When one first thinks about using hardwood flooring in their home, it doesn’t seem like there are a whole lot of options in terms of design. It’s wood. How many options can there be? Well, while you won’t be trying to pick out the perfect shade of rose ceramic tiles, there are still plenty of ways to get creative with hardwood flooring beyond choosing your stain.
Express Yourself With a Wide Range of Hardwood Flooring on the Market It is said that there is a hardwood floor for every room in your home. With the great number of species of hardwood and the constant developments in flooring, that might just be a possibility. The hardwood floor is popular with homeowners due to its innate warmth and beauty, not to mention the durability that homeowners have come to depend on over the years. Hardwood flooring is not just a pretty face; it certainly performs.
It performs so well, in fact, that many hardwood floors outlive their owners. And, if you’ll forgive the jest, they tend to age a bit more gracefully as well. The care and maintenance of hardwood flooring is exceedingly simple and if it should need a bit of a pick me up, refinishing your floors is always an option. So just what are these options for wood flooring and how do they affect your decision?
A World of Choices In Hardwood Flooring You literally have a world of choices when it comes to finding a suitable hardwood floor. You can choose among domestic or exotic species in order to find the perfect fit for your home’s look and your lifestyle. You may also want to try reclaimed wood, that is, wood planks that have formerly been part of a home or building. That certainly is a very environmentally friendly option, and one whose benefits are far reaching. Another great hardwood floor for consideration is engineered hardwood flooring. These hardwood floors have been reinforced to be able to withstand higher moisture and humidity conditions in a particular room, thereby making them suitable for installing under below-grade areas such as basements. Hardwood Flooring Versatility The versatility of a hardwood floor also allows for the execution of a variety of flooring ideas. Combine different species or stain planks with different colors to come up with a variety of designs. With a hardwood floor, your creativity knows no bounds. There are a number of specialty designs that can be achieved in your home provided that you hire the right professional for the job.
For example, parquet flooring is an exquisitely intricate flooring design that creates a very unique look. While you may be able to find an easy to install imitation of parquet flooring in laminate or vinyl tile flooring, nothing can beat the look that you get when individual planks are so carefully arranged throughout the floor.
Hardwood Flooring Inlays Another example is hardwood flooring in-lays. This technique uses different colors, sizes, and species of hardwood to create designs in the floor. Medallions are popular choices, but one could conceivably install any design from a warm bear to a geometric pattern. These hardwood flooring installations are highly specialized and require the use of sophisticated equipment, exceptional skill, and an endless reserve of patience; the results, however, are well worth the effort.
