In the Soviet years, the floor design in a standard Khrushchev building was not distinguished by the splendor of colors, ornaments and textures. A massive board painted with floor paint or grayish linoleum was, perhaps, all that the average citizen of the USSR could decorate his home with at that time. Well, could it have occurred to him that after several decades, he would rack his brains over what to choose: laminate or parquet boards, carpet or porcelain tiles, cork or tiles? Of course not! In a country where everyone lived the same way, where every apartment had a Finnish wall, and a small ribbed rug lay on the floor, there simply could not be excesses. But that’s exactly what happened and now you have to make a choice and think about which material will look better in the hallway and which one should be laid in the living room.
Apartment floor design. More creativity - more positive
Linoleum in the interior of the apartment
Linoleum is gradually losing ground, retreating further into the depths of centuries. However, manufacturers are trying with all their might to fight for the right of PVC coating to take its rightful place in the homes and apartments of Russians. A million shades and patterns, textures and textures have already been invented, but no one even thinks of giving up. Every day new variants of patterns appear on store shelves, so much so that all doubts instantly recede away.
Floor design option using PVC coating
Floor design option using natural linoleum
Both options are good because they emphasize the fidelity of the direction chosen by the designer in the stylistic design of the apartment. In the first photo, linoleum convincingly proves that eco-style can also be maintained with the help of artificial turf. The second photo shows the owner of the apartment’s clear commitment to minimalism - this can be seen not only by the amount of furniture in the room, but also by the number of colors used in the interior.
Marmoleum - an opportunity to express yourself
Marmoleum is a fundamentally new type of flooring that allows you to create a bright and individual image of an apartment or house. This material comes in a variety of colors and patterns. It's easy to create with him.
Laminate floor design examples
An impressive floor design in an apartment can be created using ordinary laminate. What could be interesting about it? Firstly, the texture. It can give a laminate that seems traditional at first glance a zest and a special flavor. And if you complement the coating with a stylish pattern, which, by the way, is also textured, then the interior will completely acquire an individual character.
Laminate can also be bright and memorable...
Secondly, an interesting combination of color and shape. It is not necessary to stick to the same shades - let each board have its own color nuance. And the chamfer will only add originality to such a floor.
An unusual combination of shape and color is the key to a stylish interior
Options for decorating floors with ceramic tiles
This flooring material is most often used in kitchens, hallways and bathrooms. However, it is also found in living rooms.
Tiles provide a huge scope for the designer’s imagination. It is convenient in terms of combination, easy to install and can diversify any interior. And if you choose an unusual installation method, the floor design will then turn into a real work of art.
Unusual tile laying
The shape of the tile also plays an important role. Traditional square or rectangular briquettes are already boring, so manufacturers began to produce ceramic floor tiles in a variety of sizes and shapes. A floor laid with such tiles looks interesting and unique.
Shape matters too
Self-leveling 3D floors
This technology appeared on the market relatively recently, but has already found a lot of fans. Still would! Having a floor in your apartment that recreates under your feet a sunny beach with white sand and shells, or a green meadow with daisies and cornflowers is a dream that has already become a reality for many.
Dolphin in the apartment? Please!
Self-leveling floor in the toilet
Imitation of antiquity
This technology allows you to reproduce any plot, any idea, even the most creative one, on the floor.
Methods for decorating cork
Cork floors are in quite high demand. They are environmentally friendly, durable, reliable, and moderately soft. They can be used in almost any room, and caring for such a coating is easy. As for the aesthetic side of the issue, thanks to the latest technology using photo printing, cork floors can be turned into anything: a bed of carrots, a straw bed, or a flowering lawn.
Traditional cork floor design with color combinations
Photo printing on cork. Coal
Photo printing on cork. Sea bottom
Photo printing on cork. Straw
There are a great many options for decorating floors in an apartment, and every day there are more and more of them: new materials, new ideas and ideas appear, which means it is impossible to stop at just one thing. So that you can be convinced that floor design - a photo selection of original incarnations is below - is not such a simple task as it might seem at first glance, look at the complex design solutions that are already decorating someone’s home.
