Choosing the Right Floor Material for Your Home

I was never a big fan of carpet and I always hated tile floors and linoleum was never my jam so it won’t surprise anyone to hear that literally the only flooring in our entire home is wood. The majority of it is original to the home which I either refinished or, those that were already painted, I re-painted. What’s funny though is, now that I’ve lived with hardwoods since 2015, I kinda get why a carpeted room isn’t so bad lol however, now that I discovered that vacuuming (due to this amazing cordless vacuum) is a much better alternative to sweeping I’m loving my floor material choice a lot more again!

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)

One of the best things anybody can do to upgrade the quality of their home is to install the right flooring. You might think that flooring is a very straightforward thing; you pick the best looking product, and that is it!

But there are other factors that you need to consider. For example, the durability, the moisture, and the costs will greatly influence your decision. So what do you need to know to choose the right flooring?

How Much Moisture Is in the Room?

Every room will have its own level of moisture. The kitchen is going to be a particularly moist area. In these environments, you would need vinyl flooring or a ceramic or porcelain tile. When moisture is not a problem, you can use any type of flooring.

Do You Have Pets in the Household?

Choosing a floor that has a lot of wear resistance is crucial. Many people choose a specific type of flooring but find that it’s not strong enough to withstand cat claw scratches or the dog running back and forth on it constantly.

Something like hardwood can scratch easily, even though it appears wear-resistant. While you can set up hardwood, you are better off using laminate flooring or even going for a carpet.

But if you choose a carpet, you then have to consider the cleaning aspect when you have pets that molt hair constantly. It may prove to be frustrating to clean up every single day.

Do You Want to Install the Flooring?

Flooring costs one of the main concerns for anybody. If you install the flooring yourself, you can potentially reduce your budget by 50%. Many floor coverings are easy to install, such as laminate and plank vinyl flooring. But if you decide to install the flooring yourself, the best thing to do is try this with a room where you can afford to make a mistake. 

What Is Your Budget?

You have to consider your budget in terms of square feet. You can find a lot of laminate flooring if your budget is $2 or less per square foot. But you have to be prepared to realize you won’t get anything fantastic looking for this price.

You can find ceramic and porcelain tiles in this budget range, but it can be difficult to install, although it does look good. If you go a little bit higher in your budget, you can get solid hardwood and engineered wood flooring between $2 and $5. You can also get high-quality luxury vinyl for this cost. But if your budget is $5 and over, you can get exotic hardwoods and mahogany.

When you choose the right flooring for your home, you have to remember that it’s something you will see every single day. So many people go for the cheaper option but end up regretting it.

If you want to try material out, it’s always best to put it in a room where there isn’t much foot traffic, like a small downstairs bathroom. It’s a lot of planning, but the right floor needs a lot of care and attention.

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)