When it comes to choosing flooring or decking for your home or project, the material you use matters. Not just for the look and feel of the space, but for the story it tells and the impact it leaves behind. Nusantara Lifestyle works with reclaimed teak wood from Indonesia to create flooring and decking that is beautiful, long-lasting, and made with purpose.
What is reclaimed wood, and why use it?
Reclaimed wood is timber that’s been used before — often in old homes, or here in Indonesia, for traditional structures — and then carefully salvaged, cleaned, and prepared for reuse. It carries with it the characteristics of age: marks from old nails, subtle colour variations, and the quiet identity that only time can create.
Much of the wood we use at Nusantara Lifestyle comes from dismantled joglo houses in Java. These traditional wooden homes are full of cultural history and architectural detail. Instead of letting their materials go to waste, we recover the teak and give it a second life. It’s a way of preserving not just resources, but stories too.
Hardwearing for high-use spaces
Whether you’re putting in floorboards throughout a home or laying a deck for outdoor living, durability is key. Teak is known for being one of the strongest natural hardwoods available. It has a high tensile strength (meaning it doesn’t warp or buckle easily), and it naturally contains oils that protect it from moisture, insects, and decay.
This makes reclaimed teak ideal for:
- High-traffic indoor areas like living rooms and hallways
- Kitchens or dining spaces where spills are inevitable
- Outdoor decking exposed to weather and wear
- Pool surrounds, garden paths, and shaded terraces
Because the wood has already stood the test of time, it’s more durable than newly milled timber. It’s not going to move or twist the way fresh-cut wood sometimes does after installation.
Unique character
One of the best things about reclaimed wood flooring and decking is the way it looks: natural, warm, and full of character. You won’t get the uniformity of factory-finished planks, but that’s the charm. Each board is slightly different, and together they create a surface that feels honest and lived-in, but still beautiful.
If you’re after an earthy, eco-conscious aesthetic, reclaimed teak fits right in. Although it can look rustic it’s not rough, especially once it’s sanded and finished by hand. The grain patterns, subtle colour shifts, and occasional marks of its past life all contribute to a surface that feels layered and real.
Indoor flooring: grounding your space
Inside, reclaimed teak flooring brings warmth and texture to any space. It’s versatile enough to work in both contemporary and classic interiors, and it holds up well over time with basic care. Whether oiled for a natural finish or polished for something more sleek, the wood feels solid underfoot — and it just gets better as it ages.
For many people, flooring is the foundation of a room’s atmosphere. Using reclaimed wood gives that foundation a bit more meaning; it’s a reminder that materials can be both practical and responsible.
Outdoor decking: designed to weather well
Outdoors, reclaimed teak is a practical and reliable choice. Its natural oils protect it from moisture, insects, and sun, making it ideal for exposed areas like decking, outdoor showers, and cladding. It handles rain, foot traffic, and heat with ease, staying comfortable underfoot even in direct sun.
Over time, reclaimed teak decking weathers to a soft silvery-grey, or oil treatments can be applied to maintain its more golden tones. Either way, it stays strong and continues to look great, with minimal upkeep.
Wall panels & cladding: adding depth and texture
Reclaimed teak also looks great on walls, where it gives warmth, depth, and texture. Whether used across an entire surface or in smaller sections, the natural grain and colour variation soften modern interiors and introduce a more grounded, tactile feel.
Wall cladding in reclaimed wood can be used in different ways:
- As a feature wall in a bedroom or living space
- In commercial interiors such as cafes, shops, or co-working spaces
- On external façades where durability and weather-resistance matter
- In transitional areas like hallways or stairwells as an alternative to paint or tile
Made by hand, with respect for the material
Nusantara Lifestyle works with a small team of expert craftspeople here in Indonesia. Our process is slow by design: each piece of wood is cleaned, treated, shaped, and finished with care (watch our short film Omah Kuno, created by our media partner Portray, for a great insight into the entire process). As you can see in the film, the wood isn’t stripped of its character, it’s enhanced in every way possible.
This way of working ensures quality while also honouring the material and the hands that shaped it in the first place.
A more responsible way to build
Reclaimed wood isn’t just about aesthetics or durability; it’s also a way of using timber we already have, rather than harvesting more.
Indonesia is home to some of the world’s most important rainforests that are rich in biodiversity and essential for global carbon balance. But legal and illegal logging, mining, and land clearing have had a major impact on these environments. Working with reclaimed wood is a small but significant way to help change the story. It means fewer trees cut down, less waste and pollution, and a reminder that the old can still be valuable.
There’s also something to be said for choosing things that are made with longevity in mind. Fast furniture might seem convenient, but it rarely holds up over time — in quality or in style. Reclaimed teak, on the other hand, has already stood strong for decades. As flooring or decking, it becomes part of a space that’s built for the long haul, not destined for landfill a few years down the track.
Choosing differently
There’s no shortage of flooring and decking options out there. But reclaimed wood offers something entirely different: a way to build or renovate that respects what’s already been made, and gives a firm not towards a more responsible way of living. It’s not just about ticking a “green box”, it’s about making thoughtful choices for the surfaces you walk on every day.
