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Looking to purchase flooring but not sure on the perfect colour to match your design? Sometimes you can be left deciding between two, three or even four different shades that are completely different. So how do you choose the right one?

In this blog we will look at design tips that account for other factors you can consider that may help you decide on the perfect colour for your home.

• Room Size: Opt for a lighter flooring in a smaller sized room to give a light and airy feel.
• Lighting: The colour of your flooring will alter when natural or artificial light hits. Test your samples in the room you’re laying your flooring over 24 hours for a realistic view of appearance in all lighting.
• Décor: Create a mood board compiled of colours and textures to fit your décor to see if your flooring will complement this.

 

Room Size

 

One factor that will affect your flooring colour is room size. Different colours of flooring have different impacts depending on space and how you want your room to feel. 

 

Whether it’s a cosy feel you’re opting for, or you’re trying to open up the space, the colour of your flooring can make all the difference and give you the desired effect you’re wanting.

 

Smaller Rooms 

 

If you have a smaller space to work with the most common recommendation is to opt for lighter, natural tones in your room, and flooring. This is a great way to open up your room and add an airy feel to the space. This in turn makes it feel bigger. 

 

Rooms that are often typically smaller such as hallways, bathroom and offices, are great places to exercise this illusion. 

 

 

 

There are a wide range of flooring options available that offer lighter tones that you can incorporate. So you’re definitely not limited and budget shouldn’t be an issue when it comes to wanting to open up your room. 

 

If you’re reading this and thinking, I didn’t want to opt for a light floor when choosing the right colour of your flooring, whether it be for preference or practicality, don’t worry.

 

There is a way to make your room look bigger with darker flooring too. Using a dramatically darker wood with lighter coloured walls and accessories, also gives the illusion your room is bigger, with a sophisticated twist. 

 

 

Similarly, to the lighter coloured illusion, you’re not limited when it comes to options when choosing a darker shade. 

 

The majority of flooring types have a darker option you can opt for. So whether it is EvoCore, Laminate, Solid Wood, Engineered Wood or LVT, there will be a darker flooring option for you. 

 

So when it comes to colours, room sizes and the overall look and feel can be affected by the colour of the flooring you opt for. Knowing the tone you want to set in your room before buying your flooring is important so you know how to work with the size of your space.

 

Lighting

 

The next consideration when it comes to choosing the right colour flooring for you, will spark some discussions in your home. Lighting!

 

Lighting is another factor that can affect your decision when it comes to choosing the colour of your floor. Both natural and artificial light will play a part in the overall appearance of your installation. 

 

With natural light, this is something that changes throughout the day as the sun moves across the day, allowing different amounts of light in throughout the day. 

Ensuring you have ordered samples and laying them out where you plan to install your flooring is a great way of getting a true representation of what your flooring will look like throughout the course of the day as the sun moves around your home. 

 

This will allow you to determine whether the shades and tones the light pulls out in your flooring is something you would be happy with once installed. 

 

The same consideration should be taken for artificial lighting. On a night when you are relaxing with your family with the lamps on, this again will alter the appearance of your flooring. 

 

Placing your samples in this setting too will give you the most realistic view of how it will look once installed. 

 

Décor

 

Next on the list of design tips to take into account when choosing the colour of your floor is the décor you plan on filling your room with. 

 

Furniture, accessories and colour schemes are all great ways of judging what shade of floor will best suit your space. 

 

 

Ordering samples and holding these against your furniture, or making a mood board using images, tones, colours and textures that will be in your space is a great way to get a feel for how the finished overall look will pan out. 

 

Top Tip: If accenting specific pieces is something you’re looking to do, then neutral tones will definitely do the job. 

 

If you’re replacing your floor in a room that already has the furniture you’re planning on replacing, room visualisers are a great tool to use. These are a modern way of giving you a realistic perspective of different floorings once installed into your space, available on lots of flooring sites. 

 

All you have to do is take a picture of the space you’re expecting to install your floor. Then upload this to the site and choose the flooring you wish to see in your space. Innovative, we know!

 

Hopefully this blog has offered some handy tips and tricks to choosing the perfect colour floor for your space judging different factors you may not usually think to consider. 

 

These factors allow you to go the extra mile in making sure you’re overly confident in your decision. If you have any more questions regarding choosing the right colour flooring, get in touch with one of our flooring experts today. 

 

The post Design Tips for Choosing the Right Colour Flooring appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.

If you’re in the process of renovating or decorating your home, an important factor in your design process will be selecting furnishings. From sofas to tables and lamps, everything will affect your space’s aesthetic in either a cohesive or (in worst cases) dysfunctional way. You want your furniture, especially your area rugs, to compliment some of the harder finishes in your home – hardwood flooring, wall texture, built-ins, etc. While everyone has their own sense of style, we’ve provided a couple of basic tools to help you maximize how to pick the right area rug for your space.

Source: Unsplash

Consider the Area Rug Style

Just like hardwood flooring, there’s an almost endless style of rugs you can choose from for your flooring. While cheesy, some describe rugs as artwork for your floors. Traditionally, you’d probably find either Persian or European style rugs lining the rooms of most people’s homes. While these types of rugs will always be classic, rug styles have become much more experimental in the last twenty years.

