How to Pick the Best Flooring for Your Space
An interior designer’s expert advice on all things flooring.
The open concept kitchen in #TheNewportCondo.
Choosing the right flooring for each room in your home can seem like an overwhelming task- from aesthetics to budget and durability, there’s a lot to consider. One of the many benefits of hiring an interior designer is receiving curated selections for finishes, however if you’re taking on a project yourself, here are a few of our top tips.
Hardwood
While it may be tempting to opt for inexpensive options such as vinyl or laminate, investing in quality flooring will ultimately save you money in the long run. For common spaces such as the living room and playroom, the durability and timelessness of hardwood flooring is tough to beat. However, unfortunately the choice isn’t that simple. There are many factors to consider when deciding what hardwood is best for your home including natural color, durability and hardness.
For a classic option that will complement any decor style, our top choice is wide plank white oak hardwood. This is a popular pick amongst our clients as well- two of our latest projects included wide plank white oak floors.
If you have children or pets, be on the lookout for any wood with a high rating on the Janka hardness scale, which indicates scratch-resistant flooring. While white oak ranks above the industry median for hardness, if peak durability is your main concern, opting for Brazilian cherry, hickory or maple are all smart choices.
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Tile + stone
While we love utilizing hardwood in some open concept kitchen and living areas, typically tile or stone is the best option for high traffic + high moisture areas such as kitchens, mudrooms and bathrooms. For peak durability, opt for ceramic or porcelain tile- however most tiles will provide a high performance experience. As with wide plank hardwood, selecting tile in a larger size can make a space feel larger. For this reason, we love using tiles that are 12x24 or larger in our kitchen projects.
Smaller spaces like a powder room or bathroom are the perfect opportunity to pack a huge punch with unique tiling. With less square footage to cover, you can create a luxe moment with water jet mosaics that will make the entire room- just don’t forget to balance out the pattern visually with more muted wall coverings.
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