Who wouldn’t want their home to be the talk of the town? Everything from the walls to the flooring speaks of the decor of your place. Choosing a good flooring option can add to the elegance of your living space by brightening up your room and giving it a touch of class. You should look at ways to use bespoke flooring to complement the flooring with furniture and fittings that fit in with the decor.
When it comes to wooden floors, the two main options available are hardwood floors and engineered wood flooring. Engineered wood flooring is a better choice because it is made of materials that last longer and take a lot of foot traffic while displaying fewer signs of wear and tear. We will look at ways to personalize your home’s aesthetic with wooden flooring that gives everyone a great and memorable experience.
A World of Wood: Exploring Different Flooring Options
Choosing wooden flooring will add to the beauty of your home. Solid hardwood consists of planks of wood that have come from nature. They are cut and treated to last 30 to 100 years. The cost per foot is a little more expensive than engineered wood. Engineered wood consists of thin sheets of wood with a plywood or fiberboard base. While hardwood tends to swell or cup when exposed to water, engineered wood does not. Both solid and engineered wood look similar on the surface. Engineered wood has less ability to absorb sounds compared to hardwood floors. Both are generally nailed to the surface of the floor.
Popular Wood Species
Popular wood species when it comes to flooring options are oak, maple, walnut and cherry. Oak has a light and rich colour and is a timeless classic. It is also strong and durable. Due to its hardness, it is resistant to scratches and dents. Solid oak flooring does not tend to warp. There are two varieties- red oak and white oak. Red oak has a tinge with pink hues and an unmistakable grain pattern that makes dents and scratches less obvious. White oak has a yellowish tone and a less busy grain that makes it look better.
Maple Flooring
Maple is known for its lighter hues and is widely available. This flooring is built to last and is resistant to wear. It tends to darken over time. Maple is a good choice for both home and office space. It is cheaper than other types of wood. But due to its lighter colour, it shows scratches and stains more easily. It is sensitive to humidity. You may need to clean your floors regularly to keep it shining. Maple has a good hardness rating, which makes it a preferred choice for wooden floors.
Walnut Flooring
Walnut flooring brings your room a warm and cosy feeling. Its dark hues give a good contrast to lighter surroundings, like walls and furniture. There are many colour variations. It may however require sanding for maintenance and is also likely to scratch or dent. It may also change colour when exposed to sunlight. It’s also sensitive to moisture, which makes it a bad choice for bathrooms.
Cherry Flooring
Cherry is a good choice for wooden flooring. It has distinctive red-brownish hues. American, Brazilian and African Cherry are popular varieties. Brazilian cherry has a distinctive dark colouring with medium to coarse grain patterns. American cherry has a lighter pinker tone and a wavy grain. It has excellent sound and shock resistance, with gorgeous tones. African cherry has pinkish-brown tones and can be hard to work with, but the result is unique.
Other Popular Wood Choices
Teak is also preferred for wood flooring because it has a tighter grain and is long-lasting. It has good dark variations and is resistant to dirt and stains. Mahogany has a rich deep colour, giving your room an elegant look.
Do you want to be environmentally friendly with your home decor? Using reclaimed wood is one good way to do this. Oak and pine are popular choices, as are pine and redwood. Some of this wood is over a century old and prized for its density and durability.
Another way you can add individuality to your floors is to use light stains, dark stains or even distressed finishing. Staining can add character to your wooden floor and make it look darker with a natural look. Distressed finishing can also give your wooden flooring an aged appearance.
You may have to decide between pre-finished and on-site flooring when installing a wooden floor. Although prefinished varieties are cheaper and more convenient to install, you may not be pleased with the result. The prefinished variety may come from different stock lots and may not give a coordinated or natural look. Although installing the floor onsite is expensive and time-consuming, you will be able to achieve the effect you want.
The Beauty and the Beast: Pros and Cons of Wood Flooring
So you want to install a wooden floor, right? There are many pros and cons to consider before making this decision.
Pros:
- It looks beautiful
Wooden flooring gives a room a look of timeless beauty with its own warmth and charm. You can choose traditional woods like oak or walnut or go for staining and finishing to give it an exotic look.
- It’s eco friendly
Wood is a natural choice and requires little maintenance. You just have to sweep and mop regularly to keep the floor clean.
- Protects from allergies
Unlike carpets, which collect dirt and dust causing allergies, this is not seen with wood flooring.
- It’s versatile
There are so many designs and style variations in wood flooring that you’ll be spoiled for choice.
- Adds value
The timeless elegance of wood flooring adds value to your home. You will likely get a better price if you ever decide to sell your property.
Cons:
- Vulnerable to Damage
Wood is liable to get damaged by moisture, so it may not be a good choice for kitchens and bathrooms. It may also get scratches and stains.
- Higher Cost
The initial cost of fitting a wooden floor is high, and it may also require maintenance from time to time. Getting a carpet would be less expensive.
- Noise Effect
If not fitted correctly or even due to natural factors, wood has a tendency to creak. It may distress owners.
How to Create Unique Design Aesthetics using Wood Flooring
You can choose unique design options to further bring out the beauty of your home with wooden floors. Let’s look at three ways to spruce up your residence.
Achieving a Classic Country Style
You can choose to install wide planks that are properly stained. Opt for vintage furniture in your bedroom. Use bronze or brass lamps for lighting. Why not use a rocking chair in your library to read and relax?
Adopting a Modern Chic Look
Choose a matte finish hardwood floor. Add colour to the room with cushions or sofa coverings with vibrant shades. Consider placing paintings or pictures in the room that hang from the walls, to add character.
Choosing a Minimalist Vibe
You had better go with engineered wood that has been sanded and glossed. Use cherry or walnut. Select furniture with a clean design. Again, you can brighten up the room with cases or bedsheets that are colorful.
Conclusion
Achieving a better aesthetic with wooden flooring is certainly possible. It takes a lot of considerations regarding cost, durability and design. But in the end, the results could be worth it, if you really get the results that you want and it adds to the ambience of your home.
