How to Choose The Right Flooring.
How to choose the right flooring for your home can make a huge impact and dramatically alter the way your property looks and feels whenever someone enters it. It’s also something that you’ll need to get right first time, as you will have to live with your decision for quite a while. Changing your flooring once every six months is not economically viable!
To help you out, we’ve put together a few things to bear in mind next time you decide that your flooring needs a makeover.
1. Space
The first thing to consider is the room/s in which the flooring is going to be laid. The size and shape can play an important role in making the right choice, as can the way the room is lit.
It’s a good idea to get some samples from your local flooring supplier and lay them out in the room that you are thinking of sprucing up. Seeing them in place can give you a greater sense of how they’ll blend in with the room and its furnishings. It’ll also give you the opportunity to see how your new flooring will look at different times of the day, too.
2. Location
Another aspect to look at on how to choose the right flooring is location. More often than not, a home will include more than one type of flooring. Some materials are better suited to different rooms according to their purposes. When asking the question- how do I choose flooring? It’s a good idea to first ask – what room am I flooring?
- Kitchen – Kitchen flooring needs to be fast and easy to clean. Tiles, polished concrete and timber are popular choices for the kitchen.
- Bathroom – Flooring for the bathroom needs to respond well to water, meaning it needs to be both slip-proof and waterproof. Tiles are generally the best option, however, both the grout and tiles need to be sealed for a durable finish.
- Bedrooms – Comfort is key in the bedroom, so it’s no surprise that carpet is usually the go-to. Soft, warm and insulating, carpet ticks all the boxes for the bedroom.
3. Traffic Use
High traffic areas in the home require durable and resilient flooring. For spaces like hallways or living rooms, opt for durable flooring that can withstand heavy use, such as hardwood or laminate. You can also opt for ceramic tiles for high traffic places.
4. Your preferred taste and lifestyle
How to choose the right flooring greatly depends on your preferred taste and preference. Flooring trends and fashions come and go, so it’s recommended that you choose a style of flooring that suits your personal tastes. There’s no point purchasing the patterned tiles you’ve spotted in an interior design magazine if you’re likely to go off them in a few months time.
If you live alone and really pride yourself on your spotlessly clean home, keeping your fluffy, cream hallway carpets clean may be fairly easy. However, if you live in a bustling household with three children and an excitable puppy, you’d be better off choosing a flooring that can be maintained with minimal effort.
Flooring styles that won’t stain easily, such as laminate and vinyl tiles, could be a top choice of flooring for a busy household, so bear this in mind when making your decision.
5. Budget
When choosing new flooring for your home, it’s imperative to think about your budget. The last thing you want to do is spend more than you can realistically afford, so it’s crucial to set a budget before you start browsing through flooring showrooms.
Remember – your budget will need to encompass more than just the cost of the carpet or tiles. You’ll also need to take into account installation prices and how much it’ll cost to maintain your new flooring, so it’s worth discussing this with your chosen flooring company before you make a purchase.
6. Durability
With the right care and maintenance, your new carpet, floorboards or vinyl tiles should look great for years to come. However, some styles of flooring are easier to keep in great condition than others, so it’s important to consider this when choosing the right flooring for you.
For instance, if you wouldn’t have time to shampoo and vacuum a carpet regularly, it may be better to opt for vinyl tiles or floorboards that simply require sweeping with a soft brush every now and then.
7. Maintenance
The last thing on our how to choose the right flooring list is maintenance. It’s an important consideration to keep in mind before you buy, as the type of flooring you choose will greatly influence the amount of work that follows.
Resilient types, such as sheet vinyl, vinyl tiles and laminate flooring, require very little maintenance. A quick mop round every now and then will keep them looking good as new. Sure, you’ll still have to address any spillages there and then to prevent stains from setting in, but that’s only to be expected. Other than that, these floors will stay in good shape with the minimum amount of effort.
Wooden floors, on the other hand, can be extremely hard work to maintain. You may see manufacturers advertising low maintenance as a selling point, but it’s worth treating this with a huge pinch of salt.
Wooden floors are hard to beat when they are looking at their very best, but if they are left to their own devices they can quickly become very shabby indeed. Using rugs in areas of heavy footfall can help, but then you’re covering your brand new flooring with something.
These are some but a few ways on how to choose the right flooring that we gathered for you, please feel free to research on more.
If you’re still undecided on what is the best option for flooring, get some expert advice from one of our team members. Get in touch with Elite Floors Kenya, we’re always happy to discuss your flooring issues with you.
