Tips to Choose the Ideal Flooring for Every Room

Your home is your castle and castles do not have concrete floors! They’ve got plush carpeting, cool and durable tile, rich hardwood, versatile vinyl, long-lasting laminate, or timeless natural stone floors. More typically, they’ve got a combination of the aforementioned flooring strategically chosen to suit each room. Here are some things to think about as you plan this important design element for your home.

# Consider Your Options

Variety is the spice of life and choosing the right flooring will put sizzle into your Arizona abode. Here are some need-to-know flooring facts.

# Carpet

Carpet is made of wool or synthetic (nylon, polyester, or polypropylene, etc.) fibers sewn into a backing material in a way that creates pile, loops, or a combination of both. Carpet is typically installed above a cushiony padding material and stapled securely to the floor or carpet strips applied to the floor.

The material used to make carpet determines its quality, appearance, feel, durability, and price. Naturally beautiful, luxurious, and stain-resistant, wool is usually considered the highest-end carpet type. It’s also the most expensive. Nylon is the most durable and stain-resistant carpeting, albeit less luxurious than wool. Nylon is more affordable than wool. Polyester, the most affordable carpet material, is durable and available in an abundance of colors and styles.

# Tile

Tile is valued for its longevity and durability; array of color, textures, patterns, and designs; low maintenance needs; and non-allergenic properties. Tile generally comes in ceramic or porcelain material. Porcelain tile is harder, allows for greater design flexibility, and is more impervious to moisture than ceramic tile. Because ceramic tile is generally considered less refined than porcelain (although to the average consumer the differences are very hard to distinguish) it usually costs less than porcelain tile.

# Hardwood

What’s not to love about hardwood flooring? Available in solid or engineered, hardwood flooring brings a beautiful, durable, natural element into your home. Because solid hardwood is real wood, you can sand and refinish to give it new life or even to adapt it to a changing design approach. Engineered hardwood is a layered product comprising a thin slice of hardwood over a high-quality plywood base. Engineered hardwood is less expensive and as beautiful as solid hardwood, but because the top layer is thin, it usually doesn’t last as long as solid hardwood in high-traffic areas.

# Vinyl

Durable, budget-friendly, and surprisingly attractive, vinyl has re-emerged as a popular, aesthetically pleasing flooring option. If you haven’t shopped for flooring in a while, you’ll probably be surprised to see the latest advances in vinyl. Today, there are three types of vinyl flooring: Vinyl plank (which resembles wood), vinyl tile (which can be configured to resemble stone tile), and vinyl sheet (which comes in a 6- top 12-foot-wide roll and can create a uniform, almost seamless floor.)

# Laminate

Laminate is a synthetic version of hardwood flooring that is created using a lamination process comprising multiple layers: a photographic applique layer, a clear protective layer, and an inner core layer constructed of materials such as melamine resin and fiberboard. Laminate mimics hardwood in appearance, is often more durable and longer-lasting than wood, and usually costs significantly less than wood.

# Stone

High-end, timeless, durable, and eye-catching travertine, limestone, marble, granite, and slate flooring impart a touch of natural elegance to your home. Because stone is a natural material, prices vary tremendously (from $2 to $100+ per square foot.) Additionally, it’s important to consult a professional before selecting a stone floor, as stone’s durability and porosity vary. Not all stone types are suitable for all rooms.

All of the aforementioned flooring options are available from different manufacturers, in different colors, and in different textures, patterns, and/or finishes. While you may be able to narrow down the type of flooring you’d like in each room of your house, it’s smart to work with a design expert who can help you choose the brand and features you’ll be happiest with.

Consider Your Lifestyle and Your Space

Which flooring should you choose? Personal preference and your budget will play a big role in that decision, but so will your lifestyle and your space. Will the space be used by young kids prone to spilling or falling? Pets who occasionally have pet accidents? Do you hate vacuuming (but hate mopping even more?) Do you have dust allergies?

Do you love to incorporate the latest trends into your interior design? Do you love to change things up frequently or wish to choose flooring that could possibly last you a decade or more?
Is the space in question a high- or low-traffic area? Does it get direct sunlight (which can bleach carpeting) or sometimes become uncomfortably warm? (Tile can make a room feel cooler.) Are you concerned about acoustics? (Carpeting muffles sound while solid flooring amplifies it.)

# Enlist Expert Help!

Whether your flooring has seen better days and you’re overdue for an upgrade, you’re designing a home and need to choose finishes, or will be moving into a new-to-you home and prefer not to wonder what’s lurking deep in the previous owner’s carpeting, Healthy Home Flooring can help. And, considering that you have so many options from which to choose, you may desperately want expert help!

We’ll send an expert design professional to your home to explain your options and help you choose new flooring. You’ll live with your new flooring for years (perhaps decades); make certain you’re happy with your decision! Once you’ve decided on your flooring, we’ll arrange to have it professionally installed — the very next day if you’d like. Request your free in-home consultation today!