Ready-made artificial flooring solutions are coming to the rescue of the same old mundane, plain floors you have been looking at for years.
When one thinks of getting their home interiors re vamped, most people tend to focus on the walls, the ceiling and furniture. But there is an integral part of homes that is often overlooked, floors, one that is rarely ever changed.
The simple reason for that is while wall colours and furniture can be changed regularly and quickly, renovation of floors is a costly and time consuming process. Walls are usually painted with the flooring style in mind and any new furniture that is picked out also needs to complement the floor. Floors make up the base of the house and have the capacity to change the whole aura of a home. Artificial flooring is a simple solution to this problem.
Artificial floorings have been around since the 1980s. They are a cheap, albeit temporary solution, which, with a little creativity can spruce up the most mundane looking floors. Prabakar, owner, Fedisa Interiors, says, “Artificial flooring can last up to five years and can easily give a space a luxurious look. Instead of renovating by prying up the existing floor tiles, people are nowadays opting for artificial flooring since it is an economically friendly and easily feasible option.”
Artificial flooring is essentially floor coverings that are made of a variety of materials that can be modified to suit different requirements. There are many types of tiles used for artificial flooring such as wooden panels, natural stone, rock stone, vinyl tiles and PVC tiles. They come in various sizes and can be altered to suit ones needs since, unlike marble and granite which are produced naturally, artificial flooring materials are manmade and are, thus, modifiable.
Homes and offices have different purposes and hence need different kinds of flooring options. “There are certain kinds of flooring that are great for homes that face the brunt of the summer heat. They are helpful in bringing down the overall temperature of the house. Other kinds help in soundproofing certain rooms or studios,” adds Prabakar. The ready-made flooring tiles are popular, not just in homes, but in hospitals and commercial areas as well.
Balamurugan, a civil engineer, says, “Artificial floors are often used on stages and in auditoriums to keep the floor from becoming slippery during performances. Hospitals use them since they are easy to clean and minimize sound. And in industries that handle heavy materials, damages are inevitable and artificial floors come in handy since they can be easily replaced when damaged.”
With the different styles, textures and designs available in flooring options, you can give your home a makeover any time you want.
J Mary Monika, who has done up one of her rooms with wooden panelled artificial flooring, says, “Most of my house is white. I had white walls and white marble floors which made the house look too bright and stark at times. So we had the flooring in one room fitted with wooden flooring. The room now looks unique and much cozier than the rest of the house. And unlike marble, it is also very easy to clean, which this room is often the one where we hang out with friends and guests. After the floor was fitted with the wooden panels we decided to incorporate other wooden elements like a wooden sofa and even a wooden swing. Even if the flooring suffers any damages, we will only need to switch the damaged panels with new ones.”
Source – Monica M H, Times Property, The Times of India, Chennai