Decorating on a budget %26#133; from the ground up

(ARA) - Nature redecorates with each change of season. Spring's vibrant blooms give way to the lush greens of summer, as nature decorates from the ground up, then spreads its beauty throughout the landscape.

So why is it that so many overlook flooring when refreshing their home decor ? This year, take a cue from Mother Nature and start your decorating from the ground up.

While refreshing rooms with bright new paint colors and lively window treatments is an important step in any redecorating project, don't forget the floor. Too often, homeowners fail to update flooring when redecorating a room and wind up at odds with their goal to create a brand-new, fresh look. Today, most consumers find themselves following a strict budget, and flooring is expensive to replace, right?

Think again. It's easy to update a tired room and outdated floor without breaking the bank. Stylish but budget-friendly fiber-backed resilient sheet flooring like Tarkett FiberFloor, which earned a prestigious "BestBuy" rating from "Consumers Digest" magazine for value and durability, gives you the best of both worlds. FiberFloor not only looks great and mimics natural flooring but also stands up to the stomping, jumping and everyday life found in homes.

"In this economy, homeowners are still redecorating, but they're doing it smarter," says Mario Allard, Tarkett Residential director of resilient products. "They want dependable products that provide ongoing value and look great."

With value, performance and the good looks it delivers, it's no wonder fiber-backed resilient is today's fastest growing segment in the flooring category. What's more, it also comes in a wide variety of designs to meet any personal style. Are you funky and eclectic? Do you gravitate toward a contemporary look? Or do you like something more traditional and austere? There's fiber-backed resilient sheet flooring out there for any taste and budget.

Also, don't be afraid to think outside the box. While many homeowners want to replicate the look of attractive natural materials - slate, bamboo, stone and hardwood - resilient flooring, like FiberFloor, also comes in a vast array of colors and textures, providing stylish options for any decor.

"Savvy homeowners have discovered that fiber-backed resilient sheet flooring products aren't their grandmother's vinyl," notes Allard. "Today's options offer incomparable design, style and durability at a price that doesn't throw a carefully balanced budget off track."

When selecting a new floor, be sure to keep comfort in mind, too. A floor might look good, but it might not feel good underfoot, have poor insulation properties or carry sound noisily - all undesirable comfort factors that should be taken into account during the selection process. That's one of the reasons today's fiber-backed resilient products have comfort features like improved foam density, which delivers added performance and durability, not to mention warmth, comfort and a quiet living space.

Once the perfect flooring has been selected, it's easy to fill the rest of the space with bold, cheerful colors thanks to paint, window treatments and fun accessories like cushions, vases and artwork.

"Making the right flooring choice first really pulls the rest of a room together," Allard says. "Once you lay the foundation - in this case, an attractive, new floor - the rest of the design elements easily will fall into place . . . all with your budget in mind." For more information, visit www.tarkettna.com or call (800) 367-8275.

Courtesy of ARAcontent