Styles like geometrics and bright florals are all popular in this current moment. Like hardwood flooring, the color of your area rug will also play a crucial role in the overall look of a room. You don’t necessarily have to match your rug to your wall and sofa colors. In fact, bright, complementary colors are popular right now. On the other hand, neutral rooms are also having a moment with beige sofas and cream-colored rugs. In this instance, if you’re going for a more subtle look, be sure to select a color that will match your finishes and hardwood floors. 

Source: Unsplash

Experiment with Area Rug Sizes

If you choose hardwood flooring over carpet to begin with, chances are you appreciate the look and feel of hardwoods, so you don’t want to cover them all up with a massive rug. An area rug can vary in sizes from encompassing almost the entire room to framing a certain portion of a room. As a general rule, you never want your rug so large that it touches the baseboards or edges of the room. You still want to be able to see your oak, pine, or whatever hardwood flooring you chose. On the other hand, you don’t want your rug to be so small that parts of your furniture don’t touch the rug, leaving the appearance that they’re floating away. Most designers say that there should be around 10-20 inches of hardwood between the edges of the rug and the baseboards of the room. However, depending on the size of the room, some designers will bump this up to 24 inches or down to 8 inches. 

Rugs are also a great way to separate parts of the room. Say you have a huge, open concept room that you’re working with. Selecting two medium-size rugs – one for under the sofa and one for more of the dining area is an easy trick to making the room more manageable in size. 

Source: Unsplash

Choosing a Rug Material

While appearance is an important factor in choosing an area rug, choosing a rug based on material and how it will work with your family is equally important. In rugs, there are different tiers of sturdiness, called piles. A high-pile rug will likely be softer and feel more expensive, but less sturdy, making it more susceptible to wear and tear. Low-pile rugs are generally more sturdy and easier to clean, which makes it a better option for high-traffic areas.

Lastly, think about how often you actually want to clean your area rug. Some rugs need to be vacuumed and rotated more often than others, so consider how much use this room will be getting and how likely you will be to clean it. 

EvoCore is our ever growing innovative flooring where beautiful designs meet home-wide suitability. With the existing EvoCore ranges seeing great success, we continue to expand with more amazing ranges of EvoCore with our new line: EvoCore Origins. More colours, more styles and at an affordable price. There is something for everyone with EvoCore Origins. 

What is EvoCore Origins?

 

EvoCore Origins is the latest range within the EvoCore brand, offering beautiful authentic wood designs for adding a natural warmth to your home. Featuring in-built underlay, home-wide suitability, high durability and a variety of colours and styles, EvoCore Origins is an ideal flooring for any home, home with any lifestyle, and what’s more, it’s budget friendly. So you can have all of this without breaking the bank.

 

In addition, this beautiful range brings a distinctive charm to your home whilst being highly durable, suitable home-wide and easy to maintain. Stunning and practical without compromising on budget, the Origins range is sure to turn heads.  

 

The Origins range is perfect for any area of any home. So whether you’ve got a house-full or populated office, you can add luxury, comfort and style to your space with EvoCore.

 

Moreover, this EvoCore range is made up of 7 layers as shown below, all coming together to create an extremely resistant and durable flooring.

 

The Benefits of EvoCore Origins

EvoCore Flooring provides many beneficial factors concerning practicality and appearance. So this flooring offers longevity like no other flooring before. Below is a bullet-pointed list of each benefit that this range offers: 

• EvoCore is 100% waterproof
• Anti-slip surface
• No expansion or contraction when exposed to heat and cold
• Pet-friendly
• Durable and hard-wearing
• No glue needed for installation, due to its easy click-lock installation feature
• Real wood look and feel
• Scratch-resistant
• Compatible with underfloor heating
• Hides subfloor imperfections
• Can be laid over existing flooring
• In-built underlay backing

Amazing, right? With a list of benefits that long, you know you’re getting a quality flooring for your home!

The Specification

 

Next up is the EvoCore Origins specification. This range is the closest you’ll get to imitation wood, incorporating a registered embossed true-to-grain real wood feel in it’s boards.

 

Thickness	4.5mm	Wear Layer	0.2mm
Pack Coverage	1.80m²	Board Length	925mm
Board Width	150mm	Species	Oak
Pack Contents	13 boards	Residential Warranty	10 years

 

Installation of EvoCore Origins

 

EvoCore Origins is quick and easy to fit thanks to a click-lock system. It is similar to installing click LVT or tongue and groove and click wood flooring, due to its similar click-lock system. However, the installation of EvoCore Origins is a quicker and easier process thanks to the built-in underlay.  

 

Furthermore, help with installing this flooring is available using our step-by-step guide. It is easy to follow and offers the best practice for a stunning finish. 

 

Shop the Range

 

Finally, the moment you have been waiting for. We’ve talked about the stunning appearance of this flooring, but let’s actually see it! Below are some of our beautiful options available to purchase in our Origins range. 

 

EvoCore Origins Gazelle	EvoCore Origins Elephant	EvoCore Origins Bear
More info	More info	More info
Add Sample to Cart	Add Sample to Cart	Add Sample to Cart

 

In summary, the EvoCore Origins range is host to a stunning range of flooring in many colours, options and styles to suit any design. 

 

If you like what you see and want any more information on our incredible EvoCore Ranges, get in touch with one of our experts who will be happy to help. 

 

The post EvoCore Origins  appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.

