Whether you're building a new house or renovating, the floor is the most important interior feature after the walls and an integral part of the home. The floor has a significant impact not only on the aesthetics of your home, the overall atmosphere, but also on safety. However, not all floors are the same and with so many options available today, choosing the right type of floors for every room can be daunting.
What do you need to keep in mind before buying a floor?
Flooring based on the function of the room
Just as you consider the function of a room before furnishing it, you will need to consider what activity the floor in the room will be affected by.
For example, if you spend a lot of time cooking in the kitchen, the floor can quickly become clogged and dirty. You'll probably want to think about a floor that is easy to clean and slip-resistant.
The floor in the children's room is likely to be subject to children's play, so the surface should be scratch-resistant, but at the same time comfortable for the children's feet. The floor also should not be harmful to health and should be warm so that your children don't get cold.
In rooms that will be occupied by seniors, slip-resistant floors should also be considered. Floors made from hard materials, such as stone and ceramics, should also be avoided to reduce the effects of any falls.
Focus on maintenance
Some types of flooring, such as tiles, are easy to clean, while wooden floors need to be re-sanded and refinished from time to time. If you don't want to worry about maintenance, consider flooring that requires less care.
Floor durability
If you renovate your home frequently, your choice of flooring will differ compared to when choosing a flooring for a longer period of time. Therefore, when renovating frequently, you should consider a floor that is easy to remove. On the other hand, if you would like to keep the floor for several years, you should consider a durable floor, such as vinyl flooring.
Consider your budget
Some floors and their installation can be expensive. In addition, the cost of maintaining the floor must also be taken into account. Again, wooden floors require more maintenance compared to ceramic tiles. Carpets may be cheaper, but cleaning them is not as easy. Therefore, it is essential to consider how much you are able to invest in a new floor.
Follow the trends
Last but not least, keep an eye on what is currently on offer and what is "in".
Due to the constant development of new products using innovative technologies, it may be that floor types not suitable for certain rooms and environments will now be suitable.
For example, many people are currently considering the environmental impact of their purchasing decisions. If you are interested in eco-friendly materials, you should consider natural and recyclable flooring such as cork or bamboo.
Don't be afraid to try something different. Trying something new and bold is a great way to play around with design and take your home space to the next level.
Choice of flooring for individual rooms
Hallway floor
The hallway is a place in the home where the floor is often exposed to dirt and wear and tear. The choice of flooring should therefore focus on resistance to damage, abrasion and dirt. We also recommend avoiding very light monochromatic surfaces (dirt is more visible) in favour of darker colours.
Ceramic tiles and hard refinished wood are elegant, timeless and traditional choices for a space that creates that first impression of your home. They're high quality and take care of the look and aesthetic at the same time.
Floor for the kitchen
The kitchen is considered the heart of the home. It's where meals are prepared, where you sit with your family, where you entertain, and simply the centre of your everyday life.
Kitchen floors are constantly exposed to various risks. Whether it's sharp falling knives, spilled liquids or broken plates. A floor that is durable, robust and can handle any minor accident is therefore a must.
For hygiene reasons, kitchen flooring should also be able to cope with intensive cleaning. In addition, it should be waterproof, slip-resistant and, in terms of design, match the rest of the apartment.
Regardless of whether you choose laminate or vinyl flooring, your kitchen flooring should serve you for several years.
If you have an open-plan kitchen connected to the living room, it's a good idea to use the same flooring in both rooms. Not only will this create a calming impression, but it will also make your space visually larger.
Flooring in the living room
The living room, along with the kitchen, is another significant room in the house. It is a place to relax, read, sit, and meet friends, but it can also be used for children to play. The floor covering in your living room should therefore be multifunctional, so that it can handle all aspects of your family life while creating an overall harmonious impression together with the furniture.
The floor covering should be:
look good and match the furniture
be of high quality and resistant to scratches and wear
be comfortable and warm underfoot
easy to care for
be slip-resistant
absorb noise
With proper care, laminate, vinyl and wood flooring can last for many years to come.
