23 Jun European Oak Timber Flooring Design Ideas
European oak flooring is well loved for the elegant touch it leaves in any room. The unique knots, grains and occasional veins truly bring out the natural beauty of oak wood into your home. When it comes to achieving a gorgeous interior design with oak flooring, we have a beautiful range of choices for you to go after! This article will explore the five most popular European oak flooring designs and styles:
- Modern Flooring Ideas
- French Provincial Flooring Ideas
- Rustic Flooring Ideas
- Shabby Chic Flooring Ideas
- Scandinavian Flooring Ideas
Modern Flooring Design Ideas
An equilibrium of contemporary and minimalism, the modern architecture was born from the 20th century alongside its philosophy and art. By far the most popular amongst today’s Sydneysiders, the modern interior design carries a clean and crisp style showcasing gorgeous unbroken lines with geometric furniture. Common materials in a modern home consist of metal, glass and light wooden compositions.
A key feature of modern housing includes high grade engineered timber floors with minimal blemishes, defects and features for a seamless floor covering. The modern palette encompasses a large range of tones from light pale beige or white, all the way to dark umber stains alongside everything in between. More important than colour, is ensuring minimal variations in each plank for the most clean appearance. Go for A/B/C grade European oak floor ranges.
French Provincial Oak Flooring Ideas
Originating from the countryside of France during the 17th and 18th century, French Provincial designs feature gorgeous oakwood floors and furniture complimented with wrought iron legs. They combined rustic timber with an air of elegance through ornaments including large mirrors and floating kitchen islands.
The french oak engineered flooring would often exude warmth with a rustic touch, featuring A/B/C/D grade European oak timber which showcased some natural knots, veins and variations in grains. French Provincial oak flooring is often a light brown with golden tones, or light yellow. Herringbone or Chevron floor designs were not uncommon amongst french provincial designs.
The dining room below showcases a deep hardwood timber colour, which can be substituted with brown, red or golden oak.
Rustic Interior Design Flooring Ideas
The rustic interior was brought to the Australian market by early settlers. The rustic design featured wood and stone as the primary material composition, with darker earthy coloured palettes. This theme popularised itself within restaurants and bars alongside country homes.
Rustic hardwood or engineered oak timber flooring would consist of more features with large knots and strong veins. These consisted of C/D/E/F grade timber which resulted in greater variation between each plank, completing the rustic interior aesthetic. Colours aren’t strict, although most rustic designs trend towards stronger and darker colours from browns to reds. Historical rustic homes would sometimes incorporate natural stone floor tiles, although they are less common and practical nowadays.
Shabby Chic Style Flooring Ideas
The first roots of Shabby Chic interiors were found in vintage English countryside. The bright themed Shabby Chic brings a plethora of light pinks, sky blues and page greens through various sofas, pillows and other ornaments. This style is often considered feminine through the use of floral designs and soft tactile designs.
When it comes to choosing the right European oak flooring for the Shabby Chic interior, moderate darker colours take the win. Although brightening up the home is a key feature when it comes to achieving the Chic look, the floor tends to offer a stronger brown or grey base. In saying this, the wood floors don’t have to be completely dark as there is a range of colours which match the style. When it comes to the timber grade, we recommend going for a characteristic complexion with B/C/D grade oak wood floors.
Scandinavian Style Oak Flooring Ideas
Originating from the heart of Nordic countries during the 1930s, the Scandinavian design featured lighter colours. The Scandinavian look consisted of white walls and ceilings with pale yellow wood furniture. Occasional plants and low hanging warm lights would decorate the interiors.
Scandinavian homes loved including wooden oak floors which were light or creamy in colour. These would range from stark white to pale beige, or a washed grey. Some houses would match the flooring with the pale yellow furniture colour in parquetry designs. Parquetry is also a common feature amongst more modern interiors, alongside fur rugs or mats. Go for an A/B/C/D grade engineered flooring with the perfect finish.
Understanding European Oak Grading System
You may have noticed the A/B/C/D/E/F grading under each of the popular floor styles. This essentially accounts for the amount of natural features and variations in each floorboard, which can affect the overall aesthetic and style of your house. Planks which have plentiful knots, grains, veins and other features are considered more rustic compared to planks that showcase a smooth creamy complexion.
- A & B Grade: Offers the most flawless oak planks which are equivalent to ‘select grade’ hardwoods in terms of natural feature quantities. A and B grade timber also tends to be sourced from the heartwood of oak trees, which are more scarce and hence more expensive.
- C & D Grade: Moderate features which bring out the natural beauty of timber flooring. C and D grade timber allows creativity and flair in your flooring without making them appear too rustic for household applications.
- E & F Grade: These planks display the highest amount of variations in features and are considered very rustic. Strong black veins are dominant features, which may detract from suitability in most home interior designs. Common applications include bars and restaurant themes.
Conclusion – Next Steps!
If you liked any of the designs above and seek more information or consultation, don’t hesitate to contact us for free flooring advice or design ideas.
Alternatively, you can check out our recent Guide to Modern Contemporary Interior Designs!
We hope this article was a great help to you.
