I like your idea of a tile floor but why not in vinyl tile? So soft and warm under foot. You could still use your area rug. Order enough tile for damage replacement.

Sheet vinyl.

I agree vinyl tile with a backing to get a bit of wamth to the floor add ana rea rug for more warmth. I really dislike tile for kids to play on and also it is cold always and for sure in a basement.

There is another thread with the same question. Suggestions have included cork, marmoleum and Armstrong Congoleum, among others.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6322187/what-flooring-in-this-mid-century-knotty-pine-rec-room

Do these options end up looking cheap? I like the idea!

Although extremely comfortable, vinyl or linoleum will always look manufactured. Porcelain or marble tile is cold and not kid friendly. And you don't want LVP.

Think about something that has a surface of natural material. Manufactured hardwood, or as mentioned, cork. Cork would be softer and warmer since you like that idea. They even use it in kitchens so it is durable.

Oh yes, dark or light floors? Light. Darks show every speck of dust.

K so I’m loving this cork floor idea. It’s easy to clean?

Vinyl plank flooring and then a nice area rug.

Cork is awesome and very easy to clean! Quiet, and warm under your feet. I have it in my kitchen and I have two dogs and a messy DH.

It’s really awesome. We have it in our basement and it’s a dream.

Get LVP that is tough and hardy -- make sure you order one with a specification of at least 5mm and that it is listed as waterproof. Your LVP will be quite nice in a basement setting. Enjoy your new space!!

Just comes down to preference really, but I'd definitely suggest installing heated floors depending on where you live

I’m debating between SPC and WPC if anyone has any info on those. Looking for a company that’s high end and really mimics real wood well. We have real hardwood in the rest of the house. Wondering if I should try and match the color we’re planning on staining or go for a different color altogether to contrast.

FWIW We have hardwood in the rest of the house and LVP in the basement - the LVP color is similiar to upstairs so theres not a jarring change but i didnt worry about it being exact since there is a pretty definite separation between the two

Ours is also similar but not same from upstairs and down. We do have carpets on stairs though

We moved into a house 2 yrs ago where the concrete basement floor was covered with vinyl planks. When we had the floors changed out upstairs we asked the contractor about the basement floor.  He told us that concrete needed to breathe and vent off absorbed moisture from the ground.  Covering it with a nonpermeable surface like vinyl promotes mold growth and moisture problems. Well, sure enough, when we removed the vinyl the mold was substantial but now the floor is clean and dry and no longer smells.  We have been recommended a product called Kenetics from J&J Flooring for all concrete applications. I have not checked it out yet but it seems promising.

We did vinyl squares in a stone look finish with a huge piece of plush carpet we had bound so we could get just what we wanted size and color on top. Basements can be a source of accidents with water and we wanted something that if an area were ruined we could replace w/o re-doing the entire basement. That was the 90s and a different home. Here with our walk out basement we went with a carpet squares. Our kids weren't little anymore and didn't need the hard surfaces for riding toys etc. but again we wanted to be 'ready' in case anything happened and we took on water.

Do the vinyl floor but with a dry-core sub floor if on concrete. That will allow air circulation (avoid mood) and insulation from the cold.

@jo wow that’s so interesting. I wonder why no one talks about that a lot. It could be why many have advised dricore subfloor for under the LVP. I checked out the j and j kinetix flooring and looks rly cool. Almost like a vinyl carpeting material. I was also thinking to do cork planks. The problem is it’s not super common so there’s not a lot about it online.

I’m not an expert in LVP, but my aunt has it in her kitchen. It was professionally installed and was glued in place. It looks and feels great. Does a glue installation make a difference in how the floor is perceived? I have it in my basement sewing room and it is not glued down. It has a much cheaper “feel” but it was admittedly a cheaper product to start with.

I have a finished basement playroom for my grandchildren. I bought colorful foam mat tiles which interlock for the floor. They were put directly over concrete. The floor is soft, and not cold! I got them from Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Angels-Colorful-Interlocking-Non-Toxic-Superyard/dp/B01CF50516/ref=sr_1_10?crid=3H499QVDEGVLV&keywords=play+floor+tiles+for+babies&qid=1668960896&sprefix=play+floor+tiles%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-10. Get the largest size and thickest ones. They do not stick to the floor, so you can move them around to configure them.

What is the room on the other side of the 1/2 wall?

send more pictures

It’s really just a boiler room

Consider Foundation Armor to seal you slab before installing any flooring. have you had the area checked for radon? This is an important step before moving forward incase you have to put in a remediation system.

Lvp is a good choice. Cork is not recommended for basement floors due to moisture. We chose a manufactured hardwood with a waterproof backing for our basement. we will be placing down a dimpled barrier between the slab and flooring.

Dricore is the barrier btw, I had forgotten the name.

I used vinyl plank for a basement worked great and it is a warmer than tile. I looks like wood.

Update! We installed the cork floor today and it’s looks fab. Thoughts?

Smart decision. We have a walk out basement, installed LVT 11 years ago. Have no regrets, an it seems to look better every year.

Well! The tile might look good but considering you have a toddler at home, it isn’t suggested. It can make the floor cooler and present more injury chances without a rug.