How To Choose Flooring: A Step-By-Step Guide
Confused about how to choose the right flooring material for your design project? We get it! The options are nearly endless, and the selection process may feel overwhelming. Choosing flooring is far more complicated than just finding the best-looking product. It requires thoughtful planning not only from an aesthetic perspective, but from a functional perspective, too.
But, by keeping a few key considerations in mind, we can demystify the process and help to ensure you’re achieving the look, feel and functionality you need – and want!
Follow our step-by-step guide below to learn more:
STEP 1: Understand the Different Types of Flooring
The first step in choosing the right flooring is to understand each of the different types of flooring available. From natural to man-made, custom to mass produced, there are plenty of options on the market. Even within each different type of flooring, there is plenty of variety to choose from, so we’ll cover off just a few of the most common here:
A. Tile
Tile is one of the best over-all flooring choices you can make. Its readily available, cost-effective, and offers a ton of versatility. It’s also available in an incredible price range, making it suitable for projects ranging from budget-friendly to ultra-lux.
Tile comes in a variety of different materials, including ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone, each with their own unique features and plenty of options to choose from. From a design perspective, tile has the most versatility. Size, shape, colour, variation, material, grout, and accents making it a designer’s dream to work and play with.
While tile is great from a durability perspective, it is a very hard surface and can be cold on bare feet so it may not provide the welcoming warmth you’re after in a residential project. However, these properties make a great option for projects where durability is required.
B. Hardwood
Hardwood flooring is the quintessential example of style and charm – timeless, balanced, warm and welcoming. It instantly adds character to any room and is a wonderfully low maintenance option – especially since it can be refinished with minimal cost and effort. Hardwood is a great option for nearly any space in your home. With tons of choices available – from board width, wood species, colour, texture and finish – there’s something for everyone.
There are two types of hardwood flooring available: solid or engineered. Solid hardwood is milled from a single piece of wood, which means it can be sanded and refinished over and over and will last for decades. However, it is much more susceptible to temperature and humidity changes. Engineered hardwood is constructed of multiple layers of material that are bonded together, giving each plank stability and durability. However, the surface is only a thin layer of wood which means it doesn’t have the longevity of solid hardwood.
C. Concrete
Concrete floors aren’t just for your garage anymore! Concrete has come a long way in establishing itself as a good flooring option for many home or business owners – particularly for buildings that will be using an eco-friendly radiant floor heating system. Since concrete easily conducts heat, it is a perfect choice if you’re considering an in-floor heating system.
Recent advancements in finishing techniques also means you won’t have to skimp on aesthetics. Concrete floors can be stained and stamped with countless patterns making them some of the most elegant and stylish floors you’ve ever seen. And, once sealed and if properly maintained, a concrete floor can last nearly indefinitely. A great option for commercial or residential applications!
D. Luxury Vinyl
Vinyl has come a long way since the 1950’s! Today’s vinyl flooring has improved in every aspect imaginable – from look and feel to thickness and overall quality. The manufacturing process has changed dramatically, and today’s luxury vinyl suppliers are able to achieve gorgeous colours, patterns and textures.
Vinyl’s durability and cost-effectiveness is also unmatched, making it a great choice for your next restaurant or commercial space. It doesn’t dent, scratch, stain or fade and is often embedded with antimicrobial protection to resist bacteria, mold, or mildew, making it a great option for high-traffic, high-moisture areas. It’s also available in a variety of shapes and sizes including sheets, tiles, and planks, making it easy to install in any project.
E. Carpet
While it may seem that carpet has fallen out of style in favour of hardwood or tile floors, it is still the perfect fit for many projects. When choosing a carpet, there are a few terms worth understanding to ensure you make the right choice for your home or workplace, including the carpet’s density, fiber, pad and pile. Choosing the right combination of properties for your project will help to ensure your carpet lasts.
There are also two main ways that carpets can be constructed, either with a loop pile or cut pile. A loop pile is more durable and stain-resistant but tends to have a lower profile and limited cushioning, while a cut pile tends to be denser and softer – another important point to consider when selecting a carpet.
Overall, carpet is a good thermal and acoustic insulator and will help to keep your home warm and cozy-feeling. However, it is relatively high-maintenance and simply doesn’t last as long as hard services, so keep that in mind when planning your project.
