Take note, if the floors have been waxed and sealed, it might be time to repeat the process after sanding them down. You can either rent a sander to do the refurb yourself, or hire a pro to get the job done. But once this has occurred, what can you do to keep those floors looking great longer? Actually, some floor finisher/polish have sunscreen in them to protect the wood from sun damage. Otherwise, you are left with the old fashioned approach of opening curtains when the space is in use, and closing them when it is not. If I were you, I would definitely inquire about the sunscreen. It can lengthen the time span between having to redo the floors, and when they start to look bland again.

In fact, I remember quite clearly wearing hard heeled mary jane styled shoes to her house one Easter and breaking into a spontaneous tap routine. I imagine the sugar from all that Easter candy was partly to blame, but I was quickly corrected. That may have been the last time I ever pretended to know how to tap dance, and the moment when my respect for wood floors set in.

Still, when I first saw a tip in a popular American magazine to place tube socks over the legs of furniture to protect the floors, I even scoffed at the idea. The picture that coincided with the recommendation looked preposterous, as did the expression on my face I assume. Anyway, I read further and saw that they meant for you to do this only when rearranging furniture. Thus, on a second look this makes a great deal of sense, and thought it no longer to be completely crazed.

Thought you might like to have the idea shared, if not the picture, I’m leaving that up to your imaginations.

With all of that said, there has been not only quite a few responses to her poll, but strong ones. I am finding that there are different camps involving those who support solid wood, milled exotics, engineered, and laminates. As I am a solid wood strip proponent, and have been for a while, I admittedly did not know about how much some of the others have to offer.

To be frank, when I spoke to this friend on a one on one basis I staunchly argued for real wood. I sited how rich it is in appearance, it holds heat, and has the longest lifespan of any flooring I would consider, amongst several other things. I then took a glance at some of the first few responses she had received online, and felt the need to put in my two cents. Really, to me it seemed like the obvious choice, knowing she plans to remain in the home for the rest of her life, and it is within her budget.

Then, as the votes continued to roll in, along with first-hand experience descriptions, I began to see that it might not be as cut and dry for any of the camps involved. I can now acknowledge that many factors should be considered prior to such a decision, aside from the obvious issue of cost.

Here are the steps, and yes they should all be followed. First, use either a vaccum or a dry mop to collect any surface dirt. Next, identify which of the following you have. If you have laquered or shellacked floors you should Not put water on them, so you will want to skip this part. If you your floors are polyurethaned, then moisten a mop with a mixture of water and a couple drops of the liquid you use to wash your dishes. Ring the mop out well and pass it over the floor boards, going with the grain.

Now, you could stop there, however, if you want that floor to shine, buff it with a cloth diaper. Do so with circular motions and it will remove any unwanted residue left over from the cleaning mixture. Finally, stand back and admire your work, you deserve it.

Since we have installed wonderful wooden floors in each of the bedrooms, I had concluded that we would go with a material that would contrast with the floors. I was thinking either metal or leather, but was not dead set on anything. The picture that he showed me was of a dark wooden bed on top of a stunning wooden floor. It was not even buffered with a rug or anything; it was placed directly on the wooden planks.

Never in a million years would I have thought that wooden beds were the way to go, much less without something to break up all the wood in the room. But this is one of those rare occasions in which I have to admit to being wrongola. And to put it in writing is even more gratifying for my hubbie I am sure.

But, that image proved that wooden beds could look simply perfect in our newly renovated space. The picture was found at Time4Sleep.co.uk Supplier of Wooden Beds.

I am thoroughly surprised by the large range of colours that are available too. I would have imagined there was just a nondescript kind of wash, but that would have been quite false. There are greens, reds, browns, and blues to make variations of terra cotta, tortoise shell, and suede undertones with caramel marbling. Check it out, I am certain you will be impressed.

The installation of this system was done in our house as it was being built. So, there was no hassle involved. Now, this might be a deterrent to anyone who considers laying it in a house that is occupied, but I can tell you that it would be well worth the temporary inconvenience. There are many places online where you can search for handymen and compare quotes without even leaving the house. Due to the popularity of underfloor heating, finding good Carpenters with the relevant experience in this area is fairly painless in comparison with what it used to be. Studies show that while underfloor heating is aesthetically pleasing, it is also very good for the environment. We love it so much, I can’t see us ever owning a home that did not have it.

The idea of switching up what we place on our floors might seem foreign, so start with your patio floor, deck area, or walkway leading to the door of your home. Purchase a plain neutral coloured, tight short nap outdoor rug. Buy a large leaf stencil, a medium sized paintbrush, and some high quality outdoor paint. Place the stencil strategically in spots you would like to see the leaf pattern and fill it in with paint. You can alternate the colours or stick with just one.

Over the years, I have had the pleasure to see more colourful combinations and more elaborate patterns created. Not once have I ever been disappointed to come across this exciting choice. But, today it appears to have lost its popularity, and this I think is a flat out shame. I do hope there is a resurgence of the stylish option, and I pray that it is sooner rather than later.