Self-leveling floor design using black and white colors
Floor design with transition to wall
Creative floor design
Floor design using laminate
And let your plans come true!
The fact that parquet flooring is the main decoration of the house, probably everyone knows. Nowadays, those who want to decorate their home with parquet have a huge selection of various types, colors and shades.
Usually, when choosing one or another type of parquet, the consumer tries to link the style of future parquet floors with the overall design of the house or apartment. In addition, the interior decoration of individual rooms requires careful selection of parquet wood according to color and tone.
Oak parquet floors are universal. Well-installed oak flooring can brighten up almost any room. Maple wood, with its light, slightly pinkish tint, gives softness and warmth. Floors made from exotic woods look very impressive: cherry, walnut, acacia or mahogany. In some cases, parquet flooring, for example, artistic, can serve as a dominant feature in the interior design of a room.
There are several types and varieties of parquet.
Let's briefly talk about some of them:
For some reason, custom parquet floors in some regions are called palace, or even highly artistic, referring to the fact that the outlines of individual parts of such parquet have a mainly curvilinear shape, although, you see, this difference concerns more the features of the method of production of such parquet than its artistic perception on the floor.
In conclusion, it should be noted that all types of artistic parquet, as well as custom parquet, use natural wood that has a natural color.
Some foreign manufacturers use deep dyeing to produce piece parquet. The planks of such parquet have a noticeable color saturation and look somewhat unnatural, although beautiful.
During the use of floors made from such parquet, a significant change in its color is possible, therefore, in order not to be disappointed in the future with your beautiful parquet floor, always use only natural, unpainted materials.
Warm and beautiful flooring - parquet, popular in the first half of the 20th century in the USSR, has again attracted attention. And if you want to decorate your home (and not just the floor) with such a coating, it’s worth understanding what types of parquet there are and how they can be used in the interior.
What it is?
Parquet is a floor covering in the form of wooden planks laid in a geometric or artistic pattern. The means of tongue and groove connection of planks are ridges and grooves, which ensure the reliability of the connection.
But artistic parquet can be connected in another way.
Gothic Europe of the late 13th – early 14th centuries became the progenitor of such floors. The nobles could afford to lay out drawings and ornaments from small tablets of different types.
Parquet appeared in Russia two centuries later. Until the beginning of the 20th century, parquet boards and panels were made only by hand. It was only in the first quarter of the 20th century that mass production of parquet began to appear. The result of this work was that even after 100 years there is a demand for parquet. And although this is an expensive flooring option, the desire to make your home beautiful and cozy makes you think about this material again.
Main types
According to the production method, this flooring is divided into several types:
- Piece- the oldest, but still common. Each plank is equipped with a ridge on one side and a tenon on the other. The planks are made from hardwood. This coating is durable, it can be repaired many times, there are a large number of ways to lay planks on the floor;
- Stacked (mosaic) floor- this is a drawing (mosaic) protected with special paper, which is removed after laying all the shields. A soundproofing backing can be glued to the back of the boards. According to the method of fastening to the floor, inlaid parquet can be with a rebate, with an oblique groove, with fastening to a hard strip, to a soft strip;
- Shield consists of two layers: a base made of rough boards or fiberboard and a “face” - small planks of hard wood with varnish. The design is unpretentious - square, rhombus, rectangle. And only custom-made shields can have a more interesting geometry;
- Solid parquet- This is a solid board with a tongue and groove. The only difference with the piece is in the larger sizes;
- Parquet board is a combination of three layers of wood of different species. Due to a certain technology, such material is not afraid of changes in temperature and humidity;
- Pronto-parquet also multi-layered, but small in size. In fact, these are also piece boards, but made from several types of wood. The technology for creating multilayers takes up to 7 months. In addition, the pronto is made varnished in 7-8 layers, although there are also unvarnished boards;
- Palace (artistic)– the most expensive natural wood flooring. To create a highly artistic design, different types of wood are used, which must be selected in such a way that they do not affect each other when temperature and humidity change. In addition, the sizes of the boards are not just different, but shaped, which significantly slows down the work, makes the parquet more expensive and makes it unique;
- Industrial (commercial) parquet is once again gaining popularity not only in public, sports and cultural spaces with high traffic, but also in residential buildings. The principle of its manufacture is very different. The panels have no tongues and grooves. In production, the slats are selected, placed on edge and the packaging is sealed with tape, creating small shields. And already indoors, the boards are glued to the floor on a level surface;
- Cork floor- these are not boards or planks. A special technology for using cork tree bark makes it possible to produce natural rectangular panels of different thicknesses, which do an excellent job of heat and sound insulation, but are short-lived, so they are often used to cover walls and ceilings, but not floors.
