Hardwood floors are beautiful, but they can also be a bit expensive to install and even maintain. Luckily, there are other options that can give you exactly the same thing, from colors to textures, but with other materials. These alternatives are an excellent option not only for tighter budgets, but also in some areas where humidity or temperature tend to deform the wood over time. Another benefit of using a substitute on floors is that they are easier to clean and can be laid faster or with just a little help, like vinyl flooring. Look at some ideas below and learn about some of its advantages so you can choose the best one for your home.
1. Portuguese porcelain
© homify / Skyfloor
1. Portuguese porcelain
To create this kitchen, the professionals they chose a Portuguese porcelain tile with a wood-like texture that has the same patterns as the natural version, but with a cooler color that fits perfectly with the rest of the space.
This material is perfect for areas such as bathrooms, exteriors or kitchens, as it absorbs less water and is highly resistant, even to scratches or stains.
2. The ideal effect for every corner
© homify / Skyfloor
2. The ideal effect for every corner
Another reason vinyl is a great idea is that you can find a wide variety of tones and patterns that can create a different ambience for every room. Some of them have classic patterns such as rectangular bars, but there are also diagonal, square, rhomboid lines or wide frames.
3. Wood, but without texture
© homify / Modena Arquitectura, SA de CV
3. Wood, but without texture
When you decide to add many materials in the same room, it is important to take care that the textures and colors remain in harmony. That is why floors that are not made of wood but ceramic or another material combine better thanks to their matte and smooth finish.
4. A very specific version
© homify / PISOCRETO
4. A very specific version
You can achieve that warm look in your rooms by using a polished concrete technique with a rusty tint. The secret to making it as close to the wood as possible is to use an irregular painting technique to emulate the lines of the boards.
5. Ceramic floors
© homify / Interceramic MX
5. Ceramic floors
Ceramic is a material that is easy to obtain, cheap, very practical and that can imitate wood very exactly, due to the fact that some models have a rough surface. This is perfect for bedroomskitchens or living rooms, but in areas such as bathrooms or swimming pools it can easily stain because it is porous and absorbs more moisture.
6. A mixture to give life
© homify / FINE FLOORS
6. A mixture to give life
Why leave flat floors if you can make them the protagonists? Although traditionally the furniture and the walls are the ones that stand out the most in the spaces, you can choose the unexpected like these ceramic floor options that give a unique dynamism with a 3D effect.
7. No one will know the difference
© homify / Revah Arqs
7. No one will know the difference
A tip to make your floors really look natural is to add other wood details in the space, either on the walls or with furniture that provides the typical warmth of this material.
If you prefer, you can also do it by placing plants to make your rooms cooler.
8. Take it everywhere
© homify / Alan Enriquez | Architect
8. Take it everywhere
Another advantage of vinyl is that it also provides the thermal and sound insulation of wood, and you can place it on the floor or on the walls. Which makes them an excellent idea for places with heavy furniture or common spaces where you usually have meetings.
9. Ceramic tiles
© homify / Katharsis•Visual Spaces
9. Ceramic tiles
Ceramic models can include a wide infinity of possibilities to create your own ideas, because you can also find them in small blocks like these, to create geometric figures that delimit areas.
10. “Wood” tiles
© homify / Marchi Cucine – Dialma Brown MX
10. “Wood” tiles
Tiles are easier to clean, less porous, and have a glossy finish. The only drawback is that they can be more fragile to install, but once you get past that part, you will have an amazing decoration, like in this photo.