Go to any flooring store and it’s easy to be overwhelmed with options for your home. What might be worse is having a specific idea of what you want and finding it might be the wrong fit for the area of your home you’d like to put it in. Read on for a rundown of the types of flooring and where they are best suited in your home.
Hardwood—Hardwood is the most popular choice these days, with nearly endless options, and a classic choice that is nearly always in style. In high traffic areas such as kitchens or entry’s it’s best to go with a durable hardwood such as oak. But if you’re looking at covering something like the bedrooms, you could consider a cheaper, softer alternative such as pine. Whatever you chose, you will need to be mindful of dents and scratches and expect to refinish the floors every ten years or so to keep them looking fresh.
Carpet—Classic and comfortable, carpet is still a great inexpensive choice for places like bedrooms where comfort is valued over everything. Just whatever you do, don’t put carpet in the bathroom (this was a trend back in the day!).
Concrete—Concrete can actually be a great option for homes, especially in high traffic wet areas such as laundry rooms, entries, basements, or large rooms off a pool area. Glazed concrete has a beautiful, rich sheen and can be installed with tile scores to resemble large tile or left as a solid, unbroken piece. It’s a modern, relatively inexpensive, and long-lasting choice.
Laminate—These days laminate is not the roll of yellowing vinyl you remember from your grandmother’s kitchen. This solid, cheap workhorse, has been reborn. Laminate now comes in wood-like and tile options and can be a cheap, nice looking alternative to wood, especially in high traffic or water prone areas such as bathrooms and mudrooms.
Tile—Another versatile option for your floors. Tile comes in a wide range of options, from economical choices like ceramic to luxury options like granite, and everything in between. Tile is easy to clean and maintain and provides a durable, long lasting floor. It can potentially be a DIY project, but if you have any doubt or a large project it’s best to hire an experience professional.
Photo by Cody Hughes @clhughes21
