World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) Provides Trend Report from Premiere Floor Covering Show
If the devil wears Prada, then the fashion-conscious demon must walk on animal prints, nude tones, layered looks and leather. For these are just some of the hottest trends in flooring uncovered by the World Floor Covering Association’s fashion scouts at this year’s Surfaces – one of the home market’s top international trade shows.
Product launches at the show, which took place in Las Vegas in February, were innovative and unexpected. They embraced nature and fashion as major influences. Designers pushed the boundaries of creativity in the home market with a 2009 line-up that paired multiple surface textures like leather and wood tiles, bold jewel-toned hard and soft surfaces and distressed textures from wood to sisal.
Another pronounced theme at this year’s show was the impact of the green movement that has been sweeping the nation and the world for the past four years. Environmental responsibility was a part of nearly every major flooring manufacturer’s new product launches across the board. At every step of the production process, companies are looking at “eco-engineering” and ways to reduce their environmental footprint. Many companies are reducing their impact by using sustainable methods and resources as directed by the LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design mandate.
A further investigation of some companies at Surfaces revealed that many have built-in non-profit donations as part of their profit-sharing programs. One group, American Artisans, is donating 100 percent of its profits to help adults and children affected by natural disasters in Honduras.
Wood and Bamboo Trends
There were no limits at Surfaces when it came to treatments in wood. Hand-sculpted and scraped planks, multi-toned weathered finishes, rolled edges and ends, recovered, distressed and timeworn looks are some of the hottest trends this year. In addition, high-gloss piano-finish floors that reveal your reflection were also seen. Some companies debuted innovative wood tiles in a surprising variety of whimsical shapes and sizes, including Tetris patterns, puzzle pieces, bricks and even fish scales!
To allow for greater definition of the wood grain — not seen in traditional planks — many companies this year launched first-to-market wide planks spanning four or more inches across. New color palettes for wood include such line-ups as “white sand,” inspired by the soothing ambiance of oceanfront homes, and candy apple red, inspired by the blood stained lips of Geishas in Japan. New wood surface stains now offer zero percent VOC, no off gassing, are non-toxic and of all things, are even edible. Stains are available to treat any wood surface, including scraped and smooth, and come in a rainbow assortment, including pastel pink.
Every company in the wood category is offering eco-friendly product options and corporate promises. WFCA fashion scouts witnessed floors made from abandoned distillery beams and listened to corporate commitments to replace every tree cut from carefully managed forests with protected saplings. One new manufacturing process actually transforms common renewable domestic hardwood species into exotic lookalikes without adding to the world’s tropical deforestation. This technological advancement accelerates the aging process, enhancing the natural hue and shade of the wood and creating an opalescent three-dimensional effect. The result captures all the allure of exotic hardwood without the environmental baggage.
Another new process extends the lifespan of hardwood floors with new stains that run throughout the entire wear layer of the wood. The result is a highly durable floor that offers everlasting beauty that can be enjoyed for practically a lifetime.
Highly prized bamboo floors were also a hit at the show. One company presented an assortment of oil-finished “woven” bamboo floors that infuse cork strands for added dimension, anti-bacterial properties, soundproofing and insulation.
“With today’s economic challenges, people everywhere are focusing more on their home environments and creature comforts,” said Christopher Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer of the WFCA. “Manufacturers across the globe have listened to customers and have delivered an array of introductions that are certain not to disappoint. Affordable and tasteful new products at this year’s show guarantee that a beautiful new floor is now within everyone’s reach. Not only will it make ones home a more luxurious place to spend time but it will also increase home value.”
The WFCA’s website – WFCA.org — offers detailed information about these flooring categories. In addition, the website provides answers to the most common floor covering questions. Visitors can also find detailed information and practical tips on every flooring category available, including carpet, hardwood, laminate, ceramic, porcelain, resilient, vinyl, cork, stone and area rugs. An overview of each category provides the pros and cons, a product catalog, manufacturing details, varieties and styles available, things to consider before purchase and how to prepare for installation.
When it’s time to buy floors, WFCA.org offers a searchable database of reputable WFCA retail members across the country. All a user needs to do is enter their zip code to receive a list of suppliers in their area.
For more information about the WFCA, visit WFCA.org and WFCA-PRO.org .