Carpets, laminate, vinyl, ceramic tiling and hard wood floors - which is best for you?

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. I’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 is always a popular option 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, making them a popular choice.

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 in the past I’ve had my wool carpets treated with a ‘scotch guard’ that literally sees stains sit on the top of the carpet and then they are easily removed (you can tell I had young children!) My advice would be to invest in the best underlay you can as underlay can really help make your carpet look, and feel sumptuous.

You’ve probably heard of loop carpets like Berber and Sisal 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 very cost effective. It is made up of four layers – but I won’t bore you with the detail as google can help you with all of that! It is extremely strong, stable and moisture-proof, and it doesn’t warp or collapse easily.

Vinyl is best known for its waterproof properties, 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 footfall. Vinyl is a good choice if you need water resistance, longevity, and hard wearing floors. Meanwhile, laminate is preferable if you want a more stylish appearance, lower costs, and a comfortable feel underfoot.

Confused? I’m not going to help by adding in a couple more options!

Ceramic tiling is a convenient option for many rooms. I’ve often used it in the whole of a ground floor (minus the lounge) and the effect was fabulous (especially good if you have dogs). Ceramic tiles have a hard, solid surface, that does not attract (or amass) dirt, dust, pollen, or other allergens. It is fairly easy to care for but as you move into the more ‘on -trend’ look, plus installation, it can become a bit pricey.

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 floors. Fans of solid floors 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 hard wood floors but is still more expensive than laminate, tile, and carpet.

Lastly I’ll throw in herringbone and chevron flooring. It’s not cheap but it looks fabulous and definitely worth adding to your list of options!

Catherine, Interior Designer, Bert and Wills