The top wood flooring trends for 2019

Wood has long been a favourite amongst homeowners looking for a stylish finish and is set to be a bigger trend than ever in 2019. Although carpet, tiles and even vinyl have enjoyed a great deal of interest in recent years, wood is set to take centre stage once more in the interior design world.

Hardwood flooring

This timeless choice is on lots of people’s wish lists; however, it is not always practical. It is expensive to buy, often requires professional installation, and can need more TLC than other types of flooring. Having said that, if you have the budget for hardwood and it is suitable for the room you wish to install it in, it is hard to beat. Wood flooring adds value to any home and will simply never go out of style. It is versatile and hardwearing, and you can sand it, paint it and stain it fairly easily if you want to change its finish or refresh its appearance.

It is not usually suitable for bathrooms, kitchens or other rooms with high humidity without special treatments, so think carefully before you opt for wood.

Laminate flooring

While laminate was once looked down on by many as it was considered cheap and a poor imitation of wood, things have moved on a great deal over the past couple of decades. Most people would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between hardwood and some of the more convincing laminates on the market today. Laminate flooring is a great way to get the look and feel of real wood but at a much more affordable price. It is also a great option for those who want to achieve the look of a more exotic or unusual wood that would be prohibitively expensive or might not be suitable for installation in certain rooms of the home.

Plenty of laminates can be used in bathrooms and kitchens, meaning it is possible to use the same flooring throughout your entire home for a stunning, flowing finish. Laminate can often be installed by someone with a basic knowledge of DIY, meaning you might even be able to save on the cost of professional installation.

Wood-effect vinyl

Another hardwearing and affordable way to achieve the look of real wood, vinyl is a great choice for areas of high traffic or in rooms in which you expect to do a lot of mopping! It is easy to clean and can withstand a lot of wear and tear. Some premium wood-effect vinyls are so convincing that you will have trouble telling the difference until you actually touch them.