Wood flooring has been a staple of interior design for centuries. However, wood flooring has come a long way since the days of bulky planks and premium parquet panels reserved for the super-rich. Engineered wood flooring now makes it easier than ever to transform an interior. In addition to offering you a hard-wearing flooring solution, engineered wood comes in a huge range of design options. Whether you’re looking for something simple or eager to add some elegance to your space, engineered wood flooring is the way to go.
At Wood Flooring Ireland, we’re experts in bespoke flooring for residential and commercial spaces. We’ve been producing premium floors for customers for more than 15 years, with a commitment to traceability and sustainability. All products in our flooring range are made from high-quality European Oak, while our environmentally friendly finishes ensure our manufacturing process is as low-impact as possible.
Over the years wood floor trends have changed drastically. Read on for an overview of how the trends have changed over the years, along with an overview of some of the stunning designs available from Wood Flooring Ireland.
How Wood Flooring Trends Have Changed
Although wood flooring has been around for centuries, styles we might recognise today only became commonplace after 1800. Before that, most floorings tended to be purely functional. It wasn’t until materials became more readily available and less expensive that wood flooring came into its own. Below, we explore how wood flooring trends have changed over the past few decades.
Cheap and Cheerful Laminate
It wasn’t until the 1970s that many homeowners began to embrace the concept of wood flooring. Laminate became the go-to material of choice for many. Although laminate flooring was easily available and relatively inexpensive, there wasn’t exactly much in the way of variety.
Generally speaking, early laminate flooring was bright in colour, with few of the natural accents and grains you’ll find today. Furthermore, panel dimensions were somewhat limited. A few decades ago, you were often limited to uniform lengths and widths.
Despite this, laminate flooring remained a popular choice for people looking for an affordable way to overhaul their interiors. Laminate continues to be a favourite for those looking for flooring that’s simple to install and easy to maintain.
However, the appetite for laminate flooring has waned in recent years, with more people preferring natural grains and distressed accents.
Embracing Natural Aesthetics
By the turn of the millennium, interior design tastes underwent a major shift. Glossy laminate fell out of favour, with natural aesthetics and reclaimed wood quickly taking centre stage. For many, nothing could beat the appeal of oak wood flooring. For those looking to match contemporary wall and decor aesthetics, things like white wood flooring and grey wood flooring were the way to go.
However, this period also saw an increased appetite for darker hues and a more rustic finish. While natural wood will always have its fans, it’s notoriously hard to care for. More recently, engineered wood flooring has largely replaced it as the go-to flooring material of choice.
Contemporary Flooring Trends
Over the past decade, design trends and tastes have changed considerably. People have largely abandoned solid wood flooring and natural hues in favour of engineered wood flooring. The many advantages of engineered wood flooring make it easy to understand why. For starters, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to engineered wood flooring.
What are the different types of engineered wood flooring available today?
Long Plank Wood Flooring
Long plank wood flooring has none of the size limitations of laminate. In the past, people were restricted to panels with widths measuring little more than 2 inches. Today, you’ll have no trouble finding planks boasting widths of up to 7 inches or more.
These wider planks are ideal for larger spaces and open-plan interiors. However, if your square footage is limited, wide planks can make a space look bigger, especially if you opt for a lighter colour like grey or white.
Versailles Panels
Versailles panels are inspired by 17th-century parquet flooring, although innovations in engineered wood make them a viable option for modern homes and commercial spaces. Versailles panels of yesteryear were almost always made from hardwood, with the interwoven motif intended to offer a luxurious alternative to stone and marble floors.
Historically, Versailles panels were a real labour of love, with artisans having to piece together multiple strips and panels individually. Naturally, this made such panels an incredibly expensive option reserved for royalty and the upper echelons of society. Today, Versailles panels are within easy reach of anyone.
Herringbone Flooring
Herringbone flooring is another parquet design that’s been around for centuries. However, a rise in affordable engineered wood flooring has led to a resurgence in popularity. Herringbone flooring is made up of identical rectangular panels, each laid out at a perfect right angle to produce the telltale V-shaped pattern.
Herringbone used to be exclusive and synonymous with luxury. Nowadays, affordable materials and engineered wood construction make it a realistic option for any home or commercial setting. It’s also very versatile, pairing well with contemporary interiors and serving as a fine complement to more traditional spaces.
Chevron Flooring
Chevron flooring may have ancient origins, but there’s a growing appetite for this breath-taking design. The chevron pattern itself has been around for thousands of years, although it only really started to be used as a flooring design around 400 years ago. Since the 17th century, it’s been a popular design choice for palatial estates and luxury abodes.
Today, affordable materials and improved manufacturing processes make it a practical choice for anyone. The ends of individual panels are cut at a 45-degree angle which, once laid out, produces a dramatic arrow-shaped pattern.
Although luxurious, chevron flooring is incredibly versatile. It serves small and large rooms equally well and can add a touch of texture to stripped-back contemporary spaces.
Transform Your Space with the Latest Wood Flooring Trends
Looking to replace second-rate laminate with a stylish alternative? Perhaps you’re ready to ditch lacklustre carpets with something more impressive. Engineered wood flooring is the way to go if you’re searching for something long-lasting that won’t disappoint when it comes to style.
Ready to explore the world of engineered wood flooring for yourself? Wood Flooring Ireland offers an incredible range of wood flooring products to suit every taste and budget. Our team can talk you through the latest trends and introduce you to the benefits of this superior choice of flooring material.
Get in touch with the team today via the online contact form or call us on 021 4629913. Alternatively, you can visit our showroom in Cork to see the range for yourself.