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Choosing the right flooring for your home – or even a single room – can be tricky. It needs to tick aesthetic boxes while also being sufficiently tough to cope with foot traffic (and potentially the patter of paws), spills and scratches. It should be easy to keep clean, feel fabulous underfoot... oh, and there’s a budget to meet. From timber, laminate and hybrid flooring to tiles and rugs, here’s a guide to what’s new on the ground.
Timber flooring comes in solid boards or engineered timber flooring, plus you can get the wooden look with vinyl, laminate, hybrid flooring and even ceramic tiles – with a shade to go with just about any aesthetic. Bunnings trend and design specialist Mindy Mason says there’s been a transition recently towards lighter, sun-kissed blond wood and warm, inviting natural hues. Oversized, wider planks in darker hardwoods and faux wood are also increasingly popular, she says.
Beyond straight boards, look for chevron or herringbone flooring patterns. “This style of laying not only creates a sense of movement from one room to the next, but also accentuates the natural character and beauty of the wood material used,” says Mindy.
Combining vinyl and laminate, hybrid flooring is increasingly the go-to interior design choice for a highly practical, good-looking surface. Eloise Hamilton of Hanwood (distributed by QEP) advises checking the wear layer of hybrid flooring, as this determines its suitability for heavy use. “Thicker wear layers are more resistant to scratches and dents, making them ideal for areas with a lot of foot traffic,” she says. “Hybrid flooring is also resistant to moisture and water damage.”
You can find hybrid flooring in a range of style-centric timber and stone-look finishes. “There’s a growing interest in stone or concrete-effect flooring for a natural yet minimalist look,” says Eloise.
Hard-wearing, easy to maintain, waterproof and available in countless colours and patterns, tiles come in materials like ceramic, porcelain, cement and natural stone, and have long been the first choice for flooring in wet areas. Bathroom floor tiles continue to be popular, but this style of flooring can also look fantastic in large format, neutral tones in living spaces.
“There is a noticeable preference for lighter, warm shades that blend well with the blonde, beachy wood flooring trend,” says Mindy. “The combination creates a balanced appearance, perfectly aligning with the current wellness trend in interior design and can be extended to the outdoors seamlessly.” Bold and vibrant patterned floor tiles – from geometric designs to intricate Moroccan-inspired motifs – continue to be popular, she says.
Delivering cosiness and comfort underfoot, with superior noise-reduction properties, floor rugs offer myriad opportunities. And sustainability is key, says Mindy: “There’s a surge in eco-friendly materials like jute, bamboo and organic cotton.” Rug patterns inspired by nature, such as wood grain, marble and stone, are also trending, she says, as are mid-century design elements and flooring that incorporates global and ethnic patterns, designs and materials.
Layering rugs of different textures and sizes is increasingly popular in the design world and a great way to add depth, warmth and personality to a room, says Mindy.
Timber and hybrid flooring: Sweep or vacuum regularly and go over the surface with a slightly damp cloth or mop to shift most stains.
Tiles: Sweep up loose debris and mop with a proprietary cleaner for tiles and grout. Reapply grout sealant at least once a year to protect against dirt and stains.
Rugs: Vacuum regularly. For stains, check the care label. Gentle spot-cleaning is fine on most materials, including natural fibres. Blot the stain – don’t rub – and extract as much moisture as possible, so the rug dries quickly.
Learn how to fix floor tiles with our step-by-step guide.
Photo Credit: Larnie Nicolson, Susannah Blatchford, Sue Stubbs, Alex Reinders, Getty Images
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