The following types of flooring can be called parquet conditionally due to the use of not only natural wood, but also artificial materials in their production:
- Laminate can be hard or flexible. Solid consists of 4 layers. The top decorative one can imitate a wooden covering. Flexible vinyl laminate is made from PVC in square or rectangular shapes. It is least similar to wooden parquet and is significantly inferior to it in its properties. The only undeniable advantage is the low price;
- Garden, or decking– these are square or rectangular fragments with soft or hard fastening. Hard decking is made from hard wood. It is used to design garden paths and playgrounds. This covering is easy to install, has a good drainage system, and has a pleasant appearance.
Types of wood
Currently, several dozen types of wood are used to make parquet. Those that grow in our climate zone will cost much less. But among them there are rare breeds. Therefore, the price will depend not only on the difficulty of the work, but also on the rarity of the solid wood.
Cork oak is ready for industrial use only after 25-30 years of its life. And this is the cheapest technical plug. Particularly high-quality material can be removed from the tree when it is 150-160 years old.
Larch parquet is valued for its excellent moisture resistance and thermal insulation. Siberian larch is not susceptible to rotting. The solid wood has 12 shades, with a lower price than oak or teak.
Oak is a parquet classic. Durable wood is coated with stain, after which it can have shades ranging from greenish-brown to almost black. Only true professionals work with oak. The planks have a pronounced wood pattern.
Beech has the lowest density, so it is easy to process. It lends itself well to grinding and polishing. The parquet is smooth, the wood grain is barely noticeable. Shades of light, reddish yellow and grayish colors. There are inclusions of dark lines and shiny plates.
Walnut is a popular tree in different parts of the world. European wood comes in a variety of colors, ranging from shades of greenish-gray with darkened lines to reddish and light brown. But after several cold winters, the number of trees has sharply decreased, and now American walnut is popular - dark brown wood with bird pecks and traces of knots. The walnut is hard, but easy to process.
Ash is a light, uniform, hard and elastic wood. The pattern is similar to oak, but fills the house with golden light. The wood is resistant to rotting and cracking. It bends well, but does not change its size over time.
Cherry has pinkish-brown or pinkish-gray mature wood. Its structure is such that it is much easier to process than oak. At the same time, it has a beautiful decorative texture that darkens over time.
Birch will give the parquet a white color; reddish or yellowish shades are possible. Solid wood is well processed and does not split. It can be easily imitated to resemble valuable wood species by painting and polishing.
Mahogany parquet is hard, moisture-resistant, and does not dry out quickly. Merbau has reddish-brown wood with all shades.
Bamboo is called amber. Very abrasion resistant. Parquet is not subjected to sanding. After five years of the warranty period, it is simply refurbished.
Alder is a popular tree not only in the middle zone. Freshly installed parquet flooring can range in color from light to reddish-orange. Over time it turns very yellow. The material is hard and resistant to cracking. But insects often live in the board.
Russian maple is hard and durable. It has a delicate gray-pink pattern that turns yellow over time. Wood is easy to polish. Using stain, it is not difficult to imitate more expensive tree species. American and ash maple are also used to make parquet, which are much more difficult to process.
