Inspire Serenity With Wood Flooring

Heather Nette King is a Melbourne-based interiors stylist and writer for many leading interior titles and newspapers. The hallmarks of her styling are colour and vibrancy, and she writes passionately about peoples’ homes and how they live in them.

Does an escape to a lake house nestled among towering birch trees speak to your soul?
Carpet Court ambassador Heather Nette King gives her tips for channelling a sense of calm at home.

DREAM IT.

Norwegians have a word, friluftsliv or “free air life”, for the Scandinavian way of living better with nature. Bolting into woods and big-sky expanses is a principle of life-design but equally important is the focus on natural timbers, sunlight and greenery in home interiors. “Surrounding ourselves with organic-feeling or -looking materials taps into the human need to connect with other living things – it makes us feel centred,” says interior stylist Heather Nette King.

Wooden flooring and wall panelling bring that calming colour and feel inside. “The grain can be smooth or have naturally occurring knots – the key is colour. Go for pale oaks.” Layering light sources with a mix of overhead fixtures, floor lamps and task lamps best mimics daylight. “Always choose warm white bulbs,” advises Nette King.

Wegner-style mid-century forms and clean lines might be signatures of the Scandi aesthetic but Nette King says things that make you happy are key. “That pared-back look can work with a smattering of contemporary furniture, country farmhouse-style pieces, even family antiques – just avoid clutter.”

STYLE IT.

HARDWORKING HYBRIDS
“The technology behind hybrid flooring means it’s quite scratch- and water-resistant in kitchens, bathrooms and laundries.”

QUIETER ACOUSTICS
“Vinyl flooring can have super-realistic grain detail. It’s great for reducing noise in playrooms and living spaces above bedrooms.”

COMFORT ZONES
“Natural sofa upholstery, faux-fur or -hide rugs and textured throws accentuate the warmth of natural wooden floors and create cosy nooks in open-plan spaces.”