There’s nothing quite like a beautiful floor to accent a room, or to tie different aspects of the space together. In today’s market, there are many options to choose from in terms of style, color, finish, durability, and cost. Finding the perfect flooring can be a fun, but sometimes overwhelming, process. Let’s look at some things to consider before you start.
What to consider before choosing your flooring
You don’t want to be changing flooring as often as you might update the paint on your walls, so choosing the right type is important. Here are a few things to think about:
- Functionality – What you do in the room helps determine what type of flooring you need. For example, a kitchen remodel might include installing hard, durable flooring that is easy to clean since there’s always the potential for spilled food. In contrast, you might consider something softer for a bedroom.
- Style – You want to pick a flooring that matches your personal tastes, but also fits with the overall style of the home and adjacent rooms. One word of caution here – flooring can be expensive and labor-intensive to replace, so try to avoid trendy styles that will soon be outdated.
- Durability and maintenance – Think about what your flooring will need to stand up to, now and in the future. If you have little children, for example, you can expect spills and dropped objects – how difficult will it be to keep your floor looking like new? In addition, what kind of maintenance will it require to keep it clean or protect its finish?
- Budget – It can be difficult when your tastes outreach your remodeling budget, but knowing how much you can spend helps to narrow the choices. If you find a flooring style you like, but it doesn’t fit your budget, you may be able to find something similar for less expense. Just be aware that the quality of material and its durability may be affected by the lower cost.