Although you may not think about flooring very often, there is no denying that the right flooring can transform a room – and the wrong flooring can destroy your entire look. Flooring design, like all aspects of home construction, sees trends come and go – and can exhibit wide diversity across regional areas and lifestyles.
For instance, aa majority of Florida homeowners prefer tile or wood flooring to carpet in the main areas of their home. This keeps the home cooler, and also allows for easier cleanup of sand from the beach – although carpet in bedrooms is still a popular choice, for a soft landing in the morning.
Innovations in flooring design have made for some interesting choices and trends, as many materials now simulate each other – allowing homeowners to choose a lower cost option but get the look they want. Here are some of the flooring trends we are seeing in 2020 that are making homes more beautiful across Sarasota and Longboat Key.
Wood Flooring Design Options
Fumed Wood: Although most wood gets its finish from a final staining process, fumed wood is not stained. The fuming process creates rich, dark tones and showcases the natural grain of the wood. Fuming is achieved by exposing the floor materials to airborne ammonia, which reacts with the wood to create the final finish. It is important to note that this is a very different process than applying liquid ammonia directly to the floor, which may cause the structure of the wood to weaken considerably. Those considering this type of flooring should know that because the process affects each plank of wood differently, the flooring design will be varied in color and appearance throughout.
Bleached Woods: Also known as blanched wood flooring, the soft white-washed appearance of this wood is popular in beach homes and vacation properties in this area. The wood is bleached by applying a chemical solution onto the surface of the wood, usually resulting in an ashy white-washed, natural grain look.
Distressed Wood: Distressed flooring is not new, but is enjoying a resurgence in popularity in 2020. Distressed flooring exhibits a slightly worn and rustic finish for country homes and farms. To prepare distressed wood planks, experts may hand scrape or bristle brush the wood to remove any gloss and make the wood look worn and aged.
Tile Flooring
Simulated Hardwood Tiles: The white diagonal tiles so popular in the past have grown up. Homeowners can now achieve all the benefits of tile – primarily a cool, easy to clean surface – in many distinct looks. Most popular these days are both the distressed wood look discussed above, or “reclaimed barn wood” tiles. The technology involved in tile production has advanced to such a point that these floors are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing until literally right on top of them. Therefore you can have all the aesthetic benefit of reclaimed or distressed wood, including the variations of color and texture, with easy to install tile.
Graphic Tiles: More and more, people are experimenting with home design in order to infuse their personalities into their space. Tiles can now be purchased in a wide variety of colors and shapes to create literal artwork on your floor. If you are a daring homeowner with a vision for the bold, you can create almost any design. Trending into 2020 are vintage black and white designs and art-deco shapes. Although not for everyone, these tiles make a definitive statement in a new custom home.
If you want to be inspired, visit a home flooring store – you may be amazed at the options available to you. Better yet, when preparing for a home renovation or new custom home, visit the experts at Lindahl Construction. We have been building and remodeling beautiful Sarasota homes for decades, and are here to help you to create your vision.