The Natural Creations Mystix collection can give you a contemporary feel, because you can have a couple different materials in one area. Although wood floors are classic, why not mix them with limestone for a more interesting design?

Since all of the wood, stone and metal flooring options are within the Earth tones, they are easy to mix together. You don’t even have to be very creative, but adding another element to the floor can enhance the room’s presence. However, if you like taking risks and experimenting with color, try the Chroma Stone Citron (green) or Chroma Stone Luna (blue) for a punch of color. There are even bamboo options.

Colorful tiles on a staircase can make a statement, especially if it’s near an entryway. Wrought irons railings can bring the rustic feel to life. Or you can outline your doorway in Moroccan tile, which would be a different take than the traditional wooden door frames.

Wherever you choose to put the tile make sure that it’s in an appropriate place that needs color and attention. Plus, tile on the stairs can keep them cool and give your home a summery atmosphere if you live near the beach. Wrought iron wall sconces can dress up the doorway and tie in the wrought iron railings if you choose this route.

Start by sweeping out dirt and debris from the small cracks with a whisk broom. Then use concrete repair caulk to temporarily fill in the small cracks. For larger problems or edges, use a chisel to remove debris. Then customize a form board to fill in the area. Masking tape can be used to protect adjacent surfaces. Next, apply a bonding adhesive to the form board. The last step is filling the area with vinyl-reinforced patching compound. This will need to be done in layers, and each layer needs at least 30 minutes to dry.

After years of wear and tear, it’s natural for the cement to get cracks. However, you don’t have to let these imperfections affect your home’s curb appeal.

Some ways to prevent the varnish on cork floors from wearing include putting mats in high traffic areas and adding casters or cups under furniture legs. The manufacturer might have more specific ways or products to protect the varnish.

When cleaning your cork floor, you should use a canister vacuum and a floor brush. Standard upright vacuums or ones with beater bars can damage your floor. Also, use a damp cotton string mop or synthetic sponge to wash the floor, but be sure not to soak the cork. Check with the manufacturer to see if they suggest certain cleaners.

Adding an inlay to your existing wood floors can dramatically transform your floors and even brighten them. Renaissance Floor In-Lays has a variety of designs to choose from such as medallions (large and square), borders, panels, parquets, octagons and corners. If you don’t want to invest money on an inlay, enhance a piece of furniture such as a settee with Inlay Product World, Inc.’s Ready Marq (self adhesive overlays).

Decorative wall sconces can bring the look together. The Victorian Tiffany Gothic Fleur-De-Lis wall sconce shown below has warm, rich tones and an intricate design that no one’s eyes can miss.

Faux painting on the walls can softly bring the color palette of the foyer together.

Pioneer Millworks carries reclaimed wood flooring that is manufactured in the U.S.A. They have a large selection of species, grades and widths, and the flooring is 100% reclaimed or FSC certified. Although the wood in reclaimed floors is sometimes less than perfect, it gives the floor character. If you have already replaced your wood flooring and have extra wood from the project, contact Pioneer Millworks to see if they will buy it from you.

Maybe carpet is more your style, so use your creative freedom to work with recycled carpet tiles, which you can get from FLOR. These tiles can give a room more personality and color. Plus, if a few tiles become worn, you can replace and return them to the company.

While it maybe not be the “real deal,” it can be an attractive and easy-to-maintain upgrade from carpeting. If someone in your family suffers from allergies (especially to pets, mildew, mold, etc.), then it can even improve the overall health of that person (I noticed a huge change when my parents’ switched from carpet to laminate flooring in the downstairs half of the house–for the first time in years, I didn’t need to whip out an inhaler when I visited!).

Installing laminate can really be affordable if you’re willing to take on the project yourself. I helped my dad when he did it, and while I wouldn’t say it was “easy” (there’s a learning curve), it was definitely doable. And if you’re just doing a couple rooms, it can even be accomplished in a weekend.

To further save money, get your laminate flooring from a liquidation store. I didn’t think that Lumber Liquidators would have that big of a selection, but I found this bamboo laminate flooring at their online shop. As I write this, the cost is $1.29 a square foot, making it much more economical than real bamboo, which is double or triple that (at least), even at a liquidation store. Also it’s not as DIY friendly as laminate, which interlocks via a snap-and-click feature.

The “Putt Up or Shut Up Rug Kit” is from Flor Carpets, the folks that make those modular carpet tiles we’ve looked at before.

Their golf rug is made from a “combination of Twist & Shout with its smooth cropped surface and A Little of This with a plusher depth Putt Up or Shut Up provides ‘ruff’ angles for you to master again and again. Start out easy (Par 3 configuration) and work your way through our suggested course with Par 4 and Par 5 designs. Each rug comes with a rug map with three different course configurations (Par 3 Par 4 and Par 5) and FLORdots so you can reconfigure your design as much as you like.”

I don’t even golf, but it’d be fun to have something to do in the living room during commercials. A quick hole, anyone?

This knotty pine flooring is part of the Grizzly Forest collection at 1 A Flooring.

The Grizzly Forest Mills in Joanna, SC produces pre-finished and un-finished flooring including boards made from reclaimed Antique Heart Pine salvaged from historic mills and buildings. Reclaimed river wood from the Savannah River basin is also available. Those who appreciate history (and are looking for a rustic story as well as a rustic look for their home) may appreciate that some of the wood is five hundred years old.

The pre-finished floors have a seven coat aluminum oxide system and come with a twenty year warranty.

The pine wood costs a little under $4 a square foot.

Tiles come in myriad colors and design styles, so there aren’t many design limitations. Just about any pattern you can imagine can be laid down in your home.

These unique tree branch tiles make an interesting floor covering, and this is just one of many colorful designs from Popham Design in Morocco.

The tiles are hand-made by artisans in Marrakech, using locally sourced materials. The design video on the company’s site is worth watching if you’re curious how tiles like these are made.