Faux Wood Styles for Linoleum Flooring

What Is Linoleum?

• Linoleum is a material made from linseed oil, cork dust, wood flour and ground limestone, tree resins and pigments, according to writer Cynthia Sanz at the ThisOldHouse website. The mixed materials are then pressed onto a jute backing. These ingredients make linoleum an all-natural flooring. It is water-resistant and easy to clean. Linoleum is found in both sheet flooring and tile forms.

Linoleum and Other Resilient Flooring

• What was once known as “linoleum” is now described as a larger category known as “resilient flooring” that includes materials made from the traditional components of linoleum as well as vinyl compounds. Vinyl flooring is different than linoleum because it is manufactured from petroleum chemicals. Colloquially, however, any flexible, resilient flooring material is still called "linoleum." Since its advent in the early 20th century, technological developments have allowed manufacturers of linoleum and vinyl flooring products to produce more colors, textures and designs to complement today’s decorating styles.

Faux Wood Styles in Resilient Flooring

• Linoleum and vinyl resilient flooring offers many different wood styles to enhance your home interior. Parquet designs, as well as the look of solid wood, are available in both light and dark tones such as walnut and oak, according to the ArmstrongFlooring site. Linoleum is installed in sheets so the patterns do not have to be cut and laid into pattern at the end of rows like wood planks. This ensures a uniform pattern throughout the room.

Choosing Faux Wood Linoleum for Your Decor

• Linoleum offers many advantages, such as being more comfortable to walk on than ceramic tiles and being less prone to damage from water leaks in kitchen areas and bathrooms. Linoleum in wood-tone style adds a homey touch to rooms, is easy to clean and is durable for families with children and pets. Lighter wood tones of linoleum can be used with more casual types of décor, such as Country, French provincial, or Modern Casual. Dark wood tones work better with more formal decorating styles such as Contemporary Modern, British Colonial or Mediterranean. Add parquet style flooring for a more upbeat, cheerful look.