Carpets? Pah. Tiles? Not for us. Vinyl? Change the record…
We’re all about the solid wood flooring here, for the look, the feel, and even the sound. Oh, the sound; that honest, deep click-clack is reassuring and homely in equal measure.
But wood isn’t a popular flooring option purely for aesthetic reasons; hardwood flooring is also highly durable, easy to maintain and hygienic, too. A beautiful, wooden floor can lend just the right balance of lightness and warmth to your living room, and make it feel bright and open. Moreover, it can be used as a backdrop to show off colourful furniture or a carefully chosen rug.
Is there anything it can’t do? We’re about to find out; here are 5 benefits of having hardwood flooring in your home.
CHARACTER & COLOUR
The first and most evident of benefits is the appearance of hardwood floors. They are, quite simply, a beautiful feature to have in the home and can add a huge amount of character and depth to any interior. Whether you go for a dark smoked wood to make a bold and traditional statement or keep it light and airy with a natural or light coloured wood, hardwood floors add an element of luxury and timelessness to even the most monotone of properties.
That said, you need to be discerning in your choice of colour; it needs to work on a practical and aesthetic level; as such, careful consideration regarding suitability is key. Whitewashed flooring and pale colours can lighten up a space and work for low traffic areas. However, they need frequent cleaning as every bit of dirt shows up, as does wear and tear over time. That click-clack we mentioned? It shows up fast on white wood. Moreover, if a room has lots of windows and natural light, white wooden flooring can be stark and, at times, uncomfortable to look at.
At the other end of the spectrum, dark wooden flooring can create a more intimate feel to a room and, as a backdrop, can be used to show off both light and bright furniture. Warm, honey-toned wood floors are a less dramatic choice than both pale and dark flooring, and this traditional choice is safer if your furniture tastes change in the future or if you want to sell your home.
Should you suddenly need to pivot on the colour, then rather than having to fork out for an entire new floor, you can refinish your wood and stain it a different colour or texture. Alternatively, consider wood floor sanding and restoration, which transform worn and scuffed hardwood floors into fresh, soft and beautifully coloured wood that looks brand new.
LOW MAINTENANCE
Aside from the clear aesthetic benefits of hardwood floors, there are also some practical reasons why it can make for a worthy investment and addition to your property. Sealed wood floors are incredibly easy to keep clean as you can simply sweep and lightly mop away any dirt without worrying about those wine, coffee and curry stains which seem to haunt every household’s carpet. What, you haven’t dropped curry on your carpet? You haven’t lived, mate.
What’s more, because wooden flooring is particularly easy to keep clean, it’s also a hygienic flooring option in comparison to carpets where dust and dirt, like pet hair or debris picked up outdoors, can easily get trapped in the fibres, eliminating the chance of potential odours developing over time if you have any pets or messy young children. If you or your household suffer from allergies, hardwood floors are also a great option as it will reduce the amount of dust particles trapped in your home which can be swept and mopped away. Hell, with hygiene this good, you could even eat that curry you dropped earlier off a wood floor!
HOME VALUE
On top of wood floors being easy to keep clean, they also add value to your property, according to the experts. Whether you are considering selling your property at some point in the future or not, it’s still great to know that your flooring is benefiting you long term. According to a 2013 survey made by the National Association of Realtors, a massive 54% of buyers would be willing to pay more for a home with wood flooring, with the respondents indicating that this type of flooring was particularly appealing to families.
DURABLE
Hardwood flooring is highly durable and can last for many years in a busy household without showing many signs of wear and tear, making it ideal and popular in high-traffic areas like the kitchen, living room, entryways and hallways.
Unlike carpets or lino that will usually need ripping up and replacing after a few years, hardwood floors can be kept, professionally cleaned, sanded down and reoiled to have them looking brand new. You might even prefer the look of your wood floor once it’s started to show some signs of wear; where an old, dodgy carpet works to the detriment of a property, wooden flooring with a few marks can sometimes add character and soul to a property!
Even if you’re not convinced by that slightly tenuous argument, you can simply have wood flooring refinished at a much smaller investment than having to replace the entire floor, as you would with carpets or lino.
VERSATILE
Finally, hardwood floors are hugely versatile. They can be finished to suit your individual taste, requirements and purpose, whether you want a raw, matt, or satin finish to your floor or a light white, darker brown or natural coloured stain. Their timeless quality isn’t going out of fashion anytime soon, and considering the material’s longevity, that’s good news all round!
Want more wood? Check out these 5 tips for choosing the best wooden furniture for your home.