Strong and handsome, hard floors are easy to love. Texture and warmth abound in the latest options, writes Sarah Pickette.

From timber to tiles, cork to concrete, there's a host of hard-flooring options on the market that are as durable as they are beautiful underfoot. A stone or marble floor, for example, should last a lifetime and may even get better looking with age.

Solid timber, perennially popular for living areas, is always a sound investment. "You can't beat the warmth of timber and the way it softens the structural elements of a room," says Sydney architect Saki Vakaciwa. "A good-quality timber will never go out of style."

If, however, the budget doesn't stretch to solid timber, take heart in the fact that some of the latest timber laminates and engineered timbers are so well made you'd never know they're not the real deal. In particular, look out for engineered boards that are constructed from timber sourced from sustainably managed plantations.

In recent years, bamboo, too, has proved itself to be a fine flooring material. "Bamboo boards are one of the most eco-friendly flooring choices you can make, because bamboo is a fast-growing grass that's harvested without destroying the plant," says Lee Hutchison, Marketing Manager of Perth bamboo flooring provider Bamboozle. "The manufacturing process makes them tougher than timber; they'll stand up to stilettos, dogs, the rough and tumble of children – the lot," he says.

When it comes to tiles, larger-format styles work well for floors, says David Compagnino, Sales and Marketing Manager of Melbourne's Signorino Tile Gallery. "Tiles are a great choice if you want your flooring to flow seamlessly from inside to out. Manufacturers make it easy by offering indoor and outdoor versions of the same tile," he says.

Your flooring options also extend to vinyl, lino, leather, polished concrete, cork, stone composites and even, for those with deep pockets, glass. With so much choice available, you're certain to put your best foot forward.

Style for tiles

Tina Di Lorenzo, Marketing Manager of Di Lorenzo Tiles, pinpoints tile trends:
Big is better: "We're selling a lot of larger tiles — up to 120cm²," she says. "This size is fantastic in large, open-plan areas."
Perfect copies: "Technology has developed to the point where it is almost impossible to tell natural stone from a replica," says Di Lorenzo. "With a replica, no maintenance is required and each piece varies, as stone would."

Timber tips

With a little care, you can expect a timber floor to last for decades, says Clinton Skeoch, National Market Development Manager for Boral Timber Flooring. Here, he shares his maintenance tips:
Place protective pads under your furniture. Also, avoid dragging furniture.
Take care with furniture on traditional castors — they tend to scratch.
You generally only need to resand every five or so years.

Expert picks

We asked three architects to reveal their favourite flooring options.
Steven Stewart, Phorm Interiors, Brisbane
"Honed vein-cut Italian silver travertine. With its neutral tone and grey veining, it is timeless."

Brendan Wong, Brendan Wong Design, Sydney
"Timber — for its ability to introduce warmth in both a visual and physical sense."

Sam Teoh, Sam Teoh Architects, Perth
"Stone floor tiles have a good thermal mass, which is great for the passive-solar principles we subscribe to."