
    Neutral walls come alive when you mix time, energy, and a few gallons of brightly coloured paint. Select a bright tone hidden within your existing décor and apply it to the walls. It’s amazing the impact this makes and how it energizes the room all year round. If the risk is too great for a main room, choose a smaller room like a bedroom or a powder room.
  4. Use natural materials
    Wood tones are trending lighter and brighter along with raw materials. Flooring and cabinetry are moving away from dark espresso stains and showcasing natural wood grain. The resulting interiors are fresh and naturally inspire a feeling of Spring. If renovations are on your horizon explore natural or whitewashed hardwood, laminate, vinyl or cork. And for decorating, consider wooden furniture and natural materials like wool and cotton.

Choose TORLYS

If you have TORLYS floors and are getting ready for spring cleaning, consider TORLYS EcoCare Cleaner. This cleaning solution is specially designed for TORLYS floors to keep them looking beautiful for years to come. Find out more information at our website, including a full FAQ regarding recommended product care for your TORLYS floor.

Kid-Friendly Flooring Options

Posted on by torlys

Whether it’s crawling babies spitting up their dinners, toys spread out across every room, or the high-foot traffic from daily games of tag, family homes see a lot of action. And guess what takes the biggest beating? Your floors.

Playrooms and kids’ bedrooms are a space where kids should be able to be creative and have fun. So, we’ve gathered our tips on what to look for when selecting floors for a kid-friendly room.

Best Kid-Friendly Floor Factors

Choosing kid-friendly floors will prevent you from worrying about your children’s safety and your floors getting ruined. To do this, we recommend looking for floors that meet these four criteria: durable, easy to maintain, safe, and beautiful.

1. Durability

Young boy playing soccer on Elka Salvaged Oak floors

Playrooms and children’s bedrooms take on a lot of wear and tear. Dribbled basketballs dropped glasses of milk, and busy sleepovers can take a toll on floors that aren’t made durable. Look for a floor that can withstand high traffic to prevent replacing your floors sooner than expected.

2. Maintenance

As mentioned earlier, kids tend to drop stuff. No matter what it is. Luckily for you, there are low-maintenance flooring options that only require a quick wipe to clean things up. Easy to maintain floors make having kids a little easier and give you more time to relax. They also stop you from the constant fear of having to spend your entire night cleaning up a mess that took two minutes to make. Plus, TORLYS EcoCare Cleaning Kit makes it easy to maintain your floors, even when kids try to make it a challenge!

3. Safety

As we’re all aware, children can be clumsy. Taking steps to avoid hard falls can turn painful incidents into little boo-boos, easing some of the constant worry that comes with parenthood. Some floors can provide a softer landing, cushioning drops and falls. They also lessen the sound of loud footsteps, allowing the sounds of playtime to continue without taking over your home.

4. Beauty

Your kids might like the most vibrant flooring option best but remember their style will change over time. Your children shouldn’t grow out of their bedroom floors faster than they grow out of their clothes. Choose an option that is beautiful and will last for years to come. Add colour through décor, like bedspreads and knickknacks. Plus, you can always use vibrant paint colours to add some excitement to the room. Repainting is less tedious and a more cost-effective option than replacing your floors.

Best Flooring Options for Kids

Young girl lying on Elka Frosted Oak floors

Now that you know the four main considerations to keep in mind when looking for kid-friendly floors, here are some great TORLYS flooring options for kid’s rooms!

Cork

Cork floors are our top pick as a kid-friendly flooring option. TORLYS CorkWood collection combines the beauty of wood with the durability of laminate. Made of real cork, these floors are naturally soft and quiet, with a little extra give. These floors just need an easy sweep to prevent any scratches from built-up dirt and the occasional wipe due to spills. Cork is also a natural insulator, preventing noise for travelling and keeping your feet warm throughout cold winters. Cork floors check off all the necessary elements to consider, making them ideal for a kid’s room!

Vinyl and Laminate

Vinyl and laminate are two different products with similar features. They’re available in several different wood patterns, working with your home’s existing décor. These floors are also durable and easy to maintain. TORLYS vinyl and laminate floors are scratch and dent resistant, standing up against everyday playtime. They also don’t gap, cup or warp. All in all, they make for a great option for a kid’s room!