Dimensions
You can determine the dimensions of the parquet using GOST 2695-83. But since the document was adopted in 1983 in virtually another state, not all modern manufacturers adhere to it.
- The thickness of block parquet strips ranges from 15-22 mm with a length of up to 500 mm and a width of 40-75 mm;
- Stacked parquet is a panel measuring 400x400 or 600x600 mm, containing strips of various shades. The thickness of the boards is 8 – 12 mm;
- Panel parquet has dimensions of 800x800 mm, thickness 15-30 mm;
- Solid parquet boards can have a width of 80 mm, a thickness of 15 mm and a length of several meters;
- Three-layer parquet boards have any length from 300 to 1845 mm. Moreover, its width is 127-210 mm, and its thickness is 7-23 mm.
The total thickness of all layers of hard laminate is 7-11 mm. The universal length is 185-195 mm, and a width of 330 mm is considered wide enough. Vinyl laminate tiles have several sizes: 300x150 mm, 300x300 mm, 200x200 mm, 490x490 mm. A distinctive feature is its very small thickness - no more than 5 mm.
Industrial parquet has the following dimensions: 8-23 mm width, 8-23 mm thickness, 150-500 mm board length. The universal length is 160 mm.
The dimensions of the cork floor depend on the future use. Technical cork is used as an insulating substrate and is produced in rolls. The adhesive floor is made 4-6 mm thick and laid on an adhesive base. Floating floors are rectangular panels with a thickness of 10.5-11 mm, consisting of several layers: the base is cork, the middle is NDF or MDF, the front side is cork, valuable wood, leather or even a photo print.
Color and design
The choice of color and parquet design are directly related. In addition to the rational functions of insulation and sound insulation, parquet undoubtedly has an aesthetic function. Even if it is not an artistic masterpiece, the floor will definitely attract attention. Therefore, it must be in harmony with the wall covering, furniture and textiles. This can be achieved through color and decoration.
The strips of most types of parquet are rectangular in shape, but in completely different colors.
For small rooms it is better to use small planks, not forgetting that light shades of the floor will visually enlarge the room.
Whitewashed floors will make the room light and versatile for many styles. For the north side it is better to choose yellowish warm shades of planks. Sand color suits rich classics, and aged wear suits vintage style.
Spacious rooms and halls allow the use of medium and large planks of any shape. Dark shades work well for large areas. Ebony and polysander parquet, dark merbau and stained oak are a real decoration of the house. Wenge will add solidity to business style. Gold inclusions on a rich red-brown color are expensive and stylish.
At home, dark parquet planks can be combined with light ones. Braid can be completely varied. This decor, completed with furniture varnish or wax, will make the floor glossy and extremely beautiful.
If a plain dark floor was chosen, then it can be decorated with a light carpet with a pattern to match the parquet.
Artistic parquet by definition will be colored. The variety of colors of different woods will help create national designs or emphasize stylistic features. Modular parquet requires a very large space.
Black color also requires space. It will not suit every home and style. But in combination with white furniture it will be a modern, sophisticated classic.
Any parquet will certainly decorate your apartment or house. It is created to give warmth and comfort. The main thing is to find a balance in the combination of parquet boards and furnishings.
If the color of the floor does not match the furniture, then you need to choose an accessory to match the floor covering. Decorating with fabric and paint will help you find matching items.
Popular manufacturers
The construction industry has no problems with parquet manufacturers. But it’s worth understanding how high quality the products are offered.
The Swedish company Kahrs is positioned as the best manufacturer of parquet boards. The company united several global manufacturers, including Karelian parquet manufacturers. Kährs uses the most reliable slat lock, high-quality drying of wood, and excellent varnish for coating. The manufacturer occupies one of the first places in the ranking of Russian buyers.
The huge global concern Tarkett, which has absorbed a large number of flooring manufacturers, is the undisputed leader in the production of parquet. This is the highest quality and the same price. But given the fact that production is established all over the world, not every branch produces high-quality products. Russian consumers in their reviews talk about too high a percentage of defective products purchased.
