When it's time to replace flooring in your home, your natural instinct might be to choose something similar to what you already have. A different choice from outside the box of usual flooring options could be an easy and fun way to refresh your home decor and give your surroundings a whole new feel.

Bamboo Flooring for a Contemporary Design

Bamboo flooring is plentiful these days, as  bamboo grows rapidly and therefore is considered to be very environmentally friendly. This provides a guilt-free option if you were otherwise shying away from wood flooring due to the destruction of forest that is required to manufacture it. Bamboo comes in a wide variety of shades and grains which makes it a viable option to carpeting when trying to match a color scheme in your home. Due to its durability, many brands carry residential-use warranties of 25 to 30 years. High, middle and low-end options are available just like all other types of wood flooring.

Concrete - Stained and Scored "Tile"

Because Concrete is so often covered up with another type of flooring, it is easily overlooked. It too is extremely eco-friendly as it is recyclable and creates mi

Painted Concrete

nimal waste. It is a wonderful asset to have on your energy saving team, as it will keep you cooler in the summer, and it will retain heat from the sun in the winter. Although it will put a bigger dent in your wallet than other flooring options, and most homeowners will have to pay an installer for its installation, it will never have to be replaced, making it a one-time investment thatwill pay for itself times over.  Design choices include: staining, painted designs, scoring to create "tile", or adding glass or stone chips to create Terrazzo floors. 

Two-toned Terrazzo

Since concrete can be created in many ways to fit your taste, be sure to put some thought into a design you'll always love and remember you will have it for a very long time.  

Cleaning is a breeze, you won't need anything more than a broom and a mop, and your favorite gentle floor cleaner. If you are installing the concrete flooring in a high-traffic area, be sure to let your contractor know so he can give you the proper advice on sealant. One word of caution: if you are sensitive to sound, or if you enjoy having that stereo up nice and loud, keep in mind that concrete has been known to echo and otherwise transmit sound easily depending on the layout of your room, even if area rugs are in use or the room is heavily furnished. That might not be a bad thing during a football game gathering or during a favorite live television concert broadcast!

Travertine Tile

Travertine is a natural tile option that feels like you just installed a masterpiece of artwork in your home. It is made of limestone and comes in several basic colors with varying hues mixed within each tile. Every tile is a separate canvas of color; no two are exactly the same. There are several different finishes available, from polished to matte to textured.  

One drawback of travertine is that being a natural stone, it is sensitive to staining and should therefore be sealed carefully. It is not a wise choice for a kitchen as products such as ketchup, orange juice and lemonade will stain it immediately. Aside from its sensitivity to staining, it is extremely durable and long-lasting. For general cleaning, check with your installer or the manufacturer for the product it recommends.