NOW THAT THE minimalist era has taken a back seat to more creative design concepts, it's time to elevate the status of the floor. Decorators consider the floor the 'fifth wall' in a room, worthy of equal standing with furnishings, window treatments, walls or ceiling.
Floors aren't just for walking on. They're to be contemplated and admired. They can be used to add colour, texture and style to a room, to highlight space, or as the subtle canvas for a bold decorating scheme. No interior makeover would be complete without a new one.
Once, choosing a floor was simple. You decided on either a hard or soft surface, then picked the colour. Today's choices push conventional boundaries, with new ideas and reinventions of old favourites competing for your decorating dollar.
Designer Patrick Leung King-wah says wood is looking better than ever. 'Technology has significantly improved the quality of wooden flooring,' says Leung, of PAL Design Consultants.
The new style of engineered solid wood flooring is popular. Made from thick planks, which are individually laid, it resembles timber boards of old. The secret to its success lies in a laminate layer that's resistant to heat and humidity, and prevents the wood from expanding and contracting as it would in its natural state.
Oil or lacquer finishes can be used to treat the surface and the wood can also be tinted.