Experts recommend the best flooring for home gyms

Design and architecture experts were asked about creating the ideal home gym and what type of flooring is best.

A well-designed home gym that looks good as well as being functional increases the chances of it being regularly used as a way of keeping members of the household fit. Most design experts agree that the ideal gym should have plenty of natural light and enough space for gym equipment. Add plants for a sense of being connected to nature and hang art on the walls.

Designer Kendall Wilkinson says:

“When it comes to flooring, absorbency is crucial for joint wellness and maintenance, especially for floor workouts like yoga or Pilates. If you have the space, zone a water/sweat-resistant vinyl flooring.”

Architect Rachael H. Grockowski from RHG Architecture+Design recommends softer floors for weightlifting and wood or vinyl for exercises like yoga and Pilates.

Stephen Brockman, a partner of Deborah Berke Partners, says that rubber mats or tiles help dampen noise from impact exercises.

Designer Wendy Word suggests marking the gym area in zones. Vinyl tiles can be laid in patterns that mark distinct areas with layered mats added to eliminate sound.

Many homes already have vinyl flooring in their Chester and North Wales homes, and these are suitable for converting into gyms. Soft carpets are not ideal so should be replaced with a hard floor. Professional gyms use specialist gym flooring materials, but these are not necessary for home gyms that don’t have a high number of users.

Interiors will feature bolder colours in 2023

Architecture and interior design magazine Dezeen asked twelve leading interior architects and designers for their forecasts for the design trends that will be popular in 2023. They said that interiors will feature bold and bright colours.

British interior designers Russell Whitehead and Jordan Cluroe from 2LG Studio say that we are living in violent times and designs should reflect the dynamism of this period:

"When the world gets too weird to comprehend, the designs of the moment reflect that. Let's all get weird and express our wonderfulness."

Sanchit Arora, a New Delhi-based designer, sees a trend towards maximalism that started in 2022 and will continue to influence design trends in 2023. Maximalism is about bold designs with patterns and bright colours. Objects in a room stand out rather than blending in with other features of the space.

Architect Raúl Sánchez of Barcelona says:

"I think I am seeing, after a few years of mostly conservative approach to colour, a more fresh and daring use of colour.”

Interior designer Pallavi Dean says that there is a reaction against neutral colours and the embracing of rainbow shades. British designer Kelly Hoppen does not forecast the end of neutral colours but sees them complemented by bold prints.

Carpets in Chester and North Wales rooms will still be a popular choice of floor covering in 2023, but most consumers prefer neutral or subdued colours. If the predictions of the design experts are correct, more residents in the region will go for bolder coloured carpets.

Grey and beige are the top two carpet colours

A survey by home news and advice website House Digest asked 629 respondents what their favourite carpet colour is. The top two choices were grey and beige.

Just over a third (37%) of respondents said that they preferred grey carpets for their homes. One reason for this choice is that grey, unlike white or beige carpets, camouflages stains and dirt better, making them less visible. However, to preserve the life of a carpet, it’s still advisable to regularly clean it.

Grey carpets are available in a variety of shades from light to dark, with something to suit most décor styles.

Charcoal grey carpets make light coloured objects in a room stand out. Grey carpets go well in rooms where the carpet is surrounded by wood flooring.

The second choice in the survey was beige, with 27.34% of respondents naming it their favourite carpet colour. A deep pile beige carpet adds warmth and cosiness to a room. A woven pattern beige carpet goes well in a traditional style room. A light beige carpet makes a small space appear larger. Beige, like grey, is a neutral colour that complements most décor styles.

The third favourite colour of the survey respondents is dark brown, with nearly 15% choosing it. Though neutral colours are favoured by many, a significant minority of respondents (8.27%) love bright colours.

Carpets in North Wales and Chester are available in a wide range of colours. Whether neutral or brighter shades are preferred, there’s a carpet colour suitable for all tastes.

The benefits of natural fibre flooring

Carpets made from natural fibres are popular because they are harvested from nature rather than being synthetic.

Synthetic polypropylene and nylon carpets are long lasting and cost-effective, but many consumers prefer carpets made from more natural materials that are manufactured using fewer chemicals. Natural fibres are biodegradable, making them environmentally friendly.

Natural fibres include wool, cotton, silk, jute and sisal. Wool is luxurious, practical and has insulating properties. Wool is an ancient fibre that has been used for over 11,000 years. Wool has health benefits as it absorbs allergens and fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Cotton is another natural fibre that has been used for thousands of years. Cotton is soft and strong and is dyed in many colours. Cotton carpets and rugs are not expensive. Cotton is often mixed with other natural fibres in carpets. Some small cotton rugs can be machine washed.

Jute comes from a plant grown in high humidity tropical areas. It requires little or no fertilizers and pesticides to grow commercially so is very eco-friendly. Jute flooring has a natural look or can be dyed for a splash of colour.

Sisal is made from the leaves of the agave sisalana plant. Sisal carpets are coarse and exceptionally durable. They are ideal for outdoor spaces and high traffic areas. They absorb dyes well and are available in many colours.

When choosing carpets for the Chester and North Wales home, consider ones made from natural fibres for their looks and practicality.

Wild clashing patterns and colours are still alive

Whilst some people want calm neutral colours and minimal design, others are inspired by past times when carpets had bold, wild patterns in bright colours.

In the 1950s and 1960s, many homes had a whirlwind of clashing patterns in their rooms. People did not care if their pattern wallpaper did not match the carpet. In recent years there has been a design trend of minimalist plain colours that complement each other. After a trend is established, there is an inevitable backlash against it. Clashing wild patterns could be a movement against minimalism.

The property editor of Wales Online, Joanne Ridout, has discovered that the wild clashing pattern design trend is still alive. She found a terrace house in Porthcawl, Wales which feature a riot of clashing patterns. Wallpaper, carpet and curtain patterns are all different bright colours and patterns. Not all walls had the same pattern. She describes the house as:

“A feast for the eyes for anyone who loves genuine retro décor.”

Wild wallpaper and crazy carpets are not to everyone’s taste. The Porthcawl house is for sale at £225,000 and is expected to appeal to some buyers, or to those who will quickly replace the carpets, curtains, and wallpaper with more subdued designs.

Homeowners baying carpets for their Chester, Wrexham or North Wales property have a wide range of patterns and colours to choose from. Whether you prefer plain-coloured subdued colour carpets or bright striking patterns, there’s a carpet to suit your taste.