5 New Flooring Options to Transform Your Home
Flooring is a major design element that can make or break a room. It also plays an important role in a home’s overall functionality and safety.
Upgrading to new flooring can improve comfort and add value. In addition, a variety of floor products are available that address specific functional needs, such as slip-resistant and sound-absorbing.
Hardwood
Hardwood floors are a timeless flooring choice that can add a sophisticated touch to any room in your home. They’re also a great way to add value to your property and are an environmentally-friendly, stylish, insulating and durable option for your floors.
When it comes to choosing the best hardwood flooring for your needs, there are many factors to consider. You’ll want to take into account the different types of wood, color and grain patterns that are available and decide if you want to stain or finish your floors. There are also the options of solid and engineered wood, which will determine if your new flooring is solid or constructed from multiple layers.
If you’re going for a modern aesthetic, you may want to try a dark wood like Brazilian walnut. This exotic hardwood has a beautiful luster and features a deep brown color that will darken over time. White oak is another popular choice for modern homes and provides a clean canvas for any decor style. It’s easy to stain and will stand up well to regular use.
Hickory is another classic wood that can be stained to create a rustic design. This hardwood is also very sturdy and shock-resistant and has a unique light color that will darken over time.
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, vinyl is another good choice. It’s durable and can stand up to heavy foot traffic, but it’s important to remember that vinyl is not as insulating as hardwood. It’s also not as long-lasting, but with advances in technology, vinyl is much more realistic and can mimic the look of wood with a variety of textures and grain patterns.
Laminate
Laminate flooring offers the look and feel of hardwood floors at a more affordable price. It is also easier to maintain than natural wood, resisting stains, indentation and scratches. It is a great choice for homes with children and pets because it can withstand high amounts of traffic. In fact, some laminate flooring is designed to look like popular wood species such as cherry, oak and hickory. It can be purchased in a range of styles and colors to match any décor theme.
Unlike solid hardwood floors, laminate is constructed of several layers of materials that are bonded together to form a single flooring product. The core layer is made from a dense, durable material such as plywood or high-density fiberboard for strength and stability. The decorative or image layer features a realistic design printed on moisture-resistant melamine paper. Generally, these images look like real wood, but you can also find stone-look and metal-look options as well.
The balancing layer, which is a durable melamine resin, keeps the planks flat and balanced to prevent them from warping. The protective wear layer adds a hardwearing finish, which is typically scratch-resistant and can also resist fading from sunlight. Some laminate flooring is even water-resistant, which makes it ideal for bathrooms and kitchens.
When installing a laminate floor, it is recommended to lay a vapor barrier over your subfloor to prevent moisture damage. You may also want to consider putting pads under furniture legs to protect your laminate from the damage that can be caused by heavy furniture and appliances.
Once the vapor barrier has been installed and your new laminate planks have been cut to size, you are ready to install them. Start from one end of the room and work towards the other, using spacers to ensure an even gap between each piece. Once the planks have been laid, trim off any excess with a saw or utility knife, then install molding and baseboards around the perimeter of your room for a finished look.
Vinyl
Whether you’re designing your dream home or simply sprucing up one of the rooms, vinyl is a great option. This versatile flooring type offers plenty of design options and is highly affordable. Plus, it holds up to moisture and resists stains and damage. This makes it ideal for busy areas like kitchens and bathrooms where spills are common. You might not be aware but cgp polished concrete is also a popular flooring choice in these areas.
With its wide range of color and texture choices, vinyl is a beautiful addition to any room. From textured finishes to patterns that mimic natural stone and wood, there’s something for every space. Vinyl also provides comfort underfoot with soft textures and warmth. The best part? It’s easy to maintain and will keep looking beautiful for years to come.
In terms of material, there are two main types of vinyl: roll and luxury vinyl tile (LVT). Roll vinyl is fiberglass-cushion-backed flooring that comes in large sheets and can be installed as one continuous floor for a cohesive look. It’s available in a virtually unlimited number of styles from timeless to modern and is often backed by environmental certifications such as low VOC, formaldehyde emissions and UK Allergy certification that contribute to healthier indoor environments.
Luxury vinyl tile is similar to a traditional hardwood plank but can be installed as individual tiles or planks that snap together at the edges. It’s available in a broad selection of designs from realistic to playful and is made with thicker wear layers that are ideal for high-traffic areas. Some LVT products even feature a waterproof core, making them an excellent choice for moisture-prone spaces. The only drawback to this option is that it can fade over time from exposure to sunlight.
Tile
No other material delivers a better return on investment than tile, making it the perfect choice for quick and simple home improvements that can dramatically transform the look of your entire living space. Whether you’re redoing the bathroom floor, installing a backsplash in the kitchen, or transforming the floor surface of a coffee bar station, tile can be used to add texture, color and make a statement.
With a variety of shapes, colors and textures, there are endless possibilities when it comes to choosing a new tile floor. From traditional squares and rectangles to hexagon tiles, and from a natural river rock stone to linen-textured sage greens, there is an abundance of options available. Tile is especially ideal for high-traffic areas like bathrooms and entryways, as it is durable enough to hold up against heavy foot traffic, dirt, spills and water damage.
It is also a popular choice for kitchens, since it can resist the moisture and stains that are common in most food preparation areas. Plus, it is easy to wipe up sauce splashes and kid’s snack crumbs without worrying about the damage to your flooring or carpeting.
Another great feature of tile is that it can be easily adapted to suit any style of decor, from sleek and modern to rustic or country. For example, if you’re looking for a wood-look tile that will complement your open-plan living room, consider a porcelain “wooden” tile such as Spiga Olson Blanco. This beautiful tile offers all the durability of a low-maintenance porcelain floor, but with the visual appeal of real hardwood floors. This is a look that can be enjoyed for years to come and that will help you effortlessly achieve the style of your dreams in your living space.
Carpet
Carpet is a versatile floor covering that works well in a range of styles. It comes in a wide variety of colours, textures, patterns and piles so that you can create a look that perfectly matches your home decor.
One of the advantages of carpet is that it softens the sound of footsteps and provides a comfortable feel underfoot. In addition, it is a thermal insulator and can help to keep a home warmer, reducing energy bills. The use of wool fibres in carpeting helps to add longevity and durability.
In terms of cleaning, carpets are easy to maintain and do not trap dust mites and allergens like hardwood or laminate floors. There are a number of carpet options available that are environmentally friendly and made from renewable resources.
If you are looking to add warmth and a touch of luxury to your home, wool carpeting is the way to go. Its thick ‘pebble’ weave creates a subtle texture that blends into most styled homes and can easily be co-ordinated with a wide range of colour schemes.
Carpet is also suitable for high traffic areas and is durable enough to cope with kids, pets and furniture. It’s important to consider the level of activity in your home as this will dictate which type of carpet is best suited for your needs. For example, a lighter coloured carpet may not be the right choice for busy family spaces but would work well in an adult household.
Another thing to consider is the amount of sun your home receives as different flooring types withstand sunlight differently. For example, vinyl sheet flooring can fade quite quickly but a premium vinyl plank (LVP) or a poured resin flooring type can withstand UV radiation for longer periods of time.