Dark flooring is dramatic and breathtaking, but when paired with unflattering furniture and accents, a dark floor can make a room feel claustrophobic and heavy. Follow these tips to open up your room and bring out the beauty of your dark flooring.
Furniture for a Dark Floor
Finding the right furniture to go with your dark floor may seem daunting, but in reality, you have many options. If you’re purchasing new pieces, wooden furniture that is a few shades lighter than your floor is ideal. This will give your space a warm feeling. To make your room seem seamless, match the legs of your furniture to the colour of your floor.
You can also mix and match. Consider selecting a dark wooden table and lighter chairs. The table will blend in with the floor, but the chairs will pop and stand out. You can also achieve the “blended in” look with wrought-iron furniture.
Looking for more inspiration? Mother Nature has it in abundance. Adding palm trees and green accents to your space will make your dark flooring feel exotic. Finish off the look with bamboo chairs, tables, and other furniture.
Your existing furniture can work with dark flooring as well—with a few small touches. If your couches, tables, and chairs are dark and disappear against your floor, a simple, light coloured rug will fix the problem and bring a touch of elegance to your room.
Walls
The design rule is: dark floor, light walls. White or off-white paint will open up your room and give your dark floor a lift. Lighter hues will also have the same effect. Light blue or lavender complement dark flooring perfectly. You should also consider the trim in your room. Painting trims and baseboards a vibrant white will define the area of your space and bring attention to your floor.
If your furniture is white, paint your walls a bold colour, such as Lucky Green by Sherwin-Williams. Add splashes of the paint colour via pillows, rugs and other accents to break up the white.
Another option for your walls is wainscoting. Light wood, tile, cultured marble or stone paneling will contrast with your dark flooring and give your space an elegant glow.
Other Materials and Accents
Leather, hide, velvet and even steel accents will complement a dark floor and give an area a soft, muddy or masculine feel. Think pillows, throws, rugs, and vases. For window treatments, keep them light and translucent—you want as much natural light in a room with a dark floor to make it feel spacious. In the kitchen, white cabinetry and countertops will make the room feel airy.
Rugs—either light or patterned—will break up the darkness of your floor and protect it as well. Remember, dark floors will show more dirt, dust and wear. When selecting your flooring, choose a company that offers superior quality flooring with above-grade finishes, like TORLYS.
The weather is cooling down, and the elves are coming out of hiding. You know what that means! The holiday season has finally arrived, so it’s time to get ready for your festive gatherings. Here are our tips for making your home merry and bright.
Creating a Winter Wonderland
Christmas is upon us and we all face the challenge of trying to make the colour red fit into our existing décor. But there is no rule that says holiday decorating must include the commercial colour scheme of red, white and green.
Look to nature for inspiration and layer your home with shades of creamy white. Make sure to include lots of textured surfaces like fur, natural evergreens, knitted wool, and flannel. Add lots of twinkling lights and the result is warm, festive and cozy – the perfect setting for a holiday celebration!
Keeping it Simple
Avoid the stress of the season by keeping things simple. Look to the past for charming Christmas decorating ideas that the family will enjoy and that saves you time and money.
Stringing popcorn is fun and easy. Make sure the popcorn is a few days old if it’s stale it is less likely to break as you string it up! A round tip needle and heavy thread is all you need to create this charming addition to your tree.
Twist of Lime
Update your Christmas décor by substituting the traditional red with a spirited lime green. Combine it with crisp white, sparkling silver and a touch of deep evergreen for contrast and the result is stunning.
Modern Holiday Expressions
Traditional holly berries and knitted stockings may not work in a modern home but you can still make a holiday statement by applying a key principle of modern design. Keep the theme focused and dramatic.
This spectacular charcoal grey and white hearth makes the perfect setting for a show of icy trees and sparkling lights. It may not work in your traditional home but in a contemporary room its spectacular!
Unlikely Places
Make a unique holiday statement by adding trim to unlikely places. Fresh pine bows, pinecones, and candles in recycled mason jars make this décor easy and affordable. If your bench and staircase are located outside the cold weather will keep greenery fresh without water and lit candles will last forever!
How are you decorating for the holidays? Share your photos over on our Facebook page!
