# 5 Tips: Choosing the Perfect Home Flooring - **Published:** 31 May 2021 - **Type:** Blog - **Tags:** Flooring & Tiling Making the right decision when choosing flooring for your home is tough. There are a range of different flooring types that you could opt for, but finding the one that will tick all the boxes for you and your family takes time. There are many different factors that you need to consider to make sure you make the best decision. This guide will give you great advice that you can use to help decide what flooring option you should opt for in your home. We’ve compiled some handy tips on what type of flooring is best for different locations in your home and how to choose the best flooring for your family’s particular lifestyle. If you choose to [sand and polish your own floors](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/diyhub/flooring-and-tiling.md) you can easily hire the tools you need for DIY flooring jobs from Hirepool. Our team of knowledgeable staff are more than happy to answer any questions you may have and can help you select the right tools for the job. Flooring equipment is costly and as you’re likely to only need it once or twice, hiring professional-grade gear from us just makes sense. ## 1. Think about the location of the flooring When deciding what type of flooring you want in your home, likely the most important factor you need to consider is the location you’ll be laying your new floor. If you’re installing new flooring in wet areas of your house, such as the bathroom and toilet, you will need to select something that can be exposed to moisture. There are quite a few options to choose from when it comes to the best flooring for damp areas. ### Flooring that is best for wet areas Tiles are often chosen for being both stylish and waterproof and widely considered to be the best flooring for bathrooms, with a wide variety of tiling options available to suit your needs, budget and taste. Ceramic tiles are common in bathrooms the world-over as they are great in areas where water pools and are known to dry out easily. Porcelain tiles are more commonly used for shower floors due to their very low water absorption rate, slightly lower than that of the standard ceramic tile. Vinyl tiles are completely waterproof, but their many seams make it more likely for water to seep down to the subfloor overtime, so are best used for commercial applications. ### Suitable flooring options for semi-Wet Areas Engineered wood is a flooring type that is very on-trend in toilets and also semi-wet areas of the home such as the kitchen and laundry. This flooring not only looks modern and stylish but is also able to be exposed to occasional puddling and spillages without causing any harm if wiped up right away. Engineered wood is a modern-looking option for both the laundry and kitchen, however, if your kitchen is a high-traffic area of your home you may wish to opt for a more durable flooring type. ### Great flooring for High traffic areas Providing a sleek, beautiful look in the kitchen, natural stone tile is becoming a more common option for kitchens which see a lot of use. Although being cool underfoot, especially in winter, drives some people to choose something more comforting for the kitchen area, such as hardwood floors. Hardwood floors not only look great, they provide warmth underfoot in winter and are cool in summer. They are also much more forgiving on dropped dishes and glassware than stone or tiles. They are thought by many to be the best flooring for kitchens, further emphasised by the fact that their durability allows them to be used throughout all high traffic areas of the home such as hallways and living areas, resulting in a continuous flow from one area of the house to the next. But if you're a family that rates comfort and warmth above all else, carpets are the best option for your living room and hallway. ### The best floor to go in bedrooms When it comes to the bedroom for many people, carpet or carpet tiles are the best flooring choices to consider. Delivering superior comfort and warmth all year round, and with endless styles, patterns and colours to choose from, carpeted floors are a perfect option for the bedroom. If you are someone who prefers the modern look of hardwood floors and doesn’t mind laying down a rug or two to provide some extra warmth underfoot, they are also a great option in the bedroom as they will complement many different bedroom designs and wall colours. ## 2. Consider your lifestyle Often the best flooring for your home is greatly dependent upon the particular lifestyle that your family leads. There are several lifestyle factors that could impact your flooring choice. ### How much time do you have for maintenance? You should consider how much time you have to maintain your floors, as different types require differing amounts of attention after being laid. If you don't want to spend the extra time maintaining hardwood floors, or polishing concrete, opting for vinyl or laminate flooring would be a wiser option for your home. ### Do you have children? If you have young children, you need to think about the [best flooring for young families](https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/05/got-kids-find-the-best-flooring-for-your-family/index.htm). You’ll likely need the most durable flooring that can cope with spillages and toys being dragged across it. Laminate and vinyl floors offer a great balance between a modern, stylistic appearance and durability that a home with playful little ones needs. Vinyl floors are also one of the most slip-resistant flooring options on the market. If you're a parent concerned about your child with allergies, it's best to avoid dust and dirt-trapping carpet floors, or look into hypoallergenic options. ### Any pets running around home? If you have a pet at home, a key consideration needs to be durability. Obviously, with carpet, scratches are not an issue, and both dogs and cats love the comfort and warmth that comes with carpet flooring, as nothing quite