Similar to tile and vinyl, laminate flooring is upping the ante on realistic wood looks. Once upon a time, you could only get the smooth, basic, not-even-believable wood looks.
Now, you will find laminate flooring available in styles that mimic current wood flooring trends. And chances are, you won’t even know they’re laminate.
Reclaimed Wood Look Laminate
Unique and rustic, with each plank telling a story, it’s no wonder the laminate floor manufacturers are copying the reclaimed wood look.
While, in theory, manufactured material completely eradicates the purpose of using reclaimed wood (recycled materials, environmentally conscious), many homeowners are simply looking for the modern style and reclaimed hardwood prices are soaring!
Reclaimed wood look laminate offers an engaging and cost-effective solution for stylish, middle-class homeowners that cannot (or just prefer not to) spend an arm and a leg on reclaimed hardwood.
We don’t foresee the reclaimed wood trend lasting too long (I mean, it’s a limited resource as it is!) and we anticipate that as that trend dies, the reclaimed wood look laminate will slowly die with it.
Weathered & Distressed Wood Look Laminate
Similar to reclaimed wood look, right now character is in.
You can now get the same weathered and distressed looks available in traditional solid hardwood, such as wire-brushed, in easy to maintain, affordable laminate.
How will this trend survive? I believe there will always be a market for this type of flooring. It’s not something that every homeowner will love, but I predict it will stay relevant for the next 20 years.
Rustic & Hand Scraped Wood Look Laminate
Hand scraping makes each wood plank appear to be handcrafted and one of a kind. In the past, laminate flooring has merely been embossed to look hand scraped, but newer planks are given this realistic touch to be able to fully compete with solid hardwood in both looks and texture.
Long, ingrained scrapes show in the finish, leaving the floor looking finished, classic and rare. This is often very expensive in solid hardwood, but notably less costly in lookalike laminate.
This unique, individual, handcrafted look will absolutely stand the test of time. It looks expensive, and people love expensive.
Exotic Wood Look Laminate
Laminate is taking things to the next level and truly matching every type of wood currently available on the market.
Exotic hardwood is one of the newer, more notable trends this year, and laminate has managed to replicate this look and fool many design experts. Rather than importing expensive, exotic solid hardwood from countries across the world, homeowners are now purchasing convincing exotic wood looks in laminate.
This trend is ultra specific. It may stick around in stylized homes, but don’t expect to see it widely marketed. Our guess is that these looks will likely stick around, but the market for “exotic looks” will fall, and they will be marketed differently.