Month: June 2021

Is There a Perfect Time to Install Our New Hardwood Flooring?

You may be asking yourself this question, and every home is different. The summer can be a great month for some families because the kids are out of school, and schedules aren’t as hectic. Other families like to plan their new floor installation around their finances. It’s common to pick a date, like in the spring, and then save in small chunks for new prefinished hardwood flooring.

So is there a perfect time to install your new hardwood flooring? Nope! MacDonald Hardwoods offers pre-finished hardwoods options only. This significantly speeds up installation times and requires no sanding or staining in your home, meaning you can get started at any time. 

Why Try Our Hardwood Flooring?

1) Speed

Opting for our floors will significantly expedite the application time in comparison to unfinished hardwood, as the steps that generally follow placing down the flooring are eliminated as they were completed prior.

2) Minimal Mess

Installing our flooring is a process that produces much less of a mess than traditional flooring, as many of the necessary steps, such as, staining, sanding, and coating have already been done prior and won’t have to be done on-site.

3) Durability, Versatility and Quality

Our floor type provides an unmatched hard, durable finish, allowing them to last well beyond your years if maintained properly. Unfinished floors are not as sturdy, as only minimal amounts of sealant are generally added to them. The potential of application is also versatile, as our floors can be directly applied to a variety of subflooring.

Try Our New Floor Year-Round!

Because of these amazing benefits associated with our prefinished hardwood flooring options listed above, they’re suited to be installed anytime throughout the year, so you don’t have to wait. Meanwhile, un-finished hardwood flooring is often limited to being installed in the fall. Due to the porosity of this kind of wood, they often absorb too much moisture in the summer months. This results in the swelling of the wood. In the winter, the dryness poses another issue, as it often causes the boards to shrink.

Waiting for a good portion of the year to pass isn’t optimal for many buyers, therefore choosing our pre-finished floors is the best way to go!

Making a Small Room Look Bigger – Expert Tips

Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could wave a magic wand and add a couple more square inches here or there? We have compiled tips from experts on interior design, flooring, and color theory to do just that! We’re covering the top 3 methods you can use to maximize your small space and optimize your home, ultimately making your small room look bigger.

Declutter Your Space

The minimalist lifestyle is continuing to get traction among homeowners. Even just a few trinkets can really make your home feel crowded when working with a small space. Some of us just can’t help it! We love stopping by quaint little shops for delightful trinkets and antiques. But, small, cramped rooms don’t have to stop your passion for collecting. 

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Pick a few of your favorite pieces to have on display, and then create a space to put the rest of your collection in a safe spot, out of sight. The key is to keep your home feeling fresh. Rotate your favorites every month or seasonally.

Donate gently used pieces to your local shelter, church, or community program. Before deciding what to give away, go to the front of your room and take a look at the placement of your furniture. Are there any pieces that are obstructing your view? Move them! 

You’ll find you can really make the most of your space when you shift large pieces away from walkways or doorways. Swap out tall pieces for shorter stylish options like an ottoman or low table. Your remaining tall pieces actually work best when they are positioned alongside the walls rather than in the middle of the room.

For big pieces and large hauls, plan ahead! Give the business you’d wish to donate to a call and see if they accept large pieces before dropping them off. Sometimes they’ll even give you an extra hand. If you don’t have a way of transporting your donations to the location, they’ll arrange for a truck and movers to pick up your donation right at your doorstep. That way you don’t have to bug your friends on a weekend or pay out of pocket for a truck rental service and moving company. 

Update Your Flooring

How many walls does your room have? Most people would say four, but the experts say 6. Why? The flooring and ceiling can dramatically impact the look at feel of any room. Dark wood has a very rich aurora and can feel regal and romantic, but it also can swallow up your space. Matching woods can be tricky. Sometimes the colors may not exactly match up due to staining or natural process. Swap dark-colored flooring for much lighter choices, like light oak or maple hardwood flooring; they tend to be the most popular choices for homes.

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Is there such a thing as too light? There’s a common misconception that white flooring is harder to maintain. Most homeowners find the exact opposite. They find that dust is much easier to hide. Well, that ultimately depends on you; just be aware of the care and maintenance. 

Let’s say you’re redecorating your kitchen. We suggest light cabinets paired with light flooring. If your kitchen cabinets are already dark wood, use a lighter finish to run adjacent to the woodwork. 

Ultimately, if you do decide to choose a darker wood finish, trust us! You don’t want to select anything more narrow than 8” wide. Having wider boards means that there will be fewer visible seams and provide more balance for smaller rooms. Lucite and glass furniture typically is super modern, and it’s also a popular design choice for homes. Transparent furniture simply takes up less visual space. You can switch your dark wood kitchen table for a translucent set of chairs to create the illusion of more space.

