One of the most impactful upgrades you can make to your home, other than the big ticket items like renovating the kitchen and bathrooms, is to change out the flooring in your living space. Whether you have an open-concept main floor, where the living room, family room, dining room and kitchen all run together, or something more traditional, upgrading your floors can really elevate your space. How do you go about choosing the right flooring? Keep reading to find out.
Check Under the Carpet for Hardwood
If you are living in a home with carpeting, an easy first step to upgrading your floors is to simply rip out the carpet and assess the condition of the flooring beneath. Start in an inconspicuous corner, just in case. You may be pleasantly surprised! Maybe there are beautiful hardwood floors hiding under your tired 90’s Berber. If you do happen to find wood floors that are in decent shape, updating them is a great way to add value to your home. You can rent the necessary equipment or hire a professional and refinish the floors to your liking. Did you uncover subflooring or wood floors that are not salvageable? Never fear! You have just unveiled a totally blank canvas; now you are free to recreate your space and make it what you really want!
How Do You Use Your Space?
Before you head to the flooring showroom, consider your personal style, family dynamic and how you will use the area, especially a living or family room. Does your family tend to spend a lot of time on the floor? Family movie nights, epic video game battles, or Lego-building marathons will be more enjoyable if your flooring is comfortable for lounging. How do you feel about formal spaces? Are they necessary for entertaining, or just a waste of square footage? How you answer these questions will help you narrow down your flooring options.
Carpet
The coziest of all the flooring options, carpet works well in an informal room where you will relax. However, if you have kids or pets that tend to make a mess, you will want to consider your tolerance for cleaning. Most carpets today have exceptional stain resistance, so accidents don’t become stains, but a regular vacuuming routine is necessary to help keep messes, like crumbs and pet hair, at bay. While carpet does require a little more work than other floors, the comfiness it adds may be worth it, if it fits the needs of your family.
Vinyl or Laminate
Available in many different design options, from wood in a wide variety of finishes to different types of tile, luxury vinyl, and laminate floors, are sure to help you reach your style goals. Both are easy to clean and resistant to moisture; they only require sweeping and occasional damp mop to stay company-ready. They are also easy to self-install and can be traditional and formal or warm and rustic, depending on what you choose.
Tile or Stone
Traditional tile and natural stone floors, popular in warmer climates, are easy to maintain and bring a sleek and formal vibe to your space. They can also feel cold underfoot, so if your home isn’t tropical, you might want to consider either a subfloor heater or investing in area rugs.
Area Rugs
Area rugs, which are affordable and easy to replace, are like the accessory of flooring. They can be layered over whatever other floor you have chosen. Whether you opted for hardwood or another hard surface like laminate, vinyl, tile, or wall-to-wall carpeting, you can use area rugs to instantly change the style of a space, help designate areas, or add extra coziness.
Whatever route you decide to go with your new flooring, it is certain to elevate your home’s value while improving your current living situation. If you need more help with design ideas or choosing a contractor to help refinish or install your new floors, reach out to the helpful professionals at . We can help you navigate the options and make the process as painless as possible!
