Installing laminate flooring comes with enough options to make your head spin. Getting a feel for the mountains of real wood flooring samples, woodgrain gobbledygook, texture and tone diversity, and interior design doctrine can be daunting. What do you need to be on the lookout for design-wise when making a laminate flooring decision?
Don't assume that choosing a design when installing laminate flooring will be a simple process. Make sure that you have enough time when visiting suppliers. Real wood of every kind has been mimicked and replicated. Some laminate flooring installations are treated to reflect real wood textures. Plank edges may be square or beveled to match the looks of real wood more closely. There are wide planks, slim planks, long planks, and short planks, each offering installation with a distinct decorating effect.
Some flooring planks are single-strip, double strip or even triple strip. Some are matte, while others are finished with a brilliant shine. The new glueless click together designs can be hinged or flat. If this is your first flooring attempt, the flat version may be easier to handle during installation, as the hinged options can be slightly tricky around cupboards and doorways.
As if the creative collections of real wood lookalikes aren't enough, the planks now come in a vast array of stunningly realistic ceramic tiling and stone tiling designs. As in the wood range, there are colorful palettes to choose from. Installing laminate flooring tiles will tempt you with styling ranges from rustic to contemporary.
Examine each sample closely. Never rely solely on a photograph. Feel the texture. Walk on a flooring sample if possible. Do a few clicks yourself to see if the joints lock together tightly and with ease. Don't wait until you have a whole roomful of planks, to find out that the clicking has you cursing within the first half hour of your installation attempt!
Get advice from a decor expert about the coloring you opt for when installing laminate flooring. Your choice will have a huge effect on your interior design. Contrasts work well, such as choosing a lighter shade floor if your furniture is heavy and dark. Take color swatches of your furnishings with you to the flooring supplier, if you have these available. Match the moldings you choose closely to the flooring, in order to ensure a smooth transition from room to room. A baseboard that is fastened to the wall doesn't need to be in the same shade. Create a striking effect by using a contrasting color. Installing laminate flooring in a darker color will create the illusion of a smaller room, while lighter hues tend to expand an area.