Over the last decade, kitchen design has taken a page out of the commercial design book. Sleek, clean and functional has become the basis for modern kitchen design. The challenge for the homeowner is keeping the space clean and sparkling like the day the designer handed off the project! Plus, the minimal look of linear lines and metal surfaces left the space cold and uninviting.
The new direction for modern kitchen design still leans toward commercial but with an industrial flavour. The materials are more textured mixing organic (wood, stone, glass) and heavy metal. The result is warm, contemporary and totally unique.
Here are TORLYS flooring picks to create your own industrial modern kitchen:
Area rugs serve many purposes. They can be used to make a design statement in your home, to section off different spaces, or to protect floors from any wear and tear, or to make floors less cold in the winter. But choosing a rug is comes with some major responsibility because if you choose the wrong one, you could distract. To make sure your rug as a complementary piece to your home’s décor and not a distraction, it’s important to consider a number of factors.
A rug can be a piece of artwork for your floor, or it can be a distraction. It can open up your room or drag it down. To find the right rug for your space, consider its size, material, and placement before you buy, and follow these tips.
Location is key
When choosing your rug, the most important question is where are you putting your rug? You need to know the answer before you can go any further. Once you know where the rug will live, you’ll be able to make choices about the three key design factors listed below.
Three Key Factors for Your Rug Choice:
Size
Material
Style and Colour
Size Matters
Once you know where you’ll be putting your rug, you can identify how big the room is and how big you need your rug to be. Just because a rug physically fits in a room doesn’t mean it actually fits in a room. Why? Because there are different rug sizes for different rug purposes, and wall-to-wall rugs aren’t popular anymore for a reason.
Rugs are most popular in living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and as runners in hallways or kitchens. There are also outdoor rugs that are great for decks, especially if you love spending time outdoors.
Rugs for Different Rooms
Living Rooms
In living rooms, rugs are generally placed in the middle of the seating area with a minimum of a 1’ border around the walls. Try to have the front legs of your furniture touching the rug to make it feel a part of the space.
Dining Rooms
For your dining room, you need a rug that is bigger than your dining room table by about 2’ on each side, so that your dining room chairs are half on, half off of the carpet, creating comfortable seating. But if your carpet is thin, you can try to find one that allows for your dining table and the front two feet of your chairs to rest.
Bedrooms
The main reason for bedroom area rugs is to avoid getting a rude awakening from the cold surface of your floors in the morning. A plush, warm carpet is the perfect landing for your just waking up feet. This is why you want your carpet to reach at least the front two-thirds of your bed and the back feet with an extra 3’ around. This creates a beautiful, grand space versus having two runners on each side of your bed.
Entrances
Entrances generally require a runner or a small mat. These rugs are just there as a landing or walkway to protect flooring.
Outdoor Areas
As for outdoor areas, rugs can be put just outside of the doorway or used to cover the entire deck to create an outdoor entertainment area. Depending on your outdoor setup and the general weather in your neighbourhood, choose an appropriate rug size according to previous rules.
To help you find visualize the size of your rug in your space, use masking tape to create an outline of your “rug”. Unless you’re considering a custom rug, use standard rug sizes. In large living spaces, 6×9, 8×10 and 9×12 are the most popular rug sizes, while 5×8 and 6×9 fit great under beds.
Standard rug sizes:
3×5
4×6
5×8
6×9
8×10
9×12
10×14
12×15
Remember, the point of an area rug is for it to cover the area peoples’ feet touch most frequently. Having a border around the walls is a great way to show off your flooring, and if you don’t want a rug to cover an entire seating area, you want the rug wherever the foot traffic is highest — either resting or walking.
Photo from Dillard-Jones Builders, LLC via Houzz
Material Gains
The durability of your carpet against any wear and tear, sun exposure, pets, and spills and stains all depends on its material. By choosing the right material, you’re choosing a carpet that is functional, feels good underfoot, and is cost-efficient.
Popular Rug Materials:
Silk and viscose
Silk is beautiful and soft underfoot, but expensive. Viscose provides a similar look and feel for a much more affordable price.
Wool
Wool’s natural material is warm and cosy underfoot, plus it’s durable. Although it can be pricey, it might be worth the extra spending.
Cotton
Cotton rugs are generally low-cost, but can stain and wear easily, but can be thrown into the washing machine to look like new again.
