The Appeal of Rustic Oak Laminate Flooring: Design Tips for Modern and Traditional Spaces

Oak flooring has continued to grow in popularity over the years, adored globally by homeowners for its ability to bring that rustic aesthetic to any room. What’s not so popular, though, is all the maintenance required to keep natural oak flooring looking its best. Whether it be warping from moisture, the need for regular refinishing, or its susceptibility to scratching, having natural oak for floors, while it may look attractive, comes with many extra requirements that can be time-consuming, costly, and, frankly, frustrating. 

With rustic oak laminate flooring, you can enjoy the benefits of that classic, traditional style in your home without any of the hassle attached and for a fraction of the cost. Plus, it’s incredibly versatile, suiting all rooms, conditions, and decor styles; traditional and modern. 

Here, we go into why oak laminate is a great choice for your home, which colour schemes work best for traditional and modern spaces, and give you some quick installation/maintenance tips. 

Why Choose Rustic Oak Laminate Flooring?

When you think of rustic oak flooring, you think cosy countryside cottage, farmhouses, and getaway cabins in the woods or the mountains. And it’s for exactly this reason that homeowners love to incorporate oak into their spaces; to get that familiar and earthy feel without actually having to leave their home. 

The issue is that oak flooring, as a natural hardwood, can struggle against the elements. Factors like moisture and temperature can warp the planks and cause them to expand and contract. And since it’s all natural, scratching and surface damage are also more likely. With oak effect laminate flooring, you can achieve that quiet cabin escape environment without worrying about the potential high cost of the material, installation, and maintenance. 

That’s because our laminate flooring is scratch-resistant, water-resistant, and built to withstand heavy foot traffic. Are you worried that our oak laminate floors may lack authenticity? Advanced technology has meant that our laminate range can look and feel as realistic as ever, with every knot, grain, and bump feeling just like the real thing. If you don’t tell anyone it’s laminate, they’d never even know!

Create Classic Looks with Rustic Oak Laminate

One of the main attractions of oak flooring is the rustic imprint it leaves on a room. Our oak laminate floors come in a variety of styles, allowing you to achieve a classic style in any room. 

In the living room with Kronotex Villa in Pettersson Dark Oak: 

In the home office with Kronotex Basic in Trend Oak Grey: 

Even in the bathroom with Traditions Balterio in Victorian Oak 61010: 

To really achieve that classic look, we recommend opting for medium- to dark-toned oak styles, like greys, charcoals, and dark browns. Dark oak laminate flooring and grey oak laminate flooring work so well because they give off a feeling of timelessness and align with more traditional palettes. They also complement elaborate and vintage furniture and textiles, both key elements that make up your home’s aesthetic. 

Pair this with a Persian or oriental rug and some warm-toned curtains, cushions, and other upholstery to really accentuate that cosiness.

Rustic Oak Laminate in Modern Spaces 

Rustic oak laminate flooring is a versatile base for any home, meaning it’s suitable for more than just traditional spaces. For those who love the charm of oak but still want to add a touch of modernity, oak laminate is your go-to. The differences in tones are crucial to creating your ideal aesthetic. Darker shades are best for traditional spaces, while light oak laminate flooring is best for contemporary spaces. 

Grey oak laminate flooring is ideal for minimalistic-inspired spaces with modern furniture and monochrome styles like Kronotex Villa in Harbour Grey below: 

Grey oak laminate flooring is the perfect foundation for the rest of the room, allowing plenty of stylistic flexibility.

Incorporating colour with tones like white oak laminate flooring is an effective way of establishing a contemporary design in a room. It creates a popping focal point that catches the eye. You can even go bold with colours like orange, yellow, purple, red, and others to distinguish the space. 

Installation and Maintenance Tips

DIY vs. professional installation

While DIY installation of laminate oak can be a doable project for those with basic skills, if you don’t feel comfortable tackling it, hiring a professional ensures you get a precise and seamless finish, especially when installing complex layouts. There will, of course, be extra costs for professional support, but this will give you long-term peace of mind.

However, if you decide to install your oak laminate flooring yourself, you can use our full guide to fitting laminate flooring like a pro to help you each step of the way. Also, check out our laminate flooring measuring guide. 

5 Top Maintenance Tips 

Laminate floors are already very durable, but with these five simple maintenance tips, you can prolong the life of your floor even further.

1. Use the Right Cleaning Tools: To avoid scratches, clean with soft microfibre mops or a vacuum with a hard floor setting, and avoid abrasive tools like steel wool.
2. Avoid Excess Moisture: Clean with a damp mop, wipe up spills immediately, and never use steam mops or soak the floor to prevent water damage and warping.
3. Protect from Damage: Use felt pads under furniture, place rugs in high-traffic areas, and protect the floor from direct sunlight with blinds or UV-blocking films to prevent fading and scratches.
4. Quick Action for Spills: Immediately soak up spills with a dry cloth and clean with a damp cloth or laminate-safe cleaner to avoid discolouration and warping.
5. Long-Term Maintenance: Deep clean every few months with a laminate-safe cleaner, inspect for damage regularly, and maintain stable indoor humidity to reduce the risk of warping or lifting edges.
   

Read our full blog for a more in-depth look at our maintenance tips for laminate floors. 

Explore Our Oak Laminate Range 

Whether you’re going for an elegant, timeless decor; a bolder, colour-filled style, or a modern and minimalist design; rustic oak laminate flooring is the low-maintenance, durable, and versatile solution you’ve been looking for. Achieve the charm of real oak wood without the drawbacks and give your interior the perfect base for the rest of your home. 

Think oak laminate flooring is right for your home? Explore our entire collection, with styles ranging from smaller 6mm thick planks up to 12mm thick planks, and even oak Herringbone laminate flooring styles. Then, pick from lighter to neutral and warm tones to establish the aesthetic you want. 

We know that flooring is a crucial element in your home design, so to help you make the right decision, we’re offering up to six Free Samples, so you can see what it looks like before committing to a style. 

Browse our full range of oak laminate and upgrade your decor today.