If your basement has natural light or very good light, feels warm psychologically, the. Go with tiles. Basements are usually colder and danker than upper level houses. Carpeting adds warmth, and reduces echoes. Why not go for parquet and a huge rug... That would be the most top end. A gentleman's library look with panelling would be great.

Tile is the safer bet, in case there's ever a flood, or sewage back up. There are great looking tiles, and you can always accent them with area rugs if you'd like.

Is wood laminate an option for the basement?

Tile and use some rugs to soften the area, We are finishing the basement this spring and we'll use tile as well (the one that looks like wood). Even if you are not concerned with water, flooding can happen. If, for example, electricity goes off and you do not have a generator to keep the pumps going, the basement will be full of water.
I don't know who invented this wall to wall carpeting, but to me, that always looks cheap, no matter what the carpet looks like.

Carpet tiles don't appeal as 'high-end' but easier to install.

I've seen some gorgeous higher end wood laminate flooring in finished basements. It looks fantastic. You can go as exotic as you want & then use a throw or area rugs if you feel the need. If cost is not an object, you might consider heated flooring for our cooler climate.

we just finished building our home and are considering these basement flooring options: acid wash walkway from the bar to the staircase with an area rug or carpet in the main area or bamboo/cork flooring.

Carpet will make the basement feel more like a secondary living room. Even if you go with tile, I would personally recommend getting some rugs to make the room a truly relaxing, livable space.

Thanks for the suggestions! It's not quite a million dollar home so I'll skip on wood/laminate floors in the base. A tile combo (maybe faux wood) with area rug for staging sounds like a nice option.

Been there, done this. Truly, it's not "if it will flood", it's "when it will flood". You may not be worried, but after all of this year's flooding, the bank and the insurance company will be.

Are you city or suburban? Sump to daylight or city sewer? Battery back-up sump? Hardwired generator? Age of home? Foundation cracks? "Moisture test" of slab. Moisture barrier under slab? Crawlspace? Treed lot? Exterior drain tiles still functional? Interior drain tiles? Landscape grading? Downspout extensions?
Then...what's your subfloor? Asbestos? Asbestos mastic?.......

Definitely tile in the basement. Easier to clean and looks good. I agree with Printesa about wall-to-wall carpeting looking cheap (and dingy especially after a few years no matter how clean you are!).

Go with a larger tile 13x13 or 16x16 in a neutral and install on a diagonal. And a lot of homeowners make the mistake of using smaller, cheaper baseboards and casings in the basement. Make sure to install thicker more substantial ones (am assuming that will be run throughout the rest of the house) to complete the look and have it appear more upscale and cohesive with the rest of the house.

@bubbasgma: Heh thx, yes I'm aware that all basements eventually flood. Standard interior weeping tile, sump pump will be installed. It's a city brick 2-flat conversion to single-family. We will be digging down 6-7 inches and pouring a new layer of concrete.
No evidence of flooding given that the basement was unfinished, and neighbors haven't reported any issues of flooding in years. Built in the 1880s, no asbestos found in the demo, so I'll take all of that as a good sign for now.

@anitanazar: Yes we will likely work with larger tile, probably neutral since the intention is for a more modern/contemporary theme. Agreed about baseboard and trim. I tend to go for taller baseboards and trim, not the cheap contractor pack ones.

Hard surfaces in case of flood/dampness- =no mold. Cover with area rugs that can be washed or beaten outside. West Elm has some great ones!

Flooding might not always come from outside. We've had flooding from our water heater that perforated, a dehumidifier that continued to run when the float got stuck, and a washing machine hose that worked loose. Thank goodness we have tile!

Agreed, tiles would be a 'safer' route in case of water damages.

Margo is right, you can do a fantastic finish on the floor that will make anyone interested in buying your "flip", feel better about water infiltration. They can always do something else down the line if they want to. Hope you're leaving enough time for all to cure before you put it back on the market. There's been a lot of water woes in the Chicago area. That will be number one priority for someone looking to buy.

In Chicago the soil gets very cold in winter. Hence, no matter what you use for the final finish floor, be sure that it is insulated enough. In our previous house, a tri-level, the family room floor was uncomfortably cold until we added both heavy padding and a bound carpet remnant. If you are aware of the problem ahead of time, you can probably make the floors warm enough to use hardwood or tile.

I would do heated wood look tiles.

We are putting a laminate down in the basement at our lakehouse. I am pretty picky but, I love the look. We put a nice, heavy underlayment down for insulation and plan on using area rugs in the seating and bedroom areas. Forgive the dirt but, here's the work in progress.