Bedroom flooring
Since you spend about a third of your day in your bedroom, in addition to a comfortable bed and soft pillows, you deserve the perfect flooring that will meet all your needs while reflecting your personal style.
The flooring in your bedroom should be:
warm and comfortable for your feet
resistant to stains, dust and dirt
low maintenance
suitable for allergy sufferers
The clear favourites for bedroom floor coverings are parquet floors, which are natural, pleasant, cosy and great for walking barefoot. High-quality laminate is also suitable as a practical alternative to parquet with a huge choice of different decorations. Cork floors ensure maximum comfort, warmth underfoot, cosy and healthy living. And for even more cosiness you can also use small rugs.
Flooring for children's room
Choosing the ideal floor covering for a child's room is not as easy as it may seem at first glance. You definitely want to choose a flooring for your child that will be cosy, but also easy to maintain. It is important to choose a material that will satisfy all your requirements.
Playing, frolicking, running around and jumping up and down - the flooring in your child's room simply has to handle it all. While children appreciate the "cool" look, the practicalities are more important to parents. Which floor coverings best handle the challenges in kids' and teenagers' rooms?
The floor covering in a child's room should:
look modern and be as comfortable as possible
be easy to maintain
be comfortable and pleasant to the touch
non-slip
be resistant to the wild movements of children, heavy furniture and accessories such as a children's climbing wall
suitable for allergy sufferers
The cork is a great choice for a child's room. It is a natural, health-friendly material, warm underfoot, elastic and yet quite durable.
Even wooden parquet is perfect for a child's room. Especially those that are well oiled and varnished and will last. As it is another natural floor covering without pollutants, it has a positive effect on the overall indoor climate. However, parquet will need to be sanded once in a while to make it look like new again. You can protect parquet floors with a carpet or a protective floor mat. In any case, you should make sure that you choose a non-toxic carpet for your child's room.
Bathroom flooring
The bathroom is the place where you want to relax and unwind, and where children can splash and frolic in the bath. It's a place where comfort is likely to be the most important thing to you.
What makes a good bathroom floor?
the covering should be waterproof
it should be slip-resistant to avoid accidents
the flooring should also be able to handle frequent and regular cleaning
Apart from the bathroom, there is no other room in the house that deals more with water. So it stands to reason that the materials used in the bathroom must be able to withstand wetness and moisture. Vinyl flooring allows you to bathe without having to worry about damaging the floor.
Tiles are a classic and an ideal choice for wet rooms. However, replacing them can be tedious and costly.
Optimum comfort is found in a floor that exudes warmth and well-being at the same time. Wooden floors evoke a pleasant atmosphere. While they are natural, beautiful and pleasing to the eye, they are not the best bathroom flooring. Cork floors are not ideal either, they are not moisture resistant and can swell.
Flooring for pet owners
If you have a pet, easy surface maintenance is a must. Some dog breeds lose a lot of hair, while others have sharp claws that can quickly scratch the floor. Therefore, when choosing a floor, think about the practicality and strength of the surface to be durable enough.
Scratch resistance is one thing, but it's also important that the floor is easy to clean and vacuum. Using a good quality vacuum cleaner and special brushes to remove hair and fur.
What is the best flooring for pets?
carpets are soft and warm, but more maintenance intensive
parquet and cork are natural and pleasant on the surface, but have little resistance to scratching and can swell when wet
linoleum is strong and sturdy but does not offer a wide choice of designs
PVC and vinyl flooring, are low maintenance, but are made of plastic and may contain harmful substances
tile flooring is scratch resistant and sturdy, on the other hand, hard and cold
Our tip
For pet owners, we recommend choosing a well-sealed laminate or quality vinyl or PVC flooring. You can choose your preferred surface texture, which is slip-resistant. At the same time, individual planks can be easily replaced when there is a lot of wear and tear.
How to choose the right type of flooring for each part of the apartment or house?
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