When designing the interior of a house, it’s easy to overlook the flooring. But in fact, the material you use underfoot can make or break the aesthetic of a room and have a big effect on your lifestyle besides.
It’s something interior designer, Emma Cooling of Cooling Design, is Dublin is aware of. When designing residential homes, she works closely with clients to find a floor design that works for each room but also suits their lifestyle. “It’s usually a question of form following function,” she says. “I consider the practical elements like comfort, durability, and practicality, first and how it will feel underfoot.
“I consider whether they have young children; if they’re installing underfloor heating; and whether it should be eco-friendly?
“But I also think about the overall appearance of a room and how the floor will work with the colours on the walls, the furniture and the art work.
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Stephen McDonnell, the director of Greenheart Wood Interiors, in Co Meath, says wooden flooring is by far the most popular option at the moment and explains the three wooden floor options available, all of which can be used with underfloor heating.
Three types of wooden floors
“One option is laminate flooring, which is a photograph of a real plank of timber with a layer of protection over it. It’s not real wood, but it looks like it. It’s cost effective, and at the higher end of price range, it’s water resistant and hard to scratch.”
A step up from that is stone plastic composite (SPC) flooring which has particles of stone. “It’s popular at the moment because of its price and the lack of maintenance required with it,” says McDonnell. “It’s quite hard wearing, easy to install, waterproof and scratch resistant. It ticks a lot of boxes.”
The third and most expensive option is hard wood flooring, described as either semi-solid or engineered flooring. “Twenty years ago, if you were buying wooden floors, the wood would be solid throughout, but that led to problems because solid timber can move and warp, especially if it comes into contact with water. It can also lead to gaps.”
The modern version of a solid floor is one with a top layer of solid oak, ranging from 3mm to 6mm with plywood underneath, making up the rest of the board. “It’s a better product because you can still sand it down, but you won’t have issues with movement, twisting or warping like you would with solid timber.”
This is the most eco-friendly type of flooring given that the timber used is natural. “We buy in the floors unfinished and then we use a stain from the Rubio Monocoat range, a natural oil called Oil Plus 2C, which colours and protects the wood and is eco-friendly. If you have underfloor heating, it acts as a natural barrier when the heat comes up.”
This year, the trend is for warmer, richer tones of wood as opposed to the ubiquitous grey hues. Extra wide and long planks are also currently in vogue and reflect a nostalgia for vintage interiors. “I find clients are asking for alternatives to the herringbone or chevron patterns that have been popular for the last decade,” says Cooling. “Vintage styles like intricate parquet flooring can create a unique design statement, which works excellently in a hall, a drawing room, or a study. A Versailles pattern or a geometric pattern can also have the same effect.”
Outside of wooden flooring, terrazzo, an updated version of Palladian terrazzo, an ancient technique used by the Roman and the Venetians, is having a moment. It involves setting large pieces of glass or marble into a terrazzo mixture and offers a contemporary aesthetic, especially when combined with bold-coloured glass or marble.
Contrasting floor finishes for zoning
The trend for open-plan living has led to different types of floors being used to zone areas in a house. For example, in an open-plan room, a tiled border surrounding a patterned floor tile can serve to separate the living space from the kitchen.
Another example is the use of herringbone engineered timber floor and geometric porcelain tiles with a black border tile. “It allows the comfort of a timber floor in the living space, and the practicality of a tiled floor in the kitchen,” says Cooling. “It also makes a wonderful design statement and focal point.”
Floors and more
Tiles are also being used more than before. “I love to use a bright patterned floor tile for example in the small downstairs WC,” says Cooling. “When combined with bright paint, wallpaper or panelling, it becomes a joyful, space which is full of character.”
Gone are the days when all of the rooms in a house were carpeted, but they’re still commonly used in bedrooms. Cooling prefers wooden floors with rugs that go under the bed, however. “It gives a more contemporary aesthetic and can make a room feel bigger.”
Patterned rugs are in fashion and a number of high-end brands have collaborated with designers to create their own versions. “A beautiful rug can be as impactful as a piece of art, and we’re currently seeing a resurgence of vibrant patterns and colours – from florals and geometrics to bold abstracts,” says Cooling. “A well-chosen rug design can play an integral role in defining the overall interior design of a space, acting as a foundation for the room’s aesthetic.”