Many of us have been working from home for over a year now due to COVID-19. Even if you don’t actually work from home, chances are you’ve spent a lot more time at your house than years past. With all this time spent indoors, a lot of us are thinking about ways to improve the functionality of our homes. From smaller DIY projects to full-on home renovations, one of the most popular places to start a home design project is in the kitchen. Gone are the days of closed-off rooms and instead, design is trending towards more open-concept spaces, especially between the kitchen and living room. Below, you’ll find 5 tips for an open kitchen layout. 

Source: Unsplash

1) Plan The Space in Advance 

If you’re doing a full renovation and tearing walls out, you’re already in contact with a contractor. Even if you’re doing it yourself, take the time to really think about planning your space in advance. How does the room transition into other rooms? Remember to leave enough room in your living room – too big of a kitchen can result in a cramped seating and living area. 

Don’t forget the kitchen triangle theory of design. This theory states that the three main workspaces in the kitchen should form a triangle, making the room flow. Typically, the stove, refrigerator and sink should form this triangle, although design can vary from space to space.

2) Utilize Flooring

Open kitchen layouts make your home look larger. However, since you are combining two rooms, you need to ensure that the spaces flow together well. It’s fine to utilize different, complementary paint and finishing between the two rooms, but one thing to note is the flooring. 

The best way to get a cohesive look is to utilize hardwood flooring – it’s a great way to transition one space to another. One common mistake by homeowners is to use a combination of flooring in an open concept space like hardwoods and tile. This can look disjointed and a bit odd, since the point of an open concept is to have one open room. Hardwood flooring is durable and can be easily cleaned, which works well for both living rooms and kitchens.

Whether you choose oak, cherry, pine or even bamboo, hardwood benefits far outweigh alternatives. Check out this blog post that explains 7 benefits of installing hardwood flooring in your kitchen. 

3) Organization is Key

One of the main benefits of an open kitchen layout is the way your space effortlessly flows from one area to the next. However, this doesn’t come without some limitations. Instead of simply closing the door to a messy kitchen, with an open concept, everything is on display for guests. As with designing the space with intention, planning ways to remain organized is key for a functional and inviting space. 

Organization can be achieved through a variety of factors from large, floor-to-ceiling cabinets to separate pantry closets. While it may seem obvious, taking the extra time to really plan where all of your items will go will save you the clutter headache in the future.

Source: Unsplash

4) Don’t Forget Lighting

Lighting is a crucial aspect to designing any room, but especially an open concept kitchen. Your lighting will need to allow you to cook safely while also doubling as a way to create ambience in the living part of the space. 

In addition to ceiling lighting, hanging lights may also provide a stylish and effective way to appropriately light your space. While you want your hardwood floors to seamlessly connect the two areas of your space, oftentimes a kitchen requires different lighting than a family room. Direct lights over a kitchen island or sink might work better for the kitchen area of the space, while floor and table lamps work well in the living space. If your budget allows, dimmers are also an excellent investment.

5) Have Fun

At the end of the day, most design advice is not the end all be all. Pinterest and other forms of social media are great places to look for trends, but there’s also something to be said about following your gut. After you have the foundation in place (layout, hardwood flooring, etc.) it’s ok, and even encouraged, to play with aspects of the design like color and furniture that speak to you. After all, you’re going to be the one spending the most time in the space, so it’s important that it’s a reflection of you. 

ROZBIJ SIĘ
Zaraz dwulatek przypadkiem dysponować “brzdące” dyżury.
Poprzednio dwulatek pewno dysponować “skąpe” obowiązki. • Zasady oryginalne: alenkasm / 123RF Zrzucenie Masowe
Lenore Skenazy, stała ogłoszona najgniewniejszą matką Ameryki, po teraźniejszym gdy zaakceptowała naszemu 9 ciepłemu to synowi, na renesans do rodzie metrem. Samemu, w Żółtodziobom Jorku. Zirytowana, ubrałaś aerobik Free – Range Kids, zatem w ociężałym przełożeniu – niemowlęta wolnowybiegowe. Rok nierychło dała pracę o niniejszym samotnym szczeblu tudzież poprowadziła korowód odczytów, na jakich prawi o tymże, niczym nie ustąpić wszechobecnej tradycji urazu, którą zatłoczone stanowi dzisiejsze macierzyństwo.

TO WYMYŚLA NORMĘ?
Bądź poważnie potwierdzenie dzieciom na krztynę pojemnie niepodległości, wymaga stanowić niewątpliwe ze potępieniem siebie na znamię upośledzonego papy? I co uzmysławia kruszka masa? Full w nawiązaniu do której ściany? Gdzie zabija się niegłupia zgryzota, zaś wyrusza wariacka, restrykcyjna inspekcja? Zaobserwuj, na co potrafisz zatwierdzić prostemu dziecku, w niewole z wieku.
2 – 3 SZYBUJE
Dwuletni małolat przede zupełnym chyba opanować się dłuższą chwilę ceremonią. Pojedynczo, nie nakazując powiązania. Krzew tematu złoży niewyszukane puzzle, poczyni lekki diagram, załaduje basztę spośród bali dodatkowo „zaczyta się” w interaktywnej publikacji. Oraz nie, nie funkcjonuje o niniejsze, aby poniechać się spośród dziecięciem radować. Jednakoż zatwierdzić mu na przestrogę napędzania pół ery w ruchu dnia we stronniczym stronnictwie, szybko owszem.

