Great flooring is as much about looks as it is about being functional. Here are 7 must-know tips for choosing flooring that works with your lifestyle.
Having beautiful flooring adds function and style to your home. It does more than that as well – a well-chosen floor can also add value when you eventually sell your home.
As a result, it’s vital to choose flooring that is both functional and beautiful. Not only will it serve your family well for years to come, but it will also hold up well when you’re ready to move.
Here are the must-know tips you need when it comes to choosing flooring for your lifestyle!
Consider What Styles You Love
There are incredible numbers of styles available when it comes to decorating your home. You can focus on traditional, with classic patterns and lines. Or, create a modern home with clean lines and sleek design.
There are also options for farmhouse design, coastal flavor, and much, much more. If you can’t decide, there’s a style for that as well – it’s called eclectic!
Don’t be shy – you can always express yourself through your home. When you’ve determined your style, you’ll know a lot more about what flooring you need!
Decide Between Carpet, Hardwood, and Tile
Obviously, there are a lot more flooring materials than these three, but they are the primary ones. This helps you decide what look you’re going for – you can choose the actual material later.
Do you want the softness and comfort of carpet? The feeling of class and style that comes from hardwood? Or do you need the practicality of tile?
Different rooms have different needs. For instance, it’s common to have tile in a kitchen and carpet in a bedroom, but it’s certainly not set in stone!
Choose the Flooring Material
Once you’ve determined your style and look, you can move to choosing the actual material. Laminate is a very common flooring material and it can be made to appear like almost anything.
If you have a home that has a lot of activity, including children or pets, you may want to have a material that’s easy to care for. Sealed tile or laminate would fit that bill.
On the other hand, if you are looking for “the real thing” and have the resources to care for it, you can go for hardwood or even stone. It all depends on your preferences and your lifestyle!
Think About Color
Did you know that hardwood doesn’t have to be brown and stone doesn’t have to be grey? It’s incredible how many colors you can find for absolutely any flooring choice.
Your color choice will be strongly influenced by your style preference. It will also have a lot to do with whether you are choosing flooring that will be the focal point of the room or a backdrop to other pieces.
For instance, if you want a bold modern tile as the focal point, consider a black and white alternating pattern. For hardwood that’s a backdrop in a beach-style home, consider a color resembling sand.
The color you choose makes a big statement. Think about what you want it to say, and then go for it!
Take Into Account Other Changes You’re Making
Sometimes people replace flooring by itself, but many times this is part of a larger remodeling project. If you’re tearing up the floor, why not take advantage of the chance to make other improvements?
These changes will impact your flooring choices. For instance, if a room is becoming much larger, you may want a darker color of flooring to help it stay cozy. If you’re creating a new small space, get light flooring so that it will look larger.
Wondering if you should remodel along with your floor update? View here for more information about that decision.
Determine Who Will Install the New Flooring
You can buy flooring from a variety of suppliers, and many of them offer installation. Before you accept, however, you should be sure to do some homework.
Make sure you check reviews on both the quality of the flooring and the quality of the installation. You don’t want to be stuck with bad materials or poor workmanship!
Check how much it costs to get flooring installed. Often, you’ll get a discount from the supplier you choose. If someone has a bad reputation regarding installation, you may want to buy your flooring elsewhere as well, so you can get a good bundle price.
Take Care of Your New Floors
Different types of materials require different care, and you want to make sure you’re fully aware of what’s needed. Hopefully, you’ve checked this out before you finished choosing flooring.
Now it’s time to put it into practice!
Laminate floors and sealed tile are generally the easiest to care for and can take the most traffic. There are types of carpet that are excellent for high-traffic areas and are easy to care for as well.
For hardwood, you will need to sweep or vacuum daily to remove dirt that can damage the finish. If you use a vacuum, choose a gentle setting.
If anything is spilled, you’ll want to wipe it up right away. Only use cleaners approved for wood.
Stone should be sealed and you have to take care of it carefully. Make sure you have full instructions before you finish installation!
Choosing Flooring is Fun!
However you go about it, choosing flooring is a fun task. It’s an opportunity for you to define the style of your home more clearly. You also get to choose the type of flooring that’s perfect for the people – and pets – who live in your home.
Looking for more information about how to maintain your house? We have a whole category just for you. Dive in today!
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