Hot Trends in Flooring

The choices in flooring are more diverse and exciting than ever. From longer lasting, more durable floor coverings to innovations in environmentally friendly green materials, floor manufacturers have met and exceeded public demand. In addition to the wide range of materials and options, today's floors are more affordable. There couldn't be a better time to look for a floor that fits your needs, ideals, budget, and lifestyle.

Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors have always given homeowners exceptional beauty. Even so, hardwood flooring manufacturers are constantly on the lookout for new and innovative ways to make each hardwood floor plank unique. Current trends include slicing wood pieces and using rotary cuts to get different patterns on the wood face. The choices of color in wood floors continue to grow. From the lighter beech colors to the deeper cherries, there is something for every taste. New steaming techniques are being utilized to change the color of wood without the use of artificial dyes.

Laminate Floors

Always an affordable and durable option, today's laminate floors offer so much more than before. New photographic image layering techniques have made laminate nearly indistinguishable from the wood, tile or stone it mimics. New trends include realistic looking hand-scraped wood, natural stone, and ceramic tile laminate along with the addition of actual fiber content that provides texture to the finished product.

Carpet

The softest and warmest floor type; carpet has always been a top choice. Great strides have been made in the stain and water-resistance of carpet fibers. Perhaps the most exciting innovation has been in the area of "green" carpet manufacturing. Carpet made from recycled, recyclable, and sustainable materials have made today's carpet an eco-friendly choice. Carpet makers continue to extend color and fiber options, making carpet even more desirable.

Tile

Used for centuries and mined from nature, tile is beautiful and long-lasting. In the past, the drawbacks of using ceramic tile have been the difficulty of installing it and the subsequent maintenance. Fortunately, tile manufacturers have come up with ways to greatly reduce those problems, making tile an option for nearly everyone. Current trends include the manufacture and use of larger size tiles, reducing installation times. New finishes make tile more scratch-resistant and appropriate for nearly any room in the home.

Vinyl

Affordable and easy for do-it-yourselfers to install, vinyl has always been a popular floor type. Unfortunately, older types of vinyl tended to look cheap. That's not true anymore. The new vinyl floor looks nothing like its old-fashioned ancestor. Still easy to install and economical, vinyl floors offer a multitude of patterns and natural looks, including wood and stone.

Area Rugs

Ancient craftsmanship combined with contemporary technologies makes area rugs a must-have decorating accessory. Sizes, shapes, and styles to fit any room, budget, and taste, today's area rugs not only protect the floor underneath them, but also make a statement on their own. Decorators use area rugs over all floor types, including carpet, to enhance the look and tie a room together.

Whether you are looking for Prosource flooring for a new home, renovation, decorating project or office building, today's floors offer unlimited choices and value.

Andrew White writes about Prosource flooring and other home improvement topics out of Seattle. Always looking for the highest quality materials at the best price he tends to end up shopping at http://www.prosourcefloors.com more often than not.

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