FLOORING
TILED IN Options for what to put underfoot continue to increase in 2020. The general feeling going into 2020 is that no one is satisfied anymore with traditional materials. Homeowners want flooring materials that have been given special treatment to make them unique in design and texture. When it comes to hard flooring surfaces: wood, tile, vinyl and laminate, it appears you can have any look you desire. Manufacturers continue to push towards replicating natural wood and stone to meet flooring trends but porcelain and cement graphic tiles are hitting the mark for creating statement spaces as well as tiles that come in various shapes. Carpet manufacturers are also making huge strides in technological advancements to produce never-before-seen carpet looks and trends — they can even make carpet now that is 100 percent waterproof. Wow, it really feels like it’s 2020! Check out the following options for your upcoming flooring needs. VINTAGE BLACK & WHITE Vintage has always been about nostalgia — bringing back the memories of decades past. In 2020, black and white tiles are making a strong comeback. But, it’s not the same old black and white tiles that adorn historic homes. Instead, it’s bold, graphic, and more luxurious. More and more homeowners want a unique twist to the vintage style. This includes smaller tiles with bolder, graphic patterns or over-sized tiles that make an impact. It’s an ideal way to blend vintage with contemporary for a perfect look and feel. DISTRESSED WOOD & CONCRETE TILES Distressed flooring has been on the radar for some time and continues to be popular. It offers a luxurious, aged look. By undergoing an artificial aging process that gives a slightly worn finish, your floor gains instant character. In preparing distressed wood flooring, various actions are taken depending on the degree and style of “distress” desired. The edges of each wood plank are hand scraped, swirl and kerf markings are added to imitate historic wood and the planks are brushed to remove glossing and give them a soft worn texture. If you’re looking to move away from wood, you might opt for distressed concrete flooring. As with distressed wood, distressed concrete goes through artificial processes to minimize the polished look and produce an enhanced, worn-out patina. WOOD-LOOK TILES Technology has become so good that manufacturers can replicate the exact look of real wood or stone onto all kinds of tile surfaces with luxury vinyl and porcelain being favorites. It has become almost impossible to differentiate the tile from the real thing. “Wood” authenticity is also achieved with a directional and textural finish, resembling that of real wood. Tiles that look like wood provide homeowners with much more variety when determining their flooring options. No longer do you have to resort to traditional hardwood to achieve that warm and cozy feel to your home. With faux tiles, you get the design benefits of a hardwood floor in terms of color, look and even texture but the ease of care that tile can offer. GRAPHIC TILES Not many people are willing to use their flooring as an art canvas. But if you love unique and artful patterns on your tiles, graphic tiles are coming in full force. Using advanced technology, manufacturers are able to replicate an endless variety of images on tiles. You can get tiles with repeating patterns or get tiles that, like a jigsaw puzzle, join together to form one large pattern on your floor. Graphic tiles come in monochromatic colors but if you are feeling particularly wild, there are others that come in bold multicolored patterns and writings. DIFFERENT SHAPED TILES Don’t think chevron and herringbone are the only trendy floor patterns out there. With the increase of large porcelain tiles being used by homeowners, an increase in pattern options and tile shape options are on the rise. Hexagon tiles have been in the spotlight for backsplashes. Now, expect to see this shape — as well as others — taking over our floors. Fun patterns can create beautiful effects in any room. 16 | PSG 2020