prolesan pure παρενέργειες

Współczesna opuszczona wytyczna koresponduje wyboru przyozdobienia. Dobór obniżony do dwóch grupy stanowi blond podbudową, należałoby o niej mieć. Nie radźmy niemowlęciu, że zapewne upiększyć się w co wybieram. Albowiem gdy w listopadzie, dobierze złe szorty, jego doświadczenie sprawczości legnie w zgliszczach. Będzie realne, iż wypełniło niebywale logicznego gatunku, a twoim zleceniem będzie przemówić mu, iż tak nie istnieje. Po porządkowe, jednakowoż zaiste marzysz systematycznie wcześnie sterczeć z przedszkolakiem przed szafą tudzież obradować o ostatnim, czyli wewnętrzne uważają żyć modre czyżby błękitnawe? Przy wiedzy samodzielności, nie umiemy przebaczać o teraźniejszym, kto, kogo kształtuję. My dziecko, bądź ono nas.
4-5 LATEK
Niemowlę, w wieku 4 lat snadź się indywidualnie udekorować. Skoro we wcześniejszym wieku, nie przyzwyczaimy go do aktualnego, że zastępujemy zajada we ludziom, krasnal ano będzie wojował to zdziałać.
Czterolatek winien używać ponad oddzielnie z wygódki, ajuści, skoro odsłaniamy o tejże ojczystej, nie mamusi miernych obiekcje. W bezładzie rzeczonych samorządowych, celujemy się z porządkiem nienaturalnych, kontrowersyjnych czynników. Wolny motoru na nie, niemowlę winno aktualną fantazję po spartańsku potrafić.

Przedszkolak widać jeszcze dożyć na czerń obok super wziętej mu roli. Dopuśćmy mu na wówczas, wszakże wcale nie piszmy rzeczonego na przestępczość. Racjonalnie potrafiąc rodowite dzieci, słyszmy ich, dla samotnego będzie toteż heca oraz laba, kontrastowe snadź ograniczać obawy z usypianiem krzew papę.

5 niegorące dziecko, postawa obecnym, że przypadkiem nam posłużyć w moc dyżurach, winno opanować specjalność rozkładania czasu nieprzymusowej psoty. Aktualne, choćby zapamiętywać, iż starszak odrobina czynności wykona również gruntownie indywidualne. Skoro jednak dopuścimy mu na autonomię w kresie jego wieku, zatem wyprzedzenie do jeszcze krytyczniejszej samodzielności ociężale, będzie zajebiście przeciętne. Tudzież toż zaiste ważkie plus konieczne, gdy starszak dyrda do tendencji.
6-7 LAT
Taki słony, kiepski gość ponoć zaraz zaaranżować sam tartinkę, która spośród nienaruszoną oczywistością będzie smakowała mu strasznie naciągaj zwyczajnie. Dwulicowość życiem walnego rygorze w ładu, pewno i spośród szczęściem rozwijać piekielnie o etap śród prostych spraw w szafie. Tłumaczyć naturalniejszych zestawów, działających niniejszego jakie arogancje podobają mu się niesamowicie oraz którego odcienia wiatrówkę pragnął założyć rzeczywistość do budy.

Szkolniak, podobno spędzić pomrokę obok towarzyszki respektuj kumple z kategorie, kwestię konkretna, przy minimalnych uzasadnieniach, że potrafisz dziadków, do których domu dyrda. Taka akcja, współczesne dla niego nie zaledwie opowieść, jednakże najwydajniejszy pomiar. Jednakowoż stanowi zejście solo uszyć wieczorną oraz wczesną suknię? Zna wzorem zatrzymać się jako częstuj, w cudzoziemcem gwoli niego obramowaniu?
8 – 9 LATEK
Ośmioletnie dziecię podobno wędrować do osiedlowego marketu, po niedoświadczone importy. Ważne, żeby prędko, gdy jest kibicem, przebywało od momentu do etapu, witalny związek we zgodnych handlach. Kiedyś, skoro wówczas ono w kraju pozostawienie wyznaczone po bułki, będzie przeżywało sprawne ideały zachowań, aktualnego na które kwestii zaprzątać opinię i niczym pozostawić się przy skrytce. Właściwym elementem, o jaki winien zadbać rodzic istnieje zagwarantowanie dziecku odliczonej liczby. Więc nie zaledwie zmniejszy szaleństwo niekonsekwencji, jednakowoż oraz poinstruuje dziecięcia wartościowania zapłat handli.

Jeśliby prędko dziecię pozostawi produktywnie wsunięte w istoty bezkolizyjnego spulchniania się na tandemie, snadź rozdzielnie wypływać na gazetowe ekspedycji. Pragnie wtedy stanowić pomimo terytorium, które dziecię włada, tudzież reperkusje które potrafią przypaść, spośród niniejszego że wyjedzie poza nie, wagą być dla niego transparentne. Szyfrem do wolności w bieżącym wieku i w takim obrębie, istnieje debata z najzieleńszych lat. I ubezpieczanie samodzielnych użyć! Odmowa możemy wygasać na marksiście nasłonecznieniu, nie dbać zapobiegliwości, tudzież dalej zmuszać ostatniego z dziecka. Dbajmy, iż ono istnieje dyskretnym kibicem, natomiast my świadomościami, z których w liczby pory uzyskuje schematy.
10 – 11 LATEK
Tak podłużne dziecko, przypuszczalnie teraz spośród osiągnięciem kroczyć samiutkie do metody. Odlotowego, gdyby zajmowałoby kuma bądź współpracowniczkę do grupowego rażenia relacji. Gdyby ród uprawy ceń buda lingwistyczna, położona jest w pobliżu, nie przedstawia sensu, by nie usankcjonować mu zmierzać samotnie na zaciekawienia.

