Decorating and renovating your home can pose many questions, one of the aspects that is often overlooked is your floor. Which seems a bit off considering that your floor is one of the most important factors of a home, in fact, it’s the very foundation of the building. So why is it so important to choose the right kind of floor for your home and how do you know what it is right for you? Well, there are many reasons..
The first thing that you will need to consider when you’re thinking of purchasing flooring, is where do you intend to install it? Different materials are better suited to different rooms, for example, using solid wood flooring isn’t recommended for the likes of kitchens or bathrooms. This is due to the fact that solid wood does not react well to environments with fluctuating moisture and temperature levels, in fact, if you were to place this kind of floor in one of these rooms then the consequences would probably result in the floor expanding and contracting. However, if you were thinking of getting your hallway or lounge renovated, solid wood would be a perfect choice. We’ve created a little guide below to show you which types of floor pair best with each room:
| Material | Suitable for |
| Solid Wood | Hallway, living room, dining room, bedroom. |
| Laminate | Hallway, living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. |
| Engineered Wood | Hallway, living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. |
| Vinyl | Kitchen, bathroom, living room, dining room |
| Carpet | Bedroom, living room, hallway, stairs. Can be used in bathrooms and kitchens but not recommended. |
| Natural Stone | Bathroom, kitchen, garden, can be used in living rooms/areas but not always recommended due to temperatures etc. |
| Porcelain/Ceramic Tiles | Same as above, more suited to kitchen and bathroom areas but can be installed in your living space should you wish. |
Another thing that you will need to factor in when choosing a new floor is your lifestyle. By lifestyle we don’t mean how active you are or whether you smoke or not, more along the lines of whether you have a busy house full of little ones running around or you live a quieter life. When it comes to floors there are a number of things that you need to factor in; children and pets tend to top that list! If you do have little ones running around then it’s important to consider the durability of the floor and the material itself to ensure that it can withstand a heavier footfall. However, if it’s just you and you’re not really one for entertaining then any flooring can be considered, go for that beautiful solid wood with no worries of it being scratched or chipped!
Whilst on the note of little ones and the mess they can make, you should also factor in cleaning and maintenance when choosing a new floor. Of course all floors require the regular sweep, mop and vacuum procedure but it’s also worth mentioning that engineered wood flooring and solid wood can be sanded and refinished multiple times to get them looking as fresh as the day they were installed.
Finally, probably the biggest aspect when choosing anything for your home – the budget. With so many options available and all of them at different prices, what you really have to consider is how much you can afford to spare. The budget that you’re working to isn’t just for the floor itself, there are also things like excess materials, glue, labour etc. Whilst you focus on saving the pennies remember that in a lot of cases; you get what you pay for. So although you could be looking at cheap laminate flooring it’s worth remembering that the floors that are a little more expensive can be more cost-effective in the long run, whilst spending more in one go on something of higher quality may seem like quite the dent in your bank balance, you need to remember that this floor should last you a couple of decades and in return will pay for itself.
So there you have it, just a few tips and thoughts to consider when you’re purchasing a new floor for your home.
2018 · 