Floor in shades of gray - boredom or elegance?

Floors in a gray shade have been conquering Western markets for a long time, and this trend is also becoming more and more noticeable in Poland. Already at the beginning of the year, during the largest floor fair in Europe - DOMOTEX 2011, floor manufacturers spoke about this clear trend.

Implementation / Installation of Direct Floor

The most popular in Poland are still floors in natural shades of wood - including the most popular species - oak. At this year's DOMOTEX, however, one could hear more and more bold opinions that the share of floors in natural shades will systematically decrease in favor of less classic solutions.

- In Western Europe, gray has been dominant for some time. Natural colors still dominate in Poland. By far the most popular is oak. In 2010, we observed more sales of white or definitely dark floors. It seems to me that in 2011 natural colors will dominate, but their share will systematically decrease - explained Bartłomiej Cybulski, Quick-Step sales development manager . - From the curiosities, TVP, which chose our floor for its studio, chose a typical gray pattern, which is very popular in Western Europe.

The fashion for universal grays was, of course, reflected in the new products of many floor manufacturers.

Implementation / Installation of Direct Floor

- Customers are increasingly asking about floors in this shade - says Tomasz Mielcarek, President of the Direct Floor salon in Poznań . – Many manufacturers have opted for this color: Balterio, for example in their sensational, top collections Magnitude and Grandeur (large planks), Quickstep, Berryfloor or Tarkett. Not only do they fit modern interiors, often in combination with a white strip or lacquered doors, but they are also usually extremely practical: easy to keep clean and well masking possible signs of wear.

Grays for independent individualists

Gray color brings to mind fog, mystery, shadow. Color psychology specialists believe that a man whose wardrobe is dominated by grays tries to show the world that he is independent and copes well with all challenges on his own. It is also one of the favorite colors of shy people who do not like to stand out. Do grays have a similar effect on interior design? What to combine them with so that the effect creates the impression of classic elegance, and not overwhelming?

Implementation / Installation of Direct Floor

- Our customers use gray floors successfully mainly in modern interiors. Of course, using them in other types of interiors is possible, but it requires a great sense of style. This type of floor is most often seen on the surface of the entire apartment or in a much larger part. In particular, when using great patterns from the Grandeur (Balerio) or Largo (Quickstep) collections - they look absolutely sensational in spacious living rooms with areas of 60m ² or 100m ² . At the same time, they also look great in apartments, arranged from the very entrance, through the kitchen, bedroom and other rooms. With panels of this class, where the HDF board is very dense and the surface is very scratch-resistant, they can be safely laid throughout the house, also with direct access to the terrace or balcony - says Tomasz Mielcarek.

Implementation / Installation of Direct Floor

Grays have been underestimated by interior designers for years, now the color is back in favor. For many, it is synonymous with class and elegance. In interiors, it is a great combination with intense and bright colors - such combinations make the interior arrangement harmonious.

Gray color, due to its neutrality, perfectly harmonizes with other colors and, interestingly, is one of the best shades for displaying vegetation. Grays can be most often found in modern and minimalist interiors, which are equipped with simple furniture. For example, it is one of the characteristics of a graphic style in interiors that is based on expressiveness. Intense and strong accessories look great on a muted, yet characteristic background of a gray floor.

Implementation / Installation of Direct Floor

- In addition to the fact that the floor is pleasing and - depending on the choice of type - more or less practical, it is worth remembering that its choice should not be separated from other elements of the interior. The finish of the door or the color of the walls must also be taken into account. When using gray on the floor, for example, remember that it will "catch" the color from other elements (e.g. walls) and its color will change depending on the amount or type of light in a given room. This is rather a task for interior designers - explains Tomasz Mielcarek from the Direct Floor salon.

As the specialist explains, floors in shades of gray are matched not only by skirting boards perfectly matched to the floor surface, but also by white skirting boards or skirting boards painted in the color of the wall, often smoothly turning into bands surrounding the door in the same color.

- It's great if they are well matched to the interior, black moldings also look good here: high, e.g. matt lacquered - advises Tomasz Mielcarek.

Not just panels

Implementation / Installation of Direct Floor

In addition to a wide range of laminate panels, we also find a few wooden floors in cool shades of gray. Achieving such an effect on wood so that it looks natural, however, is quite difficult. Some producers use, for example, the method of smoking and lightly whitening the wood.

- The effect of gray on the floor can be achieved by using, for example, the right oil - explains Dariusz Turski from Pallmann . – Our company's offer includes Magic Silvergrau oil. I am not a supporter of traditional staining, because the problem is usually the uniform staining. It's easier to do it with oil, which can be... varnished. In the case of gray staining, however, white oil is most often used, which over time turns into shades of gray.

Does gray mean dull? Just look at the pictures to see that this is not the case at all. Grays in the interior can be exciting, and the choice of patterns allows you to achieve the best effect.