Country floors should be simple and unobtrusive. Keep the materials neutral – brick, stone, terracotta, stripped or white-painted wood for a hard, washable surface, and natural matting to bring texture. Use pale shades if you prefer carpet, adding bold colours and patterns in small areas.

Left: Commission a custom-made rug by having a panel of wool carpet or natural matting bound with a contrasting edge in your choice of size. It’s another way to introduce limited colour and pattern on top of a wood or stone floor.
 

For country style inspiration: Brintons: huge selection of plain carpets and cottage-style patterns. Crucial trading: natural coir, sisal, seagrass etc, plus custom-made rugs. Farrow & Ball: water-based floorpaint. Fired Earth: stone, slate, tiles, wood and rugs. Lassco: new and salvaged boards, tiles and stone. Little Greene: eco-oil floor paint. Osmo: range of paint finishes and protectors. Roger Oates: simple, classic flatweave rugs and striped wool runners.
 

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A neutral carpet will suit any country home and provide a soft feel underfoot.

Visit the following carpet and rug suppliers for inspiration: Crucial Trading; Roger Oates; Brintons

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If you want to add colour and pattern, keep it in confined areas, such as a geometric patterned rug on a plain floor. Sisal, coir and seagrass are tough, textured and a practical choice for living areas.

Visit the following carpet and rug suppliers for inspiration: Crucial Trading; Roger Oates; Brintons

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Add decoration with a bold striped stair runner. Be careful with the choice of fabric on stairs – they become shiny as they wear.

Visit the following carpet and rug suppliers for inspiration: Crucial Trading; Roger Oates; Brintons

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Pale, painted floorboards bring a fresh, bright feel to a French-style scheme.

Wood tips:
Enjoy the quirks of original floorboards – they might be of different widths and some boards may lie at right angles to the others. If the original boards aren’t good enough to keep, they can be replaced with salvaged planks, for character, or new wood. The colour will depend on the type of wood and the finish you add. Wax or oil will give a subtle glow but are susceptible to marks: varnishes are more durable but will alter the wood tone. If painting your boards, use a special floorpaint. For a very pale, whitewashed effect, try Osmo Wood Wax Finish in White.
 

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Traditional red-brick floors, laid in a herringbone pattern or in simple lines, create a warm, rustic backdrop for relaxed country interiors.

For stone, slate or brick flooring inspiration visit Lassco and Fired Earth


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Stone tiles are great for kitchens, bathrooms and hallways - they’re easy to clean and stylish.

For stone, slate or brick flooring inspiration visit Lassco and Fired Earth

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This chequered linoleum echoes a classic ceramic tile design while providing a durable surface.

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