Here ’s what to know about hardwood , tile , stone , laminate , and more .
Ryann Ford
With so many eccentric of flooring available , it ’s hard to choose the good alternative , whether you’rerenovatinga sign or building one .
Credit:Ryann Ford
Make a List of Options
consideration include aesthetics , Mary Leontyne Price , enduringness , and upkeep . In gain , every way has different demand — you might need rug for bedrooms , for instance , to muffle pace , or waterproof flooringfor the basement .
Floor as Decor
Flooring has a practical app , of course , but it ’s more than just something to take the air on . It can convey a vibe or help pull together ornamental element in a way .
In ancient Egyptian palaces , for instance , floors could let in botanic and creature motifs that typify the earth . In Pharaoh Akhenaten ’s palace and sun temple , the level was paint with the leaves and flower of ruby-red poppies , symbolizing a realism that was characteristic of the pharaoh ’s sovereignty .
Modern choices admit sustainable alternatives such as bamboo floor . you may trypeel - and - stick vinyl flooring tilesor rule with a midcentury modern sensibility ( herringbone pattern or checkerboard ) or , for a more classic feel , Versailles parquet panels .
Credit: Anthony Masterson
Here ’s our guidebook to the eight most pop types of flooring , with everything you need to know .
Hardwood Floors
Versatile and Timeless
Hardwood flooring consist of solid Sir Henry Joseph Wood planks in various hardwood miscellanea , including maple , oak , walnut , and cherry tree . Hardwood is one of the most sought - after type of floor , favored for its aesthetic appeal , versatility , and strength . Hardwood floors are timeless ; they look just as effective in a 19th - century Georgian attribute as in a Modern build and blandish almost any interior style . This is mainly thanks to the vast array of tones , grains , and finishes available and the dissimilar approach pattern it can be laid in , such as herringbone , grade insignia , brick , and basket weave .
High Price
Hardwood floorsare on the more expensive endof the flooring spectrum , but they are a good investment , as they are guaranteed to last and can even increase the economic value of your abode .
Regular Maintenance Required
While hardwood floor are undoubtedly perdurable , theyrequire regular maintenanceand handling with specialty hardwood floor cleaner . The good news program is that if the floor does get damaged or scratch , it can be refinish .
However , this character of floor is best avoided in bathrooms or other soaked rooms , as wood buckle when exposed to moisture for extended period . Ensure your woodwind floor is sustainably source by looking for a Forest Stewardship Council mark .
Engineered Wood Floors
Reasonably Priced
If you like the look of hardwood but do n’t have the budget for it , engineered wood flooringis a nifty option . This character of floor consists of a lean layer of hardwood bonded over a plyboard substrate .
Long-Wearing and Easy to Install
Engineered Natalie Wood level are just as long-wearing as hardwood floor and can be treated with a gamy - quality coating to preserve their control surface . They ’re alsomuch comfortable to instal .
Not Refinishable
Engineered wood ca n’t take as much refinishing because of its thinner top level , so it requires more await after . The primary welfare of engineered wood over hardwood is its nifty resistance to moisture and temperature changes , making it more suitable for underfloor heating plant systems . Source it from a reliable producer with mellow - quality products , as the quality can vary significantly .
Stone Flooring
Astrid Templier
Natural Beauty
Little rivals the mantrap of a innate gemstone floor . As a production of nature , each tile is alone with its marking and veining . dissimilar stone flooring suits different styles . For instance , marble is highly luxurious and polished while limestone , travertine , and slate look fabulous in a rustic , rural stage setting . However , there ’s more to stone ’s popularity as a flooring stuff than its esthetic appeal .
Very Durable
Stone is an exceptionally hard - wearing character of floor ( it literally lasts forever ) and broadly requires very piddling maintenance , so it ’s great for high - traffic areas . Because stone is a porous textile , it will needre - sealing to foreclose stains and scratches . It ’s also one of the few materials that can be used indoors and alfresco , allowing you to seamlessly transition between your indoor and outdoor space .
rock flooring work well in kitchens and bathrooms due to its water supply resistance ; however , it can become quite slippery , but that ’s nothing that ca n’t be fixed with a honed finish , sealant , or non - slip matte .
Energy-Efficient
Stone also tends to feel cool underfoot , which may be a welcome relief in summer but less so in winter . fortuitously , I. F. Stone conducts heat well , make it a good choice for underfloor heat system and an vitality - efficient way to stir up your home . I. F. Stone floor are expensive but assure to last a lifetime with right care .
Tile Floors
Nathan Schroder Photography
Many Choices
roofing tile is a popular character of flooring for moisture - prone spaces likebathrooms , utility elbow room , and kitchens . Typically made from porcelain and ceramic , tile are pee - resistive , durable , and super various . Available in a wide of the mark variety of coloring , shapes , and expressive style , tile floorspresent the perfect chance to tap into your creativity and add up fictitious character to a place .
