Interior Design Flooring Trends That Impress
No matter where you go in your home, your floor is there to support you. It’s something you see and feel throughout the day, and if it’s a high-quality material, it will last for years. Anyone who’s ever spent time in a flooring store knows that the amount of choices can quickly become overwhelming. How do you differentiate from the styles that are gaining popularity for a reason, and those that are passing fads? Know what you’re getting into before you install home flooring:
Bamboo
Bamboo floors have been around for centuries, but they have improved significantly in the last few years. Bamboo is durable, and sometimes has more strength than wood flooring. If you thought bamboo was a type of wood, we don’t blame you – the wide plank varieties available today look like something chopped from a hardwood forest. Bamboo is technically a grass, and the kind you find in homes is made from the extra strong inner strands that are best for resisting marks and stains. In the past, homeowners had to worry that their bamboo flooring would shrink over time. Manufacturers have overcome these “shrinking pains” by harvesting nontraditional parts of the bamboo stalk and compressing it under high pressure. It’s clear that modern bamboo floors are built to last.
Reclaimed Wood
Imperfections are what give wood flooring its character, and reclaimed wood is the wise old man of the building material world. Beyond its growth rings, grain patterns and color variations, reclaimed wood is an environmentally friendly choice. The material is salvaged from homes, barns and other buildings to be reused as a stylish flooring option for homes. Brand new wood flooring often features patterns designed to look like they have weathered years of wear and tear – something that comes standard with reclaimed wood. Choosing reclaimed wood is a great way to go green and still get the luxury you desire.
New Tile Styles
When you think of tile flooring, chances are you imagine a grid of standard 12” x 12” squares found in so many homes. Today, bigger is better in the world of tile. It’s not uncommon to find 12” x 24” or even 24” x 24” tiles in homes. These larger squares have the benefit of being easier to clean, because there are less seams and more flat surface area to cover with your mop. When it comes to tile colors and patterns, the options are endless. Some of today’s most popular colors are dark brown and gray (or “greige,” if you want a little bit of both), because they add sophistication to any room. Remember that unless you have a heated floor, tile can feel cold to bare feet. Be sure to wear socks or slippers when you have this material in your home!
Cork
If your only experience with cork is popping one out of a bottle every New Year’s Eve, you might not know how useful it is as a flooring material. Homeowners should choose cork if they want a surface with a little extra elasticity. This characteristic gives cork exceptional durability – the surface is able to self-recover from small impacts and minor punctures. More importantly, coated cork resists moisture, so if you happen to spill a glass of water, milk or wine, you can quickly wipe away the mess. Just make sure to recoat the material every five years if you’re looking for longevity. Luckily, cork is resistant to both mold and mildew, so you can live healthier in your home. Also, if you’re a musician cork flooring insulates noises, so you can jam out without any distortion from echoes.
Luxury Vinyl
In the past, vinyl flooring was a material of compromises – it felt nice to walk on and didn’t cost very much, but something about it just felt…off. If you bought vinyl that was meant to look like another flooring type, the effect was almost never convincing. Today’s vinyl is like an entirely different material. Advances in photography and printing technology have made it possible to create vinyl that clearly resembles other materials such as wood, stone or even marble. If you’re not looking to recreate other materials, you can print virtually any type of design on vinyl, and make a space uniquely yours. The square tiles are quite affordable, and they’re a joy to walk on.
Coated Concrete
Concrete might not be the first material you think of when it comes to interior flooring, but it’s one that’s gaining popularity. You’re sure to get a sleek, smooth and modern looking floor when you choose concrete. This material can be polished, stained or stamped to give it the exact colors and patterns you want for your home. Concrete is porous, so you’re going to want to get it coated in order to make it last. Thankfully, today’s top coating formulas can add an attractive sheen to concrete, and give it decades of durability. You can even buy concrete made to imitate flagstone, marble, brick and other high-end flooring materials, at a fraction of the actual product’s price.
Soft carpet
Carpet manufacturers have engineered a new generation of products take softness to a new level. The extra comfort is thanks to finer fibers and improved padding. If you have this type of carpet in your home, you will feel as though you’ve entered a luxurious spa as soon as you step in the door. It’s not new materials that have gained popularity, but new carpet styles as well. Today, many consumers go with a type called “cut and loop” that features designs in the carpet with varying string lengths. Cleaning up carpets is a little trickier than a smooth surface, but they are the best choice for comfort.
There are certain parts of the home that need extensive planning well before they are built – flooring is one of them. If you choose the wrong paint color, you can easily put on a new layer to cover up the mistake. On the other hand, a floor is a little more difficult to change after installation. If you are thinking about trying a different kind of flooring in your new home, it doesn’t hurt to have experts give you their opinions on what will work for your spaces and make things flow nicely. Contact our team to see how we can help you make the most of your square footage.