Polish Barlinek pleases customers with a variety of products. The Barlinek Group has expanded production to several countries. And again, quality depends on the specific manufacturer, and not on the brand as a whole. Different buyers evaluate parquet flooring differently: some are satisfied, others are horrified by the quality.
Not so famous, but no less popular is the Belarusian manufacturer Coswick. This brand has a diverse production: parquet boards, mosaic parquet, sports floors, wall panels. The company is constantly modernizing its production and improving product quality. But so far, buyers have many complaints about the quality of the products.
The St. Petersburg brand “Imperial Parquet” is an exclusive elite parquet for classic style and modern interiors. All products are made from high-quality materials using proven technologies on the latest machines. It is not easy to find reviews about this production, and this is no wonder: a company that works with expensive material in a high price segment has earned a name for itself among not the poorest people. However, buyers leave only positive reviews about this manufacturer.
Of course, when buying parquet, you need to choose the product very carefully. And still, it will be possible to evaluate it only some time after installation. In addition, you need to take into account that the beauty and practicality of parquet do not always depend only on the manufacturer. Unfortunately, illiterate, unprofessional flooring cannot be ruled out.
Which to choose?
The choice of parquet depends on what the buyer wants to see in his home.
When purchasing, you should pay attention not only to the color, but also to the full name of the product.
Parquet is divided into grades, which depend on the nature and method of cutting the wood. Radial cutting is considered the most valuable. Tangential will not withstand mechanical damage to wood. The mixed one has a beautiful pattern, but the quality is worse than the radial cut.
The wood texture classifies the patterns on the cut:
- Select is distinguished by a fine pattern, it is uniform in structure and color;
- Nature is a repeatedly repeated picture with small knots;
- Gest – contrasting mixed saw cut;
- Classic – texture rendering;
- Station wagon - small knots framed with patterns that differ from each other;
- Antique is a pattern that changes greatly with different shades.
The quality of wood for parquet is determined by the concepts “premium”, “select”, “standard”, “natur”, “rustic” and others. Elite wood belongs to the premium class.
Having clarified the theoretical issues, we move on to practice:
- It is ideal when you have the opportunity to see your future purchase with your own eyes. If the purchase is made via the Internet, then you need to be prepared for the fact that the color may differ from what you see on the monitor;
- Hardwood parquet boards are much more practical than softwood ones. And don’t be mistaken - in terms of hardness, oak is in the middle of the wood hardness table;
- Another indicator is the stability of the board. An ordinary buyer will not be able to determine it - a professional is needed;
- Parquet installers recommend opening the packages directly in the store and checking the geometry of the board. But here you need to keep in mind that if you refuse to purchase, you will have to resolve the issue with packaging;
The photo shows herringbone masonry in a dark color to match the style of the overall interior. Due to the large amount of daylight, the room does not seem gloomy.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of parquet flooring:
- Durability and ease of care (guaranteed to preserve its appearance for up to a hundred years with proper care without abrasives);
- The apartment takes on a new meaning (a house with parquet flooring is valued higher);
- Versatility (wooden flooring fits any interior, it can be easily repainted);
- Natural wood that does not accumulate static energy.
Disadvantages of wooden parquet:
- Cost of material and installation (this is one of the most expensive floor finishes; installation cannot be done independently, for example, like laminate);
- Periodic polishing (the harder the wood, the easier it is to scratch; sometimes you need to polish the floor to remove scuffs);
- When walking, it makes noise that may disturb the neighbors below;
- Not resistant to moisture, absorbs odor.
Kinds
Wooden planks with a length of 20-50 cm, a width of 4-7 cm and a thickness of 1-2 cm. There are grooves on the sides. The value depends on the thickness of the top layer. The slots in the bottom layer relieve stress from the entire board when stressed. There is difficulty in installation and you need to pay attention to the quality of the top coating.