Easy to Clean
mellow - caliber tiles are long - long-lived and durable and very leisurely to pick and keep . They do n’t nurse dust mites or pet fuzz , making them an excellent selection for those with allergy .
Needs Resealing
The main threat to your floor ’s longevity are problem with the subfloor and grout . Issues can be prevent bycleaning and re - sealing your groutyearly in high - dealings area . level tiles tend to be on the more costly end of storey materials ; however , cheaper choice are usable .
Concrete Floors
On Trend
Concrete floors are becoming progressively popular outside of their usual use in the garage andbasement . Their sleek , unlined , and industrial feel make them the perfect affirmation in a advanced , brutalist , minimalist , orindustrial - fashion interior .
Practical and Versatile
Concrete flooring also has many hardheaded advantage : It ’s hardwearing , easy to clean , ages well , is body of water - repellent , stochasticity - absorbing , and highly versatile . It work well with underfloor warming and comes in various culture , frommatte to milled , brush , raked , and pit . It can even be dyed or littered with stones or chicken feed bead for a textural effect .
Low Maintenance
The toll of concrete varies depending on the finish and sizing of the outer space . Generally , the larger the room and the unsubdivided the culture , the less expensive each square ft will be . While it ’s not an inexpensive flooring option , it is an fantabulous foresightful - term investment , as it will last indefinitely and only requires a fresh wax or seal every one to three year .
Carpet
Marty Baldwin
Warm and Soft
Carpet is a popular case of flooring , peculiarly in places with colder clime . Not only does carpet have acoustic and thermal insulating caliber , but the soft , coarse-textured aerofoil visually warms up the distance and feels easygoing underfoot . That ’s why they ’re popular in quiet surface area where you are potential to walk barefoot , like the living way and bedroom .
Many Fiber Options
carpet are available in synthetic and born fiber and vary significantly in damage and quality . synthetical carpets do n’t score too extremely on the sustainable front but be given to be more budget - friendly . The superfluity of colors , formula , and textures meansthere ’s a carpet for every upcountry style .
Needs Regular Cleaning and Replacement
Most people ’s concern around carpets involvehygiene and upkeep . While carpet technology has evolved and many carpets have smear - resistant qualities , carpet will eventually wear off and take replacing every 5 - 10 years . carpet plunk up soil and filth , so they ’re not the best choice for extreme allergy sufferer . They also requireregular care with a emptiness and steam cleanerto keep them looking their best . Where darling are concerned , steer exculpated from free weaves , as claws can quick destruct them .
Vinyl Floors
Edmund Barr
Budget-Friendly and Durable
vinyl group flooring constitute layers of unlike materials , let in polyvinyl chloride , plasticizers , and pigments . It ’s available as a roll or as Luxury Vinyl Planks ( LVP ) that imitate natural Ellen Price Wood planks and tiles . Vinyl flooringis favored for its practicality and affordability . It is cheap , easy to clean and install , indestructible , sustentation - free , and entirely rainproof , so it is often opt for bathrooms and kitchen . Plus , the many design alternative usable suit a wide range of a function of pattern aesthetics .
Easily Damaged
Though vinyl group is durable , it can be punctured by acuate object and ca n’t be repaired easily . While the Sir Henry Wood and roofing tile imitations are skillful , they do n’t come tight to the real deal or give you the same return on investiture .
Laminate Floors
DIY-Friendly and Cost-Effective
Like vinyl , laminate is another excellent type of flooring when cost and practicality topic most . Laminate flooringcomprises particleboard topped with a photographic paradigm of the real material and a layer of laminate to protect the surface . Like vinyl , it can be a DIY installation , eliminating those monetary value .
Lots of Options
Its master advantage over vinyl radical is the wide range of textures , colors , and styles available . Laminate floor are made to look like hardwood , tile , marble , and more , so you could get a high - end look with any budget .
Limited Uses
alas , you get what you pay for with laminate . As one of the cheapest type of flooring , it is less undestroyable than other cloth and is only waterresistant , not waterproof . That imply it ’s unsuitable for high - wet areas like the bathroom and ca n’t be cleaned with a slopped mop . It must also be replaced more oft than moredurable floor pick .
“ The Egyptian Collection . ” Penn Museum .
“ Does it sound unusual to walk like an Egyptian on paint floors ? ” Carnegie Museum of Natural History .
Credit:Astrid Templier
“ All in for forests . ” Forest Stewardship Council .
Brumer - Smith , Liz . “Patterned Flooring Is Back : A attend at This Hot Design Trend . ”U.S. News & World Report .
Credit:Nathan Schroder Photography
Credit: Werner Straube
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Credit:Edmund Barr
Credit: Werner Straube
