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Parquet flooring has been around for quite some time. According to many reports, it first furnished homes of the wealthy in the 1600s, replacing the more commonly used marble. Over time, it fell out of favour as tastes changed, but throughout the 80s and 90s, it had somewhat of a renaissance. As with all trends, they fade away – only to bounce back with a vengeance.
Today, after a brief hiatus, parquet flooring is back and being enjoyed throughout a variety of rooms in UK homes. For some, it remains a mystery, a term heard but not really known about. Well, for those of you considering a flooring change at home, we are going to take a look at parquet flooring so you can see if it’s the one for you.
What is parquet flooring?
Parquet flooring is a flooring type, typically made from wood, but can be made from vinyl or laminate, too. It is laid out in distinct patterns, giving a unique characteristic to the room. Thanks to the endless design possibilities, parquet flooring lets you stand out from the crowd, and whether you choose to use wood or a luxury vinyl tile alternative, it gives an impression of warmth, craftsmanship, beauty and prestige.
What patterns can parquet flooring be laid in?
There are so many combinations you could consider. You could go for chevron, basket weave, gable parquet, and so many more. Of course, for many, these patterns may be hard to visualise in your living room, bedroom or hallway. Did you know what a gable parquet was when we mentioned it?
Luckily, many of the companies that supply parquet flooring have online room visualisers where you can pick a pattern and lay it digitally to see how it may look. You can then play with the endless combinations to find one that suits the rest of your home décor.
Are there different types of parquet flooring?
Yes, and this makes it a much more accessible style for those working on both small and large budgets. When parquet flooring was first used, it was only found in wood form, but over the years, this has changed significantly. Parquet flooring is now made of:
- Engineered wood
- Solid wood
- Laminate
- Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
The wood variants typically use oak, walnut, cherry, maple and other woods that are both durable and attractive. The laminate or LVT parquet floors replicate the looks of these wood types without the cost generally associated with a solid wood floor.
Is parquet flooring easy to install?
Parquet flooring can be difficult to install thanks to the intricacy of the patterns that might be used. Whether you choose solid wood or vinyl tiles, it would be best to speak to a flooring expert and have them install it for you. Make a mistake or two, and your stunning kitchen floor pattern may look significantly different to the one you designed when browsing online!
What rooms is parquet flooring suitable for?
You could have parquet flooring in pretty much any room in the home. Its totally customizable style allows it to sit naturally in a kitchen, dining room, hallway, bathroom or bedroom and not look out of place. Before you choose a pattern though, consider how it may make the room look.
Some patterns can make a room look smaller than it is, others make it look too big and some clash with the other décor.
Think about your hallway, for example – it’s normally a narrow, long space. Oversized parquet designs wouldn’t suit this. Instead, you’d be better looking for a more regular and perhaps less intricate parquet flooring.
If you want to add parquet flooring to your dining room, the oversized designs may complement it well, but then you will need to look at your overall room aesthetics. Does the room have a classic or contemporary style? Are there vibrant colours or are things a little more rustic? Whilst these factors may not sound like they play an essential role, they certainly do! Use the room visualiser on your chosen flooring company website and you’ll soon see!
What advantages does parquet flooring have over other flooring types?
Where stone or tile floors are typically cold, parquet provides a warmer, more comfortable feel underfoot. With the LVT version, for example, you can install underfloor heating to add a further degree of comfort. Then, thanks to its high levels of durability and low levels of maintenance, you can remain safe in the knowledge that unwanted scratches, stains and chips won’t be appearing any time soon. Compare this to almost all other floor types, and it’s clear why many look for the LVT variants of chosen flooring types these days.
Parquet flooring is no longer just a style from the past, it is very much part of the modern home. From customisation to durability and practicality, it is now a flooring type you should definitely be considering when you start to refurbish your home. Suitable for more or less any aesthetic, your hunt for flooring may now be over!