Jute and sisal
Jute and sisal rugs can be a little rough to the touch but are extremely hard-wearing. Look for a jute and sisal rug mixed with wool for added softness.
Nylon
Nylon rugs are a soft, durable option and come in a number of different styles and patterns.
Polyester
Polyester rugs are a great option indoors and outdoors because of their sturdy, shed-resistant and water-resistant material.
Grand Luxury
If you’re looking to splurge on a high-end rug and durability is not your main concern, exotic Persian rugs made out of silk, or thick, wool rugs are perfect for you. Costing thousands of dollars, Persian rugs are the ultimate luxury. They feel amazing underfoot, but any spill will have you feeling sick to your stomach. Not being very durable against wear and tear and spills and stains, its best to keep these rugs in rarely used rooms that only see foot-traffic during special occasions.
Other high-end rugs like wool and silk rugs are not as expensive as Persian rugs but are still considered a carpet splurge. Although on the pricier side, wool rugs are a popular choice for high-traffic areas because their natural, durable fibres resist stains and deterioration.
Stylish Durability
For everyday rooms like a casual living room, durability is key, especially if you have kids or pets. Take what goes on in the space you’re rug shopping for into consideration. Is there any constant movement of chairs being pushed in and out? Does food get dropped on the ground frequently? Do dirt and mud get dragged in from taking the dogs out for a walk? Although everyday rooms like living and dining rooms need durable rugs, areas like entryways and kitchens usually need to be more hardwearing due to wear and tear from shoes, dirt, and food.
Hard-wearing rugs not only last longer and resist wear and tear, they also protect the floors underneath them. Choose the material of your rug according to cost, feel, and durability, while keeping the rug’s construction in mind.
Rug Construction:
Tufted/Hooked
Made by looping yarn through the rug’s backing, tufted rugs are durable but can shed more than other rugs. Hooked rugs are similar to tufted rugs except their loops are not sheared, giving them a thicker pile.
Flat-weave
Flat-weave rugs are made by weaving horizontal yarn through vertical yarn and don’t have a backing, making them reversible. They are low-pile and great in high-traffic areas.
Shag
Shag rugs are high-pile and super warm and cosy, making them great for bedrooms and living rooms. They are not ideal in high-traffic areas because their thick pile holds on to dirt, mud and food.
Hand-knotted
The most labour-intensive rug-making technique, resulting in durable and expensive rugs.
Weather Resistant
The first thing that comes to mind when weather resistance is brought up is water. But, rugs also need to be sun resistant because UV rays can cause fading very quickly.If your rug is near an entrance, make sure it is stain and tear resistant. Mud, dirt, leaves and water can cause hard-to-remove stains and also start unweaving your rug. Water can also create a slippery situation, so remember to choose a non-slip rug or to get a non-slip mat for underneath it.
If your rug is in an area with a lot of windows, choose a rug that will keep its colour. Natural light can change the colour of rugs made out of natural materials, especially cotton. If you do go ahead with a cotton rug in an area with a lot of natural light, choose a light colour or a colour that will look good even a few shades lighter.
Synthetic and polypropylene rugs are UV and water resistant, and they’re easy to spot clean. Plus, they feel good on your feet and don’t break the bank. Another good alternative is nylon, its higher quality and sold in bulk making it affordable.
Photo from Benjamin Moore via Houzz
Style/Colour
Size and material aside, the style and colour of your rug is what everybody, especially you, will see. Of course, for high-traffic areas, we recommend choosing a dark carpet with a pattern to hide any stains or wear and tear. But practical advice aside here’s a quick list of our design tips.
3 Tips for Choosing the Right Rug for You
Coordinate the colour of your rug to match the same tone as your furniture, floors and paint.
If your space is already very decorated and extravagant, consider a neutral, one colour rug or a rug with a subtle pattern.
In a minimalistic space, an area rug can be the biggest piece of furniture so spice things up by thinking of your rug as a piece of art.
Last but not least, do your research because the wrong decision, depending on the rug’s size and location, will affect your daily comfort. We recommend reading reviews on your rug, asking salespeople about its performance, and walking around on the rug before making your purchase.
