Flooring is one of the most significant design decisions we make, and it can be difficult to choose what type of flooring to use. Not only is flooring a big investment, but the options are truly endless, and it makes a big impact on the overall feel and longevity of your home.
Today, we’re going to share what we’ve learned about flooring and the pros and cons for each flooring type.
Wood
We love wood anywhere that doesn’t get really wet; for example, we wouldn’t typically put wood in a mudroom or in a bathroom with a tub/shower. It is great for kitchens, family rooms, dining rooms bedrooms, hallways, powder bathrooms, etc.
Although natural wood can be pricier than other flooring options, and it is more sensitive, it’s timeless beauty and warmth adds value to your home and works well with any style.



Tile
Tile is great because there are an endless variety of styles, colors, materials, grout colors, patterns to lay it in, etc. You can never get bored with tile floors! We love tile in mudrooms, laundry rooms, bathrooms, and even sometimes in kitchens. This is the perfect option for any space that will get wet and dirty all the time.
You can get great tile on a budget, tile is usually very durable (depending on what you select), it is easy to clean/maintain, and there are lots of patterns for laying tile. But it has a cold underfoot, it can be slippery when wet, and certain tiles are more porous and will require more maintenance (ie: marble tiles and cement tiles).




Carpet
Why so many people love carpet is a no-brainer: it’s warm, soft, and cushy underfoot. We love to use carpet in bedrooms, stair runners, and lounge areas -especially if they are in basements with cement sub-floors (which are very cold!).
Carpet is soft, comfortable, warm (physically and visually), it dampens sounds/echoing in a room, there are lots of colors/patterns available, and it is cozy for kids to play on. But staining is more likely (although there are lots of carpets with stain-resistant finishes on the market today!), wear patterns are usually more visible over time than on hard surfaces, and it can look/feel cheap if you don’t select a good quality carpet.
We typically suggest wool or a wool blend for high-quality and durability!
For more tips on choosing carpet, check out our post here.




Pin our guide below for future reference!

This post has been updated from its original version.
Can you suggest any solid wood prefinished white oak? I can’t find anything in a 6" plank!!!
Also trying to get my husband on board with wool but as a contractor he says absolutely no one does wool… help!
I would love more carpet brand and colors that work with your style or transitional style and also things to stay away from.
Carolyn, I have amazing prefinished white oak floors that are 10" planks. Installed last year.
What’s your thoughts on wood look tile? I live in Savannah, GA where it is super humid, and we have a pool. Our kids are constantly coming inside with wet feet. We currently have hardwoods, but they need to be replaced. Debating between hardwood or tile.
What is a good quality brand for luxury vinyl prank flooring?
What do you recommend for staining wood floors? We have thin oak floors that are currently very yellow. Refinishing them next month and wondering how to make skinny look modern?
So apparently i like tile … just realized all the photos I saved to my phone from this post are all tile! Thanks for the inspo!!
Haha, so funny how that happens! So glad you like the post!
Can you tell me what type of wood and stain is on the Midway job. Not too dark. Not too light. Very nice.
Can you please give specific carpet recommendations? I’ve read all your previous posts and was hoping you could elaborate on a few examples. Looking for carpet-light color, low-pile, that still feels cozy under foot in a basement living area/kids bedroom. Grateful for a response!
I am always looking for beauty and durability when selecting finishes. This is a wonderful overview of all the options to consider. Your images are always inspirational and the Pros and Cons is a good wrap for the guide. TY
SO glad this was helpful. Thanks for the sweet comment Deborah!
What kind of flooring would you suggest for a basement "great room" used as an exercise room, a casual home theatre and a play room? I am conflicted by our need for both coziness and practicality.
Carpet can be so challenging to select! Could you share carpet details for your post, Love the Park City Canyons remodel carpet.
it looks fab,love the ideas.Thanks for sharing.
Hello! I’ve seen a few beautiful navy couches in your collections, such as in the Promontory project. Could you tell me where you have find these? Thank you!
The mudroom with the gray tile in the Midway project is that blue stone, gray or charcoal? Brand?