Non-permanent Solutions

For a non-permanent flooring solution, use foam or rubber floor tiles to create a soft and easy-to-clean floor. They come in several colours and can be moved from room to. This way, you can install the beautiful floors you want without worry about your children’s safety or about your floors getting ruined.

Choose TORLYS

At TORLYS, we have a variety of flooring options to choose from that are both practical and beautiful. Whether you choose Cork/CorkWood, Laminate, or Vinyl, there is a perfect TORLYS floor for your family. Explore these collections at our website and find a dealer near you.

4 Essentials for Your Entryway

Posted on by torlys

Although they’re often overlooked, entryways are a key room. As the very first space guests see in your home, entryways set the tone of your personal style. Whether big or small, simple or extravagant, there are four things every great foyer needs: storage, décor, lighting, and durable flooring.

1. Durable flooring

There isn’t much in a front foyer, but like every room, your front entrance needs flooring. Your entryway gets the most dirt and mud dragged in and is walked on with shoes all the time. If your floors aren’t durable, they’ll look worn and set a poor tone for the rest of your home. The solution? Durable floors.

Choose floors that are dent, cup, and gap resistant, preferably also waterproof or water resistant. Floors that are easy to maintain are easier to keep looking new and take up less of your time when it comes to cleaning. Add a rug or mat in your front entryway to catch dirt and further protect your floors from the in-and-out traffic. Just make sure to use a non-slip backing underneath to prevents any injuries.

At TORLYS, you can explore a luxury vinyl option like our EverWood and EverTile collections. These collections offer real wood or tile looks but are more durable, maintaining their beauty for years to come. And when it comes time to clean your floors, use TORLYS EcoCare Cleaner, a specially formulated floor cleaner solution for all TORLYS floors!

2. Storage

Entryway with TORLYS Fjord laminate in Runa Maple
Fjord laminate flooring in Runa Maple

When you walk through your front door, how does the entrance make you feel? Is it warm, welcoming and functional? Or do you have to wade through mountains of shoes, clutter, and this week’s recycling just to find a spot to remove your coat?

Storage is an essential component to a foyer because of the traffic it sees from the people with whom you live and your guests. Although every entryway needs it, not every entryway has enough storage space.

For those living in the house, especially if there are kids, tucked away storage is essential. A coat closet or a shoe cabinet can help hide clutter, which leaves more room for decorative pieces. And if you’re lucky, your coat closet can even double as a decorative piece.

A place to put down your keys, mail, or whatever you’re carrying is helpful, as is a place to sit while putting on your shoes. Depending on the size of your hallway and how much closet space you have, select furniture that suits your needs the best.

And for guests, try to have easily accessible places for them to hang their coats when they arrive. Make sure there is a place for them to put their shoes where a big pile up won’t block the door. Depending on your living situation, keep in mind how many people may be visiting you at once. Sometimes all you need is a couple of hooks to keep things easy and clutter free.

3. Décor

Your furniture might make the biggest impact, but here are a few smaller ways of upping your entryway’s décor.

Paint Colour

Choose a colour that complements the style of your home and welcomes guests. Colours with warm undertones such as yellow, orange or red are the route to go for this. If your foyer is small and already painted in a cool colour, use decorative pieces and furniture to add some warmth to your foyer.

Mirrors

Entryway with TORLYS Reclaime laminate in Jefferson Oak
Reclaime laminate flooring in Jefferson Oak

One of the smaller pieces that can create a stylish entryway is a mirror. It’s a functional addition as almost everyone looks at themselves before leaving their home, especially before work. Plus, mirrors come in various shapes and sizes and are available with simple or extravagant frames that can act as a piece of art. They also help to make your space look bigger.

Seasonal Decorations

Use your entryway to display any holiday or seasonal decorations you own to make your home feel festive and welcoming. Try adding some decorative flowers, statues or colours to add a holiday touch without adding too much clutter.

4. Lighting

A lack of light in any room can make it dreary and unpleasant. Entryways not only look better when they’re well-lit, but they make it easier for you to get ready to head out the door. Depending on your style, you can add some drama with a beautiful chandelier.

Don’t overlook your entryway when designing your home! As the first space guests see, you want to make a great impression. Use TORLYS Room Visualizer to explore your flooring options and get inspired! And when you’re ready, contact a TORLYS Dealer near you to find the perfect floors for your space.

