Flooring

When you’re renovating your home, putting in new flooring is one of the best ways to dramatically alter the look of a room. Although it can be pricey, replacing worn carpet with new wood or tile can up the value of your house, making it easier to sell later on. Because of flooring’s importance, you should look at all price points and materials before taking the plunge; you might be surprised by the the wide array of flooring available.

What flooring works best for me?

As you look to replace your current floor, be sure to consider all material options — and there are a lot of them — and decide on what works best for your family. One of the most important things to consider is maintenance. If you have pets or children, carpet is often tough to keep clean, so you might prefer laminate, vinyl or wood flooring instead. And if you already have too many chores on your hands, taking the time to properly maintain true hardwood might not be worth it, especially since there are many faux wood laminate and vinyl options to choose from. The initial purchase cost is important, but you also need to consider how much time and money you are willing to put into keeping the floor in tip-top shape.

Learn more about laminate flooring

What flooring works best in each room?

Another key element to consider is what works best where. Most people prefer soft, comfortable flooring in their bedroom or living room, so you might choose carpet over hardwood, tile or stone, because those three lack the fluff and padding that carpet often provides. Because of their heavy traffic and ability to attract dirt, entryways and kitchens work best with hardwood or lacquer, and stone and tile are preferred in bathrooms. Popular preferences aren’t your only options, though, so be sure to explore other eclectic materials and options, such as metal floors, leather floors and carpet tiles.