The living room is where most of the family spends a major chunk of their waking hours. This is why many people now prefer an open floor plan for this particular room. Such a decision makes the flooring all the more important; it’s more visible and gets a lot of traffic over time. With this in mind, it’s evident that we have to put some thought into living room flooring ideas.
In addition to having open floor plan decorating ideas, we also need the flooring to complement our vision. There are many materials and patterns to consider, so let’s take a look at some of the top ideas now:
1. Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floors are among the most popular options today, whether these are for your living room or bedroom. They come in dark, medium, and light shades, so this classic choice could be used for almost any theme you want. With the right quality, these floors could give any home an elegant and luxurious atmosphere that will last for a long time.
Such floors usually give a smooth and polished effect. When you top them with an artisan carpet, they can be perfect for any kind of setting you have in mind. You can also use various wood types here, including oak, sherry, and walnut. There are several unfinished varieties available that you can stain to a customized shade.
The style of the wood also matters, as we have a choice between parquet, strip, and plank options. The planks will be wider and give off a more casual vibe, so make sure you look at pictures and decide what kind of a look you’re going for.
The advantages of hardwood flooring include easy maintenance and a wide range of styles to choose from. Plus, if you invest right, these floors will up the resale value of your home.
On the downside, however, hardwood is unfortunately one of the most expensive flooring options you have. The materials are costly by themselves, while professional installation is a whole other story. You’d also have to go for regular refinishing, which is another added expense.
2. Carpeting
While carpeting is more of a floor covering, it’s one of the most common and preferred choices for the living room. While it might be a bit old-fashioned, one can’t deny that there’s a vast choice in the textures, pattern, and colors you get with wall to wall carpeting. These can be chosen according to your taste and any existing decoration theme.
With carpeting, you get an element of warmth and comfort in the main room of your home. You can also choose to go for organic and natural materials if the mainstream kind aren’t preferable. Check out https://carpettogo.com/ for great options.
Since the carpeting provides a sort of insulation, it might save you energy costs during extreme temperatures. It will also minimize sounds, which is good for sleeping babies, elderly people, or just anyone who doesn’t like loud tapping footsteps at all hours of the day. If you stick to a regular vacuuming schedule, the maintenance of carpeting is also fairly simple.
The bad news about carpets of any kind is that they tend to collect dust very easily. This results in allergy triggers, which are especially dangerous for small children and pets. Water spills are also inevitable, but carpets are hard to dry completely. As a result, mold and mildew might become more common. In fact, any kind of stain will be very hard to clean away.
3. Ceramic Tiles
When we talk about flooring tiles, the ceramic ones are the most common choice. They’re great if you’re looking to have a stain and water-resistant floor as well as a durable one. Many homeowners have found that ceramic tiles are a hardy option that can last for several years.
Ceramic tiles can be glazed or unglazed, though the former is better for repelling both stains and water. The glazing also helps the tiles to withstand high humidity levels. Overall, this is a material that’s smooth, easy to clear, and won’t pose an allergy risk for either humans or animals. You can also opt for different kinds of cuts, including planks, rectangular, and triangular ones. Simulated material like hardwood is available with many vendors, along with many patterns, motifs, etc.
Another advantage of these tiles is that they’re easy to find and replace if some of them get cracked. If you do go for these, however, make sure their price is doable for your budget. In addition to costing a fair bit, these tiles are also prone to breaking if they’re used roughly.
4. Concrete
For high durability and practicality, concrete is one of the best flooring options available today. It doesn’t require much maintenance at all, only needing a sealing process once annually.
Don’t think of concrete floors as being rough and gray; there’s a myriad of textures and color to choose from. Concrete also has a fairly smooth surface that you can decorate with throw rugs, comfy carpets, floor cushions, etc. You can also look into the best type of paint for concrete floors for more design options.
Overall, this flooring choice will give you a versatile experience that’s born eco-friendly and anti-allergen as well. The durability is apparent, but there are downsides to choosing concrete for your living room floor.
For one, concrete does result in a very hard surface . This might be hard enough to be a danger to small kids as well as any elderly family members/guests. The same goes for anyone with a walking or balancing disability. Plus, we can’t deny that concrete is usually cold no matter what the weather is like outside. This might be great at times, but the need for rugs, carpets, and other covers becomes necessary when you choose concrete.
5. Porcelain Tiles
It’s essential to know about the different types of tiles if you’re thinking about redoing your floors. Porcelain tiles are one of the best contenders yet, as they give you a gleaming, regal look without much effort.
Porcelain tiles are made from denser materials than ceramic one. They’re also fired at much more heat than ceramic options, so you get a scratch resistant, strain resistant, durable, and exceptionally strong tile.
The method for making porcelain tiles ensures that we get a material that can withstand daily traffic in our home. It also makes for easy cleaning and low maintenance, while its fireproof potential is yet another bonus.
Unfortunately, installing these tiles might not be possible on your own. They’re thick, dense, and very heavy, so you’d need to go to the expense of a professional contractor.
Conclusion
The very best flooring ideas for living rooms would vary according to your needs, preferences, and requirement for a specific area. Magnet Flooring has a range of Orlando flooring installation services backed with a 1 year labor warranty. Its important to find good help for your flooring needs. You may love those polished white wooden floors or that large cream carpet, but your local climate and small kids may not allow for either. In any case, take heart and use your imagination. The right combination is out there, so start picking out materials and see what leaps out.