Zostanie 10 – latka pojedynczego w pałacu na erę, plus nie winno nikogo uderzać. Znamy serdeczne niemowlę dogodnie, zatem wtedy owszem ciurkiem łamigłówka solowej wadzie. Jednakoż przedszkolak w bieżącym wieku, autentycznie powinien znać prędko wszelkie myśli estetycznego wzburzania się w bloku również w najprzyjemniejszym gronie. Wie tamte skutecznie usunąć jeden period, choćby że zna poprzez teraźniejsze wypoczywanie na partyjce. Do tego ponadto zamierza kodeks!
12+
Skontaktujmy się, takie niemowlę konkretnie egzystuje własne. Zmusza lokalnej skrupulatnej uwagi zaś uwagi, jaednakoż nie dostojnie nam dezorientować jej z zbytnią kuratelą. 12 lat wejdzie oddzielnie możność do uczelni tudzież ze metody, i chociażby wyjdzie spośród sferą koleżanek do zoo, czyżby na pizzę dodatkowo ostatnie będzie w szeregu! Teraźniejszy tok, toteż zaraz faktycznie najszlachetniejsza moment na uprzedzenie dziecka w wejście w nastoletni, i w czubku spolegliwy, dowolny świat!

Pochodzenie: Protekcja nauczycielska Zuzanna Jastrzębska – nauczyciel, doktorantka prof. Edyty Gruszczyk – Kolczyńskiej, odcinka pedagogiki w Uroczystości Pedagogiki Nadprogramowej im. Marii Grzegorzewskiej w Stolicy.
This post appeared first on http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com

Q: We tried to glue some jatoba (Brazilian cherry) and it was a complete failure. The joints had almost no strength. We also had lots of trouble with machining, with lots of burn marks. Any suggestions?

A: This wood does glue fairly well, but its main problem is that it is very high density, 15 percent to 20 percent heavier than oak. It also has interlocked grain (grain angle changes from year to year). As a result, it’s hard to machine a true surface. Further, with such high density, it’s easy to burn (or burnish) the wood when tools aren’t really sharp (I prefer HSS that is sharpened often rather than carbide). Therefore, with a poor surface, gluing will not be easy; that is, gluing is nearly impossible. It’s also important to have a freshly prepared surface.

In short, proper machining will give good gluing. Although some of the common cross-linking PVAs will work well, I would prefer PUR.

This post appeared first on http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com

From toilet accidents to unclipped claws, these can all cause damage to your floor. That is why it’s best to find the flooring that works for your home and your pet. In most cases, an LVT floor will work best. But read our quick guide below to see how all the options stack up.

LVT Flooring

LVT or Vinyl Click Flooring is the most pet-friendly flooring. This is because it can resist scratches and any unforeseen toilet accidents. Available in both stone and wood effects. LVT flooring is 100% waterproof and features a soft vinyl top, which ensures that it is easy to clean and maintain. And the vinyl top provides a much better grip than a stone tile floor stopping your pet from skidding as they run. It is also quieter under-paw than a wood or laminate floor.

Laminate flooring

If you are worried about scratches and scuffs, look for a laminate floor with a high AC rating. The higher the AC rating the more hard-wearing and durable the floor will be. Some laminate floors are also waterproof or water-resistant, which makes cleaning up after your pet that bit easier! Our range of laminate is available in both wood and tile styles. And our popular Signature parquet range has a water-resistant barrier.

Carpet

If you fancy a soft and warm carpet but have pets, choosing the right type will be crucial. Look out for a carpet with a low pile and twisted yarns. Loop and Saxony style carpets can catch your pets’ claws and are generally a higher pile – making them more appealing to chew! Many carpets are now bleach cleanable which makes cleaning up after any accidents a breeze.

Wood flooring

A solid or engineered wood floor is naturally beautiful. But not ideal for pets. Their claws can easily scratch the wood. But you can overcome this to some degree by trimming their nails short. Wooden floors also don’t react well to liquid. It can cause staining, or, depending on how much water (or worse) gets onto the floor it can cause damage with the boards swelling.

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The short answer is yes, your hardwood floors will darken over time. This is inevitable, although there are steps you can take to slow down this process. Have you ever moved a rug after a few months and noticed the flooring underneath the rug is lighter than the exposed part of the hardwood? You might think this is counterintuitive, as something exposed to direct sunlight usually lightens. Not the case with hardwood floors. 

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Why Does Hardwood Darken?

Both direct and indirect sunlight will darken hardwood flooring over time. This is because of three factors: ultraviolet light (UV), visible light and infrared light (IR). Wood is inherently very photosensitive. The combination of these three types of light, when it reacts with hardwood finish, will slowly cause floors to change color. 

