When considering the colors for the interior, one cannot forget about the flooring. Quality wood flooring has a timelessness that is not reproducible with anything else. Unfortunately, wood has become a rather expensive medium, costing between a few dollars and twenty dollars per square foot, depending on the quality of the wood and the degree to which it has been finished. Wood flooring comes in tongue and groove boards. When the boards are unfinished with stain and sealer, they can be had at much better prices. Finding them at outlet warehouses that specialize in bankruptcies of large companies is one way to get really good deals on wood flooring.



Exotic woods such as Brazilian Rosewood are exquisitely beautiful. Unfortunately, the falling and exportation of mature Rosewood trees has devastated the tree, and government limits on what can now be exported have made it very difficult to get. People do use domestic woods that can be very beautiful, including cherry which has a reddish tone, and oak which comes as red, white and black oak. Depending on the type, the color can vary considerably. These are hardwoods and make long lasting floors. Sustainable flooring in the form of bamboo and cork is also available. Floors made of bamboo are light colored and have an oriental uniqueness. Bamboo grows very quickly, so it is not ecologically damaging to use. Cork floors are springy to step on, easy on the feet and another interesting choice.



Tiles and linoleum round out the flooring list for introducing new interior house colors. Tile is available in almost any color imaginable. It is hard and durable, but must be chosen for the correct application. Course textured and absorbent outdoor tile is not used in the bath or kitchen. But neither is smooth tile used where dripping water might make a slippery floor. Linoleum is available as vinyl linoleum in so many patterns as to be a decorators delight. The old linoleum that predates the mid 60s, was chiefly comprised of linseed oil, pine resin, and ground cork, and wood flour, and the patterns were uniquely wonderful, providing great inspirations for painting modern walls.