How to Choose Flooring
Where to Start
Hey everyone! Today we are going to tackle a big topic: How to Choose Flooring. The foundation of a room design, is the flooring you choose. It can change the entire mood of a space, and speaks a lot about the design or theme of a room. Flooring is typically one of the first things a person sees when they walk into a room, which makes it a great topic to discuss!
If you’ve never looked at flooring options, or this is your first time considering a flooring remodel, DON’T PANIC! You may be a little overwhelmed at first, but I promise it’s not scary and you can do this. So here is some of my best advice and my own process on how to choose flooring.
How to Choose Flooring: What to Consider
As tempting as it may be, do not walk into the home improvement store without any idea of what you’re looking for. I know, I know….there are so many options and they’re so pretty! But STOP! Don’t do it.
There are literally THOUSANDS of flooring options, and if you’re not really sure what you’re looking for it can get overwhelming in a hurry. So to help narrow those options for you, here are some important things to consider right off the bat.
Keep in mind that you want to find a flooring that works for you. If you go about how to choose flooring just by how visually appealing it is, you may end up disappointed and replacing it in the long run. Every home is different, every family is different, and every room is different. So choose the flooring that functions best for what you need.
Consideration One: Budget
The easiest way to filter your options and eliminate the most choices is to decide on a budget. Not allowing yourself to be distracted by impossible options will make your decision easier, and can save you some heartache from falling for a flooring that could never be….
But ALAS! There are still some great options out there, so don’t give up yet. Now that you’ve narrowed the playing field, here is what I look for next with how to choose flooring
Consideration Two: Durability
This will look different for everyone. I’m the mama of three very active little boys, so my durability standards are going to be different from others. Like I said, there are thousands of options and you can be flexible with where your priorities are.
If you are choosing this flooring for a high traffic area, I would suggest keeping durability at the top of the priority list. But if your space gets little traffic, then you can relax a little on this consideration.
Consideration Three: Water Resistance
When you’re thinking about how to choose flooring, ask yourself “what does this specific room need?” If you’re working in a bathroom, kitchen, or laundry area, water may be an issue. (If you live in northern hemispheres that experience a lot of snow fall, water might also be a concern near entryways or wherever shoes are stored.)
Water can do a lot of damage if the flooring you choose isn’t equipped to handle it. Thankfully, the flooring industry has done a great job of accommodating that! So be sure to check the water rating.
Consideration Four: Ease of Install
I realize that this falls lower on certain priority lists. For me, I like to get my hands dirty and save a few dollars. So I wanted to include it in my considerations on how to choose flooring. But if that’s not you, no worries! Feel free to skip ahead.
Installing a floor can get pretty messy and time consuming, so always ask about how to go about installing it from the hardware store experts. Trust me, you don’t want to be surprised by the expense of needing new tools, surface prep, or underlayment. I don’t want to scare you more, so just trust me and read the directions before final purchase if you plan to install it yourself.
Similar Post: Home Decor for Beginners
How to Choose Flooring: The Options
We all know the basic flooring options: Wood, Tile, Carpet. But each option also has a bunch of sub-options. For example, with carpet you could choose standard or maybe carpet tiles. Or if you’re considering a wood flooring you might want Vinyl, Laminate, or Hardwood.
And each sub-option has a sub-sub-option! You can even get crossovers, like tile that resembles wood or laminate that looks like tile. I’m telling you guys, the possibilities are astronomical. So….start with the considerations above and it will make your life a million times easier.
Hopefully this will make things a little easier when it comes to how to choose flooring! If you have any questions, I’d love to chat with you about them. Feel free to comment below or send me an email!
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If you read all the way through and are eager to read a more in depth look at how to choose flooring, here is my next post on the subject How to Choose Flooring: Types of Flooring.
Talk to you soon!!
