Things to Keep in Mind when Choosing new Flooring

Since you will be in contact with the floor every day, it’s vital you choose the right flooring for you, and the house’s needs.

Photo: Kat Lawton Interiors

Making sure the flooring in your home is right is one of the most important decisions you can make when renovating a house or simply choosing some new flooring. It is crucial to choose the right flooring option for your home and needs in general, but also the needs of a specific room. With that in mind here are some key things to remember when choosing new flooring.

What Maintenance Requirements Do You Have?

Understanding the requirements of your flooring is a crucial part of choosing the right flooring for you and your home. Firstly, there are the obvious flooring and room combinations which should not go together – notably carpet flooring in the bathroom or kitchen! Secondly, you need to ask yourself how much time do I want to be spending on the maintenance of the flooring in comparison to the amount of wear it will be receiving. Carpet, for example, requires regular vacuuming and if you have pets, the amount of time needed to keep the carpet looking good is only going to increase. Additionally, marble as a flooring choice is expensive to maintain and can be easily damaged.

Photo: Toronto Interior Design Group

How Much Money do you Have to Spend?

Keeping your budget in mind at all times is very important when choosing flooring. The range of options available means it’s very easy to lose track of your needs and get carried away with all the choices. This can result in much higher costs than is needed for a product you may not need. Also, remember that when purchasing flooring you must take into account the installation costs as most flooring requires professional installation to get the best long-term results. Making sure you know and stick to your budget will help inform your flooring decisions.

Photo: Toronto Interior Design Group

Which Room is the Flooring Going in?

As mentioned earlier, the room in which this new flooring is installed in will automatically eliminate some options. Carpet, for example, is unsuited to a kitchen. The cleaning needs of kitchen flooring, which is prone to spillages and drops with the cooking and eating taking place, means you will want to choose something easy to clean and durable. A great option is vinyl flooring which comes in a variety of styles so can easily be tailored to fit in with the rest of your kitchen surfaces and appliances. Bedrooms, however, are well suited to carpet instead of vinyl flooring for its warmth and comfort underfoot.

Photo: Toronto Interior Design Group

Is Underfloor Heating Right for You?

Underfloor heating is becoming a more popular addition to people’s homes, and the benefits are clear. The warmth generated from under the flooring provides a lovely feeling which allows you to spend more time barefoot without getting cold. The systems are particularly popular in bathrooms as they provide a warm floor rather than a cold one when stepping out of a hot shower or bath. Another benefit is the large area which can be heated through an underfloor system. However it is expensive, can take a long time to warm up and be difficult to install. Ultimately it comes down to the rooms and area you want to heat and the money you have available. Having a consultation with a professional to answer any questions you have about the electric and water systems available is the best way to go.