Is Cushion Flooring Better for Your Feet?

When visiting a carpet store or browsing online, there are a number of different factors that will be considered by the savvy shopper – from warmth, thickness and durability through to the all-important aesthetics of the flooring.

However, one much-neglected factor that fashionable floor aficionados are starting to recognise is comfort. After all, you can have the prettiest, most durable flooring in the world, but if it doesn’t feel nice to your feet when you’re relaxing in the evening then you just won’t feel at home.

For that reason, cushion flooring is becoming increasingly fashionable in homes across Britain. But what is it about cushion flooring that makes it so much more comfortable? And is it actually better for your feet?

What is cushion flooring?

Essentially, cushion flooring will combine the comfort and soft textures of a classic carpet, while giving you the modern aesthetic quality of stylish flooring that complements the specific style of your home. It can consist of wooden, laminate or vinyl flooring, but it’s what lies underneath the top layer that makes it special.

What makes cushion flooring so comfortable?  

Underneath the aesthetic layer sits a thicker section that gives a little more bounce and texture than you could regularly enjoy – adapting to the inner workings of your feet. Sure, it may sound a little simplistic, but when you can feel the difference underfoot then you really know it. Cushion flooring also contributes indirectly to the inner atmosphere of your home, as it offers a practical warmth and cosiness that you wouldn’t usually be able to enjoy with regular non-carpeted floorings.

One of the huge drawbacks of wooden or laminate floors is the noise that they produce – and that’s another way that cushion flooring offers great value for money. Because they’re a slightly more forgiving surface, the noise that’s reflected by, for instance, a pair of well-heeled shoes or a drum kit is greatly diminished. So your neighbours will enjoy your cushion flooring too!

Is cushion flooring better for your feet?

However, is a softer floor actually good for your legs and feet? Do our bodies react better to a firmer, less forgiving area?

The answer, predictably, is yes. As humans, we’ve been adapting to our environment for millions of years. And most of the surfaces that we’ve been walking on such as sand, dirt and grass are softer than your average hard wood floor. Therefore, it only makes sense that a more forgiving floor will be what human feet are used to – so you may find that they’ll respond positively to walking on cushion flooring.

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Change your Room’s Atmosphere with Carpet Colour

You don’t have to completely redecorate a room to give it a whole new atmosphere. Why? Because you can create the same effect by simply replacing the carpet and adding some soft furnishings, and you’ll save a great deal of money in the process.

So how does a carpet affect the atmosphere of a room?

The carpet you have in a room will always be one of the focal points, even when you don’t want it to be. Its colour can make the room look larger than it is or smaller than it is, and it can change the warmth of the entire room. With this in mind you need to choose wisely when looking to replace a main carpet.

How different carpet colour affects a room

Light coloured carpets – these carpets tend to open up a room and make it look larger than it actually is. This is especially true when the walls of the room are decorated in light hues as well and when there is a lot of natural light entering the room. If you want to create a light, airy atmosphere then a cream or off-white carpet is ideal but if your room is already large and you want to make it more homely then this type of carpet should be avoided.

Dark coloured carpets – dark carpets have the opposite effect to light ones in that they close a room down to create a warmer, cosier atmosphere. They are great for large rooms that you want to make more homely, for rooms with very high ceilings and for family rooms and entertaining rooms where an atmosphere of intimacy works best.

Warming colours – warm coloured carpets produce a warming or welcoming effect and are ideal in rooms that visitors often see and where you sit on a daily basis. Reds, yellows and oranges are all warming colours and all three are available in both pastel and bold hues. Pastel carpets remain understated and don’t detract from the other features of the room but bold carpets create a statement from the minute you enter the room. The style you choose will obviously depend of your personality and taste.

Cooling colours – cooling or cold coloured carpets create a calming effect in a room and can make a busy or cluttered room seem a little bit more peaceful. This is especially true if a cool pastel shade of blue, green or silver is chosen. Bold colours are also available and can have the same stunning effect as a bold warm coloured carpet.

When it comes to choosing a new carpet to create a specific atmosphere you need a reputable carpet shop, and when it comes to well-stocked carpet shops, Cardiff is the place to go. Decide what type of atmosphere you want to create in your room and chose your carpet first. Then if you want to completely redecorate, you can, or alternatively you can just replace your soft furnishings to match.

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Which Carpet Type is Right for you?

Choosing a carpet is never easy and especially when your local carpet supplier has hundreds of carpets in stock. One of the main things to think about when you have such a choice is the amount of traffic your carpet will be subjected to, as this will help you to choose the style, colour and material.

Carpets suitable for high traffic areas

High traffic areas, such as hallways and living rooms, need tough carpets that are easily cleaned. The most popular type of carpet is the Berber carpet – a tufted carpet made mainly from nylon or polypropylene. Being a tufted carpet, a Berber will stand up to everyday wear and tear very well and generally speaking they will last years longer than woven carpets under the same conditions. It is worth mentioning though that pets, and especially cats, have a habit of plucking tufted carpets that haven’t had their loops cut and trimmed. So, if you have pets then you might want to think twice about getting any type of looped carpet.

In terms of colour, you’ll want something quite dark for high traffic areas. Tufted carpets, and Berbers in particular, can be bought in a wide range of colours from a good carpet supplier, so you should be able to find something to suit. In terms of material, woollen carpets offer a more luxurious feel and deeper pile than their synthetic counterparts but they can be harder to clean. High traffic areas and those where large amounts of water have the potential to be spilt, such as bathrooms and kitchens, benefit more from a synthetic material, such as nylon or polypropylene.

Carpets suitable for low traffic areas

In rooms where people hardly ever tread e.g. the ‘best’ room or the spare bedrooms, a carpet of slightly better quality can be chosen without worry of it becoming prematurely worn. Woollen carpets, such as Axminster and Wilton, offer the luxury of a deep pile carpet while being incredibly soft under foot. These carpets don’t stand up to heavy foot traffic very well though and aren’t the most suitable choice for stairs, landings and frequently used rooms. Both Axminster and Wilton carpets are widely available but you’ll need to locate a large carpet supplier to ensure a good choice of colours and patterns.

Carpet underlay

Whatever type of carpet you decide to go for you should always consider using a quality underlay beneath it. Underlay not only helps to insulate your room in terms of sound and heat it also adds to the comfort of your new carpet. Underlay can also prolong the life of your carpet by up to 40% and help it to wear evenly. Any good carpet supplier will be able to provide underlay at the same time as your new carpet.

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