Other Notable Mentions
Other options that we see less often but may be the perfect fit for your project include cork and bamboo flooring. We’ve included these special mentions because both are considered to be renewable resources and great “green” options. With similar properties to hardwood, both are growing in popularity and may be the right fit for you.
STEP 2: Choosing Flooring Based on Function
Flooring is quite literally the foundation of any design, and that means it goes beyond visual aesthetic. To help you choose the right flooring, we’ve outlined a few important questions to consider to help you narrow down your selection.
How Moisture Resistant Does Your Flooring Need to Be?
Will your flooring be installed in a high moisture area like a bathroom, basement or laundry room? If so, we recommend opting for a water resistance material such as tile or vinyl.
In Canada, it’s also important to consider the seasons. Will visitors be tracking in rain or snow? If so, consider dividing your flooring into sections by tiling a front entry way or vestibule and then transitioning to a less moisture resistant material for the rest of your space – if that’s the look you’re going for. This is a particularly useful tip for commercial or restaurant clients whose spaces will see much more traffic than a residential home.
How Much Traffic Will There Be in Your Space?
The amount of traffic – or number of people walking across your floors – is one of the biggest considerations when choosing a type of flooring. While many types of engineered floors have come a long way in the durability-department, natural materials tend to wear much more easily.
For example, site-finished solid hardwood can easily become dented or gouged and engineered hardwood floors can be difficult to repair so these options are best-suited for lower-traffic areas like residential homes.
There are lots of great options for high traffic areas like a restaurant or commercial space, including concrete, ceramic or porcelain tile, laminate flooring or stone. If you’re after a cozy, more intimate setting, carpet floors may be the way to go, but keep in mind that there is quite a bit of maintenance involved in keeping carpets looking clean and inviting.
While some flooring options are better than others based on the amount of traffic your space sees, there are ways you can lay your dream floor regardless of traffic – it will just depend on the upkeep you’re willing to do. This leads us to our third consideration when choosing flooring: maintenance.
How Much Maintenance are You Willing to Do?
How much time and ongoing financial investment are you willing to devote to your floors? The reality is, not all flooring materials are created equal, particularly in the maintenance department. In some cases, what you sacrifice in durability is well worth the trade-off for that show-stopping aesthetic design.
On the other hand, less durable flooring materials are perfectly suited to lower-traffic spaces, like a residential home. And, if you’re willing to keep up with maintaining your flooring – whether its regular deep cleaning, sealing, or re-finishing, you can lay pretty much any type of flooring you want.
How Do You Want Your Space to Look and Feel?
Last and not certainly not least, decide how you want your space to look and feel. We’ve explored a variety of considerations to keep in mind when selecting the perfect flooring for your project from a functional perspective but, ultimately, it must deliver on design aesthetic, as well.
If you’re looking to create a cozy, intimate setting, carpet may be the way to go! Because it is a soft surface, carpet is great at dampening sound, is soft underfoot and creates a wonderfully quiet environment. If you’re after a more classic, modern look opt for hardwood or if clean and sophisticated makes your heart sing, look at harder surfaces like stone or concrete.
With the variety of materials available on the market, finding the right aesthetic fit is always possible!
STEP 3: Crunch the Numbers
Finally, once you’ve decided on form and function, it’s time to crunch the numbers. Flooring is an investment, no matter your price range. The sheer variety of materials available on the market means the cost can range from $6/sqft to $30/sqft – or more. And don’t forget to factor in underlay, installation, finishing and trim.
The good news is that a higher price does not always mean higher quality, especially when it comes to making the right choice for your project. As we explored above, there are a myriad of considerations that will factor into your decision so don’t be discouraged by any potential price-point.
The even better news is that affordable materials continue to improve in aesthetics, quality and availability and the perfect product for you is out there!
Final Thoughts: How to Choose the Right Flooring
Still overwhelmed by how to choose the right flooring for your project? An experienced Interior Designer can guide you through this process with ease. Researching and planning your flooring carefully will ensure you end up with a well-balanced space that serves both your aesthetic and functional needs. It's well worth the investment to engage a pro on your project if you’re unsure about which direction to go, and we’d be happy to help!
Article by Laura Zarnke, Writer and Content Strategist.
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