beats sprawling out on a soft new carpet if you’re a dog! Although the obvious con here is any mess that your cat or dog makes on the carpet is much harder to clean and stains and odours are likely if you're in the process of toilet training your puppy or kitten. Vinyl flooring is also a great option for pet owners as they are very durable, easy to install yourself, cool for your pets to lounge on in the summer and provide them with warmth in winter. ## 3. Weigh up your options Every flooring type has pros and cons and you should be aware of these before making your final choice. ### Pros and cons of hard flooring Hard flooring such as concrete, tiles and natural stone look modern and are super durable. The cons with these are that they can be particularly cold in winter if you don’t have adequate heating solutions in place, and they are one of the less comfortable options out there. ### Pros and cons of wood flooring Wood flooring options are vast and include hardwood, engineered wood, cork, laminate and bamboo floors. With many different styles to choose from, these flooring types are amongst the most stylish and modern flooring designs and arguably the most popular choice for many homes. Hardwood floors however can require a higher level of maintenance than some other options, while engineered wood is prone to fading and scratching over time, laminate floors are unable to be sanded and refinished and bamboo floors can be prone to water damage if installed incorrectly. ### Pros and cons of lino and vinyl flooring Lino is durable, low maintenance and doesn’t emit harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds). While modern lino has come a long way, it can still sometimes amber over time, a process where sun exposure causes the floor to darken, colours to fade or turn yellowish in colour. Vinyl floors are one of the cheaper options out there and are highly stain-resistant. One negative with vinyl is that they have shorter lifespans than hardwood floors and can’t be repaired easily if damaged and must be replaced altogether. [Source](https://www.pinterest.nz/pin/260997740893820645/) ### Pros and cons of carpet flooring Carpets provide the most warmth and comfort of any flooring option, but can trap dirt and dust and can be easily stained. Knowing the pros and cons of each flooring type will help you make an informed decision when it comes to choosing flooring for your home. ## 4. Be realistic with your budget Flooring costs can vary greatly on the area size, the flooring you choose and installation costs. In some cases, it’s possible to cut costs by doing it yourself. Amongst the best DIY flooring options is to [sand and refinish your existing wooden floors](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/blog/2020/7/20/flooring-and-tiling-sanding-a-wooden-floor.md). In smaller areas, [laying your own vinyl](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/guides/how-to-lay-vinyl-and-lino.md) is a cost-effective way to refresh a bathroom or laundry. The practicality of grinding and polishing concrete areas of your home depends on the area size and desired finish but is also possible to DIY. Laying your own carpet is a big task, and most carpet sellers will want to install it to the manufacturer’s guidelines for the best result (although if you’re feeling confident or have a small space like a sleepout, a DIY job is possible and we have [carpet stretchers](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/carpet-stretchers.md) for hire to help with this job). You can save money by [removing your existing flooring](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/diyhub/flooring-and-tiling.md) ahead of new carpet being laid. ## 5. Think about the style of your home Just like everyone has their own fashion sense, everyone’s home has a different style as well. You want your new flooring to complement your home and not stick out like a sore thumb. There are several considerations when it comes to style at home. ### The home’s age and architecture The style of your home will impact what floors suit your home. Installing super modern flooring in a classic house, such as concrete floors in a country-style home may not make for a cohesive feel to your space. Work with the age and style of your home for best results. ### Your personal taste vs resale Personal taste is important if you plan on living in your home for a long time, and you may want to opt for flooring that complements the vision for your home. If you are looking at replacing flooring for resale, then opt for neutral colours and finished and leave bold decor to accessories that can easily be changed by new owners. ### How flooring impacts a space Be aware of optical illusions as flooring can [make a room feel bigger or smaller](https://www.homestolove.co.nz/inspiration/tips-and-advice/how-to-choose-flooring-to-make-your-home-feel-bigger). Another important consideration is sound - some flooring options like carpet can soften sounds and echoes in your home while some can amplify noise, such as wooden floors. ### What are the environmental factors Consider what types of floors are more sustainable and can be recycled. If this is a priority for you, look into sustainable flooring options. ## What Flooring Choice is Right for You? There are lots of things to consider when choosing flooring for your home. If considering a more DIY approach, get in touch with your [local Hirepool branch](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/branches.md) to chat about the best ways to remove your old flooring or refresh your existing floors and hire all the gear you need to make your DIY job easy. For more inspiration, check out our [flooring and tiling hub](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/jobs/flooring-tiling.md). ## Equipment mentioned - [Belt Sander 100mm](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/floors-cleaning/handheld-sanders/512b-belt-sander-100mm.md) Source: https://www.hirepool.co.nz/articles/blog/5-tips-choosing-the-perfect-home-flooring