Wood-Look Flooring Types & Ideas

A new wood floor can add so much warmth and beauty to a home or room. Some homeowners also prefer wood look floors made of materials other than hardwood because they see them as a great low-maintenance and affordable alternative that still looks like real wood. There are so many options when it comes to wood-look flooring that can help you transform any space in your home. Let’s take a look at what’s out there.

Solid Hardwood Flooring

This option may appear a bit obvious. If you want the natural wood look, why not go with the real thing? Today’s solid hardwood flooring brings an unmistakable rich look.

Solid hardwood is milled from a single piece of wood and you can pick from a variety of natural wood species like oak, maple, cherry, hickory and plenty of others. You can go for a hand-scraped look and some people even like the natural changes in hardwood as it wears and is exposed to the elements. And once a hardwood floor looks like it needs some sprucing up, you can sand and refinish it, in some cases multiple times.

solid hardwood flooring in the bedroom

Chateau Solid Hardwood. Color: Cabernet

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Busy households often appreciate the durability and natural look of engineered hardwood floors. This option is actually made with a real hardwood surface but has a uniquely engineered core to prevent it from expanding with temperature and moisture changes. It can be installed on a variety of different subfloor types, too.

Engineered hardwood flooring comes in wire-brushed, distressed or hand-scraped finishes and is versatile enough to add classic or contemporary touches to just about any space in a house.

Because of its durable construction, engineered hardwood is a popular option for areas of the home that can see heavy traffic. Engineered hardwood can stand up to the punishment and moisture in these parts of the home. While some are designed to handle extreme moisture, a lot of people stop short of putting them in bathrooms.

Whether you love a classic hickory or oak, or a muted gray for contemporary cool settings, you can rest assured, an engineered hardwood flooring option is available to you.

engineered hardwood flooring in a living room

Encore Engineered Hardwood. Color: Gunstock

Laminate Flooring

If you’re looking for some amazing wood looks that are budget-friendly, wood laminate may be the choice for you! Like engineered wood, laminate offers a variety of plank widths with great stain, scratch and fade resistance.

With wood laminate, you can find hand-scraped textures, traditional oak, Brazilian Cherry and other popular colors and styles. There are even some 100% waterproof options available too! With so many styles, it’s easy to add sophistication to a den or study with an aged oak or enliven a living room with a contemporary ash gray. Only your imagination can stop you as far as real wood look options on this one.

laminate wood flooring in a home office

Ellington Laminate Wood. Color: Huntington

Vinyl Plank Flooring

For many people looking for a very realistic wood look, but who are on a budget, vinyl plank floors have been the answer. Today’s vinyl plank floors come in a wide range of unique grain patterns, colors and textures.

This super durable option will get you the wood beauty any room wants with tremendous stain and water resistance, even having 100% waterproof options. Busy families love how they can add a natural look to a kitchen space and not need to worry about the floor being able to handle a large spill. Some options also come with unique backings that dampen noise in a room and some people also appreciate a vinyl plank’s softness compared to hardwood for added comfort.

vinyl plank flooring in the family room

Studio Reserve Vinyl Plank. Color: Canyon

Vinyl Tile Flooring

To many people’s surprise, vinyl tile floors are another budget-friendly way to add a realistic wood aesthetic to a room. Dark and light gray and greige shadings are sometimes used to add an industrial or farmhouse look to a space, and certain homeowners really love that unique creative touch of having a grout line with a wood-look tile.

Vinyl tile is great at resisting stains and water, so busy households love it in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, but you don’t need to limit yourself to those areas of the home.

wood look vinyl tile in a bedroom

Canal Pier Vinyl Tile. Color: Farmhouse Linen

Sheet Vinyl Flooring

You can still enjoy the scuff, stain and scratch resistance of vinyl sheet flooring and a natural wood look, too! Today’s designs can look like you just had a fresh wood floor installed in your home. When looking down at the floor, the wood can look so real, the eye can be tricked into seeing actual wood plank seams and a wood grain look.

Today’s vinyl sheet flooring can give the look of real hardwood and it’s still as budget-friendly as ever, and very easy to clean.

 

Wood-Look Porcelain Tile

When you think of porcelain tile, the first rooms that may come to mind are the bathroom or the kitchen. However, wood-look porcelain tile means you can add ceramics to other spaces such as the living room. What makes this wood look so special? Well, you get the beauty of hardwood with the high durability and easy maintenance of porcelain tile, giving you the best of both worlds.

wood look porcelain tile in a bedroom

Timber Falls Porcelain Tile. Color: Apache

Many people will start with the idea of transforming one space in their home, then they realize that the wood look they fell in love with actually looks great in other rooms. With so many great options, you don’t have to stick to just one type, style, or color. Assess each room and pick the flooring that’s best for those specific needs.

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