When you walk into a home for the first time, whether you know it or not, you are paying attention to the floor. Flooring plays a major role in the look, feel, and ambiance of a room so poorly-maintained flooring can become an eyesore. When it comes to floor choices, it depends on your lifestyle, budget, and the amount of foot traffic a floor for any given room. Whether you are building a new home, renovating your existing property, or choosing new flooring for your home, we have some tips that will help you choose the right flooring.
Flooring choices will depend on the function of the room. When you are looking into upgrading the flooring at the entry or foyer, it should have a “wow” factor as it will be one of the first things people see when they arrive. Additionally, you need to ensure your flooring choice is going to be durable to outdoor elements. There’s a reason most homes don’t have a carpeted foyer, and it has everything to do with what you might track inside on a rainy day.
When it comes to the flooring in bedrooms and kids’ playrooms, the flooring should be comfortable for bare feet while flooring in utility, laundry, and bathrooms should focus more on being resistant to water.
Your lifestyle plays a big role in determining your floor as well. How you and your family live and use your home will be a major factor. Do you have or want pets? Think about the damage they might cause and how to combat this with the right floor choices.
The same is true for children. Playtime for kids may be fun for them, but highly active children can be bad for things like plush carpeting, even if it feels nice. If your home is more on the lower end of foot traffic and you enjoy having something soft underfoot, you can add carpet or rugs. Not only will this feel nice to walk upon, but it also looks great!
If you are interested in “Going Green”, you can make some choices with your flooring options to help the environment! Not only are there choices such as recycled glass tiles, bamboo wood, and cork flooring, there are a plethora of patterns and designs from which to choose.
We know you are worried about cost, which is perfectly normal. Flooring, like any major change to your home is going to be costly, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Because flooring is priced per square foot, it can add up. Remember, you don’t have to commit to completing an entire home all at once. If you are able, try doing it room by room to save money. Flooring is also given a ‘grade’ related to quality, which affects the price. Make sure you consider the traffic and its wear and tear on the products you are purchasing. Higher grades may be warranted for those areas where durability is of major concern.
While we mentioned you can consider adding new flooring on a room by room basis, you need to make sure transitions from one room to another are handled properly. This is often a problem when two rooms with different types of flooring meet. If they are not the same height, you are in danger of creating a tripping zone for you and your kids! Transitioning between two rooms of different flooring types can be problematic so ensure your flooring is of equal or similar height. This will not only reduce the risk of stubbing your toe but also will have a better aesthetic appeal.
Don’t forget to check out all of the amazing new products that are on the market—flooring isn’t just carpeting, rood, or tile anymore. There are a number of interesting new products constructed from vinyl such as LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) or LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank). These products offer a surface that is more affordable, warmer, and stylish than traditional wood or tile. While there are a lot of options with these products, make sure you don’t opt for the super-trendy color or pattern as these might begin to look dated in the future.
Modifying or changing the flooring in your home is a great way to ensure your home’s value continues to rise. Always remember to think about the way your family uses each room before upgrading and you will make the best choice for you and your home.
