It’s hard to beat a wooden floor. It’s a classic look that adds warmth and character to a room, and should last a lifetime. But classic doesn’t mean predictable. There are plenty of colour and layout options in the creative wood flooring ideas below.

And wood doesn’t necessarily mean wood! There are plenty of wood-effect options out there, from laminate to vinyl and even tiles. Plus, engineered timber is difficult to distinguish from real hardwood these days, so you can have all the beauty of wood without any of the upkeep. Whatever material is right for you, these creative ways to lay wood flooring will inspire your next project…

1. Go for stripes

Create a wow-factor design by opting for floorboards in three different colours. Many collections now offer wood or wood-effect floorboards in various colourways, so you can create any stripe effect you please. The same idea could be used when creating a herringbone flooring, or to create zoned areas. This striped floor uses painted laminate in three colours from Quickstep’s Signature range.

2. Play with pattern

Mixed materials are a hot new trend in flooring. Mixing wood flooring with tiles is a great way to zone a room, or just create a real style statement. Here, the dining area of an open-plan kitchen has been zoned with Amtico’s Décor Geo tiles in Poplin, paired with Toulouse Oak from Amtico’s Signature collection.

3. Farmhouse flooring

Creating a feature floor doesn’t have to involve wild design ideas. Below, Topps Tiles’ Mora oak tiles (yes, those are wood-effect tiles!) have been laid both vertically and horizontal, giving this kitchen rustic country farmhouse vibes.

4. Floor paint

If you’re lucky enough to have real wood floors, why not treat them to a colourful update with some paint? Yes, it may take time and preparation, but it’s ideal if floors are too damaged to be sanded or stained. The landing floor below is painted in Air Force Blue intelligent floor paint from Little Greene.

5. Vintage timber

Sourcing reclaimed wooden floors is not only a great move for the environment, it’s also a great way to guarantee a unique look, since aged timber comes with a patina that is difficult to replicate. It’s possible to find old wood floors in black, strip or solid board formats. Try the likes of Woodworks by Ted Todd, the Reclaimed Flooring Co and even ebay.co.uk.

6. Herringbone happiness

You can’t go wrong with a real wood floor, which adds warmth and texture to any room and never goes out of fashion. Why not choose a herringbone or parquet design for extra interest?
This parquet flooring from The Natural Wood Flooring Company works beautifully in an open-plan kitchen-diner.

7. Chevron style

A modern update on the classic herringbone floor, where rectangular planks are laid in zigzags, a chevron floor involves cutting the ends of the planks at a 45-degree angle. This gives you a straight-line joint and that crisp, pointed chevron look. This Legacy Chevron Natural Oak engineered wood flooring from Flooring Superstore adds warmth to a large, period bedroom.

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MORE WOOD FLOORING IDEAS

• Incredible wood and stone-effect floors for modern homes
• Herringbone floors: an easier way to get the look
• Cork flooring: what are the benefits?
• 10 key flooring trends

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