The type of flooring you should choose for your living room depends on how often you use it and what you use it for. We all know that living rooms are high-traffic areas, so we need flooring that is inviting, easy to maintain, and will last for a long time. In this blog, we will share the best living room flooring ideas that are not only stylish but also extremely durable.
What Are the Best Living Room Flooring Ideas?
It is important to consider a number of factors when selecting the right living room flooring. It is important to choose a flooring material that can withstand heavy foot traffic in the living room because it is typically the largest and most heavily used room in a home. Considering whether you have young children or pets will be important if you live in this room, as they can add to the wear and tear. For this reason, you may wish to avoid materials that are difficult to clean or are not able to withstand spills.
Noise is another important factor to consider. If you live in an apartment or condo with neighboring units and have a large, open room that tends to echo, carpets and vinyl flooring are quieter underfoot than tile and wood floors. Here are the best living room floor ideas.
Living Room Flooring: Hardwood Floor
It is a classic choice for hardwood floors in any room of your home, but they are particularly effective in living rooms. The warmth of hardwood will be reflected in the room, and when paired with area rugs, it will make the room even more inviting. Creating a new look for your living room can be accomplished by using different stains of wood. The popularity of dark and cool-toned wood floors can be attributed to their ability to match warm and cool colors, so it will be easier to match your interior décor to them. Blonde-coloured wood is a more traditional option. It can be installed in a wide variety of styles, ranging from distressed to glossy, depending upon the look you're seeking. Your living room will feel more comfortable if you choose warm-toned wood such as honey-toned wood and copper-toned wood.
There are two types of hardwood floors: solid hardwood and engineered hardwood. The solid hardwood flooring is made up of one single piece of hardwood, which can be sanded and refinished with time. Engineered hardwood offers limited water resistance and is comprised of several layers of wood.
Living Room Flooring: Vinyl Floor
Another great option for flooring in the living room and kitchen is vinyl flooring. The endless design options, durability, and water-resistant properties of vinyl flooring make it a perfect choice for any room that is used frequently. A vinyl floor is the best option if you wish to achieve the look of hardwood floors in your living room, but are concerned about your children spilling or your cat scratching it. There are vinyl flooring options that mimic wood, tile, or stone floors, so you can have the design you desire without having to worry about it being damaged.
Luxury vinyl plank flooring (LVP) is another type of vinyl flooring which is popular in living rooms. The reason for this is that it can be used to imitate a wide variety of natural stone materials, such as concrete, marble, and granite, without having to pay a high price. There are various types of luxury vinyl, including tiles and planks, depending on the material they mimic.
LVP is considered to be a significant upgrade over vinyl of the past, as it is structurally more durable because it has more layers, making it five times stronger than vinyl sheets. Vinyl plank flooring is one of the easiest materials to maintain, making it an excellent choice for living rooms as well as homes with children or pets. It can be maintained simply by sweeping and spot-mopping on a regular basis. Even though LVP is water resistant, steam cleaning should be avoided, as this can drive moisture into the seams of the planks and cause them to warp.
Living Room Flooring: Laminate Floor
Flooring materials such as laminate and vinyl are often confused with one another and for good reason. These flooring options are both durable and stain-resistant, and they are available in a wide variety of design options that mimic more expensive flooring options. What is the best way to choose between them? There are a number of key differences to be considered. In comparison to vinyl flooring, laminate flooring closely resembles its natural counterparts. The thickness of laminate flooring makes it quieter and softer underfoot. The vinyl flooring is more water resistant than the laminate flooring.
Therefore, if your household is prone to spills or if you are training a new puppy, vinyl might be a good choice. However, if you live in a neat, pet-free household and you just want comfort and quiet, laminate would be the better choice.
Living Room Flooring: Carpet Flooring
Choosing a super-soft carpet with a deep pile in your living room may be a good choice if you spend a great deal of time relaxing there. However, if you only use your living room for entertaining, opt for a carpet with a lower pile so that you can easily clean up crumbs left over from your next charcuterie board.
An excellent way to add carpet to your hardwood, vinyl, or laminate floors without giving up their aesthetic appeal is to add a rug. The use of a statement rug is an easy method to add personality and interest to a space.
The popularity of carpet flooring also makes it possible to choose from a variety of textures, colours, and patterns to match your home's overall design.
Nevertheless, since living rooms tend to be heavily trafficked, carpets are more likely to experience wear and tear sooner than some other flooring options. It is common for carpet in living rooms to become matted and stained, so if you have small children or pets, you might consider carpet with built-in PET or Triexta for optimum stain resistance.
If you are looking for a carpet that is more durable, a carpet that combines wool and man-made fibers will help your carpet to withstand foot traffic for a prolonged period of time while maintaining its appearance.
Living Room Flooring: Ceramic Tile
If you are looking for a flooring option that is highly durable as well as stain-resistant, ceramic tile flooring is one of the best options. Considering ceramic is one of the most durable materials, it is ideal for high-traffic living rooms, particularly those with children and pets.
Ceramic tiles require little maintenance. The surfaces can be easily cleaned with a simple wipe and wash, or they can be wet mopped due to their water resistance. You might also want to consider ceramic tiles if you live in a humid area since ceramic is one of the best materials for handling moisture. Furthermore, they are cool to the touch, which can help save energy during the summer months.
Living Room Flooring: Porcelain Tile
As porcelain tiles are more luxurious and pristine than other flooring options, they can enhance the look of your living room. In some ways, it is similar to ceramic, however, it is fired at higher temperatures and is made from dense clay, making it incredibly durable.
Compared to other flooring options, porcelain tiles tend to be more expensive. In addition, it is costly to install, as heavy and thick tiles are difficult to cut properly. It is not recommended to DIY the installation of porcelain flooring. Make sure this is handled by a professional.
Other flooring blog articles you may want to read:
A GUIDE TO THE BEST OFFICE FLOORING
REASONS TO MAKE HOME IMPROVEMENTS AND RENOVATIONS
HOME DECK DECORATIONS FOR OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING
WORD OF MOUTH FLOORS: LEADING PROVIDERS OF VINYL FLOORING IN VANCOUVER