Wherever you use it, warm and durable wood is always a terrific addition to your home, writes Geraldine Cardozo.

The inherent warmth and texture of timber makes it a wonderful building material. It is easily worked into a home, either as floorboards, timber-veneer cabinets for your kitchen or even a solid timber benchtop, and its timeless appeal suits most interiors.

"Lighter timbers continue to be popular, as they offer a neutral colour palette for an interior," says Boral Timber Flooors Marketing Manager Robyn Barnes. She says species such as tallowwood and blackbutt are great for opening up living areas, while red timbers, such as red mahogany and Sydney blue gum, are also being used for interior drama.

In the kitchen, timber veneers and benchtops are a great way to bring character to a room, says Sydney-based interior designer Romaine Alwill of Alwill Interiors. "Timber veneers are always popular in cabinetry and there are some great pre-finished ones for wet areas," she says.

Totally floored

Timber floors will always boost the value of your home and feel great underfoot. Wider boards are popular and deliver a clean, uncluttered look, says Alwill. "The standard width of floorboards is 80 to 85mm, but, the wider the board, the more chance of cupping (where the boards curve), so don't get too carried away." Engineered and timber-overlay flooring can come in one-, two-, or three-strip widths. "Older or period-style homes are often well suited to the traditional appeal of three-strip products," says Choices Flooring's Ingrid Ryan. "If a room has lots of natural light, look at the more contemporary one- or two-strip products."

Knots and all

Structural timber costs vary, depending on grade, thickness and species. Generally, three 'grades' are available, says Ryan. The cheapest has more knots, grain and natural variation and the most expensive has the fewest defects. "Australian species, like spotted gum, blackbutt and Tasmanian oak, will often include natural features like gum veins and knots, adding authenticity and charm to your floor. But each piece of timber is unique and some species vary in colour and grain more than others," says Ryan.

Randy Flierman, CEO of the Australian Timber Flooring Association, agrees and recommends viewing large samples in the showroom, as these are only indicative of the species colour and natural variations are to be expected.

Sustainable timber

Greenpeace's Good Wood Guide lists legally and sustainably sourced timber products. Look for sustainable timber with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, which means the timber is from a sustainably managed forest, or timber from Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) certified forests, which adhere to sustainable principles. Also check out products such as Pacific Cocowood from coconut-palm trunks for decking and screening, plus bamboo and cork flooring options. Recycled boards and parquetry lifted from old homes and demolished buildings and are a good option if you're concerned about the logging of old-growth forests or simply want the patina and character of reclaimed timber.

Timber floor types

Solid-strip timber flooring is fixed to sheet subfloors of particleboard or plywood over joists or battens or directly onto a concrete slab.

Solid timber is not only durable, but it can also can be re-sanded. Look for traditional 19mm and 22mm tongue-and-groove boards and thinner solid timber overlay boards, which can be laid over most existing sub-floors. A stylish variation on solid-timber flooring – and well suited to more traditional homes – is parquetry, in which timber blocks are laid in a geometric pattern.

Engineered flooring, or floating floors, feature a timber veneer bonded over layers of other timber, or multi-ply. This provides additional stability while giving the appearance of solid-timber flooring. Installation is straightforward, so there's less mess and the floors can be walked on straight away. They are usually glued or clicked together over the existing solid floor on an acoustic underlay.

Laminate flooring has a timber-look finish and can be laid over most surfaces (with an underlay). It is also a cheaper alternative to engineered or solid timber flooring. Many laminated boards come in DIY-installation packs.

Looking for more indoor inspiration? Check out our Indoor section.