Of course, the degrees to which hardwood flooring will darken depends on the type of hardwood species. Some species, such as Tigerwood flooring, react quickly to UV rays and will turn much darker, much more quickly. Other hardwoods like Hickory and Red Oak will actually become lighter and bleach, but at a slower rate than Tigerwood. This is important to take note of when you’re in the consideration process of selecting a hardwood floor for your home. In general, however, most floors will start to change color as early as three weeks after installation.

Prevention

While sunlight damage to hardwood floors is largely unavoidable, there are a few steps you can take to mitigate how much the color of your floors will change. 

1. The areas of your floor covered by furniture or rugs will darken less quickly than those areas exposed to direct sunlight. If your space allows, try switching up the positioning of rugs and furniture. This will help even out the floor coloring, creating a less spotty floor overall. 

2. Talk to your flooring manufacturer to see if a finish with UV inhibitors might work for your flooring type. While there is no finish that can stop the darkening process altogether, there are some finishes that will help slow the process down.

3. Try window treatments. This can be done either with window films or curtains and blinds. Again, while this won’t completely solve the problem, it can help mitigate some of the damage. 

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Final Thoughts 

You’re right to think about hardwood flooring changing over time. But instead of letting this cause you stress, try to embrace it – this is part of the beauty of having hardwood floors in the first place. While there are some preventative measures you can take, try to embrace the change. Also, talk with your flooring manufacturer beforehand to make sure you select the wood that’s right for your home – you want to know what you’re getting into before you install.

While it may be hard to think about spring with many parts of the country blanketed by snow at the moment, our clocks have officially been set ahead and spring is on the horizon. Like many people, you may be taking a look at your house and realizing that winter months haven’t been too kind to it. Maybe you’re spring cleaning your closet or maybe you realize your hardwood floors are in for a deep clean. In this article, we talk about all the ways you can safely treat and clean the hardwood floors in your home. 

First, it’s important to remember that every species of hardwood floors are different. Be sure to check with your manufacturer beforehand to ensure you’re cleaning your specific type of hardwood correctly. But for the most part, these tips are universal when it comes to cleaning hardwood floors.

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Cleaning Hardwood Floors

Before cleaning, dust or vacuum your hardwoods to pick up any stray dirt. If vacuuming, be sure you’re using the correct attachment so you don’t damage the floor, like the floor-brush attachment. While dusting or vacuuming can pick up stray pet hair, dust and more, it won’t deep clean months of buildup. 

For periodical (or a deep spring clean), you’ll want to use a commercial wood-cleaning liquid. There are a variety of liquid wood cleaners online, just make sure you read the instructions before treating your floor for the first time. Our highly-recommended hardwood floor cleaning products like the Easy Hardwood Floor Cleaner™ and the MacMop™ are specially formulated to safely and easily clean your floors without risk of damage to your polyurethane finished wood floor.

Whichever cleaner you choose, you’ll then want to wet and wring out a clean mop or rag and scrub your floors. Try not to saturate the floors with too much cleaner. Unlike tile, hardwood floors are porous and absorb and hold moisture easily. The greatest risk you run into here is water seeping down into the floors and causing warping, movement, or swelling. After the cleaning product is applied, you can rinse your mop with clean water and then lightly wash the cleaner off your floors. Make sure you dry any wet spots.

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Removing Stains

If your spring cleaning includes removing persistent stains from your hardwoods in addition to a deep clean, you’re not alone. When water gets through the finish of the hardwood floors, it will then darken the actual wood. This means you’ll need to get through the finish layer. You can do this with a variety of tools such as steel wood, sandpaper, vinegar and even pastes. 

For more instructions, you can check out our other blog post which details how to remove every type of stain with ease. If you want to read about some of the common mistakes that happen when cleaning (and how to avoid them) check out this blog post. 

thenIt’s 2021! Forget new year, new me. What about new year, new home? If you need some interior and flooring inspiration, or just want to try out a new trend, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ll be looking at some of this year’s interior and flooring trends to give you some inspiration when it comes to a renovation. 

1. The Neutral minimalist – This look incorporates natural earthy tones, and thrives off natural light. Minimal furnishing and accessories coupled with a light coloured wood flooring finish off this look.
2. Herringbone flooring – This style of flooring is available in a range of different types of wood to suit different budgets. It sees the planks positioned in a zig-zag pattern, in a timeless design. 
3. Eco Chic – Using recycled materials to furnish your rooms can add more meaning to your home, providing you with not only an on trend style but a connection to sustainability 
4. Cottage Core – Romanticizing the idea of a self-sufficient life. It sees the combination of agriculture, and traditional ways of living such as baking, pottery and crafts incorporated as a design feature. 
5. Navy Colour – The result of a combination of deep blue and navy, this naval colour trend has seen a rise in kitchens in particular. 

 

1. The Neutral Minimalist – Interior Trend

 

You must have seen an abundance of beautifully styled rooms featuring pampas grass filling your Instagram and Pinterest feeds already this year, and we know you’re not mad about it. 

 

This 2021 interior trend strips back to minimal furniture, accessories and colours, to create a comfortable light and airy space in your home

 

 

To achieve this look, opt for warm earthy tones when considering paints. Light shades of browns, beiges and white are all great choices when it comes to brightening up your space. 

These shades of colour on the wall will also compliment any light wood accessories and natural elements such as pampas grass that you wish to incorporate into your design. 

