FOCUS ON Carpet

Below Raw pivot oak front door finished in grey oil, £5,500, Urban Front

Top tip

COOL ALUMINIUM For bigger budgets and those who love ultra-modern style, an aluminium front door could be a good choice. They’re strong and durable, and come in a huge range of colours, so you can easily make a statement. They’re also pricey – but buy one and it’ll last you for years to come.

Right Composite front doors, priced from £1,800, Thames Valley Windows

PHOTOGRAPHS MARK ASHBEE (QM ROOFING) Scan here to see more goodlooking front door designs

Door supplied by Q&M Roofing

FOCUS ON Carpets

Walk this way on the flooring that can add comfort, softness and style to any space

▼ Best for warmth Cosy up a room with a fitted carpet that echoes the golds, russets and ambers of autumn. The rich colour adds warmth without overwhelming, while working well with other shades. You can layer on similar autumnal tones, add cool neutrals or even contrast with inky blues. The Langham Saxony, shown here in Sunglow, is a plain carpet made from soft-feeling polypropylene that is durable, stain resistant and easy to clean – great for family homes. It costs £34.99 per m2 from Carpetright

Best for stains

Spills and stains are a fact of family life. Boisterous pets (and children) bring mud and rain in with them; drinks get knocked over and carelessly balanced plates tip food onto the floor. Abingdon Flooring’s bleach-cleanable Stainfree carpet collection has stain protection that prevents spills from entering the fibre, so they can be wiped up before they leave a mark. This comfortable but hardy carpet is protected by a lifetime guarantee. StainFree Wilton in Balmoral Silver, from £31.99 per m2 , Abingdon Flooring

Best for room lengthening

Laying a striped carpet can give the illusion of greater length or width to a space, depending how you lay it. The Malvern is a tri-tone offering from Sisal & Seagrass’ Pure Wool Stripe collection. With three different colours, you can use it as the statement backdrop (or footdrop) or match it with soft furnishings. It costs £58.50 per m2

ALISON JONES FEATURE