Stand Out From The Crowd With These Engineered Wood Floors...
At Flooring365 we’re big fans of engineered wood flooring in all its guises, whether that’s a simple, elegant natural oak or a rich, deep walnut. Sometimes though we come across some finishes, styles, and colour combinations that really stand out from the crowd.
Our latest blog takes a look at some engineering wood flooring styles that are a little outside of the box. If you’re looking for a new floor that makes a real statement, read on and find our top pics, but first, let’s take a look at some of the basics…
What Are The Key Characteristics Of Engineered Wood Flooring?
Engineered wood flooring is an increasingly popular wood flooring type that couples the stunning aesthetic and quality of solid wood with the durability and value for money of laminate.
Essentially, engineered wood flooring consists of multiple layers of wood in two key sections, a structural ‘sub layer’, usually made of pine, and a solid wood ‘top layer’ or ‘wear layer’ which gives an identical appearance (when laid) to a much more expensive solid wood floor.
It’s becoming known for not only providing a high quality, real wood finish but also being incredibly strong, thanks to the structural sub-layer, which provides excellent stability and a long-lasting floor. What’s more, this stability makes engineered flooring ideal for use with water-based underfloor heating systems, as it can withstand fluctuations in temperature more effectively.
What Are The Main Styles Of Engineered Wood Flooring?
Any typical wood flooring style you can think of is probably available in engineered wood, it’s really becoming a diverse flooring option with styles available for all tastes. That said, there are some tried and tested finishes that have become very popular over the years (usually, these styles are popular across the board too, including in laminate and solid wood flooring).
Oak Styles
Oak flooring, in all guises, has been popular for many years, and for good reason. It’s a versatile finish that works with pretty much any colour scheme, decor style, or room, with options available to be as traditional or contemporary as you like.
Brushed Finishes
Brushed flooring undergoes a treatment during manufacture which involves gently rubbing the solid wood top layer to remove areas of softer grain, enhancing the overall appearance and giving a richer, fuller texture.
Brushed finishes are available across a number of colours and wood finishes, which our customers love, adding extra character and delivering an impressive real wood appearance.
Our Top Pick Engineered Wood Flooring Styles (With A Little Extra Character)
Wide & Extra Wide Planks
Wider planks ooze contemporary quality, creating clean, crisp lines that really elevate a modern, minimalist style.
Wider planks usually range from 200mm (20cm) to 300mm (30cm) which, when laid, are striking, not to mention they’re generally easier and quicker to fit, thanks to covering a larger surface area.
Natural oak boards deliver a balance of ultra-contemporary style with a pared-back finish, perfect for any modern living room.
Narrow Planks
Where wider planks create minimalist simplicity, narrow engineered wood flooring really adds interest in either modern or traditional settings.
Paired with heritage colours, such as Forest Greens and Navy Blues, narrow planks help create a perfect, rich, relaxing living room.
Before you jump straight in with narrow planks, consider your room! Narrow boards can be a little busy in the wrong setting, so it’s best to use them in larger rooms with carefully selected furniture.
Parquet & Herringbone
If you want to add design flair overnight, you’ll not go wrong with a patterned parquet or herringbone!
There are a number of variations when it comes to parquet (herringbone flooring, referring to the pattern, being one) including pattern style, colours, textures, and finish.
No matter what your taste, there’s a parquet for you, all bringing a little more to the table than ‘regular’ flooring, really creating a wow factor. Contemporary? Try a natural oak against a darker backdrop, creating a contrast for stand-out furniture. If it’s a traditional finish you’re looking for, opt for a coffee or walnut style; chevron is an ideal choice too if you want something really out of the ordinary.
Black
Possibly the ultimate in contemporary finishes, black flooring is perfect for impactful, ultra-modern rooms, especially if you have some statement pieces when it comes to furniture.
It may be a little daunting using such a stark, daring colour, but, when paired with the right wall colour, black flooring can come into its own, showing off your room to the fullest.
Don’t be fooled into thinking a black floor will darken your room! In most cases, the finishes on black floors will bounce light around your room, creating a bright, welcoming space during the day, that’s moody, interesting, and dramatic at night.
White
Looking for something crisp, fresh, and striking? White engineered wood flooring is just that, creating a laid-back vibe that works in all styles of decor.
We particularly love when our customers use white flooring in kitchens and living rooms, whether that’s going for a totally minimalist palette, or contrasting darker colours with wall paint or kitchen doors.
Unfinished
Unfinished flooring is the perfect choice if you want something really bespoke! Essentially, you can oil, lacquer, stain (or paint, in some cases) your flooring to the exact specification you need, creating a truly unique floor that’s tailored to you.
Distressed
Distressed flooring undergoes a treatment during manufacture, which creates a ‘lived in’ look, with scratches, scrapes
Who wants to wait for flooring to reach its ultimate beauty? If you’re a big fan of the lived-in look but don’t want to wait years for your flooring to age, a distressed finish is ideal.
Undergoing rigorous treatment during manufacture, distressed flooring is (aesthetically and sympathetically) scratched, scraped, and worn to deliver the appearance that your new floor is anything but; looking like it’s been laid for years!
As well as looking beautiful, the added benefit of distressed flooring is that it can more comfortably withstand the daily strains of family life; it’s already worn, after all!
Distressed flooring is understandably popular in more traditional settings, but there’s no reason it can’t work well elsewhere. How about pairing a distressed floor with a contemporary scheme for a twist, mixing old and new?
Conclusion
It’s pretty clear that when it comes to engineered wood flooring, it doesn’t have to be boring! These are just some of our favourite, alternative flooring finishes, but there are hundreds more. One thing we have noticed while keeping up with current flooring trends over the years is that natural looking wood and stone tones are always in style. Going with one of these options will make sure your engineered wood flooring is fashionable for as long as it is durable.
No matter what your style, it pays to plan. We always recommend ordering free samples before you commit, so you can get a better idea of what your finished floor will look like.
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Which finish is your favourite? Any styles you’ve used in the past that really set off your project? We’d love to see your photos too!
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