Winter Flooring Warm Up

Your home is where you can go to escape the elements and when it comes to winter, that means escaping the cold, damp, and frost to find warmth and comfort. Who doesn’t love feeling warm and cozy during the colder months of the year? There are many ways to add that warm, comfortable feel to your home when the temperature drops outside, from adding warm textiles to lighting a fire in a beautiful fireplace, but our floors are often forgotten.

Flooring may not be something you think of changing with the seasons, but these flooring tips will help keep your home comfortable year-round and keep your feet warm in the winter. 

Area rug by Momeni, available at Carpet One Floor & Home

1. Area Rug Change Up

Area rugs are the most natural flooring to change up in your home. Whether you add rugs to areas that don’t currently have them or swap sleek rugs for more plush ones, creating softness and warmth underfoot can make a huge difference in your space. Focus on spaces where your feet are frequently touching the floor—the place where you get out of bed, in front of your sofa, and under your dining or kitchen table are all primary candidates for a warm rug. Also, focus on any areas with floors that may be inherently cold, like ceramic tile and stone. A rug in front of your kitchen sink could be just what you need to take the chill out of doing the dishes.

If you’re swapping rugs for the season, you’ll want to make sure that you properly store the rugs you are not using. Be sure to clean your rug thoroughly before putting it away for the season. Roll rugs tightly with the pile on the inside and be sure to store them in a clean, dry place. Wrapping your rugs in paper, plastic, or fabric can help keep out dirt and insects that may harm your rug while it’s in storage.

Mina Victory Home Accents Throw Rugs by Nourison, available at Carpet One Floor & Home

2. Layer It On

Just as you add layers to your wardrobe during colder months, you can add layers to your décor. There are many areas in your home where you can add layers, and the floor is no exception. Add a softer plush rug on top of a slim jute one or slip a larger rug under smaller area rugs in your home to extend the warmth a little bit further. Don’t be afraid to mix and match textures to create a layered, cozy look. In addition to actually making your home feel warmer by protecting your feet from cold floors, layers make your room appear cozier and more welcoming.

3. Long-term Warmth

If cold floors are a concern for more than a few months of the year, you may want to choose a more permanent option to warm up your flooring.Carpet is the obvious choice for warmth underfoot, but for moisture-prone spaces, like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements, carpet is not an option. While tile is durable and waterproof, it is the coldest flooring option. Thankfully, some options will keep your feet warm and stand up to moisture and traffic.

Luxury Vinyl flooring—also known as Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) or Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)—is an excellent solution for providing waterproof, durable floors that are warmer underfoot. Luxury Vinyl floors are made from a durable waterproof core with an image layer that mimics the most popular hardwood and tile visuals. These visuals are extremely realistic. You’ll have a hard time telling the difference, and you will wow your friends and family when you tell them your floors are waterproof durable vinyl.

Hardwood is also a warm option for rooms where you do not want wall-to-wall carpet. With today’s technologies, many hardwood floors are also durable and water-resistant.

4. Heat from Beneath

If you’re replacing all your flooring or building a new home, and you want consistent warmth, radiant floor heat could be the perfect option. By heating your home from underneath, you’ll eliminate the need for traditional radiators and enjoy a consistently warm home. Because radiant floor heating is spread evenly underneath your floors, every area of your home benefits from the same consistent heat. That means every corner of your home will be warm and cozy.

Radiant heat can be installed under any type of flooring and is also very efficient. After the initial cost of installing radiant heating, you’ll enjoy cost savings associated with this energy-efficient heating option. With radiant heat, you can have tile without the cold, carpet that’s warm and inviting, and hardwood that makes your feet happy.

From the quick fixes of area rugs to long-lasting warmth provided by choosing the best flooring options for your home and your climate, these four strategies will help your home feel warmer and cozier from the floor up. Maybe this winter you’ll be able to ditch the socks and slippers and enjoy some extra warmth underfoot.