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.