Choosing the Right Flooring for Your Home

Author: reidkody | Posted: 13.01.2012

When most people plan to redecorate their home, they concentrate on the colours that they are going to paint the walls and the fabrics that they are going to use for the curtains and other soft furnishings in each room. However, one of the biggest factors that will influence the look and feel of a room after it has been decorated is whether it has carpets, solid wood or vinyl covering underfoot, so this needs to be taken into consideration as well.

Apart from ensuring that your choice fits in with the rest of the décor, you should also think about whether it will be practical in the various rooms around your home. For example, thick, deep pile carpets may add a touch of luxury to your living room but they would probably be a big mistake in the kitchen or bathroom. Carpets are worth considering for children’s bedrooms but it is best to stick with the less expensive types that are hardwearing and easier to clean. Vinyl flooring can be used in almost any room as it not only looks good but is also easy to wipe clean. Solid hardwood surfaces are also easy to clean and although they are more expensive than laminated options, are preferred by many because of their durability and aesthetic appeal.

The cost of the materials, as touched on above, may play some part in your decisions regarding each room. Generally speaking, in rooms that you do not want to carpet, the least expensive option is vinyl flooring and the most expensive is solid timber. In between these two choices are laminates and engineered wood. Laminates consist of compressed fibres underneath the surface whereas engineered products are made from layers of plywood that are bonded together, with a hardwood layer on top.

An engineered product gives you most of the benefits of solid wood, at a reduced price. This makes it an attractive option for families with young children that would like to improve their home but would rather keep costs to a minimum. If your children have grown up and flown the nest already or money is of no concern, hardwood surfaces are well worth considering, as they will look good for many years to come.

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