Go Earthy or Exotic With Today's Hot Flooring Options

by Allison E. Beatty

Flooring options have expanded greatly during the past ten years, as new materials and ideas have entered the market. If you're looking to make an impact throughout your home, consider these flooring trends.

Laminate Flooring Becomes High End
Walk through many fancy homes and you may think you're seeing stone flooring. Look a little closer and you may realize its laminate flooring, a product known for its cost effectiveness--and now for its diversity and wide ranging appeal.

Laminate flooring is available in a wide range of colors and patterns, such as neutral earth tone colors, bold green marble, muted gray slate patterns, and more. Laminates are typically a fraction of the cost of hardwood floors or natural stone flooring and usually much easier to install and maintain. You may want to consider laminate flooring throughout most of the first floor, as it works well in bathrooms, foyers, hallways, and kitchens.

Exotic Hardwood Floors Take Center Stage
Those with a bigger budget often turn to hardwood floors, as they can add a rich, natural look to any home. One popular trend today is the use of dark or exotic hardwood floors, such as Brazilian cherry, walnut, zebrawood or mahogany.

Dark hardwood floors have become popular because of their ability to add drama to a home. If you're looking to create a focal point in a dining room, for example, consider a walnut floor with a contrasting maple border.

Want Stone? Consider Ceramic Tile Flooring Instead
The beautiful, rustic look of slate, marble and travertine create stunning floors, but they can be too pricey for some budgets. One alternative is to buy ceramic tile flooring with a stone pattern, a move than can save 15 to 20 percent. Tile flooring comes in patterns that resemble green slate, pink marble, brown granite and off-white travertine, among others. Many people add a dramatic tile floor in the foyer to welcome guests inside. Look for a pattern that can set the stage for other decorative accents throughout the house, such as cabinets, hardware and fixtures.

There are many exciting new flooring products today, from soft earth tones to exotic dark hardwoods. Think about where to add some flavor and then let your imagination go wild.

About the Author
Allison E. Beatty is a syndicated real estate writer who has been writing home improvement columns for 15 years.