Introduction to interior floors

Floors are a fundamental element in home decor: they represent the basis on which all furnishings rest and, for this reason, choosing the right floor is essential to define the style and atmosphere of interior environments. When it comes to choose the internal floor of a residence, many materials, shapes and colours are available, yet not all options are suitable for your needs.
In this article we will analyse a number of different types of floors for internal applications, with their advantages and disadvantages, to help you choose the one that best suits your aesthetic, functional and budget needs.

 

Natural materials

Floors in natural materials offer a wide range of aesthetic solutions and are often chosen for their beauty, strength and durability. Here are some of the most common natural materials used for interior floors:

a. Wood: wood is among the most popular materials for floors, owing to its warm natural beauty, strength and durability. Wooden floors can be made of different types of wood, from oak to teak and from walnut to chestnut. Various finishes are also available, spanning from raw to varnished outcomes. Hardwood floors require maintenance, but if looked after carefully they can last for many years.

b. Stone: natural stone is a highly valued material due to its strength and intrinsic beauty. Among the different types of stone used for interior floors are granite, marble, limestone and sandstone. Stone floors require maintenance, but if well cared for they can last for many years and give any space a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

c. Marble: marble is precious and highly appreciated for its beauty and glossiness. Marble floors come in different shades and veins, and are often chosen to give an environment a touch of elegance and luxury. Marble requires maintenance and care to preserve its beauty over time.

d. Earthenware: earthenware (or cotto) is a natural material that is mostly common in Italian and Mediterranean architectural traditions. Earthenware floors’ typical rustic and natural beauty gives any space a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Earthenware also requires maintenance.

e. Terracotta: terracotta is obtained from clay baked at a low temperature, and gives any surface a rustic and natural beauty.
Terracotta floors are often chosen for their strength and durability, but require some maintenance to preserve their beauty over time.

Generally speaking, floors made of natural materials convey a warm and welcoming atmosphere, but require constant maintenance over time.
Before choosing a floor made of natural materials, we advise you to consider the use for which it is intended, as well as the type of maintenance that will be necessary to keep it in good condition.

Synthetic materials 

Synthetic material floors offer a wide range of aesthetic solutions and are often chosen for their easy maintenance, their resistance and their durability over time. Here are some of the most common synthetic materials used for interior floors:

a. Ceramic tiles: ceramic tiles are a very popular type of flooring due to their resistance and the fact that they are easy and quick to clean. Ceramic tiles are available in different shades and finishes: from glossy to matte, in bright and neutral colours alike. Ceramic tiles can be used in any room of the house, in the bathroom as well as in the kitchen or the living room.

b. Porcelain stoneware tiles: porcelain stoneware is a very resistant and easy to clean synthetic material, mainly used outdoor, but it can also be used for indoor applications. Porcelain stoneware is available in different finishes, from glossy to matte, and in many shades and textures. It can even be used to reproduce natural materials such as stone or wood.

c. Linoleum floors: linoleum is an ecological and resistant material, obtained from a mixture of natural components. Linoleum floors are often chosen for their strength and durability, as well as for their natural appearance and eco-sustainability.

d. PVC floors: PVC is a very common synthetic material due to its cheapness and its resistance to bending. PVC floors come in many shades and textures, and can be used in any environment. PVC floors are very easy to clean, but their can fade over time due to exposure to UV rays.

Generally speaking, floors in synthetic materials offer a wide range of aesthetic solutions and are often chosen for their resistance and ease of cleaning. Before choosing a synthetic material floor, we recommend evaluating its environmental impact.

Wooden floors

Wooden floors are a very popular choice for interiors due to their warm, natural and welcoming appearance. Wooden floors can be made of different types of wood, each with its own characteristics and unique charm. Here are some of the most common hardwood flooring options:

a. Parquet: parquet is a type of wooden floor made of solid or plywood strips arranged into a specific pattern. Parquet is available in different types of wood, including oak, teak, maple and cherry, and different finishes, from glossy to matte, and from light to dark. Parquet offers an elegant and refined look, but requires considerable care and maintenance.

Innovative materials 

In the last decades some innovative flooring materials that combine aesthetics and functionality have been introduced on the market.
These materials often provide advantages such as resistance to stains, water, and mechanical stress.

 

Here are some of the most popular innovative materials for interior floors:

a. Microcement: microcement is an innovative and versatile material, made up of a mixture of cement, pigments and polymeric resins. Microcement is used to create modern and minimalist floors able to resist mechanical stress and water. Microcement is available in different shades and can be applied over pre-existing floors, avoiding the removal of the old floor. Ideal Work is the European leader in the application of microcement surfaces for floors and walls.

b. Resin: resin is an innovative material used for the creation of smooth and seamless floors. Resin is resistant to mechanical stress, stains and water.

c. Quartz: quartz is an innovative material used to make highly resistant, strong floors. Quartz is made of natural quartz particles which are bound together by polymeric resins. Quartz comes in different shades and textures, and can be used to create modern, minimalist floors.

Innovative materials for interior floors offer a wide range of aesthetic and functional solutions. Before choosing a floor made of innovative materials, it is important to evaluate the technical properties and aesthetic characteristics of the chosen material. Feel free to contact us for advice and to find out more.

Choosing

Before choosing an interior floor, let’s see some of the criteria worth evaluating:

The environment’s style: a floor should be chosen according to the style of the environment it will be applied to, in order to create an aesthetic continuity between walls, furniture and decorative elements. For example, microcement floors are ideal for both elegant and informal environments. What is important, is that the style of the floor perfectly combines with the decor, thereby creating a harmonious and functional environment.

Use of the environment: a floor should be chosen according to the use for which the environment is intended. For example, a wooden floor may not be suitable for an environment subject to humidity and vapours, such as a bathroom or a kitchen, where a decorative concrete floor would be more suitable.

Resistance and durability: it is important to choose a resistant and long-lasting floor able to withstand mechanical stress, stains and wear over time.

Easy-to-clean and low-maintenance: a floor should be easy to clean and should require low maintenance over time.

Budget: an internal floor must be chosen according to the available budget. For example, a marble floor is more expensive than most other materials.

Such an important choice deserves to be taken with the utmost awareness and with the help of expert consultants.
For these reasons, we advise you to contact us directly to choose together the most suitable modern floor for you.