9 Simple Holiday Decorating Ideas

Posted on by torlys

We don’t know about you but for us, it feels like a holiday is always around the corner. Decorations can be stressful and put a strain on all your other holiday responsibilities, but with a few versatile pieces and some colour, we guarantee you’ll have a beautiful home ready for the holidays.

Here are some of our go-to holiday tricks that can be used to take some of the stress out of decorating.

1. Start with a Good, Clean Foundation

It doesn’t do any good to add holiday decorations into the mix if we haven’t gotten control of the clutter in our house. Start by putting things away that don’t need to be out, and make sure everything is looking spick-and-span. And don’t ignore your floors! Use TORLYS EcoCare Cleaning Kit to make sure you have a good, clean foundation to your home decorating with a shining floor.

2. Holiday Curb Appeal

The holidays call for family and friends coming over for dinner and constant visits. Decorating your home from the outside gives people a festive impression before they even go inside. We recommend decorating your front entryway with seasonal plants or flowers, a front door ornament, and a colourful blanket.

Seasonal flowers typically only last for a few months and need to be repurchased every year, but they add a beautiful first impression and can be purchased for $10 to $30. Look for big pots or hanging baskets that represent the holiday season. If you’d like, you can continue this look indoors as well.

Front door ornaments, for example, a wreath, only need to be bought once and can be reused year after year. They decorate your front entrance without taking up any space on your entryway, making them super convenient if your porch is either small or nonexistent. If wreaths seem like too much of a hassle, try tieing a colourful ribbon around your doorknob.

If you do have a front porch with a bench or chairs, add a holiday-themed blanket. It doesn’t have to be covered in pumpkins or elves, but choose one that fits the seasonal aesthetic. This will also make your home more inviting and keep you warm when you’re scoping out your neighbour’s holiday decorations.

3. Festive Tableware

Table decorated for holidays

Festive tableware can vary in prices. There are options for people who love to go shopping and overflow their dining table with holiday decorations and there are options for people who like to keep things more low-key but with subtle touches.

Centrepieces are a beautiful way to set the mood for your dining room. (They’re not called centrepieces for no reason!) Look for decorations that would complement your dishes and the rest of your home’s style. You can even purchase small pieces to put on everybody’s plate.

If you’re looking to keep things more subtle, or on the more affordable side, try decorating your table with some seasonal fruit or vegetables in a big bowl. Colourful paper or linen napkins can also add a nice flair without making you go overboard.

4. Use Clear Vases

Clear vases are a perfectly simple yet glamorous way to showcase your holiday decorations. Put some leftover holiday ornaments that didn’t fit on the tree in a clear vase (bowls work, too!), then put the vase on your kitchen island. Or on the counter in your main bathroom. Or on the windowsill in the living room.

Other vase-filler ideas include seasonal fruit, candles, and some outdoor finds like pinecones.

5. Decorate with Smell

Yes, we just mentioned how candles can be used to create a great centrepiece inside of a clear vase. But candles also give you the opportunity to make your home smell like the holidays.

After all, the sense of smell is closely linked with memory, and there is a certain smell linked to every season. Take advantage of this. If you don’t like candles, buy an air fresher in a holiday scent. Your guests will definitely notice, and you’ll always be in a happy, holiday mood.

Tip: Spruce up an old or plain candle by tieing a bow around it for added detail.

6. Display Your Candied Goods

For most, the holidays are about food. Family gatherings, friendly get-togethers and late night movie nights all revolve around dinner or snacks. And dessert. So why not decorate with your favourite holiday treats? Leave our some cookies decorate for the occasion, or have some candy hanging out in a bowl. All these touches make people feel welcome while adding a festive touch. And to really win at holiday decorating, put your holiday treats in a clear bowl or vase.

7. Pillow Patterns

Christmas pillows on couch

Buy some season pillows for $10 each and put them on your couches, windowsills, dining room chairs, and even outside. Pillows come in a large variety of patterns and colours and add coziness to a space.

8. Colourful Towels

Add pops of seasonal colour to your home by switching our your tea towels for ones with a festive pattern. This will add a subtle touch to your kitchen and will give you something to look forward to every holiday season. Bring this idea into the bathroom by putting our colourful hand towels for guests to have a consistent, decorative flow throughout your home.

