Flooring plays an integral part in every interior design scheme, and is required to be aesthetically pleasing, highly durable and, increasingly, environmentally friendly. David Bigland, managing director of luxury vinyl flooring specialist, Moduleo UK, explores the company’s key flooring trends for 2013.
Classic and timeless
Throughout 2012 Moduleo had a great deal of success with its classic wood finishes. We expect this trend to continue long into 2013 and beyond, as a wooden floor finish provides a timeless canvas on which a room can be personalised. Some of Moduleo’s most popular finishes include Country Oak, Verdon Oak and Classic Oak.
Wide planks
Ideal for open-plan spaces, flooring fitted in wide planks and large tiles helps to accentuate and widen the room. Moduleo’s Select plank measures 163 x 988mm, and its Transform plank measures 196 x 1320mm. This creates the illusion of greater space in any room, while adding to the luxurious finish and natural appearance of the LVT flooring.
Exotic finishes
While traditional hardwood finishes will undoubtedly continue to be popular in 2013, there is a growing trend for slightly unusual and exotic finishes. One of the many benefits of LVT flooring is that it allows the replication of these finishes, which we expect will grow in popularity in the year ahead. Moduleo’s Ethnic Wenge which is based on a rare, tropical wood from the Congo has proved popular.
Sustainability
Mintel’s Carpet and Floorcoverings Report 2012 revealed that 46% of people claim that the environmentally-friendly aspect of a product is a key factor in their buying decision. At Moduleo we have certainly had a positive response to our eco-commitment, and expect that the demand for environmentally-friendly products will continue into 2013 and beyond.
Warmer stone tones
While LVT continues to grow in popularity, consumers are embracing the possibility of having a stone floor that is not cold underfoot. Moduleo has developed a number of colours and finishes that we expect will be popular in the new year, including Limestone and Bluestone. The unusual and slightly warmer tile finishes are ideal for flooring in restaurants, bars and hotel bathrooms. As with all Moduleo flooring, the products also work well with underfloor heating.