When you enter a room, the floor isn’t the first thing you notice. The space underfoot has a more subtle effect on the senses. In general, flooring complements the other design aspects of a room and contributes to a room’s character or the feelings it invokes in a person. For example, stone flooring screams decadence while wood flooring adds warmth to any space. Here are some design tips that will help you choose the right type of flooring for any space:
- Divide or Join
Floors can join spaces together or function as separators. Similar elements are always used for joining. A continuous floor can be very appealing in small spaces and can add a roomy “spilled over” effect that’s easy on the eye. On the other hand, changing elements like the color of tiles or opting for completely different flooring in various areas of the house has an area-defining impact.
 |
Light colored wood panels stretched across two rooms give this space an open look from end to end. |
- Room Function
The functionality of the spaces you are considering plays a very important role in choosing flooring. For example, if you want heated floors, wood flooring is not the best way to go. Moreover, wood or wooden laminate tiles require more maintenance than their vinyl or stone counterparts making them a tough choice for kitchen or bathroom flooring. Vinyl is arguably the best trending flooring option this year and the great variety (in style as well as pricing) can make floor shopping a real treat.
 |
Vinyl planking in a modern contemporary home by GoHaus.com. |
- Patterns and Swirls
Patterns are the best way to make a visual impact without flooding the senses or reducing physical space. Bathroom trends this year tended towards intricate mosaic patterns with a life of their own, and can brighten up the dullest bathrooms. Checkerboard patterns are never out of fashion and instantly add a sense of comfort and familiarity to any living space.
- Installation and Maintenance
When choosing the type of flooring you want in your house consider the cost of purchasing and installing the material as well as the maintenance upkeep it requires. Stone is more expensive than wood while vinyl beats everything in cost. Stone is not a high maintenance material but damage repair costs can be surprisingly high. Moreover, availability of material can be an issue. Porcelain tiles are the new in thing and can mimic the look of every kind of surface without being hard on the budget. And tiles are much easier to replace in case of damage.