The photo shows a combination of French herringbone (piece parquet was used) with a modern interior. Light wood types make the space wider, which is important for modern apartments.
Pronto-parquet is a type of piece parquet with precise grooves, with a thickness of the top layers of 0.5 cm and covered with layers of varnish. Withstands constant heavy loads (public places and stages) and is a universal durable coating.
Modular
Consists of different sized modules. The design on each module is made from individual parts of valuable wood and is fixed on a wooden base. Installs faster than a piece.
Art
The pattern differs in the method of installation (a geometric pattern is created by combining panels of different sizes and colors). The design can be in the form of a border, rosettes or an individual design.
The photo shows an example of how a covering with artistic masonry in the center makes a semantic accent on the dining table in the interior of the dining room.
It consists of three layers of wood, the front layer is made exclusively from noble wood (the selected type of wood affects the final cost of the product).
Color selection
To withstand heavy loads, it is better to choose hard wood, which also has a long service life and is more resistant to moisture and temperature changes. Based on the color of parquet in the interior there are:
| Light (oak, bamboo, ash, maple) | Suitable for many style solutions, ethno-style, country, minimalism, makes the room brighter and visually wider. Combines with any color of furniture and walls. |
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| Dark (wenge and stained oak) | Massive furniture in a classic-style interior, white walls and furniture, red finishing tones and beige textiles go well with a dark floor. |
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| Red (kempast, paduk, doussia) | Rarely used due to the fact that such trees grow in Africa and Asia. |
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- Pink is common and has low density (beech, pear, alder).
- Yellow is in great demand in different latitudes (teak, olive, iroko).
- Brown has a high density, wood is widely represented throughout the world (walnut, kumara, rosewood, merbau, scupira).
The photo in the bedroom interior shows a modular light parquet floor coated with varnish. This coating emphasizes aristocracy even without stucco on the ceiling.
White parquet
Gray parquet
Black parquet in the interior
Laying methods
Herringbone
A type of laying block parquet that, due to the complexity of its structure, holds tightly. Here the load is distributed evenly and cracks do not form over time. As a variation of the well-known pattern, it can be varied with two types of colors or planks of different lengths.
Ladder (French herringbone)
It does not provide the same durable coating as the previous type, it is more difficult to install, but it looks unusual and original in the interior.
Deck
The dies are laid one after another with a certain shift (depending on the pattern):
- symmetrical deck,
- chaotic,
- half shift
- diagonal symmetrical deck,
- diagonal chaotic,
- diagonal with a shift of half or 1/3.
The photo shows the masonry with a symmetrical deck, which does not attract attention and looks discreet. Suitable for kitchen interiors in high-tech and minimalist styles.
A diagonal deck will visually enlarge a small room. The coating is reliable, but inferior to the herringbone because the parts do not intersect so closely with each other.
Vietnamese (squares)
Visually increases the size of the room; this method is resistant to mechanical stress and can withstand heavy loads. A square is laid out from three or more planks, which is placed next to the same square perpendicularly. The result is a neat and symmetrical pattern.
Basket (wicker)
Here, as in the herringbone, you can combine parquet of different colors and sizes to create a unique pattern that resembles wickerwork. Due to the arrangement of colors and patterns, it looks original and modern in the interior.
In addition, each masonry method can be combined or diversified with small square inserts from the same or a different type of wood.
Parquet on the wall
Design professionals are increasingly using floor coverings in wall designs in their projects. Decorating with parquet will require relatively labor-intensive installation work, and the result will exceed all expectations.
The type of parquet in the apartment and the installation method must be chosen taking into account the size of the rooms, their functionality, as well as the style of the interior.
Parquet in the living room interior should be combined with a furniture set. Here, special attention is paid to color and texture, artistic parquet will emphasize the classic style, and for country, a deck in any order of installation is suitable. For the living room, it is recommended to use a 22 grade board to match the color of the interior. Natural material always decorates a room and makes it cozy.
