Ever since humanity crawled from the ponds, built humble dwellings and decided that the scorched earth look wasn’t really creating the right ambience for their hut, what we have chosen to put on our floor has changed markedly over time and wooden floors have been with us for a great deal longer than many would expect.

There have been plenty of other materials tried and tested through the mists of time. The Romans were very keen on mosaics and marble, which looked fantastic and were very durable. However, mosaics and marble were also rather slippery and something of a pain to keep in pristine shape.

Persia had an answer with their rugs. These initially started as small pieces of intricate fabric that would partially cover the floor and traders made a mint exporting these precious items across the world. Indeed even now, a Persian rug is mentioned in hushed tones.

For many years though, Roman invaders and the errant Persian rug apart, floor coverings in the UK remained somewhat dull. Beaten earth, hay, straw, grass, hair even dried animal droppings were frequently used in many dwellings across the country. The rich could afford stone, but it was hardly gentle underfoot. What was needed was something durable, clean and yet cheap and easy to maintain.

The only wood flooring available tended to come in those houses rich enough to afford a second floor. This second floor would have been made from wooden joists with two foot planks of oak or elm nailed across them.

This changed in the 17th century and during the Baroque era in particular. It was during this time that wooden flooring first began to gain popularity throughout Europe. Parquet flooring, in particular, became hugely popular with the rich, who felt the cut and laid pieces of coloured woods gave their rooms a breathtaking new elegance. The design was copied by middle class citizens who would paint their wooden floors with a similar design.

Initially, wooden floors were not sanded or treated in any way; they were instead made smooth and comfortable by the combined footsteps of the inhabitants.

The increasing abundance of wood as a material for use in flooring saw wooden floors become the norm during the 18th and 19th centuries. The vast majority of homes could only use the cheapest wood to make an elementary plank floor and they would often be unevenly spaced and of a non-uniform length, giving a somewhat hap-hazard appearance. To combat this somewhat unappealing configuration, floors were now being painted to give a more uniform appearance in many homes.

The emerging middle classes, however, could afford to have a more aesthetically appealing, uniform plank used on their wooden floor, which was also fitted using a tongue and groove joint.

This meant the carpenter could prepare the boards before being laid to ensure they gave a more pleasing appearance.

Once laid, the floor would be sanded and waxed by servants to give it a healthy sheen. Parquet floors, however, still remained beyond the means of most and available only to the elite and were extensively used in mansions and palaces of this era.

Use of wooden flooring was refined throughout the Victorian era but the industrial revolution and the invention of cheap carpeting seemed to summon the death knell for wooden flooring following the end of World War II. Carpet became considerably cheaper to install in homes than hardwood flooring. To cope with the housing boom, floors were being laid quickly with cheap plywood and then covered with carpet. The carpet boom had begun.

From the end of the 1940s right through to modern day, carpet has been the flooring of choice for many, but now times are changing. Wooden flooring is back in fashion and it isn’t difficult to understand why.

The first issue is maintenance. Many people in the modern age have a hectic lifestyle and vacuum cleaning a carpeted house, from top to bottom, is a time-consuming exercise that has to be completed frequently.

Wood flooring, by contrast, is quick and easy to maintain; a simple brush with a standard floor brush often enough to clear away any detritus. Furthermore, any spills or stains can easily be cleaned from a wood floor with a simple cloth and water. There is no need for expensive powders and chemicals to try and get rid of that red wine stain!

Another consideration for many is their health and environment. Carpets are a haven for dust, mites and plenty of other detritus from life that accumulates in their fibres and that cannot be cleaned properly by a traditional vacuum cleaner. The only way to truly clean a carpet is to have it professionally cleaned and shampooed, an expensive, time-consuming and inconvenient experience. Wooden floors, however, do not trap this dirt and it can be washed or brushed away simply.

Wooden floors make sense environmentally too. The manufacturing process of carpets sees many environmentally unsound chemicals used to add durability and lustre to the carpet. Wooden floors however are entirely natural, often made from managed forests, which make them a far better option for you and the environment too!

Not only that, if you use a specialist company who provide quality wooden flooring, such as Timberland flooring, they can advise you of the best flooring available for your home and even fit it at a price to suit!

However, the real selling point for wooden flooring comes down to two key issues. The look and cost.

There is no doubt about it; wooden floorings add a degree wow-factor to any home. Can you remember the last time you went into someone’s house and said: “Hey James? Love the new carpet!” Wooden floors on the other hand are almost always a talking point; they look fantastic, they are easier to maintain, they are cleaner, greener and will often lift a house above the mundane and provide a focal point for the residence and in some cases, even add value to the home!

Lastly, there is of course the cost. Gone are the days where wooden flooring was the domain of the fabulously rich. Nowadays, everybody can afford to have wooden flooring installed in their home at or about the same level as a good quality carpet.

Over the past 70 years or so, we may have been somewhat blinded by the dominance of carpet, but times are changing. Wooden flooring is making a welcome return to fashion and in these somewhat austere and environmentally aware times that can only be a good thing for everybody.