Hardwood flooring is the ultimate luxury investment for your home, so it's definitely one you want to get right. Hardwood flooring is a classic and timeless choice for any home, it adds warmth, character, and value to any room. However, choosing the right type of hardwood flooring can be a daunting task, especially if you are weighing up hardwood flooring versus laminate, then these following hardwood flooring ideas are designed to inspire. Read on to discover the best hardwood flooring ideas for every room in your home.
HARDWOOD FLOORS IN THE KITCHEN
The kitchen is the heart of any home, and it needs a flooring option that is durable, easy to clean, and can handle moisture.
Hardwood flooring for the kitchen is a popular choice amongst customers because of its durability and natural character that it adds to the space.
Opt for an engineered construction as it is water resistant and for the most durable hardwood floor finish choose a brushed and lacquered surface.
Consider installing engineered hardwood flooring with an extra protective layer that can withstand spills and moisture.
This wood floor surface can be swept or vacuumed regularly and the hardwood floor can be mopped with a well wrung out mop for a damp clean.
HARDWOOD FLOORING IN THE LIVING ROOM
Hardwood floors in the living room needs to be able to handle heavy foot traffic, be versatile and lend itself to different styles of decor as your taste may change over the years.
Hardwood flooring (including engineered) can be sanded down and refinished in a different colour should you want to redecorate your living room.
For a cosy and inviting feel, consider installing a medium to dark colour hardwood floor, using warm, rich colours of flooring will add depth and dimension to your living room and make it look more spacious.
Often existing Victorian floorboards can be squeaky and have gaps between the boards, place a rug in your living room to help muffle both air born and impact noise, a rug also creates a cosy interior - perfect for a living room.
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HARDWOOD FLOORING FOR DINING ROOMS
The dining room is another area of the home that sees a lot of traffic as it is the place where you spend time with family and friends, enjoying meals and making memories.
For this room, you want a hardwood flooring option that is easy to clean and can handle food spills, consider installing light-coloured hardwood flooring with a matte finish for a bright and low maintenance solution.
HARDWOOD FLOORING FOR BEDROOMS
Wood flooring in bedrooms get less traffic than the main reception rooms of the home, which means that you can be more relaxed about the type of hardwood floor that you have in the bedroom.
Keep in mind that this is a space where you will most likely be walking barefoot, so choosing a natural feeling floor finish such as a hard-wax oil would be ideal.
Opt for a wood flooring option that is warm and inviting, such as a light coloured or natural coloured oak, the natural beauty of the oak will add warmth and character to your bedroom.
Popular wood floor colours for bedrooms are light oaks, white washed and warm greys.
HARDWOOD FLOORING FOR BATHROOMS
The bathroom is a challenging room to install hardwood flooring because of the moisture and humidity levels, if you want to have hardwood flooring in the bathroom then you must opt for an engineered plank construction.
Why does it have to be engineered wood flooring? Because bathrooms have varying levels of moisture (which can change rapidly) you need to have a stable board construction to keep the floor level.
Don't let this put you off the idea of hardwood flooring in the bathroom because it can be done successfully as long as you keep the bathroom well ventilated and opt for an additional coat of a protective top coat for your floor for added water resistance.
If you are still not sure on hardwood flooring vs tile for the bathroom, then you could opt for a wood-effect tile instead.
HARDWOOD FLOORING IN THE ENTRANCE HALL
As we already mentioned, hardwood flooring makes a space feel warm and cosy, the perfect addition to create a welcoming entrance to your home.
I would strongly advise on laying a large coir natural fibre rug to catch any dirt and wet from outside, helping to keep your hardwood floor in good condition.
Similar to kitchen hardwood flooring, opt for a brushed and lacquered finish for a low maintenance product, the alternative floor finish is a hard-wax oil but this finish needs an annual maintenance coat to keep the hardwood floor looking it's best.
When clients are me which hardwood flooring is best with dogs, I will always recommend a brushed and lacquered finish as small scratches do not show up easily and this textured surface also means that it isn't slippery.
HARDWOOD FLOORING FOR THE STAIRS
Staircases clad in wood make a beautiful statement, especially when topped off with a stair runner for the ultimate designer look.
Standard steps are usually clad with a wide hardwood plank flooring and a bull nose stair profile, this results in there usually being one join on the tread, any more than one join as the tread starts to look busy.
For contemporary custom made stairs, these are usually one solid piece of timer and be made for floating staircases or designs with a glass balustrade.
In conclusion, hardwood flooring is a versatile and timeless option that can add value and character to any room in your home.
When choosing the right type of hardwood flooring, consider the room's style, function, and traffic.
With these hardwood flooring ideas, you can create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your home that will last for years to come.
Happy Flooring Shopping!
Jx
