Your location could tip the scales. Cold areas (northern USA and anywhere in Canada) do not, normally, work with porcelain/ceramic tile throughout the home because of how cold it is. If you are in a northern climate and the wood-look tile is on your list then so too should be in-floor radiant heat (an expensive upgrade). Vinyl is a more appropriate floor in a cold climate because it is warmer underfoot.

If you are in a southern climate (hot, hot, hot) then the tile is the way to go. Vinyl, in intense direct sunlight can have issues (curling, peeling, cupping, warping, discolouration, etc) which makes it difficult to use in hot climates or in homes with plenty of south facing windows (vinyl doesn't like to get too hot).

Are you in a hot climate, a cold climate or even a temperate climate? The answer will help you look at the appropriate flooring.

Thanks! I'm in the Northeast - Jersey! So cold.... snow this week actually. LOL

My husband works for a flooring distributor and we put lvt thruout the house. Best decision ever. We put it over some old ceramic and the area was instantly warmer. We are in Cleveland so it's cold! We have two dogs and a baby and it holds up great

chelseahasrouni, what's lvt??? lol!

we saw vinyl tile tonight and now I'm majorly leaning towards that .... of course I'm easily swayed but it feels like a real happy medium .... very hard to damage and easy to replace but not as cold as tile.

We did our whole basement a few months back in luxury vinyl tile (that's the lvt above :) ) and just love it. I think it's a no-brainer if you have dogs that will scratch up hardwood or need waterproofing (we put it through our laundry area and mudroom). On a main floor, I'd still do hardwood, because all of the other options feel fake underfoot (barefoot). But if that's not an option, the lvt is warm, soft, and has some awesome looks these days. I really think it's going to completely replace laminate pretty quickly.

I'm so glad to hear this! We're in a ranch house so this area we're doing is pretty much ALL of our living space. looks like lvt it is!

Sorry for being so uneducated about this, but is LVT the same thing as vinyl planks? thanks.

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT-- the vinyl planks you're talking about) was going to be my recommendation, as well. That said, I'm doing a lot of full house plank tile projects up here in Maine, so don't let the cold climate scare you.

NOT to be confused with the vinyl "click" floors, like Pergo, also known as "engineered wood"

what is the difference between lvp and lvt?