Sitting room floor

Busy reception rooms require a fine balance of durability versus comfort, so those looking for traditional, warming wood floors should choose durable hardwoods.

Versatile solid boards are the authentic option here, and can be sanded and refinished as required, but engineered floors may prove easier to install and more stable. Opting for wider widths or reclaimed floor boards will lend a traditional feel in most homes.

“Timeless herringbone, chevrons or block parquet inject character and make a statement,” says Robert Walsh, CEO of Ted Todd. “Just bear in mind room size as, while larger areas can visually accommodate geometric patterns or panels, such as Parquet de Versailles, small spaces often benefit from free-flowing designs.”

For those requiring a flexible all-round timber, mid-toned oak provides a versatile backdrop in all settings. Alternatively, sophisticated darker tones or walnut can be employed to bring drama and a sense of presence to formal areas, while softer wax or oil finishes impart a more natural lived-in quality and lacquers offer a classical elegance.

Thanks to its warming, mellow tones, “Natural stone can bring a soothing quality to living areas,” suggests Isabel Fernandez, director of Quorn Stone. Along with replica porcelains, natural stone is also a hardy yet smart choice in rooms that lead out to the garden or where continuity demands flooring carries through to a conservatory or orangery.

Buff sandstone or limestone flags, teamed with a cosy rug, are a staple of the country home. By contrast, uniform, etched, honed or machine-cut stones work well in formal or urban environments, and decorative cut or slab marbles inject an air of luxury and gravitas. ►

RIGHT The surface of this natural grade engineered oak floor has been handscraped and the grain enhanced with white oil for extra definition and texture. Handscraped Light Smoked Hardwaxed Oiled Oak, from £66 a square metre, Beswick Stone BELOW RIGHT Replicate the look of traditional timber with low-maintenance, high-quality porcelain tiles, teamed with underfoor heating for warmth underfoot. Chianti Rovere wood effect porcelain, £142.80 a square metre, Lapicida OPPOSITE PAGE Hardwearing oak flooring is a perennial favourite in the English home and popular chevron or herringbone patterns add decorative appeal. Prime Grade Oak Chevron in Canvas, from £144 a square metre, Trunk

BELOW Parquetry inspired by heritage originals lends an air of formality to a room. Walnut Premier unsealed parquet wood blocks, from £96 a square metre, The Natural Wood Flooring Company

This laser-cut timber design pays homage to the work of master cabinetmakers. Intarsia engineered oak with wenge inlays, from £354.55 a square metre, Devon & Devon