The photo shows the interior of a bright living room in a classic style, with herringbone parquet flooring made of different colors of wood.
Kitchen finishing
It is better to pay attention to dies that are fastened with a lock and are not glued (then you can easily replace worn parts at the sink or stove). This type of coating will save your ceramic cup from turning into fragments.
In the photo, a classic herringbone in double color complements the interior of the kitchen, where wood, brickwork and modern appliances are combined.
Photo in the bedroom
Parquet in the bedroom interior will set the mood for relaxation, making the morning good from the warm touch of your feet to the floor. It is recommended to choose class 21, 22 parquet. Perfectly emphasizes country, Provence, eco-style and classic style. Depending on the laying pattern and color of the boards, you can make the room wider.
The photo shows an example of the interior of a royal-sized bedroom, where artistic parquet sets the mood.
Parquet in the interior of a children's room must be laid taking into account the increased load on the floor, the possibility of getting wet, mechanical aggression and marker patterns (protective varnish will make the coating durable, periodic sanding will remove scratches). This coating is not slippery, not cold, and environmentally friendly.
Photos in the interior
The photographs below show options for using parquet boards in the interior of rooms for various functional purposes.
Since its invention in Europe in the 13th century, parquet has been considered the most luxurious, noble, sophisticated and incredibly beautiful floor covering, subtly emphasizing the style and exclusivity of the room. Parquet is always at the peak of popularity.
Firstly, it has proven itself perfectly from a practical point of view: it is natural, durable, repairable, and with proper care will last for many decades. Secondly, thanks to its impeccable aesthetics and “multi-facetedness”, beautiful parquet is suitable for any design style; it defines and sets the tone for the design. Let's figure out what role parquet plays in the interior, how the color of parquet affects the geometry and appearance of the space, when it is better to give preference to light or dark tones, and in which cases it is better to limit ourselves to neutral shades.
Many faces
Modern processing technologies have significantly diversified the texture, color, shape and texture of parquet. And today, familiar types of wood appear in a completely new guise, opening up enormous possibilities for design. For example, previously maple and birch were considered the lightest, but today even red oak can be bleached to very light, almost white, and at the same time subtly emphasize the texture of the wood, or vice versa, painted black and patinated.
Noble walnut parquet is a traditional way of finishing floors; it smoothes out the interior, making it homey, cozy and comfortable.
It became possible to choose the size of the tiles; the length of piece parquet ranges from 18 to 49 cm, with a width of 4-7 cm, and a parquet board in length can be more than 2 m. Parquet modules have become a very convenient invention - these are boards on which several are mounted at once lamellas according to the drawing. This material is easy to lay with your own hands, even without the skills.
Gray parquet in the interior is a compromise between dark and light; it is a calm, but at the same time, very stylish and original room design
Brushing, artificial aging, painting wood in colors unusual for natural materials, applying patina, staining, coupled with a variety of sizes and different installation methods make parquet a universal floor covering in any interior.
The most suitable parquet for offices is oak, mahogany, dark walnut
Parquet design has the main task of creating a covering that would best suit the functional, aesthetic and needs of the owners of the premises. With the right approach, the parquet floor becomes the dominant element, it sets the tone, but at the same time all other details are not lost, but rather work towards the overall goal: to decorate the room, emphasize all the advantages, and carefully extinguish the shortcomings. Pay attention to the photos of parquet in the interior, selected in the gallery; they perfectly demonstrate how the coating can highlight the architectural features of a space, make it more expressive and comfortable.
Parquet color – choose, don’t make a mistake
Neutral, calm tones with a red or brown tint are classic flooring finishes: calm, familiar, suitable for any interior style, but without zest or originality, standard.
In modern floor design, contrasting light and dark colors dominate. This trend has been observed at all times, and today this design approach is more relevant than ever; interesting and extraordinary solutions are in demand that can transform the space, make it brighter and more expressive. This goal can be achieved thanks to dark and light shades of parquet; it becomes possible to play with the geometry of the room, and such a floor can serve as an excellent background for highlighting other interior elements: furniture, ceiling decor, arches, etc.
