To choose flooring, it’s best to start by determining what you need.
How to Choose Flooring. Consider these factors:
Room: Some floors like carpet or hardwood, aren’t ideal for every space in your home
Family Situation: pets, kids, easy cleaning need spill-proof and scratch-resistant flooring for this kind of situation
Budget: Price varies widely, so you need to know what you need and what is out of your budget
Installation Requirements: Some materials need an underlayment or pad, which may cost extra. Some floor come with underlayment, so check first
Style: some types work better than others to create the right aesthetic. Match your design
Return on Investment (ROI): Higher cost or quality often means a better long-term investment
1. Hardwood Flooring
Positive factors:
popular for its visual appeal
many varietals available to vary color and style
high ROI
can be resurfaced every 3-5 years
best for shared living spaces
Negative factors
expensive compared to other top flooring materials
can develop scrapes, scratches and dents over time
can incur moisture damage
2. Laminate Flooring
Positive factors:
lower price than hardwood
ease of installation
durability
variety of colors and styles, like natural wood
good for high-traffic areas
Negative factors
prone to moisture damage
difficult to repair
not ideal for kitchens or bathrooms
3. Vinyl or Linoleum
Positive factors:
affordable
versatile
great for high-traffic areas
easy to maintain
DIY installation possible
Negative factors
lower ROI vs. wood or laminate
less popular due to appearance
Laminate and vinyl flooring are budget-friendly choices for any remodeling project. People often confuse these similar products, but they do have some important differences. Luxury vinyl products are waterproof and reasonably tough, while laminate planks are slightly cheaper and easier to care for. In many other respects, these wood flooring options are evenly matched.4. Porcelain or Ceramic Tile Flooring
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are often considered one in the same. However, there are significant differences in each tile’s porosity and makeup. Though both are made of clay baked in a kiln, that’s where their similarities end.
Ceramic: made of red, white, or brown clay and kiln-fired at a lower temperature. It’s softer, more porous, less dense, and more affordable.
Porcelain: is a subtype of ceramic. It’s a blend of refined white clay, sand, and feldspar. They’re baked at a higher temperature, which decreases the water content within them. As a result, it’s harder, denser, less porous, and more expensive.
5. Carpet
Positive factors:
cost-effective
soft and warm on feet
multiple colors and designs available
great for soundproofing
stain-resistant varieties exist
Negative factors
difficult to maintain – professional cleaning recommended at least once a year
can absorb smells
not great for homes with pets
not recommended for moisture-prone areas: kitchen, bathroom
Your choice of flooring is one of the most important decisions you have to make when it comes to improving your home.
Most Durable Flooring
The most durable hard flooring types are vinyl sheet
Best Type of Flooring for Dogs, Cats or Other Pets
The ideal flooring for pets is non-slip porcelain or stone tile. This waterproof surface is less likely to scratch or wear underfoot.
Best Whole House Flooring
If you’re installing the same flooring for the whole house, you’ll probably want solid hardwood or tile. These materials work well in most rooms.
Best Eco-Friendly or Sustainable Flooring Materials
The best recycled flooring materials are bamboo and cork. Cork also provides additional insulation with an R-value about 1.125, the highest of indoor hard surfaces.
Easiest to Install, DIY or Maintain
Vinyl plank or sheet is the easiest to install or maintain. All you need to do is sweep it regularly and mop on occasion.
Cheapest Type
With prices very low per square foot for materials, the cheapest flooring types are vinyl or carpet.
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