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The recent economic chaos has resulted in many people taking a much closer look at how they spend their money. This can especially be seen in new home sales and in regard to remodeling and upgrading. Many people have explored the possibility of using engineered flooring instead of solid wood planks.

Engineered wood flooring has several advantages over freshly milled timber. Because it is made by taking several thin layers of wood and pressing them together with the grains running in alternate directions, it is sturdier than solid planks, which tend to warp in the presence of a change in temperature and humidity. Engineered floors can also be manufactured from smaller, faster growing trees, which helps preserve our old growth forests.

Since the early colonial days, Americans have had a love affair with wood flooring. During certain periods and in particular parts of the country, other types have gained popularity, such as the carpet boom following World War II and the popularity of ceramic tile in the warmer southern states. Nevertheless, the trend has always returned to wood.

Real estate professionals were amazed when a recent survey conducted to determine which features prospective buyers have at the top of their wish lists was completed. Hardwood flooring, not only wasn’t at the top, where they had assumed it to be, but it didn’t make the list at all. Upon further questioning, it was learned that the respondents do not consider wood flooring an option but they expect it to be in any home that they would seriously consider making an offer on.

What is not as obvious, however, is whether people feel the same way about engineered wood. Even though it has surpassed solid in sales worldwide, it has yet to do so in the United States. Despite all of its advantages, will it ever be able to equal the warmth and richness of traditional oak or walnut flooring? Is it simply a matter perception? Good questions, but only time will be able to supply the answers.

If plank flooring is a consideration for your home, you should know that there are many options in brand, finish and price. Much of what you will pay depends upon where you purchase the product. Regardless of cost, there are many benefits of choosing this option.

If you are not a professional in wood working or simply do not have days to sand and finish the surfaces yourself, this is an option that eliminated much of the work. Most products come pre-finished in the desired stain or lacquer.
They are often referred to as engineered products. This provides the additional advantage of being able to walk on them as soon as they are installed. This may be a better option for homes with small children or pets.

For those who enjoy wood working and have plenty of experience, bare options are also available. Quality oak flooring can be sanded and finished on the same day. The benefit of this over engineered products is that each piece is unique in pattern and will provide a more natural look, when the plank flooring is stained or finished. The down side is that you will need to provide plenty of ventilation for staining and finishing and several days for the drying process.

Another alternative to traditional wood products is vinyl plank flooring. It is often laminated or coated with polyurethane as well. It is a great option for rooms that require a more waterproof surface, such as bathrooms or kitchens. It can cost half the price of wood products, such as oak flooring. However, it is easily installed and can look just like real wood products, in various grains and dark or light finishes. It often comes as a locking system, so each board or piece locks into the next, for ease of installation.

Living in style does not need to be limited with clothes and accessories, so you can live up to this by adding good and fashionable accents in your home. Red is perhaps one of the liveliest and most passionate colors out there. This can be used to represent the love that unites a family and can be used on rugs as well for a more realistic symbol of the latter. You can achieve this with red rugs, which will surely make a statement in your home not only with their color but as well as with their elegant designs and styles.

Here are some tips on how you can best use these area rugs at home so you’ll know where to place them – plus how you can best accentuate different rooms with these. First, would be the hallway. You can add brightness to your home’s entrance with rugs of this color across the foyer. You can make use of a luxurious piece as a doormat for people to enter, and you can roll this out for a better look. In case your hallway comes with a longer length, you can utilize long and thin items, which you can situate starting from the door towards the staircase or room. Which among the two that creates a straighter line, would be the better choice.

For your lounge, you need to make a red rug as the focal point so make sure that it is situated at the center. In this area, you can pick square, circular, or round pieces that you can place directly under a good bright light as this will offset the rug. Among the best selections for the lounge area would be Chinese and Moroccan rugs, which come with rich patterns.

As for the dining area, these rugs should be located underneath the table. With this thought in mind, you need to go for square-shaped pieces or rectangular ones but the choice your going to make will depend on the type of table you have at the dining room.

The engineered oak flooring is laid, and the finishing touches have been made to complete your homes flooring renovation. After a few days you notice that you may get a little chilly at night or first thing in the morning from walking barefooted across the floors. Adding area rugs to key locations that are highly traveled through out your home will give you some needed warmth and comfort. Doing a cursory search online will allow you to realize the full scope of all the variations, designs, colors, and materials available for your area rug needs.

Large Area Rugs

For the dining area, and family room, large area rugs will cover the spaces where foot traffic is most apparent. The rule for rugs in a living room is to have one third of the carpet underneath all the furniture in the immediate area. So remember to measure past the furniture legs, as they the front footing of all sofas, love seats, and club chairs will need to resting on the your rug. In the dining room, the same rules apply as you will need your new Persian rug to run about one third past the chairs when pushed into the table. This will allow the legs of the dining room chairs to stay on the fabric instead of your oak flooring.

Wool Area Rugs

For the opulent, and refined decorate attention wool area rugs will make that muted yet bold statement that you have the necessary funds to decorate your home with style, and money is not an option. A blend of cotton and wool are the usual weave makeup that creates these artistic tapestries that are not only placed on floors, but display on walls as art too. Look to pay a couple of thousand dollars for a decent wool woven rug.

Area Rugs

photo credit: hayleycranberry

Many homeowners like the look of natural flooring products. Travertine tiles are an attractive option that can be used in many areas around the home. They are often seen in entries or foyers, though they may also look good in patio rooms, kitchens and even some bedrooms.

There are a variety of product offerings. Some products come in different sized pieces, connected with a woven mesh on the back. Installation requires using a commercial flooring adhesive and they require grouting in the color one thinks most suitable, after they are laid down. Grouting is necessary to prevent water from seeping in, especially in high traffic areas or places where water is likely to be splashed onto the floor.

Product such as this are great for areas that do not consist of rounded baseboards and walls. They can be cut before installation, but the mesh may unravel. Solid products are also available and can be cut with a wet saw, to fit various space configurations and edges. They still require use of an adhesive for installation but do not contain a mesh backing.

Though some people consider flooring with natural stone to be cold, the thick barrier can serve to better insulate floors and help keep heat from escaping. Some people do not like the feel of natural stone in the winter. This can easily be remedied by using accent rugs of the desired dimensions for the space. They can be purchased in a contrasting shade, to make the flooring area stand out, or can be used in a coordinating shade, to unify the color scheme

There are many color options today, in using natural stone or slate flooring products. Many red tones of varying shades are commonly available. The darker grays and browns are also widely available. The common feature of this flooring option is that it is a very durable surface.