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Choosing flooring for your home is a major decision involving a significant expense, and you are likely to be living with the results for some time to come. Therefore it is important to give the matter some careful consideration and not rush into a choice that you might live to regret at some point later down the road.
The type of flooring you choose will not only impact on the look and feel of your home, but will also affect functionality, time spent in maintenance, and how often you will need to repair or replace the flooring. Here’s a look at the factors to take into consideration and the pros and cons of different types of flooring.
First of all, it’s important to consider how your home is mainly used and the demands that will be placed on the flooring in each space. For example, if you have a busy household with children and pets, then you will need to consider flooring that is easy to keep clean and scratch resistant.
High traffic areas such as hallways, stairs, and entrances will require durable flooring, such as good quality carpet, laminate flooring, or you may even want to consider a stylish and sophisticated choice such as Italian polished porcelain floor tiles, which are hard wearing and resistant to scratches and chips.
Kitchens and bathrooms are frequently damp and humid places that are prone to spills and splashes, so it is important to consider how well the flooring will endure moisture exposure. Carpet is a no-go for kitchens for both safety and practical reasons, and probably also for bathrooms, unless you are a committed follower of niche retro interior design styles.
Carpet certainly feels soft and luxurious underfoot as you get out of the bath or shower, is much more slip resistant than and it can look very stylish, particularly in older properties. However, in most cases carpet is not a hygienic or practical option for a bathroom. If you are really determined to use carpet, look for a stain resistant type that has a waterproof backing.
So, what is the ideal bathroom flooring? This really depends on your budget, personal preferences, and the overall aesthetics of the room. The most expensive and luxurious choices such as natural hardwood, marble or granite tiles will certainly bring a classic elegance to any room, but are not always the most practical choice for a bathroom.
This is because they are permeable materials, and will require regular treatment with a sealant to ensure that they do not become damaged or stained by water, mould, and mildew. One of the most popular and contemporary bathroom flooring solutions is luxury vinyl tiling (LVT), which is an excellent product in terms of durability, style, and affordability.
LVT is available in a huge variety of colours, styles, and textures, and it can successfully imitate more expensive materials such as hardwood or marble. Ceramic or porcelain tiles are also a low-maintenance practical choice for bathrooms. These types of flooring materials are also ideal for kitchens because of their water resistance and ease of maintenance.
Living rooms and bedrooms tend to be more flexible areas for flooring, because generally they experience less traffic than areas such as hallways and stairs, and would hopefully be less damp than bathrooms or kitchens.
Some people prefer the cosiness and softness underfoot of carpet, while others prefer the durability and ease of cleaning of laminate or hardwood floors. Solid wood floors are timeless and beautiful, but they can be prone to warping and scratching over time. Pets may also find hard flooring difficult or uncomfortable to walk on.
In bedrooms, carpets are often preferred because they provide a greater degree of comfort and acoustic insulation, which may be a concern if you have young children, or you and your partner have different schedules and you do not want to disturb them.
Living rooms are often multi-purpose areas that may be used for relaxing, entertaining, eating, exercising or even working. It’s also one of the more visible and public areas of the home where you are likely to have visitors, so you will want a flooring that is stylish as well as meeting your lifestyle needs. Popular choices include carpet and LVTs.
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