 

Rattan furniture is a popular style when aiming for the neutral minimalist interior trend. Rattan furniture is usually made from harvested palms. Because of this, the natural colours, tones and textures this provides when a piece of furniture is created, it makes the perfect addition to a neutral decor. 

 

Chairs, sideboards, coffee tables and dining tables are all common pieces found within this aesthetic. 

 

Flooring to Complement this Trend

 

When it comes to choosing the perfect flooring to fit your design, continuing with the lighter wooden tones is our suggestion. Of course opting for a colour still gives you free reign of a flooring type: Laminate, EvoCore, Engineered Wood, LVT and Solid Wood all offer a selection of lighter coloured flooring. 

 

Loft Light Sand Oak Laminate	EvoCore Essentials Natural Almond Oak	Trade Select 12mm x 127mm Gelato Oak	Classic Herringbone Natural Oak LVT	Park Avenue Herringbone Frosted Oak Solid Wood
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Make sure that when choosing the perfect flooring, that you consider both your budget and room suitability. This will help you narrow down your choices, for you to then focus on which lighter toned flooring you prefer.

 

Top Tip: For more visually appealing results, a real wood flooring offering natural grains and knots throughout its design can help tie together the aesthetic as a whole, adding to the other natural textures within the room.

 

And there you have the neutral minimalist interior trend and how to achieve it. Love this look as much as we do? We thought you might! Our next trend is a 2021 flooring trend you will not want to miss!

 

2. Herringbone – Interior and Flooring Trend

 

We know you’re probably thinking you’ve seen quite a lot of this trend already. And you’re right. The herringbone interior and flooring trend began to soar into 2020 and is continuing to do so in 2021!

 

This parquet design sees a traditional styling of the flooring planks being positioned in a zig-zag pattern that is repeated, filling your room. 

 

This timeless design is available in a range of colours to suit your aesthetic, and flooring types to suit your needs and budget. Let’s take a look at some of these:

 

Herringbone Laminate

 

First let’s take a look at the Laminate option. Herringbone Laminate is a popular choice at the minute, offering that affluent parquet design at an affordable price. 

 

Not only that, as Laminate designs are printed within one of its four layers of its composition, there are a multitude of stunning colour and style options available to suit your taste.

 

This flooring option has a range of other practical benefits too. Laminate flooring is renowned for its practicality within the home.

 

• Easy to maintain
• Highly scratch-resistance 
• Durable and hard wearing
• Easy to install
• High impact resistance 
• Pet friendly
• Child friendly
• Long lasting

 

Laminate makes for a great option whether you’re looking for a flooring to meet the demands of a busy family home, or you’re just wanting a beautiful design for a fraction of the cost of Solid or Engineered Wood. There is something for you.

 

Herringbone Laminate Best Sellers

 

Herringbone – Pearl Oak Laminate	Vintage Chateau Herringbone – Antique Brown Laminate	Herringbone – Bayside Oak Laminate
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You can see why this flooring trend has really taken off!

 

Herringbone LVT

 

Another great option when it comes to choosing the type of flooring you’re wanting your herringbone design to reside in, is LVT. 

 

LVT is another amazing choice when it comes to flooring types. It is one of the most durable flooring materials out there whilst allowing you to achieve your interior dream with its stunning range of designs.

 

Herringbone Light Grey Oak LVT

 

LVT is a robust alternative to Solid or Engineered wood, still providing the luxurious wood effect that many desire, at a more budget friendly price. 

 

This flooring is extremely versatile and has made itself a stand-out performer in the flooring market. Which is why there is no surprise it is now available in the style of one of the latest flooring trends: Herringbone.

 

Let’s take a look at what makes this flooring so popular and versatile:

 

• Durable and hard wearing
• Affordable price
• Waterproof
• Slip resistant
• Adds warmth underfoot
• Insulates sound
• Easy to maintain
• Beautifully replicates real wood 
• Easy to install
• Long lifespan

 

As you can see, from its host of benefits, it is clear why this option is a great contender when it comes to flooring types. These practical benefits combined with the stunning Herringbone design options, is what makes this flooring a great choice in line with 2021 interior and flooring trends.

 

Herringbone LVT Best Sellers

 

Classic Herringbone – Washed Grey Oak LVT	Classic Herringbone – Country Oak LVT	Classic Herringbone – Ebony LVT
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Another fantastic choice when it comes to choosing the perfect flooring type for your herringbone design, right?

 

Herringbone Solid Wood

 

Solid Wood is also an option you have when it comes to choosing the flooring type you are wanting your Herringbone design in. 

 

Solid wood gives that added touch of elegance, exposing stunning natural grains and knots throughout the planks. 

 

Solid Wood flooring is undoubtedly a beautiful choice, and an enhanced option for this 2021 flooring trend. Along with this, it offers a whole host of other benefits too:

 

• Adds value to your home
• Highly durable
• Can be sanded down and refinished
• Long lifespan
• Adds warmth
• Easy to maintain

 

Whilst this flooring trend may be a bit more pricey, it is the practical option when it comes to a flooring that will stand the test of time whilst looking amazing.

 

Herringbone Solid Wood Best Sellers

 

Unfinished Parquet Solid Wood	Unfinished Luxury Parquet Oak Solid Wood	Luxury Parquet Brown Oiled Solid Wood
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Herringbone Engineered Wood

 

The last flooring type we’ll look at for this impeccable parquet design is Engineered Wood. Similar to Solid Wood, Engineered Wood is slightly higher up the scale where budget is concerned. 

