Current Trends in Hardwood Flooring

Unless you already have century old marble flooring in your home, you can’t get much more elegant than hardwood floors. With a rise in industry standards, nearly any kind of wood can be used as hardwood flooring, but one in particular is hot right now and you may never have heard of it. If you are considering installing hardwood flooring in your home, take a few minutes to research all of the beautiful options available to you.

Cypress Hardwood Flooring

If you’ve never seen Cypress flooring, you might not be able to spot it. It resembles knotty pine at first glance, since it is a species of pine, but it has more earthy tones which give it several advantages. The subtleness of the browns, ambers and occasional greens make Cypress very compatible with any type of wood, specifically dining room tables, chairs, and cabinets. The knots and swirls allow for the floor to withstand heavy wear without showing its scars. Many high-gloss, standard hardwood floors highlight their blemishes in the sun’s glare or by gouging the stain and finish.

Cypress has a base of blonde wood, although brown-toned knots and currents permeate the grain pattern, which can give the room an open feeling even with darker colors on the walls and cabinets. By clear-coating Cypress floors to showcase its natural color, you eliminate some of the finishing steps with multiple stains and glazes. The beauty of Cypress will far surpass the look of vinyl flooring every time and this particular hardwood would be an excellent addition to any room in your home.

Hickory Hardwood Flooring

Hickory floors have been the hardwood flooring of choice for the past 5-7 years. Like Cypress, Hickory brings some things to the table that the traditional hardwood choices simply do not. Hickory flooring exhibits several different shades of browns and tans and can match nearly any stain or species of cabinet wood, so you don’t have to worry about clashing with the floor. Hickory floors are like khaki pants: they go with everything. Hickory is also just about the toughest wood available, so it is extraordinarily durable and resilient.

Some quick facts about Cypress and Hickory flooring:

• Cypress is actually harder than Red Oak. Everyone knows how durable Oak is, so Cypress can give you peace of mind over your investment.
• Ax and sledge hammer handles are usually made from Hickory. If Hickory can withstand the brute force abuse of splitting wood, then imagine the kind of abuse it can take as a flooring option!
• The care and maintenance of Cypress and Hickory will be similar to other hardwood flooring. The difference is that these woods will be able to withstand much more abuse than their more common relatives.

Should I Invest in a Hardwood Flooring Trend?

While Hickory and Cypress are unique flooring trends, remember they became trends for a reason. Certainly, some people will not like the knots or the golden tones of Cypress or might think the color of Hickory varies too much. However, they are becoming very popular hardwood floor trends not only for their unique color and ability to blend with any material, but also for their durability.

Ultimately, it is your decision to make. If you like the look of Cypress or Hickory and are not a trend follower, then these woods are an excellent option for your home. If, however, you like to keep in sync with what is popular, you may want to sit this one out and go with something less expensive. The investment is well worth it, but it is one you will want to make with every intention of it lasting a lifetime.

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