Floor Pairings: Materials That Look Great Together
Two different flooring materials laid side-by-side can stylishly zone spaces, link rooms or blur boundaries. Here’s how
The open layout of many of our homes, with different rooms and areas merging together, can throw up a few challenges when it comes to flooring options. How do you seamlessly blend and contrast two different floor designs to make a beautiful transition from one zone to another? Check out these gorgeous rooms for inspiration.
Come on in
If you’re going for the inside-outside look that so many of us have fallen for, think about how your flooring can help.
The designers of this open-plan kitchen have paired a pale wood floor with the slate tiles used outside. The tiles come right into the interior and contrast sharply with the wood, blurring the boundary between the interior and exterior spaces.
Check out these living rooms that blur the lines between inside and outside
If you’re going for the inside-outside look that so many of us have fallen for, think about how your flooring can help.
The designers of this open-plan kitchen have paired a pale wood floor with the slate tiles used outside. The tiles come right into the interior and contrast sharply with the wood, blurring the boundary between the interior and exterior spaces.
Check out these living rooms that blur the lines between inside and outside
Layer tone on tone
This master bedroom leads to a calm and elegant bathroom. To create a serene look, it would have been important that the two flooring materials didn’t jar. The designers have chosen a grey carpet in the bedroom and marble tiles in the bathroom that pick out the grey tone of the carpet to create an easy transition between the two rooms. The grey bath also helps to pull the two floorings together.
If you want a complementary look rather than a contrast, it’s a good idea to match one element from each floor covering. Here, it’s the colour, but you could do the same with wood and tiles by using similar shapes.
This master bedroom leads to a calm and elegant bathroom. To create a serene look, it would have been important that the two flooring materials didn’t jar. The designers have chosen a grey carpet in the bedroom and marble tiles in the bathroom that pick out the grey tone of the carpet to create an easy transition between the two rooms. The grey bath also helps to pull the two floorings together.
If you want a complementary look rather than a contrast, it’s a good idea to match one element from each floor covering. Here, it’s the colour, but you could do the same with wood and tiles by using similar shapes.
Zone the kitchen
If you want to create separate areas in your open-plan space, flooring can help. Here, the kitchen is situated between the office and living space and is highlighted by a different floor material. The warm timber parquet contrasts with large white tiles to differentiate the zones.
The stark contrast works here, as it complements other features in the space. The white units and walls frame the white floor, while the wooden island on top ties in with the parquet either side.
If you want to create separate areas in your open-plan space, flooring can help. Here, the kitchen is situated between the office and living space and is highlighted by a different floor material. The warm timber parquet contrasts with large white tiles to differentiate the zones.
The stark contrast works here, as it complements other features in the space. The white units and walls frame the white floor, while the wooden island on top ties in with the parquet either side.
Soften a bathing space
A luxurious way to design a master suite is to locate the bath in the bedroom. However, it can be a challenge to ensure the bathroom area is as cosy as the bedroom. Here, the washspace is raised slightly to form a clear separation and the step is curved to give a soft look.
The designers have chosen wooden flooring rather than tiles, which continues the cosy feel of the bedroom carpet. The two materials meet along the upright part of the step, with the wood forming a lip over the carpet.
Browse through images of bath in the bedroom
A luxurious way to design a master suite is to locate the bath in the bedroom. However, it can be a challenge to ensure the bathroom area is as cosy as the bedroom. Here, the washspace is raised slightly to form a clear separation and the step is curved to give a soft look.
The designers have chosen wooden flooring rather than tiles, which continues the cosy feel of the bedroom carpet. The two materials meet along the upright part of the step, with the wood forming a lip over the carpet.
Browse through images of bath in the bedroom
Warm things up
The gorgeous limestone floor in this farmhouse leads out to a glass extension. A stone floor might have been too cold in a living space surrounded by glazing, so the wooden boards help to warm it up.
The two areas merge well together, as the floor materials are similar in colour. Rather than making a statement with the contrast, the designers have chosen to create a fluid space where the floors flow into one another.
The gorgeous limestone floor in this farmhouse leads out to a glass extension. A stone floor might have been too cold in a living space surrounded by glazing, so the wooden boards help to warm it up.
The two areas merge well together, as the floor materials are similar in colour. Rather than making a statement with the contrast, the designers have chosen to create a fluid space where the floors flow into one another.
Add a frame
In this rather grand flat, the entrance area has been given a practical square of stone tiles. It’s a good way to deal with potential mud and scuffs before guests and family members move through to the wooden floor elsewhere. To merge the two materials, a timber board has been laid horizontally to form a framed edge to the stone.
The brown and charcoal shades are tied together by architectural features and furniture in similar tones.
In this rather grand flat, the entrance area has been given a practical square of stone tiles. It’s a good way to deal with potential mud and scuffs before guests and family members move through to the wooden floor elsewhere. To merge the two materials, a timber board has been laid horizontally to form a framed edge to the stone.
The brown and charcoal shades are tied together by architectural features and furniture in similar tones.
Opt for something different
When you’re teaming two floor materials, it’s often a good idea to make a feature of the contrast.
The owners of this open-plan space have a distinctly separate kitchen area, made clear by the striking patterned tiles on the floor. They give a completely different look to the warm wood floor elsewhere, and the space looks both interesting and stylish.
When you’re teaming two floor materials, it’s often a good idea to make a feature of the contrast.
The owners of this open-plan space have a distinctly separate kitchen area, made clear by the striking patterned tiles on the floor. They give a completely different look to the warm wood floor elsewhere, and the space looks both interesting and stylish.
Make your bath feel special
The designers of this indulgent bathroom have highlighted the roll-top bath by laying different flooring beneath it. They’ve chosen textured pebble tiles, which are very different to the dark wood flooring that surrounds them.
The contrast works to separate the bathing area and make it feel even more special, and the dark bath complements the deep brown wood that frames the pebbles.
The designers of this indulgent bathroom have highlighted the roll-top bath by laying different flooring beneath it. They’ve chosen textured pebble tiles, which are very different to the dark wood flooring that surrounds them.
The contrast works to separate the bathing area and make it feel even more special, and the dark bath complements the deep brown wood that frames the pebbles.
Try a new angle
The hallway of this apartment leads directly to the kitchen at the rear, and the two floors contrast sharply. Wooden chevrons are replaced by monochrome tiles in a geometric pattern. The designers have been clever with the transition between the two floor materials…
Here’s how you can add oomph to your hallways
The hallway of this apartment leads directly to the kitchen at the rear, and the two floors contrast sharply. Wooden chevrons are replaced by monochrome tiles in a geometric pattern. The designers have been clever with the transition between the two floor materials…
Here’s how you can add oomph to your hallways
…The tiles spill out from the kitchen and appear to overlap the wooden hallway floor. The effect is surprising and stunning.
Read more:
10 Unique Options for Your Floors
Tell us:
How have you paired flooring materials in your home? Share your photos and ideas in the Comments below.
Read more:
10 Unique Options for Your Floors
Tell us:
How have you paired flooring materials in your home? Share your photos and ideas in the Comments below.
Here’s a stunning idea for showcasing a dining table – encaustic tiles from Marrakech have been laid to form an abstract pattern beneath it. The designers have then cut the timber to fit exactly around the tiles – a complicated process, but well worth the effort. The large, open space has been given a striking look, and the tiles help to zone the dining area.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to having tiles and floorboards laid like this, you can still create a similar effect. Hunt online for floor stickers that you can easily adhere to the boards and remove at a later date, or try your hand with a stencil pattern and some floor paint.