Artistic parquet in the interior is always luxurious and elegant; in the photo there is a contrasting ornament that helps straighten the proportions of the room
Light parquet in the interior
It is no secret that light parquet: the very popular bleached oak or maple, as well as birch, hornbeam, beech of some varieties, ash with iridescent white-yellow sapwood will make the room lighter, add airiness and visually expand its boundaries.
For small areas, you should choose a coating of light shades with a subtle texture pattern. If the room is narrow, then it is better to lay even white parquet in a shuttle pattern, perpendicular to a narrow wall or in a herringbone pattern, this changes the proportions, resulting in an optical illusion that the room is wider.
Light parquet goes well with both bright and pastel colors; for a balanced interior, the main thing is to balance the palette
Advice: It is better to cover large areas of the floor with larger tiles, and you can break up the space so that it does not look like a faceless homogeneous mass using dark inserts: highlight zones, the center, or lay a contrasting strip along the perimeter at some distance from the walls.Light or white parquet is ideal for creating an airy rococo style, ethno trends, and minimalism. An abandoned white oak parquet board will add a touch of lightness and sophistication to the country and Provence style. Black birch will help in creating such modern styles as contemporary and shabby chic; a light palette of boards with thin dark veins and wormholes will look not just luxurious, but emphatically elegant.
For rooms with a lack of light, choose warm shades, such as light golden oak parquet
In sunny rooms, where there is always a lot of light, you can safely lay parquet in cool light shades; for northern and shaded spaces it is better to use warm colors. Creamy, creamy, pinkish, beige parquet will enhance the effect of visual perception; rooms with such a floor always seem larger, taller, more spacious.
Bleached oak in a cold palette can be balanced with bright and warm textile colors
But when laying light-colored flooring, you should know that it will be a reflection of all other interior items. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the color of the walls and ceiling very carefully. For example, white oak parquet in cold shades in combination with yellow or brown walls will become yellow, disharmony will appear in the interior, in this case it is better to use gray, blue or silver shades. But the furniture can be of any color; a light floor is the ideal backdrop for decor and details.
Light parquet goes well with furniture of different shades
Dark floor
Dark parquet is universal, aristocratic, noble, it has been and remains relevant for creating a wide variety of styles. This includes classicism, oriental and Japanese styles, hi-tech, boroque, loft, etc. Although dark floors visually narrow and clearly limit the space, the situation can be corrected with skirting boards of the same color. But the room becomes intimate, cozy, authentic - this is a special world for people who prefer rigor and comfort “in one bottle.”
Black parquet made of tinted oak looks brutal, but at the same time goes well with white furniture with a gold or silver patina; deep dark brown wenge is ideal for cream walls and milky oak furniture. The polysandra floor is somewhat variegated, but you can match it with finishing and interior elements of any shade, from golden honey to dark chocolate brown.
Dark brown wenge parquet is best combined with matching skirting boards and trim; this technique allows you to unify the interior
Dark parquet is an excellent canvas for bright or contrasting decor. To achieve the desired effect, colorful textiles and strict or, conversely, fancifully ornate forms of decor and furniture are appropriate in the design. As for the color palette, any colors can be combined with this floor, but all shades of white, red, purple, and gold look most advantageous.
The dark polysander floor goes well with restrained monochrome walls; furniture of any color matches it
Of course, dark parquet with a glossy finish looks very impressive, deep, stylish, it reflects furnishings and enlarges the space, but all the dust particles and tiny scratches are visible on it. A matte dark floor is a special chic, elegance, respectability, moreover, it is more practical than gloss, it hides scuffs and minor imperfections.
A dark floor combined with white furniture is a win-win technique for creating a strict and elegant interior.
To summarize, I would like to note that black-brown, light and white shades of parquet have many faces. To emphasize all the advantages, complement, smooth, balance and not overwhelm the beauty of the flooring, you should carefully select colors for interior decoration.