5 Wood-Look Flooring Ideas - Lowe's

23 Jun.,2025

 

5 Wood-Look Flooring Ideas - Lowe's

1. Vinyl Wood-Look Flooring

Today’s vinyl flooring looks great, wears well, and comes in a wide range of colors and grains to replicate the look of a wood floor. Luxury vinyl plank flooring and floor tiles are increasingly popular. Vinyl wood-look flooring also comes in sheets. For easy installation, consider peel-and-stick tile.

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Benefits of Wood-Look Vinyl:

  • Moisture-resistant (great for homes with pets or kids)
  • Resistant to typical daily wear
  • Affordable
  • Easy to clean
  • Simple do-it-yourself installation with planks and tiles

Use Wood-Look Vinyl Tile, Sheet and Plank Flooring in These Rooms:

  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Laundry room
  • Mudroom
  • Basement

Hand-scraped and other textured vinyl flooring options add a real-wood feel to the rich appearance of wood-look vinyl. For more flooring inspiration, visit Vinyl Wood-Look Flooring Ideas.

2. Laminate Wood Flooring

Considering different wood flooring types? Traditional wood floors are beautiful but can be costly and difficult to maintain. If you want the look of a traditional wood floor at a lower cost and with less upkeep, consider laminate. Wood-look laminate plank flooring is a real-wood product made of dense fiberboard. These floating floors imitate a wide array of woods and are an easy DIY weekend project.

Benefits of Laminate Flooring:

  • More economical than hardwood flooring
  • Easy to clean and install
  • Stain- and scratch-resistant
  • Won't discolor in the sun

Use Laminate Wood-Plank Flooring in These Rooms:

  • Living room
  • Bedroom
  • Dining room
  • Kitchen (water-resistant and waterproof laminate)
  • Bathroom (waterproof laminate)

Different colors and shades make it easy to tie the look of laminate flooring to room décor, whether you want to match, complement or contrast furniture and other pieces. For more details on creating floors with laminate, visit Laminate Wood Flooring Ideas.

3. Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered hardwood plank flooring consists of layers of real wood, plywood and fiberboard, giving you a typically lower-cost option for creating floors with the look of traditional hardwood. This wood floor offers four different installation types: interlocking, nail-down, staple-down and glue-down options.

Benefits of Engineered Wood Flooring:

  • Resists water damage and warping better than traditional hardwood
  • Offers textures like those available with traditional hardwood planks
  • Can be refinished if the veneer is thick enough
  • Can be installed over concrete

Use Engineered Wood Flooring in These Rooms:

  • Children's room
  • Foyer
  • Living room, family room and other living spaces

Waterproof engineered hardwood flooring gives you an option for installing a wood floor in a kitchen, bathroom or basement. For more details on this flooring option, see our engineered wood flooring ideas.

4. Bamboo Flooring

As a hardwood floor alternative, bamboo is a great wood-look floor option. These floors can often last as long as traditional hardwood floors, and while trees can take decades to mature, the bamboo manufacturers use to create this wood-look flooring grows (and regrows after it's cut) very quickly.

Benefits of Bamboo Flooring:

  • Extremely durable (bamboo flooring can be harder than hardwood)
  • Stylish in appearance
  • Holds up well to foot traffic
  • Dent- and scratch-resistant
  • Easy to clean
  • Wide range of color and texture choices

Use Bamboo Flooring in These Rooms:

  • Any room except the bathroom, since bamboo flooring isn't waterproof

Bamboo flooring in a light shade creates a comfortable feel for a bedroom. Try a darker shade for a more luxurious appeal in a dining room. Or consider bamboo planks with a distressed texture for a rustic addition to a kitchen. See more bamboo flooring ideas.

5. Wood-Look Tile

Combine your wood and tile flooring ideas with hardwood-look tile flooring. Wood-look floor tiles have the timeless beauty of natural wood but the durability of tile. Plus, you can install tile in any room. You can use some types of tile to upgrade your walls, as well. You can even use some types of wood-look tiles indoors or out.

Benefits of Wood Look Tile:

  • Durable
  • Waterproof
  • Pet- and kid-friendly
  • No sealing necessary
  • Stain-and scratch-resistant
  • Slip-resistant options are available

Use Wood-Look Tile in These Rooms:

  • Kitchen
  • Bathroom (slip-resistant tile)
  • Laundry room
  • Porch (outdoor-rated tile)
  • Patio (outdoor-rated tile)

Consider wood-look tile bathroom ideas like adding a rustic wood design for a farmhouse bathroom or simply letting the rich, warm look of wood add an unexpected feature to the space. Give a kitchen a natural appeal, or with the right tile, complement the beauty of nature with wood-look tile on a patio. For more inspiration with this floor option, visit Wood-Look Tile Ideas.

Tip

Looking for wood floor ideas for your home? See how these flooring types, plus others, look in your home with Lowe's Flooring Visualizer. Viewing different floor options helps you see which one works best for your space.

