When it comes to flooring selection, a lot weighs on your decision. Flooring is perhaps the most used surface in a home. This interior design staple must have the perfect balance of aesthetics and functionality so that you can make the most out of it. As a critical part of any home improvement project, flooring can make or break your space. It needs to bring visual harmony to your home while still being able to withstand years of use and specific environmental conditions.
There’s a wide array of flooring options on the market. It’s easy to get carried away and forget the most important aspects of choosing the best option for every room in your home. Here are the most important questions you should be asking before deciding on flooring to suit your lifestyle and still get the magazine-worthy house you’ve always dreamed of. If you want to become an expert on how to pick flooring, read on.
6 Questions to Ask Yourself on How to Make A Flooring Selection
When piecing together your dream home, picking the right flooring might seem like an easy task at first glance. That is, of course, until you realize the numerous factors that come into play. As a vital element in showcasing a room’s personality, flooring needs to be the right texture and color to tie your spaces together. On top of that, it needs to be durable and fit comfortably within your budget. If you’re struggling to select a flooring option that checks all the boxes, here are the critical questions you need to ask yourself before making your final decision.
1. Do You Need Low-Maintenance Flooring?
Some types of flooring require more love and care than others. Stone tiles need to be polished every few years, natural hardwood must be refinished at least once per decade, tiles require regular scrubbing, and the list goes on. Before you choose that breathtaking stone tile floor you saw on Pinterest, ask yourself, “Do I have time and resources to keep up with the maintenance it needs?” If the answer is no, steer clear.
There’s no use in getting the most beautiful flooring in the catalog if you won’t be able to keep it looking its best. That’s why you need to make sure that the maintenance requirements of the flooring material you’re considering match your lifestyle. Additionally, you’ll need to consider the area of the house you have in mind. If you really cannot envision your high-traffic hallways without hardwood, for example, consider covering them with runners. Rugs can also protect flooring from getting scratched by furniture and other elements.
If you’re looking for low-maintenance alternatives, you can always go for:
- Engineered hardwood, which is designed to withstand above-average heat, moisture, and weight. This means no warping or shrinking. Engineered hardwood has a strong surface that’s more resistant to scratches than softer wood floors and takes away the pain of refinishing. This type of flooring can be easily swept or dry-mopped as often as needed.
- Ceramic tile, which provides some of the same low-maintenance benefits of concrete flooring but looks a lot more polished. This flooring alternative won’t easily scratch or dent. Besides, ceramic tile its water- and stain-resistant.
- Luxury vinyl, which looks like wood planks or square tiles but is much cheaper. This water- and stain-resistant flooring style needs virtually no maintenance and is easy to vacuum or sweep.
2. Do You Have Pets?
Before selecting the right type of flooring for your space, you should also consider your four-legged friends. Pets can bring so much joy to a home, but their cute, fuzzy paws can wreak havoc on your floors. So if you have a fur baby in your family or are planning to welcome one in the future, high-quality, durable floors are a must.
Finding flooring that can endure your pet’s lifestyle while retaining its beauty is not an impossible task. Look for options that are:
- Scratch-resistant — Your flooring must be able to withstand your fluffball’s nails.
- Water- and stain-resistant — Puppies and kittens are clumsy sometimes. You need to make sure your floors can withstand some spills and even potty training accidents.
- Easy to clean — Pets can bring dirt and debris into your home. Pick a flooring option that won’t get as dirty or one that you can easily clean when needed.
- Comfortable and non slippery — Your floor needs to keep your pets safe by providing them with a certain level of traction when they run around.
- Cost-effective — Select an option that’s affordable to replace if damaged by your pet.
3. Do You Have Children?
To pick a flooring type that’s suitable for your home, you also need to think about your little ones. Kid proofing your house could start from the ground up — literally. If you have children, especially little ones, you need flooring that ensures their safety and comfort at all times. This way, you can spend less time worrying about your kids running around wearing socks on slippery floors and more time enjoying watching them play. In this case, carpets could be a good choice, but you can pick other flooring materials that also protect your children from allergies.
Your kid’s activities could also take a toll on your flooring. Marble, ceramic tile, and luxury vinyl flooring can be used as durable, stain-resistant alternatives that withstand spills and other messy accidents.
4. What Is Your Budget?
The price of flooring materials varies significantly from one to another, depending on their quality level. More durable materials tend to be on the pricier side of the scale. Before you select your preferred option, figure out how high an investment it’ll represent. You don’t want to run out of money mid-project or end up paying more than you can afford. Keep your budget flexible but realistic.
If you’re looking for less costly materials, consider tiles and vinyl instead of slate, marble, or ceramic. These options are also easier to maintain and, as a result, cheaper in the long run. Laminate flooring is also perfect for those working on a small budget.
5. Are You Installing or Are You Hiring a Professional?
If you prefer DIYing your flooring project, you can notably cut down the total cost of new flooring. However, laying flooring correctly is a challenging task, and you’ll need a certain level of expertise. Having a professional do the job will spare you the headaches that come with wrongly installed floors. While it might seem like a more expensive alternative at first glance, it’ll save you money spent fixing a poorly done job. Floor It 41 provides in-house installation solutions so that you don’t have to sweat it.
Some of the main advantages of hiring a professional are:
- Convenience — Floor installation is time-consuming. Having an expert lay down your floors will allow you to focus on other tasks.
- Savings — Installing floors on your own can lead to mistakes that are more expensive to fix than hiring a professional in the first place.
- Proper prep — Flooring installation requires more preparation than you may think, and different surfaces may require different treatment and substrates. A specialist will ensure the subfloor is dry, flat, and clean before the installation.
Seasoned installers have the knowledge to guarantee that they’ll get the job done in one go. Additionally, having your floors laid down correctly is critical to maximizing their shelf life.
6. What's Your Style?
Before you take on a new flooring project for your home, you need to define what the aesthetic of your space is. Setting your interior design goals is crucial for you to be happy with the end result. Compare and contrast different color palettes, materials, and textures and envision how they’d look when matched with your walls and furniture. Define what kind of vibe you want your flooring to project. If you want to keep your spaces clean and minimal, choose options like laminates and light-color tiles. If you love a cozy, rustic environment, go for raw materials with a more natural texture.
Learning how to choose flooring colors for your home is not as difficult as it may seem. You can base your decision on what you’ll be using — or what you already have — on your walls, furniture, and accessories. Keeping a color palette in mind will help you narrow down your flooring color options. Make sure your floors don’t exactly match what’s on top of them. If you don’t want flat, boring spaces, create some dimension with contrasting colors and textures.
Get High-Quality Flooring That Meets Your Needs
Flooring plays a crucial role in creating the right ambiance in your space. Yet you cannot pick a flooring option based solely on your preferences. The questions above will help you follow the right process for home flooring selection.
Installing your own flooring could be challenging and cause more harm than good to both your wallet and your home — and sometimes even your sanity. To avoid a bad experience, leave it to the professionals. If you’re looking for flooring options that match your style and fit your budget, contact Floor It 41 today. Our experts will assist you in finding the best alternative for your space and your needs.
