2022 Hardwood Flooring Trends
As the year comes to an end, it is a good time to look back and see what trends have stood out in the hardwood flooring industry. While a quick Google search will show you various trends nationwide from manufacturers, we wanted to share what has been most popular with our clients in East Tennessee. So, below are our top 4 hardwood flooring trends in 2022.
1. European Oak
The first trend of 2022 was an affinity for European Oak as a wood species. European Oak is a type of white oak that comes from European countries like Germany, France, Poland, and England. It produces a beautiful and long-lasting heartwood that is particularly suited for hardwood flooring because of its durability and natural resistance to expansion and contraction. The grain pattern is often tight and wavy, with a relatively even color variation within the grain itself. This results in a smoother look to the floor as a whole. Coloration can vary and will certainly do so with the different finishing options available. However, the unfinished color of European Oak is often a warm golden-brown color, slightly darker and with fewer red hues than American Oak species.
2. Live Sawn
The next trend of 2022 is a specific way of cutting a plank called live sawn. There are usually four basic ways of cutting planks for hardwood flooring. These include live sawn, plain sawn, quarter sawn, and rift sawn. Depending on how the board is sawn, there will be different grain patterns, board widths, number of boards produced, and amount of waste. You can read more about the other types of cuts in our blog A Cut Above the Rest. Live sawn is one of the oldest and most traditional ways to cut logs into planks. It produces the least waste and results in a board with a full range of grain and color variation since it includes the darker heartwood and lighter sapwood in each plank. By choosing live sawn, each plank has a truly unique grain pattern and breathtaking contrast within each board.
3. Light Natural Oak Tones
While many still opt for darker colors or even warmer hues like honey or red, we have seen many choose lighter and more natural oak tones this year. As mentioned above, oak generally has a warm golden-brown color, sometimes with some reddish hues. However, the wood is very light in color when it is freshly cut. Many have chosen to maintain this freshly cut lighter color, which often requires a finishing technique that utilizes European Oil, which we will talk about next. Light natural oak tones create a space that can be simultaneously modern and rustic, depending on how you choose to decorate.
4. European Oil
Last but certainly not least is the trend of using European Oil to finish hardwood floors. European Oil, or “natural oil” as it is sometimes called, consists of natural organic material that penetrates each fiber of the plank, hardening it from the inside out. It is extremely durable, easy to maintain, and brings out the natural beauty of the wood. It is particularly useful if you want to keep the “raw” or freshly cut look of wood – making it an excellent choice if you want the light natural oak tones mentioned above. Are you interested in learning more about European Oil? Check out our blog European Oil / Natural Oil Wood Finish.
We are excited to see what 2023 has in store for the hardwood flooring industry. If you are thinking about a new floor or refinishing an old wood floor for your home or business, call or fill out our consultation form, and we would be happy to discuss your options.