Lowe’s can install your flooring. If you don’t have time to install new flooring yourself, take a look at our installation services. Start your flooring project today.

Wood-Look Flooring FAQ

Take a look at the answers to these common wood-look flooring questions to help you find the perfect floor option for any room in your home. 

What Type of Flooring Looks Most Like Wood?

Vinyl, laminate, bamboo and tile can all closely replicate the look of a wood floor. All offer water-resistant options while vinyl, laminate and tile are available as waterproof flooring that looks like real wood. Engineered wood plank flooring features hardwood veneer and gives you a wood floor that’s more resistant to moisture than traditional hardwood.

What Is the Best Alternative to Hardwood Flooring?

Finding the best alternative to hardwood flooring depends on the features you need. Vinyl, laminate, engineered wood, bamboo and tile are all good options for a hardwood flooring alternative. Vinyl and laminate offer DIY-friendly installation. Bamboo, laminate and tile all create highly durable floors. Vinyl, laminate and tile give you waterproof options suitable for use in kitchens and bathrooms.

Is Tile That Looks Like Wood Going Out of Style?

No, the timeless look of natural wood and the durable, waterproof nature of tile continue to make wood-look tile a popular flooring choice. The right tile can create the look of a wood floor in just about any space and a wide range of colors, shapes, formats and finishes give you freedom to create a floor that fits your décor style.

Is Wood-Look Tile Cheaper Than Hardwood?

Wood-look tile in general can often be less expensive to purchase than traditional hardwood, but the actual cost depends on the specific flooring you choose. Some types of wood-look tile are more expensive than some types of hardwood planks. Use our Flooring Project Estimator to get an estimate of your project costs based on specific types of flooring and base installation charges. 

How Long Does Wood-Look Tile Last?

In general wood-look tile can last for several decades if you install it correctly. Some high-quality porcelain wood-look tile can last 40 to 50 years.

Vinyl Wood-Look Flooring

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Wood-Plank Laminate Flooring

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Engineered Wood Flooring

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Bamboo Flooring

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Wood-Look Tile

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Waterproof Hardwood Flooring Buying Guide

Why Choose Waterproof Hardwood Flooring

One of the greatest threats to hardwood floors is moisture and liquids. Liquid that penetrates through the wood grain will destroy the wood from the inside out. And nothing is worse than installing a beautiful floor in your home only to have it fall into ruins.

Fading, stains, buckling, and warping can turn your property investment into an irreparable and expensive mess. Excessive moisture can also cause mold to grow and flourish in your home, creating a hazard to your health.

Waterproof hardwood keeps the water out, so your floors stay in place, which means you won’t be on high alert all the time about protecting your floors from spills. 

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Waterproof hardwood has a real hardwood veneer that’s permanently attached to core made of 100% waterproof lamina.

It provides the same benefits of authentic hardwood, such as unique beauty, warmth, and unsurpassed comfort and feel.

But compared to solid or other types of engineered hardwood, you get a waterproof, composite core beneath the wood.

Ultimately, the core design of each individual wood plank determines whether it’s waterproof or not. If the plank’s core isn’t waterproof, then there’s always the risk of an eventual water breach.

Unlike solid hardwood floors, which are protected only by a water-resistant coating applied to the surface, waterproof hardwood is engineered to stop moisture and water from the subfloor up.

Waterproof Hardwood Vs Hardwood Flooring with a Water-Resistant Coating

The main difference between waterproof hardwood and solid hardwood (prefinished or unfinished) with a water-resistant coating is the time you gain to handle spills and leaks.

Waterproof hardwood can be exposed to liquids with virtually no time limit, so pooling water will remain on the surface without ever causing damage to your floor.

With solid hardwood, there’s no waterproof core – just solid wood. This means that liquid can penetrate deep into the grain, resulting in mold formation and ruin from within.

Because waterproof hardwood flooring has a waterproof core, it’s better at handling spills, wet feet, and standing water for extended periods of time. You can wait longer to wipe up spills without worry. Shop our selection of prefinished floors, unfinished floors, engineered flooring, and hardwood flooring options.

The Benefits of Waterproof Hardwood Flooring

Waterproof hardwood has four main benefits:

  1. Waterproof Protection
  2. The Uniqueness and Natural Beauty of Hardwood
  3. The Versatility to be Installed in Any Room
  4. A Pet-Proof and Kid-Friendly Wear Layer

Waterproof Protection

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And this is true when it comes to selecting, installing, and maintaining hardwood floors in rooms prone to splashes and spills. Waterproof protection is wonderfully convenient because it gives you confidence in your floor’s longevity.

Waterproof hardwood flooring is ready for almost anything – from cracked eggs and big bowls of dropped cereal to a leaky washer or a mishap with the aquarium. This means you won’t ever find yourself stressing out about the numerous water issues common to home and property owners.