Remember, you want your rug to suit your space. Make sure its the right size for your the room, the right material for the room’s activities, and the right design to suit the rest of the decor. Find our TORLYS floors online to keep our styles close by when shopping for a rug or visit a dealer to see them in person.
Not all lofts are created equal. Some are eccentric and modern, while some are industrial and edgy.
Industrial Lofts
Industrial lofts, with their large-scale architecture and vintage feel, present the perfect setting for traditional decor. The contrast between exposed brick and brushed iron fixtures and classic leather sofas is very trendy.
Colour Schemes
If the colour scheme of your loft is neutral, some ideal finishes include leather, polished wood, cut glass, and warm metals. The result is a rich and handsome aesthetic that will age with your home! That means that you don’t need to go out and purchase all new furniture when you move into a trendy loft.
Vintage and Antiques
To elevate the space and add sophistication to your warehouse space, add reclaimed industrial lighting and charming antiques. You can find plenty of accessories at antique shops. From vintage art to rugs and everything in between, an antique shop should be your go-to for an eclectic loft.
Complete Renovation
If you want to completely redo your new loft, consider changing the floor. TORLYS smart hardwood floors are durable and beautiful, making them the perfect floors for an industrial loft. We also offer EverWood floors, an attractive line of luxury vinyl floors. If you have pets or kids running around, EverWood floors are a great choice.
Visit your local TORLYS dealer to see our beautiful floors in person. Or order samples of your favourites through our website!
Whether you live in a loft, by a lake or in the suburbs, there’s an easy formula to create cottage charm.
It helps when the room’s architecture is truly imperfectly vintage. But, as very few live in a historic home, there are specific design steps you can take. A space will emulate a cottage feel when wood finishes are a mix of natural and painted. It also helps when colours are softly aged and the furnishings are “imperfectly” matched. It’s best to select organic materials like cotton, wool, stone, and wicker.
Keep the design focus on comfort and shop flea markets for vintage accents. Do this and your home will be like living at the cottage in no time!
Over the past ten years, grey has become the modern-day neutral and has replaced beige as a go-to base colour. Its versatility makes it easy to create a timeless look or a contemporary chic look, with either a mix of other colours or just other shades of grey.
Greys can be used to create an entirely neutral space, or they can act as a neutral to tone down or easily match other colours. Either way, grey is a great way to create a timeless space, and are perfect for anyone that appreciates minimalistic style.
To decorate with grey to get the look you want, all you have to understand is which version of grey is suitable. It’s not always easy, so read our 3 tips for Decorating with Grey and feel free to send us any of your questions!
3 Tips for Decorating with Grey:
Start by choosing either a warm or cool undertone
Layer different shades of grey
Decorate with complementing colours and furniture
1. Choosing an undertone
When renovating or designing a space, it is easiest to start by deciding on a warm or cool undertone So if you want a warm living room, use yellow, orange and red based colours only in your design and décor.
Because grey is not a colour and neither black or white, it’s easy to assume that any grey will go with any colour. But greys have either a warm or cool base. A yellow-based grey has a warm undertone, and a blue-based grey has a cool undertone.
Warm, yellow-based greys leaning towards a taupe colour create an inviting, cozy, and timeless space. They are neutral and modern, yet have a warm feel. For a cooler, sophisticated and modern look, choose a blue-based grey. But stay away from greys with too much of a blue base to avoid a look that is too institutional and cold.
2. Layering your greys
Just like there are different grey undertones, there are varying shades of grey. After all, our eyes can distinguish over 500 shades of grey. From light dove to charcoal grey, all shades can be used to create a beautiful neutral space.
For a minimalistic, airy space, use light greys and whites. Lighter colours make a space feel more open, and a little more fresh. If you’re looking to use a silver or medium grey, white trims, accent walls, cabinets and countertops will brighten up your space.
Often used as an accent colour, dark hues create a beautiful, bold look. They make rooms warm and cosy but also bring a sense of richness. If you’re looking to make a striking statement, don’t use dark hues only as an accent. Instead, make them your space’s main colour.
Light hues are typically used to complement bolder hues and dark hues are usually used as accents. But grey is such a neutral colour that, no matter the shade, it can be used. Use light grey hues alongside dark grey hues to create a grey palette. Or, use light grey hues as a neutral in a colourful palette. You can even use a dark hue as an accent colour in a light colour palette.
