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The Importance of Practical Design in Luxurious Shared Areas

The communal areas in these buildings, such as lobbies, fitness centres, movie halls, and more, are much more than just hallways and gathering spaces. They are extensions of the residents’ homes and social hubs that reflect the building’s prestige. Therefore, choosing appropriate materials for these high-traffic areas is crucial, as they need to withstand daily wear and tear while remaining luxurious and inviting.

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As certified fabric care specialists with years of experience in these environments, we’ve witnessed firsthand the impact material choices have on the longevity and hygiene of these shared areas. Our guide offers insights on selecting the perfect materials that balance aesthetics, durability, and hygiene to maintain the elegance and functionality of communal spaces in high-end buildings. 

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Furniture with lots of details, fold and crevices is a major dust magnet and is not the best option for communal areas.

The Nemesis of Luxury: Common Woes in Communal Spaces

While undeniably glamorous, London’s high-end buildings’ communal areas contend with unique foes. High traffic translates to dirt and grime. Tracked-in mud, dust, beverage spills, food stains, and pet accidents are frequent occurrences. Carpets in high-traffic zones can trap allergens and become breeding grounds for bacteria. Furniture upholstery falls victim to pen marks, dust, and general wear and tear.

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Functional problems arise, too — poorly placed furniture can obstruct traffic and make cleaning take forever. Inadequate lighting not only creates safety hazards but can also highlight dirt and wear. Another problem unique to communal areas is the very openness that makes these spaces grand, as it can lead to noise concerns, as sounds travel easily throughout open-plan areas. Understanding these challenges is key to selecting materials and layouts that promote beauty and functionality. 

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How to Choose Materials for Upscale Communal Areas

You want a few key features in the floorings, furnishings and accessories in the communal spaces in a residential building. Here’s how to create a beautiful and lasting interior:

Choose fade-resistant fabrics for areas with a lot of direct sunlight. Image by Freepik

Durability is King

First and foremost, prioritise durability. These spaces are shared by many, so materials need to be tough enough to handle constant use.

• Floors: Opt for hard surfaces like engineered hardwood, porcelain tile, or high-quality laminate. Another great option is granite and concrete floors, but only if you seal these materials. These are easy to clean, resistant to scratches and stains, and can handle heavy foot traffic. 
• Carpets: While carpets add a touch of comfort, limit their use to low-traffic areas. Consider area rugs with easy-to-clean materials like wool or stain-resistant synthetics in high-traffic zones. Remember, natural fibres like wool often clean more easily than synthetics. Plush carpets may add a touch of luxury, but they’re prone to showing dirt and wear faster, requiring more frequent and intensive cleaning.
• Furniture: Choose furniture with sturdy frames, ideally made from metal, solid wood, or high-density composite materials. Select furniture with smooth surfaces and minimal crevices where dirt can accumulate. Pick stain-resistant fabrics like polyester blends or vinyl for the upholstery. While undeniably luxurious, leather is susceptible to spills and unsightly scratches and requires special care. Choose fabrics that are fade-resistant in areas exposed to direct sunlight to prevent fading. Alternatively, you can reduce the intensity of direct sunlight by adding a film to the windows.
• Walls: Luxury vinyl wallcoverings offer the best of both worlds – the look and feel of fabric or wallpaper with the easy cleaning benefits of vinyl. They resist scratches, stains, and dust, making them ideal for high-traffic areas.

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With the right design tiles can turn the entrance and reception area in a bright and welcoming space. Image by Freepik

Functionality Meets Finesse

Durability doesn’t have to come at the expense of aesthetics.

• Colour and Pattern: Consider colours and patterns that hide dirt and scuffs well. Opt for neutral palettes or textured fabrics that mask imperfections. Bold pops of colour can be introduced through artwork or accessories, which are easier to replace when they show wear.
• Timeless Design: Invest in classic, well-made pieces that won’t go out of style quickly. Trendy elements can be incorporated through decorative accents, allowing you to update the space quickly and affordably.
• Easy Maintenance: Select furniture with smooth, non-porous surfaces that can be wiped clean with minimal effort. Avoid intricate details and exposed woodwork that trap dust and dirt.

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Thick laminate flooring is a great choice for kid corners and family areas. Image by Freepik

Child-Friendly Luxury

Many luxury buildings cater to families and young couples, so it’s best to prepare and embrace the future. Here’s how to create a space that’s both beautiful and resilient:

• Performance Fabrics: Opt for fabrics with stain and water-resistant finishes. Consider Crypton fabrics, which repel liquids and make cleaning a breeze.
• Sealed Surfaces: Have natural stone or limestone floors professionally sealed to prevent stains and scuffs.
• Furniture: Opt for durable, easily wipeable furniture with rounded corners to minimise the risk of injury. Consider choosing vinyl or vinylized patterned fabrics for sofas, chairs and other high-contact areas.
• Smart Furniture Placement: Avoid placing delicate furniture near exits or high-traffic areas. Opt for lightweight, easily movable pieces in these zones.
• Customisable Comfort: Consider incorporating modular furniture that can be rearranged based on needs. This allows for flexibility and accommodates different uses of the space.

