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What Goes Where: A Guide to Picking Proper Flooring for Your Home


So you’ve decided to change things up in your home by purchasing new flooring. That’s great! Unfortunately, the easiest part of the process is taking that initial jump. Now you’re suddenly faced with having to choose which types of flooring you put in each specific area of your home. Do you go with carpet, hardwood, bamboo, vinyl, laminate, tile, concrete, stone, or linoleum? And wait, CORK is an option now?!

Deep breaths, we’ve got some insights that will help. We’ve broken down each type of living space into three basic categories and have created a guide to show you which flooring is best for each. By the end of this post, the most difficult part of choosing your new floor will be deciding on which paint color you want to coordinate with it. Let’s do this!

Category #1: Hideaways

Just looking at the title for this category, you probably think we’re talking about bedrooms. Fair enough, but your sleeping space is not alone in this group. In our world, a “hideaway” is any room above ground level that you feel most comfortable relaxing in. This includes bedrooms, the living room, family room, play area, or den. Maybe an office if you don’t mind napping in your work space.

Because these rooms are designed to be inviting, they tend to get a healthy amount of foot traffic. Hideaways need flooring that can stand the test of time while remaining warm and comfortable. We recommend the following for these areas:

  • Carpeting $$$$

  • Hardwood Flooring $$$$

  • Laminate $$

  • Linoleum $

  • Vinyl $

Category #2: The Splash Zones

Have a passion for splashin’? There’s a floor for that!

If you have children, pets, or a “free spirit” personality in your family, you undoubtedly know what we’re talking about here. Splash zones are rooms that are susceptible to spills, water tossing, and unexpected rain/moisture. Any room where liquids can be found is usually an indoor water park waiting to happen. These areas typically come in the form of bathrooms, kitchens, basements, or screened-in porches. The flooring for this kind of room needs to be made with substances that are water-resistant and easy to clean. Our top picks are as follows:

  • Linoleum $

  • Tile $$

  • Concrete $$$

  • Vinyl $

  • Stone $$$$$

  • Cork $$$$$

Category #3: The Showstoppers

Have a room you want people to oogle at? One that’ll turn a few heads? We’ve got you covered!

Showstoppers are the rooms that you use to make really good impression. A foyer, den, formal dining room, parlor, or kids-free living room is typically what people use to reflect the best side of their personal style. You want these areas to look beautiful and prove functional. It may take a little more maintenance and money, but the reaction you’re going to get-both from your guests and from yourself-is going to make the investment well worth it.

Here are our favorite floors for showstoppers:

  • Hardwood flooring $$$$

  • Marble $$$$$

  • Bamboo $$$$

  • Tile $$

  • Stone $$$$$

  • Carpet $$$$

We hope that this break-down helps relieve some of the stress of choosing your new floor. Now, while this gives you a brief overview of what kinds of flooring go where in your home, it is still a good idea to consult a professional to make sure you pick just the right floor for your home. You don’t want to risk an oversight of any kind for a decision like this. Plus, they can give you some extra insight on the pros and cons of each type of flooring and which ones match your lifestyle best. If you’re in the Grand Rapids area, Floor It would be happy to help, so give us a call!

Stay tuned for our next helpful floor tip this Thursday. See you then!


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