Country Flooring Styles for a Dream Home

When it comes to designing a cozy, stylish home that captures the warm, comfortable vibe of the countryside, your floors will set the foundation for the complete aesthetic. So what does ‘country flooring’entail, exactly? Think texture, most likely piquing visual interest. Think character, possibly aged. Think natural, and draw added inspiration from timeless patterns often found in small country towns. Some may say that life in the countryside is ‘behind the times,’ but style-wise, these ideas for country home flooring are hotter than ever and right on time. 

Imagine you’re driving down a beautiful rural road, what are the first things you envision? Chances are, you can see horses running through a field with a barn in the back, maybe next door to a sprawling wood home. Just like that described scene, wood is one of the first materials we think of when it comes to designing a country styled home. No matter what your design budget may be, you can capture a wood-look floor whether it’s with reclaimed planks from an actual farmhouse, a realistically replicated laminate or luxury vinyl style. A radiant wood visual is a look that will always have a major presence in country homes!

Design by Cynthia Soda  Photography by Gold Media 

If you can spring for genuine wood, you will not only achieve peak country-chic, you will have made a genuine investment for your home’s value. Authentic wood floors are prized for their value and durability just as much as their beauty. Nothing will create countryside beauty more than a reclaimed wood product that reflects barns, farms, and old factories. With knots, markings, grain, patina, and even paint spots, these barn-board style planks display a lifetime of character. With real wood, you can paint, stain, and refinish your floor however your heart desires.  Although humidity will affect a true wood floor at times, your diligence in monitoring the state of your surfaces can prevent any major problems. 

When it comes to engineered wood, laminate,and LVT planks, you can indulge in a reclaimed visual with all the appropriate markings and distressing that deliver an actual barn-board feel. The popular wider, longer plank format will provide a more authentic, lived-in wood look floor, while also offering quicker, cheaper installation, easier maintenance, and cheaper price tag. You will not have the opportunity to refinish these flooring options down the line, but they will deliver the appearance you need to meet your country design vision.

Design by Melissa Davis

If you are designing with a country cottage in mind, the natural beauty of stone flooring will be a perfect fit. Recalling majestic mountaintops in the distance, any granite, slate, marble, and limestone selections will bring a smooth, calming coolness to your home. In addition to tremendous durability, stone is low maintenance and timeless enough to never look out of date. Just like those childhood days when we loved to explore nature barefoot, stone floors feel incredible underfoot during the warm summer months and conduct heat well if needed during the winter. For an amazing country look, you can lay stone tiles in a random, varied colored pattern to emulate a cobblestone road that you may see in the oldest parts of town. Similarly, a stone backsplash of different sized tiles will bring your kitchen visual interest while matching the overall theme. 

You can use ceramic tile and porcelain tile comparably to form patterns that remind us of many of our favorite places in a country town. A random variation of beautiful shades can be used to easily create the cobblestone look. You can even combine various shades of red and brown tiles to craft a brick road style floor in a herringbone pattern or a brick wall backsplash. These ideas will truly produce the industrial vibe of an old factory, warehouse or general store.

Inspired by your favorite diners and pharmacies, large square tiles will allow you to create a black and white checkerboard pattern that is timeless and appropriately moisture-resistant to work in your kitchens or bathrooms. Smaller tiles can be used to create similar backsplashes or used to create decorative borders. You can try using colors other than black to alternate with the white tiles for a bold look that’s still familiar. It should also be noted that modern innovation has produced striking porcelain tiles that mimic distressed wood accurately, with all the performance benefits of resilient tile. Thus, you have another option for capturing country wood flooring!

If you love the black and white checkerboard dynamic, you can take the retro inspiration one step further by using one of the original kitchen surfaces to create it: Linoleum. As the first waterproof vinyl flooring, linoleum is low-maintenance, affordable, easy to install, and eco-friendly. In addition to the classic checkerboard, you can find linoleum styles that feature floral designs and other patterns that mimic classic wallpapers and visuals you would find in a country setting. Linoleum will work just as well in your bathrooms, remaining easy to clean and water-resistant over time. Whether you use sheet or tile format, linoleum will give you the vintage country feel without being dated. 

Design by Sarah Bederman  Photography by Stephani Buchman 

After you finalize your hard surface country floors, it’s time to add some natural softness and texture. You can add wool and cotton rugs for instant comfort and pops of personality that blend and lend to the overall feel. Large flatweave rugs and other woven rug formats harken back to many familiar textures and fibers that you will find in the countryside. Themed printed rugs, florals, classic plaids, and shades that complement your interior are going to add warmth, style, and balance effortlessly. If your country home has older, creaky floorboards, carpet will provide proper sound insulation and softness in your bedrooms. A wool runner or stair runner is a great fit for noisy wood hallways and staircases. Find the shade or pattern that fits your fancy and revel in the coziness that carpet will bring.

Gather your favorite country memories and places on one list and designate your favorite materials and textures that match them. Visit Carpet One Floor & Home to begin crafting the country home you love.