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Lighting designs that look beautiful but trap dust are impractical for busy communal areas. Image by mrsiraphol on Freepik

Beyond the Basics

• Ceiling Savvy: Soaring ceilings can add grandeur, but ornate light fixtures become dust magnets. Opt for sleek LED downlights with easy-to-access panels for maintenance. Consider PVC crown moulding to conceal unsightly wires and create a polished finish.
• Embrace Technology: Invest in antimicrobial surfaces, especially in high-touch areas like elevator buttons or door handles. This can help reduce the spread of germs, making the space healthier for residents.

Selecting suitable materials helps keeping maintenance schedules and expenses more organized and cost-effective. Image by freepik

Time Schedule for Keeping it Spotless 

Regular cleaning is paramount to maintaining the luxurious feel of your communal spaces. Here are some tips:

• High-Traffic Areas: Focus on frequent cleaning in high-traffic areas like elevator landings, lobbies, and fitness centres. Daily vacuuming for hard floors and spot-cleaning of upholstery will go a long way.
• Deep Cleaning: Schedule regular deep cleaning services to tackle stubborn dirt, dust build-up, and carpet stains.
• Professional Touch: Consider hiring a professional cleaning company with experience in luxury residential buildings, like Cleaner Cleaner. We have the equipment and expertise to ensure a thorough and gentle carpet cleaning and upholstery care that will preserve the lifespan of your furnishings.

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By following these tips and utilising the expertise of professional cleaners, you can ensure your London upscale residence’s communal spaces remain stunning, durable, and a source of pride for residents for years to come. Remember, creating a luxurious and long-lasting space is all about striking a balance between beauty, functionality, and ease of maintenance.

Check out also: How to Choose Carpets for Your New Home. 

How to Choose a Rug for Your Living Room by Textile

First off, let us look at how to choose a rug for your living room by material. The textile you choose can depend on what you are looking for. Keep in mind that if you have pets or children, you will want something more durable and stain-resistant.

1. Viscose Tencel:

If you are looking to design your home interior in a luxurious style, you could opt for viscose Tencel, also known as art silk. Viscose is a versatile fibre that provides the same comfort properties as natural fibres. It is considered semi-synthetic as it also uses natural cellulose. You will find that art silk is breathable, cool to the touch, and takes colour very easily.

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2. Polypropylene:

Having children and pets doesn’t really allow for the luxurious materials in the living room. Your best option in this case is a nice polypropylene rug. They are cheap to buy and have a long lifespan (10-15 years if well cared for). From a carpet cleaner’s perspective, this is the best choice as it is natural, durable and easy to clean and maintain.

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3. Wool:

Wool rugs are another optimal choice for your living room. Due to the lanolin in wool, this type of textile is naturally stain-resistant and much easier to clean than synthetic rugs. With a good, short pile wool rug, you won’t have any issues with spillages. If you get there in time, they are easy to blot up. Also, regular vacuuming helps keep them in tip-top condition. You can expect a lifespan of 15-20 years if you care for your wool rug properly. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that some wool rugs with strong colours can rub transfer their colour. If your rug is going over a wall-to-wall fitted carpet, this colour transfer is impossible to remove.

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Of course, these are just our guidelines for the best choice. Our selections are made from a professional cleaner’s point of view. This means that these are your best options regarding maintenance and cleaning. Another quick pointer, we would also recommend getting a short-pile or loop-pile rug. They are more stain-resistant and easier to clean than a long-pile one. 

How to Choose a Rug for Your Living Room by Size

Another thing you will want to consider when choosing your rug is the size you will be getting. This will depend on many things, such as the size of the room or the placement of your furniture.

A common mistake that people make is buying a floor covering that is far too small. Your standard, in-store sizes tend to be 6 x 9 feet, 8 x 10 feet or 9 x 12 feet. However, if this doesn’t suit your room type, you could always have a custom rug made. Generally, having a custom one made won’t end up being all that more expensive than buying the in-store sizes.

One thing to keep in mind if you are going for 1 big rug to cover your floor, you should keep about 4 to 8 inches of bare floor around all sides. You also have the option of sectioning your room using more than one rug. This is a good idea if you have a larger, oblong living room. You can define the sections of the space or even try layering rugs on top of the other. This would add a nice touch to the interior and work well as seasonal decorating.

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How to Choose a Rug for Your Living Room by Colour and Pattern

Now, for the final factor when decorating – how to choose a rug for your living room by colour and pattern. Of course, everyone should customize according to their own taste and style. However, here are some pointers to get a stylish, good-looking rug for your room type.

If you have bright, colourful furniture and want to have a colourful rug, you should go with patterns that compliment your soft furnishings. As for the colours, you should either go for complementing or contrasting colours. You don’t want anything that looks out of place or too in your face.

