Choosing Flooring to Fit Your Needs

Whether you’re looking for flooring options for a new home or remodeling your existing one, tile, hardwoods and carpet each have countless benefits and will add beauty and elegance to your living spaces.

While some styles of flooring may look nice in certain areas of your home, they may not be the right fit for the way you live in that room. For instance, some materials are not ideal in high-moisture areas of the home, while other types of flooring work well in bathroom and kitchen areas.

Questions to Ask

Ask yourself a few key questions, then compare your answers to the qualities of each flooring style to determine the best option for your long-term needs. Consider the following:

• How often will the room be used?
• How much traffic will the space have?
• What’s your flooring budget?
• Will children or pets frequent the room?
• How often will this flooring need to be cleaned?

Tile

Tile is a classic choice known for its long life cycle and durability. Tile also helps to maintain a healthy home environment, as it is inhospitable to dust mites, bacteria, mold and germs. This hard flooring surface scores brownie points for being easy to maintain and a greener option that can usually be cleaned solely with warm water instead of chemical cleaners.

While ceramic and porcelain tiles are a classic choice, a variety of tile styles and textures are available, including mosaics, marble, and stone-pebble. You can even get the realistic look of hardwood floors in your home with ceramic plank tiles, which look like wood but offer the added benefits of durability, ease of cleaning and a waterproof finish.

Hardwoods

Hardwoods are an extremely popular choice for the main areas of the home. The vast mixture of hand-scraped and smooth finishes will complement any space and run the gamut from dark, medium and light shades of oak, hickory, maple, pine, American Cherry and walnut, just to name a few options.

The pros of hardwood flooring are plentiful, including scuff resistance, resilient material, easy to clean and long lifespan. Hardwood floors can bring great warmth to your high-traffic spaces, but be cautious utilizing this option in areas with greater moisture, such as the kitchen or bathrooms.

Carpet

Carpet adds a cozy feel to any space and provides a comfortable place to sit, play or work, making it a great choice for bedrooms, media rooms or Retreats. In addition, carpet works as a sound barrier between floors by helping to block sound transmission to rooms below. Carpet on stairs is a great way to mask the sound of constant foot traffic.

Pets, children and high-traffic areas are all factors to consider when deciding which type and color of carpet to install in your home. Pet owners often prefer colors and patterns that easily conceal pet dander, like carpeting designed with nylon fibers, which is also durable and stain resistant.

From playful patterns to classic solids and plush pile to Berber, the variety of carpet styles and colors available is a bonus to this flooring choice. With so many options, you’re sure to find a look that matches your needs for both function and finesse.

Flooring plays a significant role in the look and feel of your home. No matter your style and budget, there are plenty of options to create a one-of-a-kind designer look in your home! With the right flooring, your spaces will not only be beautiful, but also functional for years to come.