basement: Consider your flooring. Rubber flooring by itself is often the go-to, but wall-to-wall carpeting laid over the rubber flooring can provide more flexibility in terms of the room’s aesthetics and comfort value. “Although it's available today with more options in color, rubber flooring still cannot provide the warmth and softness underfoot that carpet will bring,” says interior designer Sara Hopkins. “Inexpensive rubber flooring can also leave an unpleasant odor, while green, sustainable carpets with low VOCs help to reduce odor and are a better choice environmentally.”