Flooring is a major part of your interior, with every bit impacting the functionality and visual aesthetics of a room. This explains why it is worth all the extra attention, time, and money when it comes to finding the perfect design element for your home.
So whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to give your home a quick refresh, this article has all the right information to help you choose the best flooring for your interior — continue scrolling!
Types of Flooring
Among the infinite types of flooring you can choose from, we’ve rounded up the most popular, durable, and beautiful options (with their pros and cons) to make you fully confident about your decision before you give a green signal to your residential house builder.
Concrete Flooring
Concrete floors do not have to be restricted to the garage or patio — they make a great addition to kitchens, bathrooms, and even living rooms! What’s more, this fashion-forward material can be coloured with dyes and can take up various surface treatments like rubber-stamp stencils and acid stains to create a unique effect.
Pros:
- Durable
- Easy-to-maintain
- Conducts heat well
- Contributes to better air quality
- Offers resistance to bacteria, odours, and stains
Cons:
- Pricey
- Can be loud to walk on
- Requires professional installation
- Needs to be resealed every year to prevent stains
Tile Flooring
Tile flooring is a favourite option for moisture-prone rooms, like kitchens and bathrooms. It normally comprises two types; porcelain and ceramic, with the latter being slightly cheaper.
Pros:
- Waterproof
- Low-maintenance
- Have a classic look
- Resistant to dents and scratches
- Sustainable and perfect for high-traffic areas
- Come in various colours and design configurations
Cons:
- Slippery and cold
- Hard to install
- Expensive
Timber Flooring
Being a super-popular flooring type across homes in Canberra, timber is a great investment that will last you for years.
Pros:
- Withstands wear and tear
- Provides better insulation
- Complements all types of interiors
- Offers hypo-allergenic properties
- Serves as a sustainable option
Cons:
- Pricey
- Easily damaged by spills and standing liquids
- Prone to termite damage
Stone Flooring
Natural stone, including marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and travertine, are common choices for both indoor and outdoor spaces. They are a stylish and long-term practical flooring solution.
Pros:
- Adds value to your property
- Does not feel cold or hard underfoot
- Offers natural beauty and high-quality
- Does not harbour pet hair or dust mites
- Can be used in any room of the house
Cons:
- Requires detailed prep work before installation
- Can result in cracks if not laid well
- Susceptible to water damage
Vinyl or Hybrid flooring
Vinyl or Hybrid flooring is an all-natural flooring option, typically made of wood products and plastic. It provides a cheaper alternative to hardwood timber flooring while looking similar.
Pros:
- Offers softness underfoot
- Creates a sustainable appeal
- Available in multiple styles and colours
- Affordable compared to its countertops
Cons:
- Prone to denting from furniture legs
- Requires professional installation
- May darken or turn yellow over time
Which Flooring Is Best For You?
Deciding which of the aforementioned types is suitable for your home depends on your lifestyle, budget, and personal taste, along with each room’s location, needs, and design style. While you can definitely discuss this with your Canberran builder, consider asking yourself the list of questions below to make sure you end up with the best option.
⦁ What colours and patterns do you like? Think of the floor textures that appeal to you the most: the dense grain of hardwood, the sleek lining of tiles, or the glossy and reflective surface of natural stone.
⦁ What is your lifestyle? If you’re someone who spends hours standing in front of the stove, you’d want to skip tile, which is uncomfortable to stand on for extended periods; if your kids tend to leave pools of water on the bathroom floor, you’d want to go for a water-resistant pick like hybrid flooring; if you have pets who track mud on the hallway, concrete flooring would be the perfect option to withstand the mess.
⦁ What is your budget? Apart from the main cost of the type of flooring you pick, remember to include the costs of delivery, underlayment, and installation paired with the removal and disposal of costs of your previous flooring. Make sure to factor in additional materials like stains, baseboards, or adhesives.
Conclusion
Choosing the right flooring for your home isn’t as simple as just picking out the one that looks best or is on sale. There’s detailed research, forethought, and planning that goes into deciding on an option that not only suits your home but also fits in with your needs and lasts you for years to come. Once you’ve familiarised yourself with the pros and cons of each type, you can use our aforementioned list of questions to figure out what will work best for you — and don’t forget to let us know what you’ve chosen in the comments below!
Best of all, if you’re located somewhere in Canberra, our experienced Canberra home builder Josh can come over to give you the right advice and help you build your dream home with the best options out there. So, what are you waiting for? Book a quote today!
