Flooring

Whether you’re renovating a dilapidated property or revitalising your existing home, choosing and installing your flooring may be one of the most daunting steps. After all, your choice of flooring will set the mood of each room and impact the flow throughout your home.  

When selecting your flooring, there are a handful of things to consider from the aesthetic you want to achieve to the humidity of the room. When combined, they will ensure your flooring reflects your family’s taste and ensure you won’t need to replace it anytime soon.  

Let’s face it, the most important aspect of any flooring is its appearance. The affordability and durability don’t matter if you don’t like the ‘feel’ of your newly fitted floor. So, it’s crucial that you consider the desired mood for each room as well as how these rooms interconnect with each other.  

If you want to avoid any headaches, you may benefit from having the same flooring throughout each floor. For example, you may have wood flooring downstairs and carpets upstairs. You may benefit from bulk discounts by taking this approach, as you’ll be ordering a larger quantity of each material. 

You could also choose to have different flooring in dry rooms than in wet rooms. For example, you may have wood flooring in dry rooms (i.e. lounge and bedrooms) and vinyl in wet rooms (i.e. kitchen and bathrooms). This will reduce the research needed into the suitability of materials for different rooms.  

All homes have rooms that are busier than others. Wherever the most action happens, it’s vital to consider this when choosing your flooring for each room.  

You should also consider what happens in each room. This is as you’ll need to consider factors such as high humidity in bathrooms or drink spillages in kitchens. Doing so will ensure your flooring is easy to keep clean and has a long lifespan.  

Entrance Areas 

As you may imagine, entrance areas are prone to muddy shoes and heavy footfall. Meaning you should avoid carpet due to its tendency to stain and compress. But tile, wood, laminate and vinyl flooring could prove ideal.  

Bedrooms 

Bedrooms are usually shoe-free zones with low footfall. Therefore, carpet is a great option and is comfortable to walk on when you hop out of bed or in the shower. But if you’re prone to indulging in a midnight snack or taking a glass of wine to bed, then wood flooring may be best.  

Bathrooms  

With water and humidity by the bucket load, carpet is a no-go for bathrooms and toilets. Instead, you should use a waterproof and resilient option such as tiles, wood, laminate, or vinyl. If you’ve got an elderly person or young child living with you who could take a tumble, stick with a softer vinyl.  

Kitchens 

As well as water and humidity, spillages and dropped food are common in the kitchen. Meaning you should keep clear of carpet and instead choose a solid floor that isn’t prone to staining. Tiles, wood, laminate and vinyl are all great choices but it’s important that they are not overly textured.  

Lounge 

The lounge is one of the easiest spots to pick your flooring for. This is because you won’t need to worry about humidity, footfall, or shoes. Cosy carpets or sleek wood flooring are great choices, but the latter may be better suited to homes with young children who are prone to spillages. 

As well as the aesthetic and suitability of each flooring material, you should consider the cost and installation as well. When doing this it’s important to account for any accessories and tools required (i.e. underlays and scotias) as well as labour costs.  

Wood Flooring 

Wood flooring will cost between £30 - £300 per square foot when accounting for materials alone. The cost of fitting can vary, but you’ll save time and money choosing boards that feature a ‘click and lock’ design. 

Tile Flooring 

Tile flooring will cost between £20 - £60 per square foot when accounting for materials alone. The cost of installation will vary, but you’ll save time and money selecting larger tiles that are rectangular or squared. 

Laminate Flooring   

Laminate flooring will cost between £30 – £100 per square foot when accounting for materials alone. The cost of laying can vary, but you’ll save time and money using laminate that features a ‘click and locks’ design.  

Vinyl Flooring 

Vinyl flooring will cost between £30 - £70 per square foot when accounting for materials alone. The cost of fitting will vary, but you’ll save time and money by buying larger rolls and reducing the number of joining seams.