Of course, if possible, you should definitely consider buying pre-distressed wood and then having it installed instead of purchasing pristine wood and then distressing it yourself. However, there’s no need to worry if you already have the wood laid down.

For starters, scrape the wood with a floor-scraping tool. You might want to start with a small area first to get a feel for it. Walnut, pine, hickory, and oak all take to distressing well, but hardwoods, such as maple and teak, are usually a little trickier.

Scrape with the direction of the grain instead of going against it – this will create jarring scratches which don’t appear authentic. You’ll also need to avoid knots in the wood. It should be possible to adjust the angle and pressure which you’re using to achieve the look you’re after. Everyone wants their distressed wood flooring to look a little different, so there’s no right answer here.
Other options include using a wire brush, which gives a grainy, aged feel to the flooring. Chains, drills, and hammers can also be used to make chips and scratches, while a soldering iron or other hot pieces of metal can add character with small burns. For a little more fun, anyone with a dog can let their pooches nails go unclipped for a little, then toss a ball around so they slide across the floor. This will help produce a weathered look, and it’s far more fun than scraping.

Just remember to practice your techniques – minus the dog option – on an old piece of furniture before you start on the flooring itself. It’s relatively easy to achieve the distressed look which you’re after, but it is also well worth making sure you know what you’re doing before you begin.

Sometimes you really can’t stand the sight of a tired old floor anymore, or your landlord refuses to do anything about a frayed carpet, or your home redecoration plans necessitate leaving the floor until the end. But freshening up your floor needn’t cost a fortune, and especially not if you apply some of these neat quick-fixes…

1. Break out the paintbrush
Don’t put up with faded, mouldy or simply ugly laminate flooring in your bathroom – locate some paint that adheres to laminate and spice things up a little. Match it with your bathroom fittings, or if the room’s looking plain why not give it a splash of vibrant colour? If your laminate has a pattern that can also work in your favour.

2. Rugs!
A few small rugs in strategic locations can distract attention from an ugly carpet or floor. Careful to match them appropriately with the floor colour or pattern. Alternatively, why not go for one large rug? You can find smart designs for decent prices in supermarkets, IKEA, and various high street locations, no need to pay a fortune.

3. Sanding
If your hardwood floor has seen better days, then reserve a weekend to move all the furniture out of the room and hire a sander. They’re not especially expensive when you consider the value it will add to the home, and the learning curve is steep.

4. Cleaning
Similarly, if it’s your carpet that’s on the wane, hiring a special carpet cleaning machine can make a real difference. You can also get electric machines to deal with tiles, and laminates just want a really good scrub.

5. Second floors
If you’re really sick of your floor but have no option except to keep it where it is, then look for solutions such as carpet or rubber tiles that you can lay over it in jigsaw-fashion. Then, when you eventually move house, just pull them up and if you want, you can use them again in your new place.

6. Pretty Pictures
Now, this one is a little bit out-of-the-box, but if you’re the artistic type, or know someone who is, then why not take a plain linoleum floor, and create a mural, or other large image, or a series of smaller images? It gives your room a completely distinct character, and can look pretty cool – picture a black floor with an artwork that glows in the dark, for instance?

As anyone who’s ever had a hardwood floor in the home will no doubt agree, keeping it looking good can be a constant battle. And when they often cost a great deal to put in, it’s a battle you have to put everything into. Here’s some good advice on how to look after you hardwood floor so that it lasts as long as possible:

Cleaning
Avoid using wet mops on the floor as they will over time take off the finish. Instead, try sweeping with a soft broom or a special dust mop. If you want to hoover the floor then be sure to use an attachment suitable for hardwood floors so you don’t pick up any unsightly scratches.

Spills
If left undealt with, spills of any type of liquid, even plain water, can stain your floor, so if you notice one then clean it up straightaway. Use a soft cloth, either dry or just slightly damp and ensure you get it all up.

Footwear
This may sound like stating the obvious, but some types of footwear can be seriously bad news for hardwood flooring – think high heels and studded sportswear. Make a point of removing them at the front door.

Furniture
Heavy furniture can dent or scratch your floor, so use pads made of felt underneath the legs to prevent that, and be careful when moving furniture around. Remember if you use rubber pads these can discolour the flooring. It’s a good idea also to place rugs near external doors in case any loose stones get into the house, as these can also scratch the floor.

Treatments
Depending on the type of hardwood floor you have, different treatment products are suitable, from surface finishes to wax or acrylic finishes. It’s always best to learn from the company that sold you the flooring which treatment you ought to be using, and if the floor was put in before you moved in, then establish the type of wood you have and go from there. Using the wrong type of treatment can at best make it ineffective, at worst damage the floor.

Natural hardwood floors can add a touch of beauty and elegance to any home – especially in a kitchen. One of the rumoured downsides of wooden flooring is the work involved in cleaning and protecting them, as they’re typically more expensive than other floor coverings and are harder to replace if damaged. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. If sealed and maintained using the right processes, cleaning and protecting your hardwood floor doesn’t have to be a bother.

Follow our tips below for successful cleaning and protecting of hardwood floors:

• Avoid dirt and scratches where you can – An obvious way to protect your floor is to eliminate the things which are most likely to cause damage. You can do this by wiping up spills as soon as they happen, making sure people remove footwear before entering the room and by placing rugs or mats on areas of the floor which experience high volumes of foot traffic. Cleaning them often also removes any dirt or debris which could be worked into the floor.
• Know how your hardwood flooring is sealed – In order to clean and protect your floor correctly, you should be aware of how it was sealed. The type of seal or finish to the floor can determine which cleaning products are best to use, and how often it should be cleaned. A professional floor fitter will be able to tell you exactly what you need to know, such as which cleaning products to use, how much moisture your floor can withstand and more.
• Use the correct products – Again, asking a professional floor fitter for advice on cleaning products is best. Apart from that, make sure that you steer clear of cleaning products which are too alkaline or acidic. These can dull your flooring and eat away at the finish, respectively.
• Finally, you can always refinish your floor. If it’s starting to look a little dull or as though the finish is wearing away, then it’s a good idea to have it re-finished before you find irreparable damage. Contact a professional flooring specialist for more information.