Do you want flooring that looks amazing but won’t cost a fortune?
If so, you need to take a closer look at laminate.
The cheap, fake-looking floors from the 1990s have had a makeover. Innovative new designs are so realistic, designers are having trouble spotting the difference from natural materials.
…and that’s just the beginning…
Laminate floors look incredible. They’re super durable. Easy to maintain. And unbelievably cheap to install.
A winning combination if ever there was one.
What’s Covered In This Article
- Why Laminate Flooring Is Taking Over Home Design
- Trends: The Latest Designs To Watch
- Buying Guide: How To Choose The Best Style
- Installation: Do’s And Don’ts That Work
Why Laminate Flooring Is Taking Over Home Design
The facts speak for themselves.
Global demand for laminate flooring reached a whopping USD 33.95 billion in 2024. And it’s predicted to keep on growing.
Why?
Consumers are slowly but surely cottoning on to what interior designers have been saying for years…
With floors, appearance is not the only thing that matters. Materials like laminate flooring offer the warm, rich look of natural wood at a fraction of the cost. They’re also hard-wearing, scratch-resistant, and last for years.
Let’s crunch some numbers for a second.
Natural wood floors are not cheap. Install prices vary but you’re generally looking at £40-£100 per square metre.
Laminate? Way less expensive. The running aesthetic makes it a steal compared to the real thing.
It’s a no-brainer when you think about it.
The residential sector leads the charge, accounting for 65.1% of the laminate flooring market share in 2024, according to Grand View Research. Homeowners the world over are going for laminate in living rooms, bedrooms, and even kitchens.
Trends: The Latest Designs To Watch
Let’s start with the good stuff…
Laminate flooring design has come on leaps and bounds. This is not the drab, repeated patterns and plasticky surfaces of the past. Designers and manufacturers have raised the bar to truly sky-high standards.
Today’s options include textures and finishes that fool the eye. In a good way. Here are some of the big trends in 2024:
- Wide Plank Designs – Moving away from narrower strips creates a more modern, spacious feel. Wider planks also mean fewer seams. Which always makes rooms look cleaner and more luxe.
- Hand-Scraped Textures – This design mimics the look of reclaimed or older wood. The textured finish adds depth and character that flat laminate just can’t compete with.
- Grey and Whitewashed Tones – Neutral shades are on-trend across all areas of home design. Grey-toned laminate works brilliantly in modern, industrial spaces while whitewashed shades create that sought-after coastal feel.
- Stone and Tile Looks – Don’t be fooled into thinking laminate only mimics wood. Next-gen printing tech now allows stunning stone and tile effects. Ideal for bathrooms and kitchens where you want the luxe look without the chilly factor.
A quick pro tip here…
The best way to choose the right design is to consider the overall style of your home first.
Lighter shades work best in small rooms where you want to make them look larger and airier. Darker colours add warmth and cosiness to larger, open-plan spaces. Textured finishes are also better at hiding scratches and wear over smooth surfaces.
Buying Guide: How To Choose The Best Style
Choosing laminate flooring for your home isn’t complicated. Just make sure you bear these tips in mind:
- Think about the level of foot traffic the flooring will get. Busy areas require laminate with a higher AC rating. This measures resistance to wear and tear. Choose AC3 or above for high-use zones like living rooms and hallways where there are children and pets.
- Consider the moisture levels. Kitchens and bathrooms need laminate that is either water-resistant or waterproof. Standard laminate can swell up if moisture gets into the core layer. Thankfully, there are now plenty of waterproof options on the market.
- Match the flooring to your overall décor and interior design. Flooring sets the tone for the whole room. Think about modern vs. traditional when making your selection. Minimalist spaces suit clean lines and neutral colours while more classic homes work well with warmer wood-grain patterns with rich undertones.
- Check the thickness of the planks. Generally speaking, the thicker the better in terms of sound insulation and durability. A 12mm laminate, for example, feels much more substantial underfoot compared to 8mm. Thicker also handles dips and bumps in the subfloor more forgivingly.
A final tip before you shop…
Always order samples of your chosen laminate flooring design before committing to a purchase. Colours can look very different depending on lighting. Perfect in a showroom could look drastically different in your own home.
Installation: Do’s And Don’ts That Work
A huge advantage of laminate flooring is how simple it is to install.
Most modern laminate flooring uses a click-lock mechanism. These planks snap together without any glue or nails required. It’s a dream come true for all you DIY fanatics. And an average-sized room can be finished in a single weekend if you have the right tools.
But there are some key things many people get wrong when it comes to installation:
- Never skip the acclimation period. It’s crucial to let your laminate flooring acclimatise for 48 hours before laying. This gives the planks time to adjust to the temperature and humidity of the room. Failure to do so can cause gaps or buckling further down the line.
- Never install laminate flooring directly on to the subfloor. Underlayment is not optional. It provides cushioning and sound insulation as well as some moisture protection. Some laminate comes with underlayment already attached. If not, be sure to buy a quality foam or cork layer.
- Always leave an expansion gap around the perimeter of every room. Laminate flooring naturally expands and contracts with temperature and humidity changes. Leave a gap of at least 10mm around the edges of each room to accommodate this. Skirting boards cover these expansion gaps neatly.
- Don’t use planks from just one box. This is super important if you don’t want to end up with obvious and repetitive patterns. Always take planks from multiple boxes and shuffle them before installation. This produces a much more natural, random-looking floor.
The beauty of laminate installation is that it’s hard to do it irreversibly wrong. If something does go a bit pear-shaped, unlike glued-down wood floors, you can easily remove and replace individual planks.
The Durability Factor
Hold on…
What about durability? Can laminate flooring really hold up over time?
Good news for laminate fans.
Thanks to modern manufacturing processes, laminate floors are tougher than ever. Protective wear layers keep them resistant to scratches, stains, fading, and impact. If well looked after, quality laminate can last 15-25 years.
Maintenance is also refreshingly easy and simple:
- Regular sweeping or vacuuming removes dust and debris
- Occasional damp mopping keeps floors looking fresh
- No sanding or refinishing ever required
- Resists scratches and scuffs better than hardwood
It’s also a real winner for homes with pets. Claw marks won’t show on laminate the way they do on hardwood. Unlike carpet, it doesn’t trap pet hair or odours either.
Bringing It All Together
Laminate flooring has arrived as a leading choice for modern home design. A combination of realistic aesthetics, proven durability, and attractive pricing means it’s hard to beat.
To recap everything you need to know about laminate flooring:
- Incredible new designs that rival natural wood, stone, and tile
- Excellent durability and longevity for busy households
- Super easy DIY installation with click-lock systems
- Hassle-free maintenance with no special treatments required
- Affordable prices without sacrificing style or quality
The flooring industry doesn’t stand still. Innovators are coming up with new textures, finishes, and waterproof technologies all the time.
Whether renovating one room or overhauling your entire home, laminate flooring can deliver fantastic results. It’s the smart choice for any homeowner looking for great-looking floors on a budget.
Start by browsing and researching which designs best suit your style. Order samples. Plan the layout. And go transform your home with flooring that looks amazing and performs even better.