design dilemma: choosing a flooring

Things are finally progressing on our new house again. We went through mold remidation which was a major setback, but with that done and most of the dywall back in place, I’m beignning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our next big hurdle is choosing the flooring, which we need to order ASAP. I’ve been putting it off because I can’t seem to make up my mind between a bamboo floor and a cork floor.

Option 1: Bamboo

We have natural strand bamboo flooring in our current house. I love the way it looks.  It has a lot of color variation so it hides dirt well, and goes well with any kind of wood furnishings. I’m tempted to use the same product, but it does scratch pretty easily. Also, there is a part of me that would like to try something new in our new house rather than putting in what we’ve been living with for years over here.

I’ve had my eye on a couple different variations of bamboo that could provide a bit of a change. I love the look of this natural hewn bamboo below, but unfortunately this one is out of our price range.

I also love the look of this distressed bamboo. It would alleviate the worry over scratches and I think the rustic look could pair well with modern furnishings.

I’ve also been interested in this tiger bamboo for a while. I love the look but a part of me worries that it is too visually “busy” for a family home that is going to inevitably get cluttered. Does this look require sparse furniture and a minimalist approach? If so, it wouldn’t work so well in our home.  I’m also worried that it would negatively effect the resale/rent potential since it’s such a bold look.

Option 2: Cork

I’ve also been considering using a cork floor. I thought about this for our current home but didn’t have the nerve to pull the trigger. It seems like it has become a bit more mainstream in the past few years. Cork has a lot of advantages. It’s extremely durable and water resistant. It’s noise-dampening (HALLELUJAH!) which is a big draw for me.  It is soft underfoot and relatively scratch-resistant, though apparently heavy furniture can leave indentations. It is low maintenance and easy to clean, and has a nice modern look.  My first choice is this natural striatta cut, which is very eco-friendly since it is made with the remnants of wine corks.

I also really like this darker cork that comes in smaller planks, giving the look of rustic wood.

I think this cork flooring is great for a clean, modern look but I’m worried it would be difficult to keep clean.

I think cork has more advantages for my family, but I’m still hesitant because I still haven’t seen it in many homes.

What do you think? Would you go cork or bamboo?