The Uniqueness and Natural Beauty of Hardwood

A properly installed, quality waterproof hardwood floor increases your property value with the uniqueness and natural beauty of hardwood. Natural hardwood is unsurpassed in look and feel, and you can’t fabricate it. Manufactured vinyl and laminate material designed to look and perform like wood isn’t the same as real wood, however close it appears.

Yes, you can get a similar look to hardwood with advanced embossed imaging, but eventually the image pattern repeats across your floor. And when it comes to performance, hardwood has no equal. Real hardwood has a one-of-a-kind aesthetic only nature provides.  

The Versatility to be Installed in Any Room

Have you ever dreamt about having real hardwood floors in your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, or even your basement? Then waterproof hardwood flooring is the perfect choice. You can install it above or below grade level and put it in any room you choose.

A Pet-Proof and Kid-Friendly Wear Layer

If you’re an active family with pets, waterproof hardwood flooring is one of your best options. Waterproof hardwood is designed to bring peace of mind, including surprises from pets.

All of the best waterproof hardwood brands include enhanced wear layer protection that guards the wood against wet paws, urine, scratches, dents, and more. This wear layer is also an ideal surface for active children who love to play.

The Limitations of Waterproof Hardwood Flooring

Even though waterproof hardwood flooring offers many benefits, it also has limitations. You will want to be aware of them to make an informed decision. Knowing them up front will help you decide whether it’s the right type of flooring for your needs, preference, and lifestyle.

100% Waterproof?

The core is 100% waterproof, but the veneer is solid hardwood, which is held tight to the core. Wood will always begin to degrade when it’s fully submerged in water. That’s just the nature of wood. Installing waterproof wood flooring greatly mitigates the risk of water damage and prevents it from the inside. But it won’t eliminate the possibility for surface damage during certain disaster situations.

If your dishwasher seriously malfunctions, a pipe bursts, or a hurricane hits your neighborhood and floods your home, waterproof flooring offers limited protection. You will have to contact your insurance company after any unfortunate events where damage occurs beyond the floor. The difference is that your floor itself may still be salvageable, depending on how much water you’re dealing with.

A Thinner Wear Layer than Solid Hardwood

Another limitation is that the top wood layer thickness of waterproof hardwood (the veneer) is thinner than solid hardwood. The veneer thickness varies from product to product, and options range up to 1.8mm (70.8 mils).

A useful way to illustrate the thickness of a mil is to know that…

  • 1 mil = 1/th of one inch
  • Plastic wrap = 5 mils

1.6 – 2mm is the base recommended thickness required for screening or sanding and refinishing. A floor with a 1.6 – 2mm wear layer can be refinished 1-2 times and last anywhere from 30-40 years. Waterproof hardwood is built to last, but isn’t designed to be refinished.

Prefinished waterproof wood has an extra-protective coating of finish that isn’t easy to sand off.

Limitations to Scratch and Dent Resistance

The best waterproof hardwoods are pet-proof, but if you have a mastiff or other large dog whose nails aren’t consistently trimmed, your floor will be tested.

And if you have two big dogs with untrimmed nails, who love running between rooms to chase their squirrel and chipmunk friends they see outside, then you may want to test the flooring’s scratch-resistance before you commit.

Waterproof Hardwood Alternatives

Although there’s nothing quite like hardwood in your home for increasing your property value, LVP flooring has come a long way since tacky, old stick vinyl.

High image embossing gives you a surface that closely resembles hardwood. Many people have trouble telling the difference. It can be a great, cost-effective choice, especially in basements and bathrooms. 

Knots look and feel more like knots. Beveled edges also provide a more authentic appearance, leaving you with a surface that looks and feels much more like actual wood than options available in the past. The main benefit of vinyl is that it’s extremely tough and many products are waterproof.

However, when it comes to elegance, effect, and value, nothing beats hardwood.

Luxury vinyl is designed to be impervious to water, so they’re more resilient than waterproof hardwood. Read our response to the question: Why and how to choose waterproof flooring?

Summary

Waterproof hardwood flooring offers many benefits and has a few limitations. With this flooring option, you can bring comfort, warmth, and the natural look of hardwood to any room. You won’t worry about water issues when you have waterproof wood floors like you will with solid hardwood.

At the same time, waterproof hardwood has its limitations. A thinner layer of wood is necessary for a waterproof design, but this thinner layer reduces the number of times you can refinish your floors. But in most situations, and with proper care, you won’t ever have to.

With proper maintenance and care, the longevity of waterproof hardwood exceeds most people’s expectations. In the end, it all comes down to what works best for you, your family, and your space.

If you’re looking for the beauty of engineered hardwood with extra protection, you will be very happy with waterproof hardwood.

Still on the fence about whether our floors will fit for your home? Try our floor visualizer to see what our flooring could look like for you.

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