There’s a lot to think about when making changes to your home, or indeed if you’re looking at designing a whole house. Flooring choices can make or break a scheme. Here we’ve put together a few of the most popular choices but this is just the tip of the iceberg as there are literally hundreds of options.
Carpet remains popular as it is warm under foot and creates a cosy feel to any room. Carpets are normally made from wool and/or synthetic fibres such as nylon, polypropylene and polyester. The majority of synthetic carpets are resistant to stains and generally have a good resistance to wear. In addition, they are cost effective.
Wool carpets are more expensive, however it is a natural, luxurious, long-lasting material and is the softest carpet you can find. Unfortunately, wool is more susceptible to staining but you can get them treated with a ‘scotch guard’ that literally sees stains sit on the top of the carpet and then they are easily removed (great if you have young children!) Invest in the best underlay you can as it can really help make your carpet look, and feel sumptuous.
You’ve probably heard of loop carpets like Berber and Sisel and they tend to be highly durable, easy to clean, and resistant to stains, making them perfect for high-traffic rooms such as the lounge and stairs.
For areas that receive a lot of traffic, laminate, vinyl, ceramic tiling, and hard wood floors are the most common options.
Laminate combines the authentic look of a natural floor with many practical advantages, and it is a cost-effective option. It is made up of four layers – we won’t bore you with the detail as google can help you with all of that, however it is extremely strong, stable and moisture-proof.
Vinyl is best known for its waterproof credentials, which makes it ideal for wet areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. It is relatively reasonably priced compared to hardwood floors, and this makes it perfect for areas of your home that get a lot of foot fall. Meanwhile, laminate is preferable if you want a more stylish appearance, lower cost, and a comfortable feel underfoot.
Confused? We’re not going to help by adding in a couple more options!
Ceramic tiling is a convenient option for many rooms. We often use ceramic tiles in a show home as the effect is fabulous – and it’s especially good if you have pets. Ceramic tiles have a hard, solid surface and they are fairly easy to care for but as you move into the more ‘on -trend’ options, the costs rise.
Hard wood floors are a bit of a minefield as there are so many options. There are two main types of hard wood floors; solid and engineered. Solid wood is one of the most popular types of flooring and fans would agree that nothing beats real, solid hardwood. However, because of its popularity and quality, solid wooden flooring is often more expensive than engineered wood or laminate (both of which imitate hard wood flooring). An engineered hard wood floor is comparable to a hard wood floor, but is still mostly more expensive than laminate, tile, and carpet.
Lastly, we’ll throw in ‘herringbone’ flooring, which draws on the elegant style of parquet flooring. It’s not the cheapest option but it looks fabulous and definitely worth adding to your list of options!