3. Complementing colours and furniture
However you choose to use grey, we recommend using more than one shade. You can do this easily by using white or black or another shade of grey paint around your home, or with furniture.
Colours
According to Karen Haller, grey doesn’t draw any attention to itself. This makes it a great colour for areas of business or simplicity. She says virtually any colour can be matched with grey doesn’t have a personality of its own, and allows for other colours to stand out. To take away personality from a colour, add some grey. This way you have a more neutral version of the colour of your choice.
Because grey is a colour that doesn’t have much personality on its own, it has somewhat of a reputation for being depressing. Don’t let this stop you from using it around your home. Grey can be made cheerful with the right accent colours, for example, any wooden furniture or white mouldings or pops of colour in décor.
Furniture
Choose furniture in different shades of grey to layer on the neutral colour palette. Bold, dark grey couches are a great way to continue your colour scheme and also hide stains and wear and tear.
Wood is also a grey essential. Add some natural wooden tables, chairs, floors or even flower pots. Natural wood warms up grey tones and adds some colour without taking away from a simple, modern colour palette. Other natural materials like leather, cotton and wool are a great opportunity to mix in some more colours or layer more greys. Plus, they create a cozy feel in an otherwise modern space.
Are you looking for the perfect grey floors? Or floors to go with your grey space? Visit a TORLYS dealer to explore our different collections and for some advice on decorating with grey.
Depending on when you were born this living room is either freshly modern or very vintage! Either way, the décor celebrates mid 20th-century contemporary design; it’s bold, original and unique.
Clear saturated colours are used for flooring as well as the accessories and artwork. White walls, chrome lighting, and grey upholstery provide the perfect neutral backdrop. The “off-center” hanging of the artwork breaks all traditional rules of design.
This décor is not for the timid or linear thinker but its worth a try if you feel the need to make your own personal statement. Interior featured in Design Milk.
Modern luxury. Just the words themselves sound fancy and unattainable. Luckily for you, we have some design tips on how to achieve the look in your home.
What is Modern Luxury Interior Design?
The meaning of modern is present-day, contemporary and current. Translated to interior design, modern style is a combination of clean lines, elegant finishes, and uncluttered décor. Rich, bold colours, luxurious creams and whites, and natural elements such as wood and leather create a minimalistic yet grand look.
There are many design styles that can be described as “modern”. Not all luxurious interiors require sparkle and glitz. Our favourite modern luxury spaces start off with monochromatic layers of rich, creamy whites neutrals, and rich materials like leather, hardwood, polished chrome, and either marble or quartz.
Modern Luxury Design Tips
Even though the words “luxurious”, “rich”, and “grand” are used to describe this design style, you can achieve this look without breaking the bank. Just know the design elements and know what items are worth splurging for.
Modern luxury design elements:
Uncluttered surfaces
Clean lines
Airy flow
Abstract art
Natural materials
How to get the look:
Uncluttered surfaces.
Look for furniture that doubles as storage. For example, an ottoman or coffee table that holds your board games blankets. Use open shelving to showcase your favourite decorations. Hiding any cables or wires also helps declutter a space, keeping things clean looking and fresh. This also includes hiding any technology such as heating/cooling systems, remote controls etc.
Clean lines.
Kitchen cabinets and countertops with straight, simple edges. Simple furniture and curtains without any frills. Use slender furniture that is not bulky, and especially avoid couches with rounded armrests.
Airy flow.
Open floors plans are increasingly popular and most new homes are designed to have the kitchen, living room and dining room as one large space. The larger a space looks, the grander it feels. If tearing down walls isn’t an option, use the same colour scheme throughout the rooms you wish were combined. Combine your open floor plan with some natural light and your home will have a sense of openness and luxury. Transparent windows, skylights, glass tubes, and even panoramic floor to ceiling-sized windows are great sources of organic light.
Abstract art.
Bold pieces of art are a great way to add a splash of colour to your home. Find the perfect piece for your at an art gallery, or search online to for posters by talented artists around the world.
Natural materials.
