The floor of a house frequently does not get enough attention in the construction of a house although we will be standing on it every day. In fact, designing a floor is as interesting element in the overall design of your ideal home.

With floor tiles, we can create the atmosphere we desire because each room has its own requirements. In regard to this, there are several things to consider including the room function, the users of the room, the location of the room, the theme of the room, the materials of the floor and the harmony between the floor and the building architecture.

HARMONIOUS ROOM: Design should take several things into consideration, such as the function of the room, users of the room, theme and building materials of the building interior. (JP/R.Berto Wedhatama)

Harmonizing all of these elements -- the floor, the walls, the ceiling and furniture -- will result in a unity that reflects synergy and dynamism. The color themes and the styles may be based either on ethnic-traditional or modern-minimalist concepts or other styles that suit the character of the occupants and the architecture of the house. However, the creativity and spirit of innovation in designing the floor of the house is still important.

Ceramic tiles are environmentally friendly as they do not need harsh detergents to keep them clean. A ceramic floor that has a special surface to prevent water and fat from sticking on the floor surface will make it easy to maintain the floor, hence it will continue to look clean. The floor need only be cleaned with water and a sponge, minimizing the use of floor cleaner, which is not environmentally friendly.

Ceramic tiles are also increasingly used for walls, replacing wallpaper. This is an example of innovation in design. Ceramic walls are easy to maintain. The walls do not need re-painting as it is enough just to wipe them clean. Besides, ceramic tiles come in various exclusive and elegant motifs and colors creating a different atmosphere in the room.

Larger-sized ceramic tiles for the floor and the walls will also reduce the need for space between floor and wall tiles so that the floor and walls will not easily get dirty. This will also lead to efficiency in the materials, the cost of installing the tiles and the time taken to install them. Larger tiles will give the impression of a more spacious room.

The unity between the theme and the colors will give the impression that the house is well-arranged and spacious. There will be shades of color: the floor (dark), the walls and furniture (modestly bright) and the ceiling (bright). A combination of similar colors on the floor, when placed against other parts of the house (walls, ceiling, furniture), will produce a harmony that will improve the health of the house and its occupants.

The colors chosen must be adapted to the need and function of each room. Cold colors such as green and blue shades will create a soothing effect in your study, reading room or bedroom. Bright colors such as shades of yellow, orange and red stimulate and suit the more dynamic activities of the living room, playroom, sitting room, kitchen, terrace and carport. Earth tones such as leaf green, earth brown, brick red and sandy or stony gray are used to create an atmosphere that is close to nature.

The choice of earth brown shades and dark colors for the floor (the symbol of the earth), modest colors for the walls and furniture (chairs, table and cupboards) (the symbol of trees, hills and mountain ranges) as well as the bright colors of the ceiling (the symbol of the sky) constitute efforts to present the outside world in the house. Colors can also imbue rooms with a spiritual nuance (white, green, blue). These colors can be applied in the prayer room, bedrooms and bathrooms.

Each room in a house has a different function so the design of the floor varies. The floor on the front, side and rear terrace and the bathroom requires a floor material that has a coarse texture so that no one slips. Please note that these rooms are most frequently exposed to water. Bathrooms need special handling and maintenance, ranging from sanitation utilities to the choice of materials. Coarse-textured ceramic tiles and terrazzo are used as floor materials to avoid slipping.

The size of floor tiles, particularly marble, granite, ceramic and terrazzo, will affect the impression of the size of a room. For a small room (a bedroom or a bathroom), smaller tiles will be used to make the room look wider. For large rooms (the sitting room, the living room), larger materials will help create an impression of spaciousness.

Inner rooms (sitting rooms, living rooms, bedrooms) may have a floor with smooth and glossy surface. For your kitchen, choose a flooring material that will be easy to clean so that no stains will be left in the pores of the floor and the space between floor tiles as these stains will spoil the beauty of the floor.

The pattern on the floor, the texture, materials and size of the materials must be in harmony with the architectural style. A floor finish that is of the same tone as the inner rooms seems to invite those in the outer rooms to go inside and will provide an impression of spaciousness.

Floor tiles do not always have to be expensive to look artistic. A dark gray and yellow terrazzo floor will give the impression of modesty and antiquity. A combination of plaster in a number of places is also unique and will reduce the need to plaster the entire floor. The plastering technique also allows for many choices.

Ceramic floor tiles will produce a beautiful floor when they are arranged carefully and neatly. Besides white, which is often chosen because it is a neutral color and gives the impression of cleanliness, gray or ivory yellow, like the color of a terrazzo floor, or earth brown can also be used. To ensure that the ceramic or terrazzo floor tiles look excellent, the space between one floor tile and another must be wide enough. In this way, the lack of precision can be obscured. Glazed ceramic floor tiles helps avoid odors and prevents dirt from being absorbed. These floor tiles are also easy to maintain so that your floor will always look clean.

Today there are a variety of floor materials, such as terrazzo, which gives the impression of being traditional; ceramic tiles come in a great variety; marble and granite, both symbolize luxury; or even the more natural parquet floor, which is made of wood.

Different materials will require different maintenance. A parquet floor is vulnerable to water and to friction with the furniture and the moving about of the occupants. A marble or granite floor must be regularly polished with a special machine to maintain the smoothness of the floor surface. As for a ceramic-tiled floor, you can use a wet mop, with floor cleaner or disinfectant, to maintain the hygiene and cleanliness of the rooms, particularly the children's rooms and the kitchen. If you use terrazzo, you can mop it with a damp cloth. To add a sheen to the floor, you can rub it with grated coconut.

Creativity in designing a ceramic or terrazzo floor may lead to a combination of a plain floor pattern with a pattern that has traditional motifs often found in old houses. This has become a trend for traditional ethnic houses. Today, ceramic floor tiles also come in a greater variety of motifs. The floor will look more stylish with a strip that has a motif, not just plain tiles in similar colors. Interesting, right?

Exploring various options for the floors in your home will lend greater beauty to your home. So, do not ignore the floor.

-Nirwono Joga

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