Choosing flooring for a stylish, practical home

If you’re looking to renovate your home, choosing the right flooring can be a real minefield. You want something that not only looks good but is practical and going to stand the test of time.

Here’s a run-down of the main flooring options on the market:

Engineered Wood Flooring

 This is a popular choice for under-floor heating and in areas like kitchens and bathrooms, where the floor is likely to get damp. Engineered wood flooring has a thin layer of hardwood on top of layers of other types of wood, so it won’t expand and contract in heat and moisture, like solid wood flooring.

Laminate Flooring

When laid well, laminate makes a practical option for floors in a busy, family home. It won’t scratch easily, is simple to lay and budget friendly. Made from layers of fibreboard, with a photographic image on top to replicate wood or tiles, it has a tough, wear resistant coating. It can feel a bit cold and hard underfoot and should be avoided in damp areas of the home, otherwise it lifts and becomes noisy.

Solid Wood Flooring

Growing in popularity in recent years, solid wood flooring is often high on the wish-list of prospective buyers. Why? Although it might seem expensive up front, solid wood flooring has a timeless appeal and will last decades (often looking better with age). It requires little maintenance, is easy to clean, whilst being more hygienic than carpet and warmer than tile or stone floors. Most of all, solid wood flooring gives any space a real wow factor!

Original Floorboards

If you’re lucky enough to have original floorboards in your home, they can be kept in tip-top condition at a fraction of the price of laying new ones. When restoring an old property or wanting the look in a contemporary home, consider opting for solid reclaimed wood flooring, for all the charm but none of the potential structural weaknesses.

Carpets

Carpets are great for bringing warmth and comfort into a room, making them popular in bedrooms and living rooms. They have also made a come-back on stairs, in particular striped carpets, bringing often dark, uninspiring hallways and landings to life. Traditionally wool is used in carpets, and a high content will last well, but nylon and propeylene make for more budget friendly options, that are easy to maintain. Do consider the costs of having them professionally cleaned when comparing different types of flooring and that carpets need replacing most regularly.

Tiling

Real stone, marble, terracotta or slate tiles can last forever when laid well and add value to a home, but their porous nature will require regular sealing. Ceramic and porcelain tiles make an ideal choice for bathrooms and kitchens because they are easy to clean and store the warmth when laid over under-floor heating, but without