Floors That Simulate Outdoor Surfaces Indoors

What Are Floors That Simulate Outdoor Surfaces Indoors?

Outdoor style flooring describes flooring options installed indoors which mimic flooring types you would traditionally find outdoors. Whether that’s timber effect flooring with warm plank designs, stone effect floor designs that add texture to a hallway, or concrete-effect flooring that imitates sleek patio areas indoors.

It’s not to suggest laying paving slabs or driveway materials inside your home. Outdoor flooring styles such as paving and driveway stones can be too cold and uncomfortable for interior areas. The idea is you can select flooring options that resemble those outdoor styles but are better suited to your everyday interior living. Biophilic interior design often relate to this too; using nature-inspired textures, earth tones, and natural tones to keep interiors feeling grounded and soothing.

Why Bring Outdoor-Inspired Flooring Inside?

Outdoor-inspired flooring can add interest and dimension to a room, stopping it from feeling too flat. A timber-look, stone-look, slate-look, or concrete-look surface can add texture without feeling cluttered. It also helps blur the edges between the indoor spaces of your home and your garden patio, balcony, or conservatory.

Outdoor-looking flooring really comes into its own in homes where natural light is valued. A wood-effect floor will warm up your living room, and stone-effect or concrete-effect floors are ideal for kitchens and corridors.

Of course, the great thing about indoor flooring versus outdoor flooring is that you don’t have to deal with the high-maintenance factor. Indoor floors are generally easier to clean, softer on your feet, warmer, and hold up better to furniture and everyday family life.

Best Flooring Types for an Outdoor Look Indoors

Floors with outdoor appeal tend to mimic natural textures without the upkeep of outdoor living spaces. Wood-effect, stone-effect, concrete-effect, and slate-effect floors are likely your best choices, as they’re already commonly associated with gardens, patios, pathways, and nature generally. Luxury vinyl flooring tends to be a popular choice for high-traffic areas as it can offer wood or stone-effect visuals without sacrificing the comfort and practicality of an indoor flooring surface.

Luxury vinyl is ideal for kitchens, hallways, utility rooms and conservatories where you might want the appearance of an outdoor floor without the chill and/or textural harshness of exterior materials. Laminate flooring and engineered wood can also be good options if you’re looking for a more natural, warm finish. Look for flooring that gives you the appearance of outdoor style without skimping on the comforts of indoor life.

Stone, Wood, Concrete, and Slate Effects Compared

Wood-effect flooring is best suited to rooms where you want to look and feel warmer and more natural. Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and open plan areas that work better with a softer outdoor look and feel rather than a hard stone style can benefit from wood-effect flooring.

• Stone-effect flooring and slate-effect flooring give a cooler, more grounded finish. Hallways, kitchens, boot rooms and conservatories benefit from this type of floor as it can really make these rooms feel like an extension of the garden path, patio or courtyard.
• Concrete-effect flooring works best in more modern properties. Concrete-effect floors create a clean, simple finish and work well with black guttering/window frames, neutral-coloured walls, plants, and furniture without being too bulky.

Popular Outdoor Flooring Looks

Where Outdoor-Look Flooring Works Best Indoors

Outdoor-look flooring is most suited to areas of the house that already have a natural association with the outdoors. Hallways, kitchens, conservatories, garden rooms, and open-plan living spaces are all typically good choices. These rooms experience higher footfall, sunlight, muddy boots, pets, or cleaning products, so you want a floor that looks good without being high-maintenance.

• Hallways: A stone or slate-effect floor gives the impression of a path through the garden the moment someone steps into your home.
• Kitchen: Wood or concrete-effect flooring will warm up this room and help to create a relaxing atmosphere.
• Conservatory: Natural surfaces let you seamlessly extend your indoor space into your garden.
• Living Room: Engineered flooring works well in lounge areas if you’re after a real wood finish but don’t want to compromise on the smooth indoor look. Ultimately, you want to choose a finish which suits how you use the room, rather than how you see it styled on Instagram.

What to Check Before Choosing Outdoor-Look Flooring

Consider the space’s daily functions before selecting an outdoor look. Stone, slate or concrete may make sense on floors you traverse frequently, like a hallway or kitchen, but no surface should be so “outdoor-like” that it sacrifices comfort. Whatever finish you select should be easy to clean, safe to walk on barefoot, and durable enough to withstand traffic in your home.

You may also want to verify moisture resistance, scratch resistance and compatibility with underfloor heating systems if you have them. Consider texture as well. A slightly-textured finish can add realism to a floor, but too much texture can make cleaning difficult. The ideal floor isn’t always the one that looks most realistic. It’s the one that helps you feel like you’re outdoors while still functioning indoors.

Conclusion

Outdoor-inspired flooring doesn’t mean dragging your garden or patio tiles into the house. It means selecting a floor covering designed for indoor use that adds natural textures to your rooms. Floors that look like wood, stone, slate or concrete can all work beautifully. It’s all about selecting the right style for each room.

You may want something hard-wearing and easy to clean for your hallway, but soft and warm for your living room. At Flooring Surgeons, we want to help you find the perfect outdoor style flooring to give your home a natural vibe, without compromising on your day-to-day cleaning routines.