It was a fashion inextricably linked with the era of loft living, New Labour and sun-dried tomatoes. But after years of ripping out thick carpets and installing sleek floorboards, spurred on by home makeover programmes, Britain is falling out of love with the wooden floor and embracing shagpile. The Office for National Statistics has announced that it has relegated hardwood flooring from its traditional “basket” of popular goods used to measure inflation and created a special extra category of woolly carpet in its place. According to the ONS the decision was prompted by falling spending on hardwood flooring which won its place on the list - a key annual measure of consumer trends - just before the recession after years of growing demand. The resurgence of thick carpets will be seen as the ultimate boon to those who refuse to throw anything out believing it will eventually come back into fashion. Other changes include a return to the annual list for honey after an absence of almost a quarter of a century.

Marketing commentators have noted a resurgence in sales of honey in recent years after it gained the reputation as a “superfood”. In evidence that the Government’s “five-a-day” message appears to have had an impact, small pots of fruit have been included for the first time. The ONS said the move was to acknowledge the “increasing shelf-space” in supermarkets devoted to fresh fruit. Meanwhile wild bird seed has been included, in a possible reflection of the popularity of programmes such as Springwatch. How To Get Rust Stains Out Of Bathroom SinkTraditional drive-through car wash tokens have been replaced on the list by hand car wash services, reflecting the changing fashions. Puppies For Sale In Mn CheapMeanwhile changing technology has relegated even relatively recent additions to the basket. Black Lab Puppies Orlando Florida

Subscriptions to DVD rental services have been dropped in favour of internet streaming services. While the growth of smartphones have reduced demand for compact cameras, larger digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras have grown and are now included in the list. Meanwhile DVD recorders have been dropped as has the general category of “takeaway coffee” as the ONS narrows the sample, using latte prices as a representative measure. What’s in: :: Interchangeable lens digital camera :: Flavoured milk :: Fresh fruit snacking pot :: Honey :: Mixer drink :: Men's clothing hire :: Canvas fashion shoe/trainer :: Tufted carpet, 100 per cent man-made fibres :: Tufted carpet, minimum 80 per cent wool :: Car wash - manual or automatic :: Plant food :: Wild bird seed :: Fashion necklace What’s out: :: DVD recorder :: DVD rental internet subscription :: Wallpaper paste :: Hardwood flooring :: Tufted carpet :: Gardeners' fees :: Automatic drive-through car wash :: Takeaway coffee (still represented by takeaway latte) :: After school club charges

Despite the wealth of home flooring options available for every room in your house there is one material that stands head and shoulders above the others in terms of popularity and that material is wood. Renewable, stylish and hard wearing wood continues to be the aspirational floor of choice for the majority of homeowners.In this Home Flooring Pros guide we look at why wood continues to be so popular and examine the latest trends in hardwood flooring (2016) to help you find the perfect match for you and your family. Click here to go straight to our Solid Hardwood Flooring Guides. To get a quote from local hardwood flooring installers and contractors in your area click here.Exotic Hardwoods – Homeowners looking to install something distinctive and unique need look no further than exotic hardwoods. The unusual grain patterns within these woods matched with exciting color tones make these imported woods an upmarket favorite. While great strides have been made in ensuring that imported exotic hardwood comes from ethical renewable sources please be aware that many exotics do not.

Look for products bearing the logos of the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) for peace of mind. Alternatively consider a domestic hardwood product that has been manufactured to mimic the look of an exotic.Vintage Style – By far the clearest trend in hardwood flooring today is a move towards an authentic “old-world” look. The previous trend for highly polished, flawless floors is over in favor of any, and all, vintage styles that reflect or imitate the traditional techniques and styles of the past.Engineered and Prefinished Flooring – Yes, solid hardwood flooring can be re-sanded more often than engineered hardwood and yes, there are some small differences aesthetically but the pros of engineered prefinished flooring are starting to sway opinion. Ease and speed of installation, greater dimensional stability and tougher factory finishes are just some of the reasons homeowners are turning to prefinished and engineered products. A word of warning, as with all flooring, you get what you pay for.  

Don’t choose an engineered wood product just because it’s cheap, the chances are it will be of inferior quality with a short lifespan. If budget is your problem take a look at the laminate flooring options.Parquet Wood Flooring – In the quest for an original and individual wood floor look, designers and in turn manufacturers are revisiting the sophistication of parquet wood floor patterns. Contemporary takes on traditional patterns are becoming increasingly popular and artistic parquet in the form of detailed and creative inlays, medallions and borders are seeing a resurgence. For the truly aspirational, a new breed of designers are having fun with some really beautiful modern patterns. Take a look at our parquet flooring trends blog post here and our definitive guide to parquet flooring.Colors and Tones – Hardwood color trends are harder to pin down for the simple reason that you now have so many options; it’s no longer necessary to confine yourself to just dark brown or light brown.

Installing unfinished floors allow you to pick a stain color to suit your décor. And you’re not short of choice with prefinished floors either. Shades of yellow, orange red and black are all popular. Pale woods in whites and greys make for a really light and elegant look and get our vote for 2013. Finally the grade of your wood impacts the overall look of your floor and lower grade wood is increasingly popular because it gives a more natural or vintage appearance. Click here for more on understanding wood floor grades.Bamboo and Cork Flooring – The importance we now place on renewable, green and environmentally friendly products has meant a sea change in the way we look at our flooring too. While many domestic hardwoods are now produced through sustainable farming you still can’t get greener than bamboo and cork. And for a time bamboo and cork flooring products were playing catch up in terms of style and durability, but your choices today are varied, beautiful and hard wearing and this reflects the growing popularity of this flooring.

You just need to be aware that, unlike hardwood floors, you can’t refinish bamboo and cork.Trends in flooring don’t change over night in the same way clothing fashion trends do. The process is far more gradual with some trends staying around for decades. While the above information is still applicable as we enter 2015, interior design is such a hot topic that its always worth keeping an eye on what’s hin and what’s out.Here are a few of the new trends that are starting to emerge as we enter the new year:Wider and wider – The popularity of wider and longer wood planks continues with 5 inch wide planks now beginning to look like the preferred minimum width and 7 inch planks and over, with lengths up to 6 feet, starting to become sought after.Not Too Stressed – Handscrapped planks are still in vogue, but manufacturers are seeing a move to towards a more delicate and restrained effect as opposed to the heavily distressed look.Site Finished Floors – Pre-finished floors may be cheaper and easier to install but the industry is seeing a move towards site finished hardwood floors.

There are two reasons for this, firstly site finished floors have cleaner, smooth edges that look…well, more authentic than the micro beveled edges of pre-finished floors. Secondly site-finished floors give homeowners the opportunity to stain their wood any color they wish.New Color Tones – You can read our latest article on hardwood color trends for 2014 to get a fuller picture on the direction of interior design ideas this year. Black/Dark Floors – Those who want the sophistication of wood while still looking for a strong, modern look are moving towards very dark brown or black flooring.Grey – There’s no sign yet that the popularity of grey is on the wain, expect it to feature strongly again this year.Brown or Natural Blond – Where homeowners are looking to make color and design statements elsewhere in their rooms (say furnishings or walls) the move is towards more traditional wood floors and that means brown or or very light natural blonde colored wood flooring.Tags: distressed wood floor, hand scraped wood, reclaimed wood, wide planks