In the end, the finish determines how well a floor will hold up, and by regularly re-sanding and polishing, you can ensure your wooden surface lasts a lifetime.
Cork has gained popularity as a softer alternative to hardwood, incorporating a resilient and flexible quality underfoot. Although the wood is susceptible to scratches and moisture, you will be able to paint it several times during its useful life. CONS – Although it is more durable, it does not have the qualities and visual characteristics of wood, it can look very fake, and it does not have the textures of natural wood.
It’s an excellent alternative to bamboo, cork and hardwood and a perfect choice for high-traffic busy homes. Regarding the quality of the laminate flooring, other factors must be taken into account, such as the appearance, the surface finish, the joining system, the additional characteristics (texture, bevelled joints, extra layers of paper that provide more excellent resistance to knocks and marks, antistatic, the type of core board (water-repellent, with moisture-protected tabs), etc. Laying laminate flooring assures that the entire floor is prepared in advance to be an ideal surface to receive it. The inconvenience comes when, out of necessity, it is necessary to change a piece since removing and placing another can damage those that are next to it and become a problem elderly. This is because with any friction, it tends to scratch, and with a bit of sharpness, it can be cut to the degree that the piece of laminate flooring ends up destroyed, and if the stain or scratch does not reach such a degree, in any case, the mined floor already looks neglected and aged.
As the last advantage that we will mention in the ideas book, which does not mean that it is previous that laminate flooring has, it is the fact that it generates exquisite appearances. This is because the last layer of the floor composition can be printed with the drawing of different types of wood, such as beech, walnut or oak, and look just as good without costing so much. However, it can also imitate stones and ceramics, even those that, due to their appearance, usually have a high price in the market. Although laminate flooring they are not new to the market, its origin dates back to the 70s of the 20th century. Many of the advantages and disadvantages they have and must contribute to the interior of a home are still unknown. Regarding the placement of laminate flooring and parquet, it depends on the type, brand, tongue and groove, etc., but it is very similar, and in both cases, it is necessary to lay it on a flat surface. Therefore, it is advisable to be very careful with this floor, and if it has any inconvenience of damage such as scratches, it would be best to change the piece.
Your home can benefit from the view that wooden flooring gives; deciding between wood or laminate is up to you. If you’re confused, like most people, about the terminology of the different types of wood and laminate flooring, you’ll appreciate this handy guide. Several variants of flooring are designed to withstand the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and each has its own advantages, prices and aesthetics. With these little tips and looking at some of the differences between hardwood flooring and laminate flooring, you can decide which type of flooring you want to buy.
Seven trendy wooden floor ideas for your living room
Whether you live in a large house, a duplex or a small apartment, the living room is the centre stage of your home, as it is the perfect place to gather, relax and entertain.
And the sky is the limit when decorating the room of your dreams. With so many flooring designs and decorating ideas available today, creating your ideal living space is as simple as searching on Google. Let these unique wood flooring trends inspire your next living room renovation project, from classic wood planks to two-tone designs and gorgeous chevron planks.
Seven unique wooden flooring ideas for your living room
Hardwood adds beauty, class and character to your home. It also increases your resale value and lasts for decades when cared for properly.
Here are some of the best hardwood flooring ideas to enhance your living room.
1. Parquet tiles
Parquet is the best way to incorporate retro designs into your interior decoration if you love retro designs. They feature repeating geometric patterns, for example, checkerboards and rounded triangles, within the checkerboard squares. Also, you have a variety of designs to choose from.
The hardwood parquet design adds a touch of sophistication and blends perfectly with all types of décor, particularly vintage and antique styles. However, the traditional installation of parquet flooring is expensive. Parquet planks made from wood veneer are a more affordable alternative.
2. Painted hardwood
Whether you have solid wood or hardwood floors, painting your hardwood floors is a cost-effective way to give your room a new look.
From neutral and bright tones to pitch black, you can choose almost any colour to paint your hardwood floors. If you are working with your existing floorboards, sanding is an essential process to remove the finish and create a smooth surface. This will ensure that your floor soaks up all the paint and hides any uneven marks, holes, or stains. However, if you’re working with new, high-quality floorboards, you probably don’t need to sand them. An experienced hardwood flooring professional can guide you through the pros and cons of painting.
3. Mix and match shades
Do you think that wooden floors that do not match do not look good? Think again.
While choosing the same flooring tone for the entire room gives it a spacious look, it’s not necessarily the only way to lay out your hardwood floor. Instead, you can always experiment with different shades of wood to create a unique and eye-catching look.
Dark hardwood floors made from mahogany or Brazilian walnut give your room a cosy, intimate feel; lighter varieties like ash, maple and white oak reflect natural light and make the space more spacious. Combining different shades of hardwood flooring in a single area creates a varied, layered look that provides the right amount of depth and detail. When transitioning between colours, make sure they are different, so the mismatch appears intentional.
4. Reclaimed wood
Reclaimed wood is recycled from older structures in today’s green homes and workplaces. It differs from reclaimed wood, which has been cut and stored for many years but is not used in any construction. Wood over 100 years old has a tight grain, making it a perfect flooring option for high foot traffic areas like living rooms, kitchens and hallways. Reclaimed hardwood floors create a worn rustic look, adding a warm, rich feel to your room.
5. Distressed effect
If you want something completely out of the box, distressed hardwood floors are just what you’ve been looking for. Bold and beautiful, distressed-look floors are popular with homeowners and interior designers today. Here, the hardwood is put through specific procedures, such as ageing, sculpting, wire brushing, or hand scraping, to give it an antique, reclaimed effect. Distressed floors come in various wood species, shades, colours, characters, and grain patterns. So whether you want a rustic hardwood floor to match your vintage cabinetry or add a weathered touch to an otherwise modern interior, distressed flooring can meet your needs.
6. Bleached wood
Whitewashed wooden floors are trendy, and interior design magazines feature them in different settings, from country houses to loft apartments.
To give wood a bleached effect, it undergoes a bleaching process, in which a chemical solution is poured onto its surface. This gives your floor a greyish appearance, with hardly any visible streaks. Bleached wood flooring can be installed anywhere in your home as an ideal backdrop for cosy and casual settings. Unlike solid wood, engineered wood flooring expands and contracts very little with changes in temperature and humidity, making it an ideal choice for chemical processing.
7. Ebonized Hardwood
Unlike paints and stains that mostly stay on the surface of the wood (or penetrate its pores), ebonizing is a chemical reaction that turns it black. The process involves iron acetate reacting with the wood to change its original colour. Each wood floor responds differently to the process, depending on the species, the ratio of iron to acetic acid in the solution, and other factors. This means that two hardwood floors of the same type will look different after undergoing the same ebonizing process. The effects of ebonizing are similar to the natural ageing process of wood. So if you want your new or existing hardwood floor to have a rustic look, ebonized hardwood is a perfect choice.