More than ever, homeowners are appreciating the added value that hardwood floors bring to a home. Here’s a look at top flooring trends that will help.
Made in Nigeria
There’s a growing demand for Nigerian-produced hardwoods.
Many Nigerians are looking at locally sourced materials. It feels like a revolution towards homemade items.
Consumer concerns about warranty, durability, quality, safety, and environmental factors are more easily addressed when a hardwood is domestically made. Also, Nigeria offers a competitive range of readily available species suitable for flooring. Afterall, what are all the forests for?
Stains and Finishes
Grey is the new “neutral” that’s hardly ever out of fashion. It’s currently one of the most popular colours, ranging from pale smoke to deep charcoal, making appearance on hardwood flooring.
“Whether light or dark, grey stains bring out any wood’s natural grain and texture,” says New York interior designer Laura Bohn. “Greys are versatile and timeless – quiet and soothing colours that recede into the background without losing personality or becoming faceless. They work in any style décor, yet always look modern.”
Species
For numerous years, the trend was towards characterful woods like hickory, but lately, white oak has moved to the front. Along with abundance, durability, and affordable price, white oak offers aesthetic advantages.
“It can be stained light, dark, or somewhere in between,” according to interior designer Emily Morrow Finkell, CEO, Emily Morrow Home. “Many of the popular grey-brown shades look particularly sophisticated applied to white oak. Consumers see and love it in magazines and websites, making it a perfect ‘attainable home upgrade.'”
The Wider, The Better
“It’s all about wide, wider, widest!” affirms NWFA’s Michael Martin. “Planks of up to 7 inches in width are now commonplace. Traditional strip flooring still remains popular with people, but wide-plank is the truly market leader.”
According to Melissa Morgan of M Interiors, “Wider floorboards can make a space look larger and more modern. The flooring can be treated like a canvas: ebonized for a sleek, dark look; light-stained for an urban vibe; distressed for a rustic affect – the possibilities are infinite.”
Popular Patterns
“One way to set your home interior apart from this world is by tapping into the trend for herringbone-and- chevron-pattern hardwood floors, which appear increasingly in decorating magazines,” confirms Morrow Finkell. But as Michael Martin reaffirms, “Since installing herringbone floors is a time-and labour consuming venture, they’re more common in high-end projects, rather than in the average middle-class home.” Still, if you can afford the cash, these floors are a gorgeous addition to any space.
Visit https://soldanadesign.com for more about residential design trends and other applications and products using Nigerian and foreign hardwoods.
