Your floors

Lay natural fibres
If youre not sure whether to choose carpet or wood flooring, natural fibres offer a happy compromise and suit country homes well. Theres something reassuring and cosy about the look and feel of natural flooring, says Inga Morris, Marketing Manager, Crucial Trading. Undyed natural flooring tends to have warm tones, although sisal dyes well and looks great when several colours are blended together. For extra insulation, choose a flooring that combines wool and natural fibres and get the best of both worlds. The lustrous look of sisal used with the softness and warmth of wool adds an extra design element, says Inga.

What to consider
Jute is soft underfoot so ideal for bedrooms. Strong, flexible sisal is the great all - rounder. Choose coarse, durable coir for hallways. Avoid seagrass on stairs as it can be slippery.
Look out for chunky textures for a rustic effect. Natural flooring should be fitted with a specific, recommended underlay. This will also provide protection against the cold or draughts.

Add cheerful colour
Colour is a great way to give the impression of warmth. Although neutrals are still the most popular choice for carpet, were starting to see an interest in the natural, earthy tones of moss green, rosewood and even red, says Rupert Anton, spokesperson for The Carpet Foundation, the trade organisation that represents many of the UKs top carpet manufacturers. Choose your shade with care; Carpet takes up a big proportion of the room, and a colour that looks inviting in a tiny swatch could be overwhelming across the entire floor area, says Rupert.

What to consider
If wall to wall colour is too much, try a carpet square; a piece of carpet with bound edges that is not fitted and so can be moved to another room if your decorating scheme changes.
Look out for 10 new colours in Brintons popular Bell Twist range, making a total of 70. And eight new colours have been added to Axminster Carpets Devonia Plains range, now with 60 shades.

Choose wool
For sheer comfort underfoot, wool carpet is unbeatable. As well as offering a luxurious feel it helps to insulate the home and deaden noise. Wool is warm and inviting, and offers superb resilience to wear and general dirt, says David Cormack, Marketing Director, Cormar Carpets. Wool fibre has a natural crimp that makes it springy and less likely to flatten. Cut рДе wool carpets often come in blends with 20% of nylon or polypropylene added for abrasion resistance, though now 5-10% may be polyester "tuft bond", which forms a protective "scaffold" around each tuft.
What to consider
A good underlay will extend the longevity of the carpet, stop draughts and provide some insulation. If you have underfloor heating, youll need a specific one that wont block the heat.

Be bold with pattern
It takes a confident decorator to introduce a striking pattern but the results are rewarding. Instead of a feature wall, were now using pattern to create feature floors, says Lorna Haigh, Marketing Manager, Alternative Flooring. Theres a tradition of using bold designs on stairs to highlight the area, but pattern can also look stunning in a study or dining space. Trends are for florals and geometries, but with a twist. Vintage style is influencing designs, and well see more pattern in both pastel and bold colours, says Lorna.

What to consider
Limit patterned carpet to one or two rooms so that it doesnt overwhelm your home. Ask for a returnable large sample to take home and look at in both daylight and artificial light.

Brighten up with a runner
A runner adds the perfect welcoming touch, instantly transforming a dark entrance hall. Runners arent just protective but are decorative in their own right, says designer Roger Oates. In the hall you can afford to make a style statement; try a runner in a bolder shade than appears elsewhere in the house. When laid with underlay, runners soften the resonating sounds of footsteps. A good quality underlay will keep a runner in place. On stairs gripper rod is needed to secure the runner; stairs rods can be fitted as well but are purely decorative. Have the runner fitted by a professional, particularly if there are turns on the stairs, Roger says.

What to consider
You can use stripes to change the perspective of a hall. Stripes along the hall will lengthen it while stripes across will make it appear wider.
Try Tudor wooden stair rods in a light or medium oak finish from Stairrods UK, ?20.50 each including brackets, to give a runner a country look. The rods come with metal finials and brackets in a choice of seven finishes.
Runners are textiles on the floor, so treat them with respect. Vacuum regularly, remove shoes and mop up spills as soon as possible/ says Roger Oates.

Pick feel - good wood
Choose classic oak flooring for its tones of honey and caramel. Solid boards will be warmer than engineered ones, says Vanessa Garrett, Director, Broadleaf. But steer away from dyes and stains, which can look false, especially dark ones. The best look comes from applying a semi - transparent hard wax oil. The oil penetrates the wood, unlike a varnish which sits on the top. You can always add a second coat for more colour, says Vanessa.

What to consider
Its a misconception that only engineered floors can be used with underfloor heating; solid wood boards work just as well/ says Vanessa.
Look out for the FSC or European PEFC marks to ensure that wood flooring comes from carefully managed sources.

Put down a luxurious rug
Most rooms need a rug, particularly in our climate, and a room without one can appear unwelcoming and unfinished. A rug brings a sense of luxury to a room, particularly if it is of good quality and a high standard of workmanship, says Suzanne Sharp, Creative Director and Co - Founder, The Rug Company. A longer pile is fantastic for bedrooms where youre barefoot most of the time. I would always opt for good quality handmade rugs over tufted ones because they look so much better, and will last much, much longer.

What to consider
A large rug unifies a room, while smaller rugs define areas/ savs Suzanne.
totally different at home, so try it at home first if you can. Always go for the largest size rug you can as this.

Create interest with parquet
Parquet is a geometric mosaic of wooden pieces used to create a decorative effect. It tends to suit more formal rooms, such as a library or sitting room. You can buy parquet new or search for reclaimed floors that have a rich textural history and colour as a result of their age.

What to consider
Original parquet often comes with a bitumen backing that can be hard to remove. Do ask about provenance and ensure you check for insect damage, rot or warping.
If buying reclaimed, its also a good idea to buy extra in case of repairs as you wont be able to match it later. Try Lassco Brunswick House, Victorian Woodworks or Ecora.

Heat floor tiles
Stone or ceramic tiles dont necessarily spring to mind when you think of comfort underfoot, but underfloor heating has changed all that. Electric versions consist of a mat or mesh of heating cables and suit small spaces such as a bathroom. The alternative is a wet system, which involves warm water being pumped through plastic tubing beneath the floor. The floor area is relatively large, even in a bathroom, so sufficient warmth is provided even on a cold winter day with no need for supplementary heating, says Heather Oliver, Marketing Manager at Nu - Heat. Underfloor heating systems can suit any type of floor construction, heat the entire house and will often be able to use your existing boiler.

What to consider
The Onezone heating system from Nu - Heat is designed to be used in one room - perfect for a new kitchen extension or conservatory. It can be linked to the existing radiator system with the option of a separate control. Find electric underfloor heating at R&D Marketing. Its Cosyfloor, Ecofloor and Ecomat ranges can be installed by a diy - er though they must be connected up by a qualified electrician.

Go for glamorous comfort
Sinking your toes into a sheep - or goatskin rug on a frosty morning is a treat to savour. A fluffy sheepskin rug has eco credentials, since its all - natural and makes use of a product that would otherwise be discarded, says Charlotte Cole of The Celtic Sheepskin Company. Pockets of air within the wool help to retain warmth. Our rugs have an 8cm pile and a luxurious silky finish, which reflects the light. Theyre a magnet for pets and their hair but, unlike carpet, its easy to take them outside and give them a good shake.

What to consider
Alternatives to sheepskin are Mongolian wool with its long, curly fibres, which comes from a hardy breed of goat, or distinctively patterned cowhide.
Check the label, but youll find that most sheepskin is advised as dry clean only, as washing can remove the dye and shrink the rug, says Charlotte.
Brush the rug regularly to maintain its fluffy pile. Try a hairbrush or a wide toothed comb.