Billy Dillard
Hardwearing and durable, wood flooring is perfect for spaces in constant use such as living rooms, but it will also add beautiful character. This means it’s vitally important you get the interior design just right,' says Robert Walsh, founder and owner, Ted Todd Floors (opens in new tab). As well as being practical, it can be beautifully decorative offering the opportunity to create all sorts living room styles depending on the type of wood and the laying pattern. 'With a variety of species and finishes available, you can make a real statement with a herringbone or chevron design or allow the floor to blend seamlessly with your existing décor with a plank format,' says Robert Walsh.
If you're looking to add a sophisticated touch of pattern to a luxury living room then consider a wood floor in a geometric parquet design. 'Subtle geometric patterns can make the room feel elegant and grand, like the floor has been in your home for centuries,' says Robert Walsh, founder and owner of Ted Todd.
'Wide board plank floors will give a more uniform look, especially if you choose our Classic grade with very few color and grain pattern variations, says Richard Aylen, Technical Manager, Junckers (opens in new tab). 'The long lines of the plank flooring can give an architectural look and works particularly well in open plan spaces,' he adds.
These wide, solid wood planks with a light, warm grain are perfect for bringing a pared-back, organic feel to this simple living room.
Popular in contemporary and period properties alike, herringbone parquet floors are a brilliant way to bring pattern and an elegant feel to living rooms. 'Herringbone and other patterned parquet floors are immensely popular and there are many options with a choice of timber, color, wider or narrower staves which will all give a very different look,' says Richard Aylen, technical manager, Junckers. Boasting rich, golden tones, this oak parquet with a ultramatt lacquer finish brings essential warmth to this dark living room.
When 'made in hardwood through and through, a wood floor can be sanded and refinished several times to good-as-new condition, or to add a new color or surface treatment to give it a completely new look,' explains Richard Aylen, Junckers’ technical manager. 'Easy to maintain, thinner, more stable and more durable than real timber, porcelain is an ideal surface for high traffic areas such as living rooms,' suggests Jason Cherrington, director at Lapicida (opens in new tab). Durable and easy to clean, they are a practical flooring solution if you are looking for a seamless transition between a living room and other areas with high footfall, such as entryways and kitchens.
Available in a huge array of colors, grains and sizes, luxury vinyl floor tiles offer a more affordable way to embrace the character of wood.
'Wood effect flooring works extremely well in the living room,' say Lucy Tunstall, creative director at Harvey Maria (opens in new tab). Luxury vinyl floor designs, 'look and feel like real wood, but are incredibly practical, durable and easy to clean and maintain, plus they are waterproof and suitable for underfloor heating.'
Being a more economic solution, luxury vinyl is especially useful if you are looking to for wood flooring to cover a large open-plan living room. While they are practical and stylish, wood floors can leave living rooms feeling cold underfoot, especially if there is no underfloor heating.
Living room rug ideas are an easy way to add instant warmth and a cozy layer of softness which is essential when it comes to creating a comfortable and welcoming environment.
When it comes to what type of material to choose for a living room carpet consider wool suggests Jodie Hatton, residential design manager at Brintons (opens in new tab). White wood floors are also a great foundation for a coastal living room helping them feel bright and breezy. 'Wood effect tiles are perfect for hardworking areas of the home and are a lot more durable than their real wood counterparts.
Richard Aylen has this advice: 'Oak, ash, beech and maple are all hardwood timber species, very hard-wearing and ideal for use as flooring. 'Ash is slightly paler, with a more dramatic grain pattern, beech is more uniform with a warm color, and oak is a classic – by far the most popular timber for flooring in the UK.'
Hardwearing, versatile and suited to most rooms, wood flooring is a brilliant choice if you are looking for a smooth link between different areas, however it can also make a great way to zone spaces, too. Separate the bedroom from the hallway by example by layering your floorboards in alternate patterns, or choose a slightly different tone.'