Switch Up Your Color Scheme

When it comes to small spaces, less is more. Small spaces are not ideal for going “color crazy.” Experts say to stick to a cool light colors monochromatic color scheme. We based our small room design concepts on color theory.

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The color wheel essentially categorized colors as either warm or cool. Think about the colors in nature, like the green in plants, the blue hues in water and the sky; these are all considered cool and calming. When you enter a room with cool colors, it’s almost like they recede away and open up the space. We suggest starting with a shade like white, gray, taupe, or beige; pick a cool neutral shade. It will be much easier to match your furniture and floor if they all remain neutral.

Our bedrooms should be our safe space to relax and unwind; no matter how small it is, we can still visually expand the space. For instance, keep the walls in the bedroom a creamy white color, and pick bed linens that are also neutral with light pops of color like a soft, warm yellow. Deep purples, like eggplant, can be used for the throw pillows and other accents to highlight and balance your space so it feels larger.

Use light and inviting hues that are all in the same family. For example, ideally, the more light we can let into a room, the better. Yet, we know sometimes leaving windows completely uncovered isn’t really an option. 

We love the way sheer curtains transform spaces. You can also pick light floor-to-ceiling drapes that match your walls to make the room look larger. There is something about long lines that play tricks on our eyes. Stripes are the perfect interior design trick for small spaces. It actually doesn’t even matter what width you use; either thicker or narrow stripes make walls seem longer and taller! Horizontal stripes are also an excellent choice because they make walls appear more expansive.

Just because your space is small doesn’t mean we have to skimp on style. Small apartments can still feel like spacious and cozy homes; it just may require making a few tweaks. Lighting can make a huge difference. You can start small by uncovering your windows and inviting more natural light into your home. Stay tuned for more home remodeling and decorating tips from the experts.

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Considering buying Laminate Flooring but not sure what style to opt for? 2021 has a fantastic variety of Laminate Flooring trends for you to take inspiration from for your home this year! From popular colours to timeless patterns, we’ve picked some of our favourites from an abundance of Laminate trends. 

• Popular Colours
• Patterns
• Waterproof Laminates 
• Distressed Wood Look 

What is Laminate Flooring 

 

Laminate is a popular household flooring type, famous for being practical, budget friendly and excellently replicating real wood flooring in a wide range of colours and styles. 

Laminate is manufactured from multiple layers of high-density fibreboard (HDF). A digitally printed top layer covers densely-packed wood fibres to create a stable core. High-quality wood image is printed, which is often paired with authentic-feeling bevels and grains, to create a hyper-realistic wood effect.

Benefits of Laminate Flooring 

 

Firstly, before we jump into the latest trends in Laminate Flooring, let’s take a look at the benefits.

 

• Manufactured to be highly durable
• Easier and cheaper installation
• Scratch and water resistant
• Hygienic, easy cleanable surface.
• Realistic design
• Available in a wide range of styles
• Available in a wide range of budgets 
• Pet-friendly 

 

If it’s practicality you’re looking for, as you can see from the list above, Laminate could very well be your answer! 

 

Now for the reason you’re really here; tips and tricks on keeping up with the latest and greatest in the world of Laminate Flooring!

Popular Colours 

 

Where interior design is concerned, colour is everything. Mood boards, inspiration pages and home décor magazines are a great source of idea generation for your home renovation. However, does this match up to what’s on trend in 2021?

 

Grey Laminate 

 

Grey Laminate has been a staple in Laminate trends for the last couple of years, and this year is no different. With a sleek and neutral appearance, this colour has unmatched versatility in complementing a wide range of colour palettes incorporated into your room design. 

Whether you’re one for a bold aesthetic, or a subtle design, grey Laminate will perfectly set off the design. This will help to deliver a beautiful contemporary finish.

 

Light Wood Laminate 

 

Additionally, another popular colour trend is one you surely expected to see in this list. The beginning of 2021, a neutral minimalistic aesthetic has been unavoidable in the interiors industry. 

 

Neutral walls, pampas grass, and light wood coloured furnishings have seen a rise in the trend department. 

Laminate flooring is no exception. Further adding to the neutral minimalistic interiors, Laminate is available in a wide variety of warm earthy tones to brighten up your space and feature a touch of nature. 

 

Introducing these tones can create a warm and welcoming space for the whole family to sit back and relax in. Sound like something you want out of your space? Then be inspired by the light wood Laminate look. 

 

Dark Laminate

 

Classic. Luxury. Sophistication. These are often all words that spring to mind when you picture a room with dark wood flooring. 

 

If it’s a touch of timeless charm you’re looking to achieve with your flooring, then a dark Laminate should turn your head. 

 

This popular colour has always been among the more favourable shades when it comes to Laminate. However, it has recently seen a rise, complementing bold designs. Contrasting well with bright colours, this helps to accentuate colourful pieces and furnishings making them stand out in your space. 

