If you’re contemplating re-flooring your home, it’s wise to blend your personal taste with the latest trends. After all, the potential impact on your home’s residual value is often a consideration for most homeowners. At Wood and Beyond, we’re well-versed in trends, having supplied flooring to homeowners and interior designers for over 15 years, both online and in our showroom. By harnessing the insights of our online and showroom staff, along with our back-end systems, we’ve identified the current leading flooring trends.
Which House Floorings Are Trending Right Now?
The Rise of LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile)
Historically, vinyl flooring was viewed as a less desirable option, typically found in sheet form. However, vinyl has significantly evolved. The current trend is Luxury Vinyl Flooring, an option that can mimic the appearance of wood, stone, and marble with its realistic printed layer, robust core, and backing, resulting in exceptional durability.
Components of LVT Flooring
- Wear Layer: The top layer designed to resist scratches and stains.
- Printed Layer: A high-definition photographic layer that provides the flooring’s appearance.
- Core Layer: Composed of PVC, WPC, Rigid, or SPC, this forms the majority of the flooring.
- Backing Layer: The foundational support layer at the bottom.
Types of LVT Flooring
LVT flooring is available in various styles and forms, tailored to meet specific needs and aesthetic preferences:
- Luxury Vinyl Tile: Square tiles often resembling stone or ceramic.
- Luxury Vinyl Plank: Planks designed to closely mimic wooden flooring.
- Vinyl Herringbone Flooring: A distinctive pattern often employed to convey luxury and spaciousness.
The Rise of Herringbone Laminate
Laminate flooring remains a timeless choice, and its visual enhancements have bolstered its popularity, particularly the herringbone variant.
Components of Laminate Flooring
- The Top Layer (AC Overlay): The initial, though not immediately noticeable, layer that’s pivotal for assessing the floor’s resistance to wear, indicated by its Abrasion Criteria (AC) level. A higher AC level means more resistance.
- The Next Layer (Decorative Paper): Beneath the top layer, this decorative paper significantly impacts the laminate’s aesthetic appeal. Its visual appeal should not detract from the importance of the floor’s structural integrity and AC rating.
- The Middle Layer (High-Density Wood Fibre): The core is made of high-density wood fibre, providing a robust and stable foundation. This is in contrast to lower-quality laminates that might use cardboard, compromising durability.
- The Bottom Layer (Backing Layer): This layer shields the core board from direct subfloor contact, providing light insulation and additional protection.
The Rise of Engineered Wood Flooring
For those seeking natural flooring, wood has always been a preferred choice. However, natural wood flooring has its limitations in many home areas, such as its lack of water resistance, making it unsuitable for places like kitchens. Certain engineered wood flooring products, however, can withstand challenging environments and are even compatible with underfloor heating, contributing to their growing popularity.
Components of Engineered Wood Flooring
- Core Composition: Engineered wood flooring is made from 3 to 12 layers of ply, cross-layered, glued, and pressed together for enhanced strength.
- Core Board: The central element of the flooring, vital for the overall structure, incorporating the tongue and groove.
- Top Layer (Lamella): The visible real wood layer added to the core board for aesthetic appeal, obtainable through slicing/sawing or rotary cutting from a tree trunk.
- Sliced vs. Rotary Cut Veneer: Sliced veneers are thicker, offering a more authentic wood look, while rotary cut veneers deliver a striking grain effect.
- Stability: The multi-layered core of engineered wood provides superior stability compared to solid wood, making it less susceptible to expansion, contraction, and damage under fluctuating conditions.
How Do These 3 Trending Floorings Compare?
Type | LVT | Laminate | Engineered Wood |
---|---|---|---|
Cost | £20/m2+ | £12/m2+ | £30/m2+ |
Pros | Realistic Appearance, Durability and Resilience, Moisture Resistance, Cost-Effective, Easy Maintenance | Comfort and Noise Reduction, Warmth and Insulation, Most affordable, Easy maintenance, Highly durable (With AC level 5+), Quick installation, Wide colour/style range | Good service life, Durability, Authentic appearance, Cost-effective vs. solid wood, Easy installation, Longest service life, Low maintenance, Wide choice |
Cons | Higher cost vs. Laminate, Artificial appearance, Low repair potential, Removal difficulty | Limited durability, Potential discolouration, Harsh underfoot feel, Installation issues (non-click fit), Repair difficulty | Moisture sensitivity, Buckling/warping risk, Chemical sensitivity, Temperature vulnerability, Noise without underlay, Shorter lifespan vs. solid wood, Water resistance not 100%, Higher cost, Limited repair options |
Which Home Floor is Right for You?
Each of the three options has its advantages and disadvantages. If you’re seeking an affordable whole-home solution, LVT flooring might be your best choice. For those looking for a trendy, cost-effective solution, consider laminate in a herringbone style. If your budget allows and you desire natural flooring, engineered wood flooring is highly trending and can also contribute to maintaining high residual values.
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FAQ
What are the current trends in home flooring?
The latest trends in home flooring include Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), which offers a realistic appearance of wood, stone, and marble, Herringbone Laminate, known for its enhanced visual appeal and timelessness, and Engineered Wood Flooring, favoured for its natural look and compatibility with challenging environments.
What makes LVT flooring a popular choice?
LVT flooring has gained popularity due to its ability to closely mimic the looks of wood, stone, and marble, combined with exceptional durability. This is achieved through its composition, which includes a wear layer, a high-definition printed layer, a core layer, and a backing layer.
How does laminate flooring maintain its appeal?
Laminate flooring remains appealing due to its decorative paper layer that significantly influences its aesthetic, and its core made of high-density wood fibre, which provides a stable foundation. The top layer, known as the AC Overlay, is crucial for determining the floor’s resistance to wear.
What are the benefits of engineered wood flooring over natural wood?
Engineered wood flooring is preferred for areas where natural wood is unsuitable due to its multi-layered core that offers superior stability and resistance to expansion, contraction, and environmental damage. It’s also compatible with underfloor heating, making it versatile for various home areas.
How do LVT, laminate, and engineered wood floorings compare in terms of cost and benefits?
LVT flooring starts at £20/m2 and offers realistic appearance and easy maintenance. Laminate flooring, starting at £12/m2, is the most affordable and offers comfort and easy installation. Engineered wood flooring, with prices starting at £30/m2, provides the longest service life and an authentic appearance, making it cost-effective compared to solid wood.