The most expensive wood floors will cost you $25 or more a square foot, and the total price of the job landing somewhere around $11,000. With these sorts of numbers, a wood floor is one of the more costly investments a homeowner can make.
The reason for this is that wood floors add tremendous value to your home and add a wow factor that few other projects can.
Today, wood flooring ideas range from a barn-style reclaimed look to elaborate parquet patterns. Also, the diversity in materials you can select will make sure your next flooring project fits your specific wood floor design ideas or your home’s climate.
In the following article, we’ll look at some of the best wood flooring ideas of 2021.
Table of Contents
Solid Hardwood
Hardwood floors originally were all solid hardwood. This means that a durable wood, usually oak or maple, is cut into thin planks, edged with a tongue and grove, and installed over a subfloor.
You either finished the planks by applying a stain and a hard, clear coat before or after installation.
Solid hardwood floors are durable, and you can refinish them many times over their lifetime. Some solid hardwood floors will last more than 100 years if properly cared for and maintained.
Manufacturers then came up with a lower-cost alternative in engineered hardwood floors. This material comprises layers of less expensive wood material with a thin solid hardwood layer on top.
These floors last a little less time than a solid hardwood floor, and you either can’t refinish them at all or can only restore them a few times.
Both solid hardwood and engineered flooring come in a wide variety of woods and colors. Since the product can be cut to almost any specification, widths and sizes can be mixed and matched to form almost any pattern.
Today, manufacturers also make a variety of products that attempt to imitate the hardwood floor experience. In many cases, this isn’t only a cost consideration.
Depending on the environment, you may want to choose a synthetic product that looks like hardwood to satisfy your design aesthetic and ensure the product doesn’t wear out or become damaged.
Tile and Laminate Flooring
One of the most popular wood flooring trends going right now is using tile or laminate floors that simulate the look of wood for vacation houses. A recent 16% spike in vacation homes means a lot of renovations over the last few years.
If your home sits in an area with a lot of water or sand, say near a beach, you may want to choose a tile that looks like hardwood not only to ensure that your investment holds up over time but to have a product on the floor that can withstand constant foot traffic. This may be especially true if you plan to rent your home while at your primary residence.
Since laminate and tile hold up against water and moisture extremely well, you may also select these materials for your bathrooms or climates prone to humidity or a chance of flooding like a basement.
While both engineered hardwood and solid hardwood floors are considered some of the most durable materials you can use on your floors, water can warp these materials and stain them.
Reclaimed Wood
Another item on our list of wood flooring design ideas is to use someone else’s floor. Reclaimed wood flooring is trendy right now as homeowners make even their new floors look older and antique.
A reclaimed wood floor means that the wood has been taken from an older structure and refurbished.
Since the flooring has been salvaged from an existing structure, it doesn’t have the environmental cost of a newly manufactured flooring. That stated you can choose engineered or solid flooring that comes from an environmentally responsible supplier. The Forest Stewardship Council offers a guide to certified eco-friendly flooring options.
In many cases, your floor was removed and refurbished from old decking or a barn. As a result, it looks distressed and has a look that you can’t get from a traditional manufacturer.
Expect a reclaimed hardwood floor to cost you anywhere from $5 to $30 a square foot. reclaimed oak hardwood by Nydree is a good example of this style.
Cork Floors
With the rise of synthetic wine corks, cork flooring has stepped in to help the cork industry. Like the bottle stopper, cork is made from the bark of the cork oak tree.
It is a durable product that is a great insulator, comfortable to step on, and repels bugs and mites. Cork floors also have an eco-friendly option. Many of these flooring products are made from recycled wine corks.
Cork floors are not only a hot trend in 2021 but one of the most inexpensive options you can choose from, with floors running about $1.50 to $4 a square foot.
White Oak Floors
These floors have a cleaner, more distinct grain than your typical hardwood. While the word white is in its name, this flooring material actually satisfies a wide variety of wood floor color ideas. White oak actually runs darker than maple varieties of some planks.
Still, white oak is primary used to maintain a contemporary or modern aesthetic.
For even cooler undertones and a gray look, consider European white oak floors. This wood has a tighter grain than traditional white oak and has increased in popularity due to its modern appeal. European white oak is a go-to for light wood flooring ideas.
Parquet Patterns
Parquet flooring was fashionable in Europe in the 16th century and consisted of short blocks of wood laid in an interlaced arrowhead-type pattern on the floor.
The style is still around today, not only with traditional design but also with modern ones. Since parquet patterns have increased in popularity, so has the variety of patterns you can choose from. Maybe the greater choice here is how to choose an installer who can manage to lay these sometimes intricate designs.
Often a parquet pattern will add to the labor costs of your floors. If you are thinking of laying an intricate pattern, don’t be shy to ask the installer for references from a similar project they installed.
Expert Wood Flooring Ideas
On that note, you should not be shy in asking for multiple estimates and design options from your installer or supplier. In many cases, these professionals can tell you what new flooring styles are popular in your area and why.
Also, installers are in constant contact with manufacturers who are consulting on the next popular flooring choice. Then compare these wood flooring ideas with your budget and design to ensure they are right for you.
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