Best Flooring for Tudor Homes

“Tudor” is an architecture and decor trend that originated in the United States in the mid-19th century. The style takes elements from late Medieval and early Renaissance architecture, making the architecture and decor highly reminiscent of these times. The distinct appearance of Tudor-style homes makes them recognizable and unique among other homes.

If you have a Tudor home or you’re renovating a Tudor-inspired room, several flooring options pair well and will help you maintain the beauty and character of this style. Keep reading to learn about the Tudor house style and attractive flooring options to preserve its look.

What Is a Tudor-Style Home?

Tudor-style houses are easily identifiable with their unique style of exposed black timber frames and brick or cream-colored walls. The design dates back to 19th-century English architecture and Medieval and post-Medieval styles. Tudor-style houses come in all sizes, with smaller versions appearing as quaint storybook homes and larger Tudors embodying the romantic ideal of an English country manor.

The charming, old-world feel of these homes continues to appeal to Americans today. While Tudors mimic a style designed for colder climates and are ideal for the northern part of the U.S., they’re popular across the country, often being situated in suburban areas.

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Features of a Tudor-Style Home

Tudors are characterized by dark woods, warm colors and intricately patterned fabrics. The style of home is recognizable for its many distinct features, including:

A steeply pitched roof: The steeply pitched roof of the Tudor house style often has several front-facing gables — the triangular section of the roof — of variable heights.
Arches: One of the most distinctive features of a Tudor-style room is the arches. Arches revolutionized the way buildings were constructed in Renaissance times, with arched doorways and windows becoming prominent in Tudors.
Fireplaces: Fireplaces are another Tudor feature. Wall fireplaces were introduced in the 16th century and became common in all buildings from that time on. Tudor fireplaces are often made from a natural brick or stone with dark and ornate wood mantels.
Casement windows: The windows on a Tudor home are typically casement windows with small leaded panes in a rectangular or diamond pattern, held together with lattice.
Plaster and wood walls: Tudor-style houses typically use plaster and wood or stone materials on their walls. Weathered or dark wooden panels or half-timbers are standard for the style, creating a distinctive exterior and interior design. Oak paneling is also a prominent feature of Tudor homes, making interiors appear more ornate and rich.
Ornate interior features: Interior decorative features of Tudors include gold or silver thread and leafing, patterned fabrics, tapestries and symbols harkening to Medieval or Renaissance times. Furniture is often made from dark, heavy and ornately carved oak.

Top Flooring Choices for Tudor-Style Home

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The best flooring for Tudor homes includes dark wood and stone materials or floors that look as though they’re made from wood or stone. Large rugs on top of the wood flooring or ornate carpeting also make excellent choices when renovating a Tudor-style house. The design is meant to reflect styles of the late Medieval period, so keep this in mind as you select floor materials and styles.

Best Carpet for Tudor-Style Home

While we don’t typically envision carpeting in Tudors, the right style can help create the modern Tudor-style house of your dreams. For instance, jewel tones and intricately patterned carpets or rugs can complement those old-world design features while enhancing your home’s comfort.

Tudors are also known for layering textures, colors and patterns, from wall adornments to wood decorations and furniture. Complement these features with carpeting in unique patterns or geometric designs and jewel tones.

Pattern carpets can also draw the eye to your fireplace and other lavish Tudor decor items. In some cases, specific patterns can also make your space look either more extensive or intimate. It all comes down to your particular room and design preferences.

Best Hardwood for Tudor-Style Home

Dark hardwood is one of the most significant features of Tudor-style homes. While beautiful in any space, hardwood is also durable and long-lasting.

Solid walnut, maple or red oak flooring would complement a Tudor best, with rustic cuttings that coordinate with Medieval interior design. In addition to various materials, natural wood flooring comes in several finishes, colors, sizes and styles to make your Tudor come alive and preserve that natural charm.

Best Tile for Tudor-Style Home

LVT has emerged as one of today’s most popular tile choices for Tudor house flooring, commanding a market once dominated by conventional materials like ceramic and porcelain. Thanks to technological advancements in recent years, LVT performs better than traditional tiles on nearly every level, offering significantly faster installation times to provide greater cost savings.

This flooring is also incredibly durable, often outlasting ceramic tile materials prone to chipping and cracking. LVT comes in a broad range of colors and patterns that can complement nearly any space in your Tudor-style home, as well. This quality is beneficial if you want a tile option that resembles natural materials, such as wood or stone.

Best Laminate for Tudor-Style Home

Many homeowners choose laminate floors for their strength, longevity and aesthetic that can complement any design style, including Tudor. In fact, laminate is designed to resemble wood and other flooring materials that are ideally suited for your Medieval and Renaissance-inspired home.

Laminate consists of several layers that provide moisture and wear resistance, structural stability and beauty. A decorative layer is included to make the flooring look like natural wood or stone at a fraction of the cost.

Best Luxury Vinyl for Tudor-Style Home

Like laminate and tile, luxury vinyl is made to resemble wood, stone and other natural materials found in Tudor-style homes. Choose from luxury vinyl sheet, tile or plank to make your vision a reality:

Luxury vinyl plank: For instance, luxury vinyl plank flooring looks and feels like natural wood, complete with wood textures, coloring and grain patterns. You’ll appreciate luxury vinyl plank to craft the ideal cozy Tudor design.
Luxury vinyl tile (LVT): LVT is equally impressive with its ability to imitate stone tiles at a fraction of the price of real stone. Unlike the real thing, LVT is easier to clean and requires less maintenance — just be sure to follow your manufacturer’s instructions to ensure you keep your flooring in good condition.
Vinyl sheet: Vinyl sheet offers even more moisture resistance than tile options, coming in plain, patterned or stone and wood styles.

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