The lowdown on what’s underfoot
Flooring is a key element in home decor. We all have our personal favourites and they often tie in with the trends of the day. But floors are a major expense and decisions must last for years. Keeping budget in mind and considering the longevity of your choices, it’s of great interest to follow what those in the know have to say about present and future flooring trends.
The World Floor Covering Association has recently posted a report that highlights consumer preferences and exciting new products viewed at the International Surface Trade Show. It remains clear that the distressed, weather-worn look and the rustic elegant industrial look are both leaders across the floor-covering range. Laminates are continually improving with thicker wear layer heights and ever more embossing techniques.
In the ever-expanding tile market, oversized designs and new finishes stretch the imagination. Popular, budget-friendly porcelain tiles are showing up in faux bois, including a traditional parquet that has been blown up. The 20-inch by 20inch tiles from Emser (emser.com) truly trick the eye and are practical for kitchen and bathroom. Porcelain tiles are also available in long, six-inch by 35-inch planks, in a petrified wood design.
Natural stone is being paired with other elements such as porcelain to give a luxurious look at a more budget-friendly price. New stone looks include etched surface treatments and unusual shapes.
High-quality vinyl is in hot demand. The report states that advanced photographic and embossing technology allows luxury vinyl tile to take on the look of anything from reclaimed planks to stone and slate tiles.
Carpets and area rugs are enjoying a resurgence as technology transforms carpet fibres to be more durable, softer and more stain-resistant than ever before. Now, man-made fibres can offer the look of wool at a much lower price. Area rugs are all about colour and texture. You will find distressed motifs and natural designs including florals and animal skins, as well as Greek and oversized geo- metric shapes. The distressed look appears in this category as well, as new rugs are made to look old with aging techniques.