Exploring Various Flooring Types and Their Applications

Exploring Various Flooring Types and Their Applications

Paying attention to the floor is crucial since it occupies a significant portion of a room. According to Bryan O'Sullivan, founder of the Bryan O'Sullivan Studio, the floor greatly influences the space's ambiance. Your choice of flooring should align with the room's vision and architectural context, while also considering practical aspects such as foot traffic and cleaning requirements.

The flooring you select can have a substantial impact on the room's overall design, comparable to wallpaper or paint, notes Julian Downes, MD at Fibre Flooring. Adding color or texture to the floor can be just as transformative as applying a fresh coat of paint, offering a quick and effective way to enhance any room. Let's explore some of the primary flooring materials and designs to consider, followed by stylish ideas from the House & Garden archive.

Tiles

Floor tiles are a highly favored choice, especially in bathrooms and kitchens, due to their durability, waterproof properties, and easy maintenance. They come in a diverse range of styles, materials, and price points. Stone tiles, including marble, are popular for their elegance, while ceramic tiles remain perennially beloved. Terracotta tiles offer warmth to a space and possess practical climatic benefits, staying cool in summers and retaining warmth in winters. Tiles provide a simple way to introduce color and pattern into a room, with ceramic tiles offering versatile glazing options. Additionally, trendy terrazzo tiles can add a playful touch. Considering their cool surface, incorporating underfloor heating, especially in bathrooms, can enhance comfort.

Stone

Stone flags used for flooring evoke a sense of traditional charm, often associated with country houses or rustic French estates. They bring a feeling of solidity and texture to any interior scheme while being remarkably easy to maintain. Even in small spaces, such as the kitchen of a tiny Georgian cottage in London, stone floors can create a timeless ambiance, as demonstrated by Sarah Peake of Studio Peake. Stone floors aren't solely reserved for nostalgic designs; modern residential projects, like the one in south London overseen by designer Sophie Ashby, incorporate stone floors throughout the lower floor for a contemporary twist, softened with the addition of runners. Marble floors, though a significant investment, exude glamour and luxury, making them a popular choice. As Bryan highlights, marble is a versatile material that can elevate the aesthetic of any room.

Linoleum

Linoleum (Lino) Linoleum is experiencing a surprising comeback, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms. It's a secret weapon for top interior designers, including Bridie Hall, who incorporated a striking red and white marmoleum checkerboard in her London kitchen, and designer Luke Edward Hall, who opted for linoleum in his Parisian hotel project, Les Deux Gares. Apart from being cost-effective, linoleum is highly durable, and modern formulations are more environmentally friendly than you might assume. Adrian explains that today's linoleum is crafted from natural materials such as linseed oil, cork dust, wood flour, or rosin, pressed into sheets.

Concrete

Concrete, often associated with industrial design, can lend an urban, contemporary aesthetic to interiors when used appropriately. Despite the initial installation costs, concrete floors are easy to maintain and incredibly durable. Izzy Taylor-Wood from Woody’s Concrete Company emphasizes that a concrete floor can last a lifetime. It's gaining popularity in kitchens, according to Adrian Bergman of British Standard by Plain English, who praises its clean, seamless appearance and resistance to chips and cracks. Additionally, concrete floor tiles offer a similar aesthetic, as seen in the London house of interior designer Georgina Cave.

Wooden Floors

Wooden floors offer versatility, providing warmth when left in natural timber tones, a light and airy ambiance when bleached or painted neutral colors, or a bold statement when painted in vibrant hues. Bryan prefers reclaimed timber for its authenticity over new wood finishes. Painted floorboards, like those in Bridie Hall's north London house or Fiona Golfar's Cornish house, inject personality into a room. Engineered flooring, once maligned, has seen a resurgence, with designers like Nicole Salvesen using parquet cleverly for a balanced look.

Cork

Cork flooring presents an eco-friendly option, offering warmth and natural appeal. It can withstand decades of use if properly maintained, bounces back from furniture indents, and contributes to soundproofing a home. However, cork is prone to scratching and requires regular maintenance.

Carpets

Fitted carpets remain a popular choice for various spaces, with wool being favored for its natural, renewable, and insulating properties. Wool carpets come in different styles, with deep pile wool suitable for bedrooms and tightly woven wool like boucle or Berber preferred for high-traffic areas like hallways. Sisal carpets, with their darker flecks, are excellent for hiding imperfections in busy spaces.

Rugs

Regardless of the flooring type, adding a rug can enhance the room's ambiance. Rugs tie together various textiles, providing warmth and texture to the space. They can be customized with different borders to complement the interior scheme or add pops of color for visual interest.