TIPS & TRICKS FOR QUICK•STEP® LAMINATE FLOORS

Colors mainly determine the mood of your interior. It is important that you choose the right color combinations. Colors, light and space influence each other to a great extent. The colors of the floor, the ceiling and the walls have a substantial optical impact on how you experience the space. You can make a room seem larger, smaller, wider, narrower, deeper, higher, lighter and warmer.

You choose a particular floor not only for practical reasons but also because you like a specific color. When choosing the color of the floor, you should take into account the desired end result and influence of the other existing or planned color elements on the interior. The result of this combination is more than the sum of the individual elements. The whole space is given a new identity, as it were. Every room is different and requires a specific approach, depending on the desired end result.

Lighter colors enlarge the room and darker colors make a room look smaller. Lighter floors: If you have a dark space that you want to brighten up a bit, you should choose a lighter floor. Lighter floors reflect light. This will make the room lighter and it enlarge it optically. Pale colors reflect purity and tranquility, and make the room timeless. Combined with the cool colors of the walls, you can create a sober effect. But don't overdo it: in the north and the west the following applies: the whiter the floor, the cooler the atmosphere. Dark furniture and light wood floors combine very well and create surprising effects. In addition, pale floors can be combined very well with a variety of colors. Darker floors: Darker floors are the ideal starting point to create contrasts. They can be combined perfectly with walls in lighter colors or with other darker colors which are used for highlights and accessories. Avoid harsh white and choose a shade of white such as off-white or white with a dash of a different dye. You can liven things up by adding colorful accessories in the interior. Too many darker colors will in fact result in a gloomy effect with less light and a lack of atmosphere.

You can create a spacious effect by combining a sober and pale floor with light walls. Lighter and cooler colors will make the room seem larger. Dark and warm colors make the room smaller and cosier. In the Quick•Step® perspective range, you can choose between V-grooves on the long sides or on both the long and the short sides. To expand a room optically, we recommend floors with V-grooves on the long sides. This creates a sense of depth in the room. Lay the V-grooves in the direction of the light in order to emphasize the effect. The Elegance range of floors is ideal if you want to enlarge the room optically. The Elegance range floors have narrow planks in three different lengths. This will allow you to create a more spacious feeling than when you choose wider planks with only a single length. The color combination with the skirting boards is also important. A floor appears to be larger when the skirtings have the same color as the floor. The opposite is also true: a floor appears to be smaller when the skirtings have the same color as the walls.

Make sure the color of your floor is either two shades lighter or a lot darker than the color of the furniture. A floor and furniture in the same color and wood is only possible if you have a carpet in a different contrasting color between them. On a floor in a neutral color, e.g; natural varnished oak, you should not be afraid to combine furniture made of very dark wood such as wenge or walnut. Light furniture varnished in white will also look very attractive. Furniture in light wood combined with pale walls and a light floor create a calm ambience in the home. This is a safe approach but you may end up with dull interior. Too much tone on tone can become monotonous.

Floors with a yellowish beige color. Yellowish beige colors are warm, cosy and create a sense of optimism. Floors with an oak, beach or maple design can make a dark room warmer. Floors with a reddish orange color These floors give the a room very warm feeling. This color is often combined with yellow highlights. Brown floors A brown hue, especially for floors, refers to our alliance with the earth. In comparison with the walls it must always remain in the background. Brown consists of several other colors and this means it can be combined with many other colors. Brown is not a dull color; it's versatile and suitable for many different interiors, on the condition that sufficient light penetrates the room in order to make the brown color stand out. In some interiors, a combination is made of complementary colors for the floor and the walls, with the intention of creating a contrast. In other situations, a tone on tone combination is preferred. Tone on tone means that shades of the same color are combined, but with darker and lighter differences. This can create very harmonious and calm effects, however, it can become monotonous.

Tropic wood types produce very warm floors. For example, Quick•Step® merbau, afzelia doussie, natural varnished teak, etc. These wood types are very lively and for this reason it can be difficult to find matching furniture and wall covering. Tip: keep the walls warm and neutral, e.g. off-white of shades of white. This creates an attractive contrast with the floor. Don't overdo the contrast effects and use maximum one or two different highlight colors.

Colors in dim lighting create a different feeling than the same colors in bright sunlight or artificial lighting. In other words, the light source is an important factor in the room. Light colors reflect light and dark colors absorb light.

Wide planks with V-groove In the Quick•Step® Perspective range, you can choose between V-grooves on the long sides (UL) or on both the long and the short sides (UF). The planks with V-groove on the long sides create a sense of depth. Planks with V-groove on the long and the short sides create a more country-house effect. If you prefer a more geometrical look, you should choose a plank floor without V-grooves (U). Wide planks alternated with narrow ones If you don't want a traditional looking floor but something more playful, combine the Perspective floors in two widths and create a whole new look for your interior. Elegance: narrow planks in three lengths Laying narrow planks creates a spacious effect. Elegance planks have three lengths which are packed in one box. Result: 54 different wood prints which means that recurring patterns are practically impossible. Combination of natural stone and Elegance. Do you have a large room where you want to optically divide the kitchen, office, living room and lounge? The combination of laminate tiles and narrow Elegance planks is an interesting option. With a seamless joint, you can combine a wood and a tile design which are complementary but also create some variation in your interior.