For a modern, stylish look, a single-colour rug will achieve this perfectly. You could also try a contrasting colour with patterns that match the lower colour. For example, if your lower layer is dark, try a contrasting single-colour rug or a bright colour with ornaments matching the dark shade of your floor.

You should also consider the room’s lighting before making a commitment. Cold tones suit well-lit rooms perfectly, while warm tones will complement a darker room nicely.

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When you are in a shop for carpets, you will notice the salesman always focuses on the luxurious texture as well as pitching you a good price. What most salesmen don’t know or even consider is that often the soft, long-piled fibres can be the worst option. When crumbs find their way into the fibres along with the rapidly gathering dust, it creates the perfect environment for welcoming dust mites, moths, and other unwanted visitors. This leads to your once luxurious floor covering looking old and worn after a year or so. That’s why our team of carpet cleaners at Cleaner Cleaner has put together this guide on how to choose carpets for your new home, helping you achieve that stylish home interior that lasts.

How to Choose Carpets for Your New Home by Getting the Best Fibre Type

When it comes to choosing carpets for your new home, yes, the colours and designs are important. But it is better to choose a fibre type first, then continue looking for the perfect fit for your home. This is because it can be disheartening finding the ideal floor covering and then discovering that maybe it is not the best choice due to the material it is made from.

A salesman will typically go for convincing you to buy a long pile, soft fibre, such as polypropylene. However, the issue with this type of material is that they gather grime and dust easily. It provides a warm and dark environment with debris stuck in the fibres – the perfect habitat for dust mites, moths, and other unwanted squatters. Because they are so difficult to maintain, their pile goes flat and they end up looking rather old and battered after a certain amount of time.

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That is why when you are looking for the luxurious, soft feel in a carpet, you are better off going for one with a thick underlay. It is the underlay that will give you that bouncy, luscious feel that you are looking for in a rug. We would also recommend going for either a short pile or loop pile wool carpet. The short, dense piles don’t accumulate too much debris and dust. Also, any stains or spillages will be much easier to deal with.

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Why go for wool over polypropylene? We know you are likely to be persuaded using the “polypropylene is bleach-cleanable” argument. However, a good wool carpet that is cared for properly can give you up to 25 years of comfort if cared for properly. Whereas polypropylene and other synthetic rugs are going to give you at most 10-15 years. They aren’t made to bounce back and will end up looking worn and old. Wool carpets are made with a natural, renewable fibre that deters bacteria and dust mites. Also, wool carpet maintenance is much less hard work than any synthetic rug.

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How to Choose Carpets for Your New Home According to the Room’s Style

Now let us take a look at creating the perfect home interior by choosing carpets for your new home according to room style. Of course, we know that everybody has their own individual style, but these guidelines can help you achieve a beautiful, cosy home.

1. Choosing Carpets for the Bedroom

Your bedroom is your safe place, so you will want to go for a nice soft carpet that covers the entire, or at least nearly the entire floor. This will create a cosy, comfortable environment. You will also want to go for your favourite colours or designs, choosing something that will feel more you.

2. Choosing Carpets for Guest Rooms/Children’s Rooms

Here, if you decided to go for long fibres in the other rooms, we highly recommend you stick with short pile floor coverings. Children and guests have the tendency of being a bit careless regarding spillages and whatnot. They also might end up walking around in shoes, so you will want something that will be easy to clean up. We also recommend you get a carpet with various prints or geometrical shapes. This will help hide any marks and trails if you end up with a permanent stain. 

3. Choosing Carpets for the Hall/Entrance Room

For the entrance room to your home, we recommend you go with the same trick for guest rooms. Get something with patterns, such as geometrical shapes, that will help hide any permanent mishaps.

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4. Choosing Carpets for the Living Room

For your living room, you might want to consider the size of the room before making any decision. If your chill-out zone is quite large, you might want to consider sectioning it off using smaller carpets. This will help divide your TV lounging area and eating area, for example, into visible zones.

If your living room is smaller, get a pretty floor covering that covers the entire floor to give it some life. Smaller rugs would emphasize the on the not-so-big room. Try out some bright colours and diagonal patterns to give the illusion of a wider space.

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How to Choose Carpet Colours

The colour of your carpet can largely affect the entire feel of your home. It is important to know how to choose carpets with the best colour coordination that will give your home interior a stylish look.

• For putting emphasis on your furniture. If you have nice, fancy furniture with attractive patterns, you will want to choose a monochromatic carpet. Otherwise, you will have too much going on and take away attention from your lovely furniture.
• If you are looking for a modern, stylish interior – pick a carpet that doesn’t cover the entire floor. Make sure it matches the tone of the floor beneath it.
• For matching with dark floors. Either go for a contrasting colour or a bright carpet with ornaments matching the dark shade of your flooring.
• Choosing a carpet for a well-lit room. Here you will want to opt for cold tones that will suit the brightly lit room, not making it too bright.
• Choosing a carpet for a darker room. You will want to select a floor covering with warm tones to compensate for the dimness.

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