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The time has finally come when we’ve started paying the necessary attention to our floors. In the past, home decor magazines and articles focused mainly on the walls, furniture and decor pieces, but in the recent years, the attention focus shifted towards floors. Since the floor is the base of the entire room, it is only natural that it should be your starting point when decorating or redecorating. So, let’s discuss a few flooring trends that will always stay in style. Besides, let’s face it, you probably won’t be changing your flooring solutions whenever a new trend pops up.

Go green

First and foremost, as with everything else, you should focus on choosing the greenest possible solution, because green will never stop being the best option. The eco-friendly movement made its way in every single aspect of our lives, so choosing a green flooring solution has never been easier. Some innovative but definitely worthy mentions in this field are cork, concrete and wood. Let’s clarify.

Cork

Image Source: AAFloors.ca

Cork has only recently been introduced as a flooring option, which is quite surprising if we look at its traits and the benefits it brings to the table, or in this case, floor. For starters, cork floors are extremely comfortable because cork is somewhat soft, so it “gives” when compressed. This will provide a comfortable, almost cushioning, underfoot surface that will be mild on your joints. Also, it is an excellent flooring option for those suffering from various allergies, because it’s very mold- and mildew-resistant. And finally, cork works as an excellent acoustic and thermal insulator, which makes the rooms with cork flooring warm and quiet. This is an excellent option for people living in apartment buildings.

Concrete


Although concrete is completely different from cork, it definitely has its own set of benefits. Apart from probably being the sturdiest flooring solution, it is also very flexible in terms of fitting into a room’s overall design. Let’s clarify a bit, shall we? First, as you probably already know, concrete is used in various high-traffic areas because it’s extremely durable. This means that no high heel, pet claw or furniture leg will damage its look. Second, being as awesome as it is, concrete is very easy to maintain. You can clean it with any neutral cleaning agent by simply mopping it every once in a while, and for additional protection, you can apply a coat of floor sealant or wax twice a year. Finally, when it comes to style, there are various decorative concrete options to choose from. They can be stained to match (or contrast) any color palette, or they can be made to resemble slate, tile or marble – the choice is entirely up to you. Also, keep in mind that concrete floors are much cheaper than tile, marble or natural stone floors (but can imitate them pretty well), which is definitely another huge plus.

Wood

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Wooden floors are another evergreen option you can choose to go for. Not as soft as cork, but not as hard as concrete, wooden floors are perfect for those who like traditional looks. Here, there are also some variations when it comes to sturdiness (e.g. laminate vs. hardwood) but they are not as drastic as the previous two. Laminate is a bit more sensitive than hardwood, but some consider it to be a somewhat greener solution, since very little actual wood is used in its production. On the other hand, hardwood floors can be made of reclaimed wood salvaged from old residential flooring, which makes them pretty green as well. Lastly, when it comes to looks and finishes, both options are so versatile, you’ll have no problem finding something that will perfectly match your taste.

As with everything in life, if you have a good and solid starting point, everything that comes after becomes much easier to tackle. So, when it comes to designing your living environment, start with a solid flooring solution that’s not only green, but that will stay in style for many years to come.

Installing new floors in your home is one of the happiest moments in everyone’s life and a chance to make a fresh start and leave all your troubles behind. However, this is just the first step in the process – keep in mind that you have to put in a lot of work into your floors later and make sure they’re always looked after. Keeping them clean and scratch-free is essential if you want your home to look appealing, welcoming and cosy, so here are a few tips that might help you in this process.

Hardwood floors

Wood floors are the most efficient way to make your home fancier and more elegant. They’re easy to install – though can be quite pricey – but maintaining them is a whole different story. Hardwood floors come with a sealant and a protective layer that keeps them shiny and prevents scratches, so their maintenance heavily depends on this. But, whichever finish you’ve opted for, don’t forget that vacuuming the floors regularly and meticulously, and applying dry wax from time to time are the first steps towards success. An additional protection could be a colourful rug or some other piece of fabric.

Vinyl floors

These may sound like an unusual idea at first, but are actually one of the best ways to make sure your floors are always tidy. Among the most valuable benefits of vinyl floors is the fact that they’re hard to damage and can withstand more than other floors – things like acids, solvents and minor scratches can’t really ruin them in the long run. The way to ensure vinyl floors always look new is by applying wax every once in awhile, or even covering them with a protective coating, just to be safe in the years to come.

vinyl floors

Image source: homeflooringpros.com

Marble floors

If installed properly, marble floors could easily become the most attractive feature of your home, both indoors and outdoors. However, you need to be careful when cleaning them because some acid-based solutions can be rather dangerous and do more harm than good. That’s why a good solution would be to hire immaculate cleaning services.

marble floors

Image source: girlsonit.com

Alternatively, if you install natural marble in your outdoor area, your patio will surely attract the attention of your neighbours, yet it can be easily cleaned with some water. An idea you should also try is using decorative outdoor mats that not only look amazing, but also help protect your floor against rain and snow.

Linoleum floors

For areas that get dirty often – the kitchen or kids’ room, for example – a linoleum floor might be perfect solution because it’s cheap, practical, easy to clean and installed in a matter of minutes. It’s made from renewable materials and can easily be recycled, and this is, if done properly, an ideal way to dispose of your old linoleum floor. The way to clean these floors is quite practical as well – all you need is a vacuum cleaner for excessive dirt, a natural cleaning solution mixed with some water, and that’s it! You can make this product on your own using vinegar, but you’ll also need a strong mop to get the work done properly.

linoleum floors

Tile floors

This is another elegant solution that will elevate the quality of your life quite quickly, especially if you opt for an eye-catching combination of colours and patterns. Whether you have quarry, ceramic or porcelain tiles, the cleaning philosophy is almost the same – don’t use store-bought solutions that are often more harmful than you realise and can do a lot of damage to you, your tiles and the environment as well, so start making your own cleaning product using borax, vinegar, baking soda and water instead.

tile floors

How often do I need to clean?

This may be the most important question when it comes to cleaning your floors, yet the answer is surprisingly simple – as often as you can. As soon as you see dirt, reach for your vacuum cleaner, but also remember waxing certain kinds of floors regularly in order to fully protect them.