The use of natural elements like wood, stone, cotton and wool will bring a modern, yet warm feeling to a home. Hardwood floors or floors with real-wood visuals, marble or quartz countertops, cotton drapes and wool blankets will complete a modern, luxurious look. Still, keep your floors bare: Covering up your natural floors will take their essence away and prevent their elements from doing their magic. Although polished chrome and gold aren’t natural materials, they add great beautiful contrast and complement organic materials perfectly.
Try it yourself!
Don’t let modern luxury scare you off. All these design ideas are achievable on a budget. Look for inspiration, find what you like, and follow the steps. All you have to do is choose one style of furniture of the other. Keep clutter out of sight, and create an airy, clean, minimalistic vibe. Remember, keeping things minimalistic and uncluttered is key.
We love the vintage industrial design look. It’s warm, inviting, on-trend and chic. But what exactly is industrial interior design? And how do you achieve the look?
What is Industrial-Style Interior Design?
Industrial interior design is a design style that started in the early twentieth century, when European countries started moving their operations to low-cost countries, resulting in the many factories shutting down. Though there was no operational need for the factories, people needed residences, thus the factories were turned into condos and apartments, and industrial style became the next design trend.
Highlighting the factory’s architectural design elements, industrial style mixes rough, natural materials with cool metals. The style is similar to Scandinavian interior design, which is minimalistic, and uses neutrals and light woods to create a Nordic feel, yet it uses cooler, darker colours and more stainless steel.
Industrial-Style Design Tips
For those who love this design style, there’s good news for you: You don’t have to find a condo in an old factory to get the look! There are many decorations and design elements that are achievable in a regular home to get that industrial vibe.
For starters, here’s a list of industrial elements:
Exposed brick
Exposed ducts and plumbing
Concrete floors, countertops and walls
Neutral tones: Black, white, charcoal grey
Repurposed furniture
Industrial lighting
If you’re looking to get a better feel for the interior design style, get inspired by the root of the trend by looking at old warehouses, factories and military buildings. We also recommend searching for condominium buildings that used to be an old factory.
How to get the look:
Industrial style is all about showcasing elements others try to hide, and mixing reclaimed, rustic elements with metal. Although the trend was started to save money by not having to cover up ducts and plumbing, achieving the look and deconstructing walls to expose these elements is pricy. If you have the budget for it or not, there are many things you can do to achieve the look.
Exposed brick walls.
You can achieve this look by removing any plaster or drywall in your home. But not everyone can be so lucky to find brick. What you can do is add real brick to a wall, or find a brick pattern wallpaper. The red adds a warm, rustic feel and is a popular industrial element. If you’re not a big fan of exposed brick, do a gallery wall to share all your memories. Using black and white photos will really add to the vintage industrial look you’re going for.
Exposed ducts and plumbing.
Exposing these elements can be costly but they make a true industrial-style statement, so if you have room in your budget, it’s worth doing. If you don’t, adding some metal piping in other ways can help you achieve the look. The best way to do this is by using furniture with metal frames. For example, a wooden coffee table with black metal legs. Furniture plays a large factor and there are a lot of options out there to fit this style.
The use of concrete.
Concrete is cool looking and to the touch. It’s grey colour and rough, cold surface is perfect for an industrial look. Concrete floors, countertops and even concrete walls add a beautiful, durable and neutral finish to a home. Just be careful, concrete can be cold underfoot. If you choose to use concrete, add some area rugs to warm things up.
A neutral colour palette.
A neutral colour palette keeps things minimalistic and doesn’t take away from any of the industrial elements in the space. Use some dark browns and greys to add some depth, or even some camel for your furniture, but other than that we recommend sticking to black and white. Along with neutral colours, use mild patterns. No fancy swirls or designs.
Repurposed furniture.
Adding to the points made under “Exposed ducts and plumbing”, repurposed furniture is a must if you want to have a concise flow of industrial-style elements throughout your home. Look for vintage pieces at your local antique store or thrift shop. Go for wooden and rustic metal pieces, and pick up some leather finds that have a worn look. Industrial furniture is usually bold, so choose whatever stands out to you and makes a statement.
Industrial lighting.
Use light fixtures that expose normally hidden elements, like black or stainless metal framing and exposed light bulbs.
Vintage industrial style highlights old factory architectural design elements and can be similar to Scandinavian interior design. At TORLYS, we carry a number of different floor styles. Visit a TORLYS dealer to find the right floors for your vintage industrial space.
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