Natural Materials Key to Flooring Trends

You truly can't beat a nicely polished wood floor for style and warmth in a home. For years, people were doing whatever they could to cover the wood floors in older homes. Now, people are ripping up carpet and linoleum and renting sanders to get their original floors in prime condition. So if you've got an older floor, don't cover it, uncover it and let its natural beauty shine through.

It seems that trends ebb and flow, and there are cycles to what is and isn't popular. Some of these are market driven, after all, you'll sell more pants if you change the popular style than if it stays the same for years. Other trends are effected by all sorts of things. I think part of the popularity with wood flooring has to do with the environmental conscious that is coming to people these days. Wood is natural and non-toxic, it is a mostly renewable resource. Plus, if it is already in a home, it needs little resources to make it look good. Another reason for the popularity might be a certain sentimentality. All things modern were the rage for a while, and while people still love their techno-gadgets and high efficiency appliances, things that hearken back to an older time are comforting to people right now. New home construction is resembling old character homes, and hardwood flooring is being installed in new homes as well.

If you don't have wood floors under your laminate, take heart. Hardwood isn't the only great-looking, natural and renewable flooring option. Bamboo is gaining popularity in flooring, and can come in natural light or darker colors. The darker colors are called carbonized, and they are heat treated in a way that brings out the darker color. Bamboo can also be stained for a more contemporary look. It can come in planks that resemble hardwood floors, but with a bit more visible grain. It can also come in tiles. It can have a horizontal or vertical grain, depending on the cut of the wood. Bamboo is sustainable because it is fast growing—much faster than our national forests. So it can be an excellent option for people wanting the feel of wood with an environmental conscience.

Tile and granite are also nice natural flooring options. These are especially great over top of radiant, in-floor heating. Slate is a nice and durable tile option, and comes is a really diverse range of colors and textures. Porcelain, while you would associate it with delicacy, is actually one of the most durable tiles for flooring. Perfect for families with kids or pets, it is wear-resistant and very easy to clean. It can also look great on walls. Limestone is one of the more delicate options, so save it for those extra special places.

Most people really love the warmth and comfort of carpet. However most carpeting really isn't sustainable, being made of woven plastic and glue. However, those that want natural flooring, are environmental and health conscious, but still want carpets can rejoice. Wool makes absolutely beautiful carpets that are long lasting, durable, and better for you.

So if you want to follow trends of environmental sustainability, and give a nod back to an earlier and simpler time with your home design, consider natural flooring. While it is currently popular, its long-term appeal can't be denied. Chances are, not matter what trends come and go, a natural floor finish will always be appreciated by connoisseurs and therefore well worth the cost.