Having one type of flooring throughout your entire home is a more popular choice than it used to be in Austin. But the truth is there are some very practical reasons you may prefer to have multiple types of flooring in your home. For example: using different flooring to define different spaces or cater to different needs is another reason you may choose more than one material for your flooring. And when you do that, creating visually pleasing and smooth transitions is what brings the different materials together to create a space that looks well-designed and feels cohesive.
Here’s how we transition between different flooring throughout our customer’s homes in Austin:
Keep Baseboards and Trim Consistent Throughout Your Home
One of the best ways to make different types of flooring feel intentional is to keep the visual details the same throughout your home regardless of the type of flooring. Choose a style of baseboard that can accommodate all types of flooring you will be using. Also maintain the same type of trim both at the floor and around doors and windows. Some flooring has different heights, so working with a team of experienced pros – like us at Flohr – is the best way to achieve this successfully.
Whichever types of flooring you choose, keep the type of transition consistent throughout the home. If you have more than two types of flooring using the same transition method between pairs is a good practice. For example, the way you transition from tile to wood may be different than the way you go from wood to carpet. That’s okay, and as long as all the tile to wood – or any other pair – are the same as each other you will get a more cohesive feel.
Transition Options
What options you have available for types of transitions will depend on the two types of flooring involved. The size of your space will factor in as well. For example, if you have a tiled foyer that leads into an large, open living space you have enough space for a medallion style transition. This decorative option actually draws attention to the transition by installing tile in a pattern that blends the two materials while creating visual interest. Using decorative border style transitions between types of hard flooring is another way to achieve this in a more understated way. Keeping the border pattern the same in each place this technique is used offers enough consistency to keep the design cohesive while adding a wow factor to your aesthetic.
If you want to go the other direction and make your transitions subtle, that’s also possible. If your floor goes from one type of grouted material to another you can use a simple grout line to create your transition. You can also use contrasting grout along with a pattern to add a little visual interest that’s still understated.
When transitioning from flooring with significant differences in either texture or thickness your method may need to be more utilitarian than decorative. Transition strips are a practical and minimalistic option. If one room is carpeted a “reducer” strip may be needed to avoid a trip hazard. Thresholds made of wood, metal, or stone are a bit more noticeable, but a great way to define the difference between either function or theme of the two spaces. They offer a clear separation while maintaining a smooth transition.
The team at Flohr is here to help you in every aspect of your floor renovation. Give us a call and let’s talk about your new flooring.