9. Make Use of Your Stairs

Staircases are a great place to add holiday details. Everywhere from the landing to the railings, use decorate ribbons, lights, greenery and plants to continue the festivities upstairs. Even if your upper floor won’t be used by guests, staircases are an elegant focal point and can be seen by guests, typically right when they enter your home. Besides, there’s always that one guest that help themselves upstairs to use the facilities or snoop around.

This holiday season has brought unprecedented challenges, but with these simple tricks, the holiday spirit can lift us all up! Don’t let the magic of this time of year pass you by – embrace it whatever way you can. From everyone at TORLYS, wishing you and yours the very best!

Creating Space with Flooring

Posted on by torlys

If you live in a condo or an older home with the original floor plan, chances are your home is space-challenged. Building permits, retaining walls and your budget can stop you from tearing walls down to create a bigger room.

This year, we are spending more time within the four walls of our home and the space can feel even more confining. Luckily, there are other ways to make a room look and feel bigger. Carefully chosen and installed floors and well-placed furniture will help you create a bigger space without the fuss of a large renovation.

Here are a few creative tricks that will make your small room feel bigger without having to change your square footage.

How to Use Flooring to Create a Larger Space:

 

Large planks vs small strips

Long, wide planks make a space less busy and airier the same way a plain rug is a better choice versus a rug with a small print.

Install parallel or diagonal flooring

Flooring that is either parallel with the longest wall in your home or installed diagonally takes away from a room’s lack of size and achieves an elongated feel.

Unify your floors

Living Room with Envique Laminate floors in Gable Oak

By having the same flooring throughout your home you’re creating a sense of one large space instead of multiple small spaces. This creates an open concept feel without having to tear down any walls. Bathrooms are an exception though, as they have higher levels of wetness and humidity, needing flooring that accommodates these factors.

Dark and light floors work

Light paint colours are typically recommended to make rooms feel bigger but when it comes to flooring, dark and light floors can both be used to make a space look bigger if you use the right paint and furniture. What’s more important is carrying the same kind of flooring throughout your space.

Other Tips for Making Your Space Look Bigger:

 

Use light and cool paint colours

Light and cool colours make a room feel airy and more open. Using the same colour around your home but varying in shades creates a cohesive space but also adds some colour. For example, paint your walls or custom shelving just a few shades dark than your mouldings to create some contrast while maintaining a cohesive look.

De-clutter and keep things off the floor

The more you can see your floor the bigger your space looks. Either throw away what you don’t need, store it in the garage, or install built-in shelving, but keep as much free space as possible.

You can also show your floors more by choosing furniture with thin legs and glass surfaces.

Avoid heavy, solid furniture

Going with the point above, choose light furniture that doesn’t sit on the floor and has thin features.

Focus on height

Use full-length paintings, curtains and blinds (even if your windows are small), and consider using wallpaper or a different colour of paint on your ceiling to draw everyone’s eyes up. If you want to keep things simple, paint your ceiling the same colour as your wall. This makes it hard to see the parameters of your space, making it bigger.

Hang mirrors

Mirror hung on wall

Although mirrors are usually hung to show a reflection, they can be used as a piece of art and to enlarge a space. With endless frame options, you can choose a mirror that is modern or classic to enhance your room’s décor. Plus, the reflection of your space (especially if placed in front of a window) can make a room appear bigger than it actually is.

Put down a striped carpet

If your flooring isn’t parallel with your longest room dimension, put down a long carpet with stripes in the same direction as your longest wall to bring attention to the longest surface of your space.

Pull furniture away from the walls

When there is room between your walls and your furniture it looks like you have room to spare.

Buy multi-functional furniture

Ottomans with storage space can be used as a coffee table are great for hiding blankets, movies, and board games. Plus, multi-functional furniture means you need less furniture, giving you more floor space.

Natural light

Skylights, solar tubes, and large windows are a great source of natural light and create an airy, open feel.

As we spend more time in our homes this year, we are more aware of the space we live in. Using these tips, we can make our space feel less claustrophobic. And if you’re having trouble finding the right floors for your space, visit a TORLYS Dealer. Your local dealer will be happy to help you find the perfect TORLYS floor for your space and lifestyle.

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