There is an enormous amount of variety when it comes to choosing the right flooring for your business. It’s easy for manufacturers to create just about any design or color out of a wide range of materials. Let’s explore your options.

Vinyl

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) is today’s designers go-to choice in beautiful yet durable design. LVT is relatively affordable, easy to maintain, and comes in any design imaginable. This is not the same vinyl flooring of the 1950’s, either. Today’s Luxury Vinyl Tiles are gorgeous. State of the art manufacturing processes creates vinyl planks that mimic the look of real wood, ceramic, and even stone (source). LVT is scratch and stain resistant and meets all commercial safety needs including water and fire resistance.

Concrete

Concrete is durable, long-lasting, and versatile. With some creativity, it can take on almost any look. Concrete is easily painted or stained to match your decor. Designers get fancy and can even stamp the concrete with natural wood patterns. Companies are choosing to go with polished concrete as it is environmentally friendly and highly customizable (source). With concrete’s ability to take on color and a beautiful sheen, it can be a unique yet logical choice for your high-traffic area.

Hardwood

Hardwood isn’t just for residential floors. Man has used wood floors for centuries because it is beautiful and durable. With proper maintenance and care hardwood can be just as long-lasting as any artificial surface. Scuffs and dents are easily buffed out and it only takes a weekly dry-mop or sweeping to keep them clean. With no grout lines or carpet fibers to get in the way, hardwood does not trap allergens either, keeping the air quality of your space in good shape.

Carpet

Businesses have long relied on carpet to enhance their spaces and it is still a popular choice today. Designers prefer carpet tiles over rolls of broadloom and it makes up about 50-60% of all sales (source). Carpet tiles come in a variety of colors and textures and they are easy to install. Tiles make for a smart choice because if a spot is to become damaged, a single tile is easier to replace than a whole room-full of broadloom carpeting. Technology has helped to create carpet out of many recycled products making this an environmentally sound choice.

Next time you are planning a project with a high-traffic zone, keep these materials in mind in order to create a beautiful and functional space.

The home has long been referred to as a “sanctuary.” New design trends are playing up the safety and calming factor in seamless design and muted color schemes.  Moving a bit away from the mid-century look that has dominated in recent years, the looks we’re talking about today are striking in an understated and elegant way.

Colors

No salmon pink or avocado green to be found here. The colors du jour are faint and breathy, think alabaster rose pink and powder blue. For the ambitious who are not afraid of wallpaper, British company Graham&Brown offer gorgeous creams guaranteed to blend in.

Flooring

The trends in flooring are all over the map – in a good way! Try your hand at some looks beyond streamlined hardwood. Large tile looks reign supreme. Contrary to traditional flooring advice, large tile can actually make a room look bigger. Playing around with texture in carpets (think various wool, nylon or synthetic carpets) can nicely complement the style of a room. The texture of wool carpets can give a room a cozy feel. Colors for flooring go along with the popular wall colors, muted and understated. If you have children or subject your flooring to heavy activity, you may want to consider a streamlined gray that won’t show as much wear and tear.

Furniture

Taking a step away from the clear-cut corners of the mid-century look, the latest design trends feature supple shapes like rounded tables and objects that add texture like tufted pillows. Reclaimed wood for a table or a curved marble piece could be just the thing. The overstuffed room is out. “Knick knacks” stress a space and recent trends go for the opposite of this. Truly embrace the trends and look for pieces that are multi-use, such as sofas that have storage space built in.

Other Touches

Metallic accents are still appearing far and wide in design trends. Using copper or gold tones give the minimalist look of the day an elegance that can finish a room nicely. The best way to use the metallic accent is as touches on furniture – think faucets or draw pulls.

Interior Design offers a nice round up and example of some of the latest design trends. The greatest part about these trends is that they don’t require a lot of work. A slap of paint, a new carpet and you’re there!