Trends in Flooring by Dave Nemeth

An area of the home that is mostly overlooked and often an afterthought in a revamp project is the floor. We do not always realise that the floor is one of the first things that set the mood or feeling of an interior and is vitally important both aesthetically as well as functionally. The audio properties of an interior are very dependent on the floor covering, where tiles and concrete will create more of a hollow sound compared to carpet, which will absorb sound creating less echo. This is obviously also dependent on the amount of furniture, wall and window treatments, within the space. The type of floor also plays an important role in the temperature of a space, which is why most homes with tiles opt for underfloor heating, due to the coldness of these during the colder months.

In recent years, we have seen a multitude of new and innovative floor coverings being popularised, with many options out there, it is important to choose something that will have a lifespan and does not suddenly become outdated. Large international trends across all areas are leaning towards natural elements that are both eco friendly as well as having a tactile quality to them.

Current popular choices of rugs are; 100% woollen hand-tufted rugs as well as the rougher sisal and jute rugs, both of which have a handcrafted element to them, which is a deciding factor for many consumers today. The woollen, hand-tufted rugs are generally made to order, meaning you can have any design; any colour and even any shape, there are a variety of companies producing these locally. Whilst they are relatively expensive, they add a unique and bespoke feature element to any discerning interior. Sisal and jute on the other hand are more reasonably priced and create a completely different look, which is great for the more contemporary, industrial, influenced home. Most Sisal rugs are manufactured in Polokwane, Limpopo with 70% being exported worldwide, whilst the jute is imported and then woven here in S.A.

As far as complete floor coverings go, one of the most popular options now is engineered wooden flooring, unlike the laminated variety these are made from real wood. The aesthetic quality of these floors is simply unsurpassed and once you have seen and felt these in an interior will immediately be able to identify what is laminate and what is real. The engineered floors have a hardwood backing, which makes them exceptionally durable and able to repel light moisture spillages. Engineered floors come in a variety of timbers and even reclaimed options are available for those that want something really spectacular. The key here is to make sure that they do come from sustainable resources; FSC certification will give you peace of mind.

With the popularisation of loft living and the “industrial, urban” look, many fashion conscious individuals are opting to go with simple concrete floors, which are just simply polished, giving a fantastic overall effect. There are however a variety of pro’s and con’s to this and whilst they are relatively cost effective and create a designer appeal they are very hard towards the feet and very cold in Winter. This is one application where feature rugs will definitely be necessary for practical living.

Ceramic Tiles and carpets will always be around and remain firm favourites within many homes, one of the most interesting developments on the ceramic tile front are tiles that replicate wooden floors. I am a firm believer that nothing can replace the feel of the “real” thing, but I do believe, this is a fantastic option for areas with high moisture content such as bathrooms and open, patios where timber would simply deteriorate. Nothing however replaces the sheer luxury and comfort of a great quality carpet; these too have evolved over the years and colourfastness and durability are key as well as them being manufactured in an environmentally friendly way.

With all these options available, it is important to note that there are no hard and fast rules and individuality in the home is more important than following a fad. Many homeowners today are choosing a variety of floor coverings and combining these, either with interesting patterns or within different areas of the home. Who says concrete floors cannot be combined with beautiful reclaimed, engineered wooden floors? - SAHO