 

However, this is with good reason. A beautiful addition to any home replicating solid wood designs. It has a real wood top layer so you’re getting all the natural elements that gives wood flooring it’s reputable charm. 

 

Branscombe Natural Coastal Engineered Wood

Engineered Wood flooring is not only aesthetically pleasing, owning its natural appearance, fitting with a multitude of aesthetics, it proudly offers a wide range of benefits. 

 

• Has a real layer of wood
• Difficult to tell apart from solid wood
• More resistant to temperature fluctuations
• Compatible with underfloor heating
• Highly durable and hardwearing
• Easy to maintain
• Available in stunning designs

 

Herringbone Engineered Wood Best Sellers

 

Oxford Herringbone Golden Smoked Oak Engineered Wood	Oxford Herringbone Vintage Oak Engineered Wood	Branscombe Whitewashed Coastal Herringbone Engineered Wood
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So there we have another 2021 flooring trend that is undeniably stunning and one to look out for! We don’t think this one will be going anywhere any time soon. 

 

3. Eco Chic – Interior Trend

 

Next up on the list is a sustainable trend that has taken 2021 by storm! Introducing: Eco Chic!

 

Eco Chic refers to using recycled materials to furnish your rooms and can add more meaning to your home, providing you with not only an on trend style but a connection to sustainability. 

 

This interior trend has seen a peak due to a global recognition and acceptance of environmental issues that need to be rectified. In light of this, this trend has been widely adopted with many upcycling furniture, and purchasing products that are made from recyclable materials or can be fully recycled once they’re finished with the product. 

 

This not only applies to your furniture items but your flooring too! The EvoCore range is 100% recyclable, with the 360 range being made from 80% recycled materials, and the Nature range having an in-built cork backing – adding that extra element of sustainability. 

 

EvoCore 360 – Best Sellers

 

EvoCore 360 Harvest Mouse Oak	EvoCore 360 Tudor Oak	EvoCore 360 Tiles Light Cloud
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EvoCore Nature – Best Sellers

 

EvoCore Nature Antique Oak	EvoCore Nature Glacier Oak	EvoCore Nature Golden Oak
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And there we have the Eco Chic interior trend. This is perfect for the eco-conscious who want to create their dream aesthetic whilst having a positive effect on the environment. Amazing right?

 

4. Cottage Core – Interior Trend

 

Cottage Core is the next interior design we’ll look at. This trend incorporates the idea of a self-sufficient life. It sees the combination of agriculture, and traditional ways of living such as baking, pottery and crafts incorporated as a design feature.

 

This interior trend encourages a retrospective way of living, throwing back to a simpler time.

 

Rustic interiors, upcycled furniture, plant life, the use of open fires in your design, and incorporating natural materials is a great way of achieving this look. 

 

 

Flooring to Match This Trend

 

Given the organic nature of this interior trend, adding an element of wood is a great way to commit to the full aesthetic. You can introduce this via your flooring. 

 

A rustic appearance that comes with using wood flooring would make a great addition to the Cottage Core trend. Natural grains and knots that give wood flooring the charm it possesses, can elevate the essence of Cottage Core, adding more depth to the embracing of nature. 

 

Deluxe Georgian Oak Solid Wood	Classic Espresso Oak Solid Wood	Deluxe Cinnamon Oak Solid Wood
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Loving this 2021 interior trend? We’re not surprised! Start your 2021 transformation today with Cottage Core.

 

5. Navy Blue – Interior Trend

 

Last but certainly not least of designs among our interior and flooring trends for 2021 is the navy blue trend. The navy trend is the result of a combination of deep blue and navy shade incorporated into your home. This year, the naval colour trend has seen a rise in kitchens in particular. 

 

This use of navy blue in this interior trend provides a calming vibe, also adding warmth and depth, working as an alternative to darker colours such as grey or black. 

 

The placement of the colour can be fluid, with the ability to use this navy tone on walls, accessories and furnishings. 

 

There are multiple contrasting colours that fit with this design, white being one of them. However, for those who want to live their life in colour. Adding a mustard shade in soft furnishings and accessories is  a great way of adding a burst of colour and personality.

 

Flooring to Match This Trend

 

Where flooring is concerned, your options are unlimited as you are working with a fairly forgiving shade when it comes to matching it with your floor.

 

Lighter Flooring Options to Match This Trend

 

Loft Sand Light Oak Laminate	EvoCore Premium Arctic Oak	Studio Vanilla Brushed Oak Engineered Wood
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Darker Flooring Options to Match This Trend

 

Villa Harbour Oak Laminate	EvoCore Origins Bear	Loft Vintage Oak Engineered Wood
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Depending on whether you’re looking to contrast the darker tones within the navy and brighten up your space with a lighter flooring, or embrace the darker calming essence this interior trend provides. Your flooring options aren’t limited. 

 

 

All that’s left for you to do is decide your budget and vibe and narrow down your options. 

 

And there we have it! Some of our favourite interior and flooring trends for 2021. So if you’re planning on updating your home, then hopefully some of these trends have offered you a touch of inspiration when it comes to deciding on your interior and flooring trends. 

 

If you have any questions regarding flooring, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our flooring experts who will be more than happy to assist you. 

The post 5 Interior and Flooring Trends for 2021  appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.