Wood (effect) floors - what do you like?

[Tupster]

Just want to get a bunch of opinions really on the pros and cons of all the various types of "wood" floors. I like a hard wood or wood-looking floor with rugs on for living spaces (so talking dry places like living room/study, not the kitchen) I like a richer shade, definitely not pale.

I am buying a new house and originally thought I'd go for engineered wood for that real-wood look at affordable price. I was just thinking "of course wood is better" But I'm starting to doubt myself because the house I'm selling has nice plank-effect laminate that went in 17 years ago and still looks as good as the day it went in, whereas people I know with wood (albeit a lighter wood) the floors tend to look more used, with dings and the surface looking rubbed. Also, I do like the gleam of the laminate - it's not exactly glossy, but it looks varnished and fresh and clean, where as the wood floors I've seen are a lot more matt.

So now I'm wondering if actually I won't like wood as much and I should stick with laminate or maybe the amtico type flooring. They look lovely on screen, but I've never seen one in real life. I would definitely like something I can put down and just never have to worry about apart from a bit of a hoover and an occasional mop.

What have you got and do you like/hate it?

We've got a big kitchen extension and put an amtico type laminate down. I've had wood floors in the past that scratched and needed looking after and with the pets and children I wanted something easy. This has fit the bill. It looks nice, washes well and was inexpensive

I prefer the look of real wood but we have decided to go for karndean for exactly the reasons you mention, it sounds very practical and looks ok (although I don't think it fools anyone that it's real wood). It's not fitted yet so I can't report back, but i posted a similar question previously and it was overwhelmingly in favour of karndean vs wood.

Tile is also an option. Wood effect porcelain can look quite good.

We have karndean, been down for fifteen years and still in great nick.
everyone thinks it’s wood.
i love it.

We have engineered wood flooring in our sitting room and wood effect porcelain in our hall and kitchen/dining room. We also have Amtico in the utility room. They all look good but I am especially pleased with the wood effect tiles; we liked the hallway ones so much that we decided to use the same brand (different colour) in the kitchen area. I used to think wood effect tiles were a bit naff until I actually saw some in person.

Thanks all. Tiles are definitely not an option - this is for living spaces, not kitchens. But amtico/karndean looking increasingly like it could be an idea. I will send for some samples.

We have karndean in our hallway, not sure how long it's been down (previous owners put it in) but it's faded and marked. We have 3DC and are tough on houses (DD1 walks round with her football boots on and DS loves rollerskating in the hall) but it doesn't look anywhere near as good as my Mum's engineered wood. And of course plastic flooring is bad for the planet.

You can have glossy wooden floors if you like that look, we had a dark walnut stain on the floors in our last house with a glossy sheen on it which I loved. It's just matt varnishes are fashionable at the moment.