by Zephyr + Stone

When designing your new home or interior project, one of the biggest decisions you’ll face is the type of flooring to choose. Vinyl, laminate, tiles — the options are endless, which can make the decision a daunting one. You’ll want your living spaces to flow seamlessly, but what about areas like the kitchen where spills are bound to happen on the regular? Or the inevitable scratches and scuffs from children, pets and furniture? Introducing…hybrid flooring.

Read on to find out why this cutting-edge flooring option is so hot right now, as well as our top 5 reasons why you’ll want to include it in your next home design project!

modern grey kitchen with marble splashback and butternut kitchen wooden flooring — • Zephyr and Stone • Retreat House Kitchen featuring GAT SPC Flooring in ‘Butternut’

Want to recreate this design in your home? Click here to download the colour schemes + plans now!

So, What is Hybrid Flooring?

You might have already seen it on our Instagram feed, and if you’ve stepped inside a flooring centre recently, you’ll no doubt have heard hybrid flooring mentioned. So, what exactly is it? To start, there are actually four different layers that go into one single plank of hybrid flooring:

Top surface layer — Provides durability against scratches, spills etc
Timber layer — Using advanced printing technology, a realistic timber grain pattern and the colour is applied
Waterproof layer — Designed to be 100% waterproof and withstand extreme changes in temperature
Acoustic layer — Increases comfort under the foot and softens sounds

These layers are pressed together to create a new type of flooring that’s not only extremely durable but also beautiful to look at #winning

living room with hybrid butternut wooden flooring and white vj panelling — • Zephyr and Stone • Retreat House Living Room featuring GAT SPC Flooring in ‘Butternut’

It’s Kitchen-Proof

A common question we’re asked is “Should I continue my floorboards into my kitchen? What about spills?” The idea of ruining your brand new floor from an overflowing sink or an inevitable spill sounds like any renovator’s worst nightmare.

Hybrid flooring was made with this in mind, so this waterproof technology makes it absolutely perfect for areas in the home like the kitchen and butler’s pantry. In open-plan homes, being able to continue your flooring throughout the entire space helps to keep your look cohesive and contemporary, without any worries.

Retreat house grey kitchen with hybrid butternut wooden flooring and marble benchtop.jpg — • Zephyr and Stone • Retreat House Kitchen featuring GAT SPC Flooring in ‘Butternut’

It’s Human-Proof

If you’re like us, you LOVE the look of a timber floor. It’s tactile, and warm, and also helps to bring a sense of the great outdoors into our homes. The downside is that any sort of scratch or scuff is here to stay and replacing damaged planks can be a costly exercise. Hybrid flooring has been designed to give you the look and feel of a traditional timber floor, without being precious.

The durable top layer of a hybrid plank is made to withstand anything your household can throw at it, like those scratches and dents that inevitably appear over time. You won’t have to worry about furry four-legged family members causing wear and tear to your floors either. One more advantage hybrid has over traditional hardwood is that it’s resistant to UV rays, so you won’t find faded patches if you decide to rearrange your furniture!

retreat house living room with hybrid butternut wooden flooring and white vj panel wall — • Zephyr and Stone • Retreat House Living Room featuring GAT SPC Flooring in ‘Butternut’

Cleaning Is a Breeze

Cleaning - It’s something that’s unavoidable in daily life, but with hybrid floors, you’ll be amazed at how low maintenance they really are. You can say ‘see ya’ to specialist cleaning products like polish or wax because a simple vacuum or sweep is enough to keep them in tip-top shape from day to day. And because hybrid floors are waterproof, you can go in with a mop every now and then to really make them shine. Oh, and because hybrid planks simply click together, you won’t need to contend with any dirt hiding in gaps so you can focus on the more important things in life.

retreat house modern butler's pantry with timber open shelving and marble backsplash — • Zephyr and Stone • Retreat House Butler’s Pantry featuring GAT SPC Flooring in ‘Butternut’

Get The Timber Look

Timber flooring is without a doubt a stunning flooring option that’s remained popular over the years, as styles and trends come and go. But, factors like cost and durability are a real issue for any household with kids, pets, or anyone who’s not too keen on the upkeep required.

Hybrid flooring has come a long way in recent years by using advanced technology to replicate the intricate timber grains and tones, which at first glance look just like real timber! Our go-to hybrid flooring supplier GAT Flooring offers a beautiful range of styles that can be used in any home, whether you’re going for a contemporary, coastal or even Scandi look. The realistic grain and knot details that go into every plank of hybrid flooring make it an attractive, warm option for your home or design project.

retreat house modern kitchen grey kitchen cabinets and marble backsplash and black barstools — • Zephyr and Stone • Retreat House Kitchen featuring GAT SPC Flooring in ‘Butternut’

Saves you $$$

Last but definitely not least, Hybrid Flooring is affordable. Hybrid planks are typically made from a mix of plastic and limestone or wood, making them a cost-effective alternative to timber or tiles.

Not only that, but their easy click-lock installation means laying a hybrid floor is faster and more cost-effective too! It’s also possible to install hybrid flooring directly over an existing floor, reducing the time and cost of preparation and installation further. What’s not to love?