Like all things, wood flooring goes through trends. What was popular, stylish and sought after 5 years ago, won’t necessarily be “in vogue” tomorrow and the same risks being true with what we’re all yearning for right now. So, when you’re thinking about installing a new wood floor, while it might be really appealing to follow the trend, it’s really important that you pay a bit more than a nod to what might please you in 5, 10 or even 15 years time.
All of that said, trends aren’t only about looks, trends are also about improving products and improving choice using technology and new ideas to enable wood flooring products to develop and grow, so what’s new in the wood flooring world right now?
One of the main developments over the past decade or so is that we’ve seen the development, improvement and growth in the popularity of engineered wood flooring. Engineered wood flooring is wood flooring that is made up of layers of plywood that are bonded together and topped off with a solid oak lamella, or top layer. One of the main trends we’ve seen as engineered wood flooring has developed is the successful use of wood flooring in kitchens and bathrooms, which was before a bit of a “no-no” due to the high moisture content and temperature fluctuations.
In line with the whole eco, or green movement, we’ve also seen a trend towards an increased demand for ethical woods to be used in wood flooring projects. This trend has been supported and made simpler for the consumer by the introduction of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation scheme. In a nutshell, the FSC accreditation scheme identifies timber which comes from well managed and well protected sources. It concerns itself with how forests are managed, from a social, economic, ecological, cultural and spiritual viewpoint and pays respect to present and future generations in all its dealings.
Another recent trend in wood flooring is the desire for a really broad choice when it comes to colour. At one point wood flooring came in wood colours and wood colours alone. Today, new colouring technology means that wood flooring can be supplied pre-treated to pretty much any colour requirement you may have. This means that flooring can be supplied ready coloured and ready treated, making the disruption at installation phase minimal.
And finally, the great news is that the real rise in demand for wood flooring over the past decade or so has created a fiercely competitive market. What this means from your point of view, is that wood flooring is becoming more and more affordable, which simply has to be great news.
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