This trend as a whole has been largely adopted this year, with dark Laminate being the perfect component. If you’re opting for that real wood look on a budget, this is definitely an option for you, as Laminate replicates real wood exceptionally, for a fraction of the cost. 

 

Being no stranger to a minority of timeless classics in the flooring industry, opting for your Laminate in this shade will mean you can count on it standing the test of time. Additionally, it gives peace of mind that you can easily change your interiors around it over time without concern if it will match the flooring. 

Patterns / Styles

 

Who doesn’t love a pattern? Clothes, furniture, accessories and wallpaper can often be desirables we seek to find striking patterns in. And your flooring doesn’t have to be an exception.

 

Herringbone, chevron and wide plank designs are all eye-catching patterns available to purchase as a Laminate within the flooring industry. 

 

Undeniably, these designs are well established when it comes to real wood, offering that extra essence of elegance. This can however be a pricey investment. 

 

With these captivating patterns being available in a Laminate, you can get these amazing finishes for a fraction of the cost.

 

Herringbone 

 

Where trending patterns are concerned this one has taken the interior industry by storm! Herringbone flooring is a form of parquet flooring. 

 

Herringbone arranges wooden blocks in a zig-zag pattern to produce beautiful results. This is how parquet flooring is defined – using wooden blocks to create geometric patterns.

Herringbone flooring comes in many different colours and variations. Whilst some lend themselves to contemporary interiors, others will look just as at home in older interiors – just as they did when herringbone wood flooring first made its way into homes in the late 16th Century.

 

So if you want to acquire a compliment or two with your interior design, this timeless classic is certainly a contender for that!

 

Chevron

 

Another amazing pattern, not far behind the whirlwind that is herringbone, is chevron. 

 

The chevron design utilises a zig-zag pattern that’s similar to Herringbone. However, rather than being laid in a staggered pattern, they’re more uniform and are laid to form a true point. The regularity of a chevron pattern means it creates a simple and much cleaner look. Due to the pattern’s features, it also helps to make rooms look more spacious. 

 

Incorporating this into your home is a great way to add a feature piece to your space. With a pattern like this found throughout your flooring, you can make this a stand out element in your design, keeping the rest of your room design minimalistic. 

 

Wide plank 

 

Lastly, another one to watch out for in the Laminate trends department is wide plank Laminate. 

 

You may be thinking “what’s so stylish about a wide plank?” Well, you’ll be intrigued to know that a wider plank provides the opportunity to show off more of the natural grains and knots in the wood, delivering a stunning authentic wood design. 

 

Moreover, wider planks also mean that you’ll use fewer boards. This result in a more seamless finish, as well as it will save you money on the amount of packs needed for your installation. 

 

To conclude, if it’s a natural wood design you want, Laminate is available in wide planks. This offers a larger surface of more natural imperfections in the wood and supplies a rustic charm to your home. 

Waterproof Laminates

 

Next up is another type of Laminate that has hit the trends in 2021. Waterproof Laminate. 

 

Yes, you heard us! Waterproof Laminate. 

 

Previously, Laminate has been renowned for its practicality, ability to replicate real wood and appealing price points. However, its downfall was in its ability to survive the pressures of moisture. 

 

We’re pleased to inform you that this is no longer an issue. With a wide range of waterproof Laminates approved for use in bathrooms, you can acquire that endearing real wood look in even the most demanding rooms of the home. 

And people are acquiring it! Being one of the latest trends in Laminate, we’re seeing an abundance of stunning bathroom transformations featuring this versatile Laminate.  

 

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Valencia Tile – Add Samples to Cart	Supreme Everest – Add Samples to Cart	Residence Narrow – Add Sample to Cart

 

Without reservation, you can now don’t need to miss out on the opportunity to feature a real wood look in your bathroom.

Distressed Wood Look

 

The last trend we’ll be showcasing is the distressed wood look. 

 

Shabby chic, vintage chic and upcycling are all popular interior stylings in recent years. These styles tend to feature a mix of beauty and distressed pieces within the design.

 

Whether this is translated through furniture or flooring, this narrative gives off an appealing rustic charm.

 

Why not introduce a distressed wood look? This can add an enchanting authenticity to the design. The composition of Laminate includes a printed design. There are no limits to what wood effect designs are available. 

 

There are a wide variety of distressed wood looking Laminates available. As a result, you aren’t limited when it comes to getting the desired look for your space. 

 

 

Amazing right? 

 

Overall, it’s clear to see why these trends have taken the interior industry by storm. Laminate is extremely versatile and is a great contender to pair with a wide range of interiors.  

If you have any questions regarding Laminate flooring, get in touch with one of our flooring experts today who will be happy to assist you. 

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