How To Choose The Right Flooring
With so many choices available for flooring, it can be overwhelming to choose a floor that’s right for you. These tips will help you pick a floor that you’ll love.
When considering luxury vinyl, hardwood, or engineered hardwood floors, how do you choose the right flooring? There’s so much to think about when getting new floors. You’ll definitely want to consider your personal style, your lifestyle (maintenance), and your budget. You’ll also want to consider different materials and species of wood. With so many choices, it can be overwhelming! How can you pick the right one? Here’s what I learned when choosing my floor.
Beside your personal style and preference, lighting is one of the most important factors in choosing the right flooring. Just like choosing a paint color, lighting plays a big role in how your floors will look. The difference is, if you choose the wrong paint color, its an easy fix. Not so much with flooring.
Don’t Rely on Pictures – Get Samples
Pictures are a great place to start. They can provide inspiration and help you define the look you’re going for. When you find the perfect floor, don’t assume that particular floor is going to look good in your home. The lighting and existing colors in your home will affect how the flooring looks. Even the colors represented on the screen of your phone or laptop may not be 100% accurate. Instead, use the picture as a starting place when you go to the flooring store.
Take Samples Home
Don’t choose your flooring in the showroom or in the big box store! (And certainly don’t let a sales person push you into making a decision right away!) Take several samples home with you and try them in your home. I guarantee they will look different in your home because the lighting is different!
Try Samples in Every Room
Since lighting plays such a big part in how your floors will actually look, try the samples in every room and in different kinds of light. Try your samples in rooms that get more light and less light. Try your samples at different times of the day. See how you like the samples during the day with natural light and at night with artificial light.
Consider Existing Colors & Elements
The existing paint colors, carpeting, cabinets, and other elements of your home will affect how the floors will look. Try your samples with the current colors and elements of your home.
Buy A Box
Samples may not always accurately show the variation of color over a large area. Or it might look completely different in your room when there’s simply more of it. Once you have narrowed down your choices, buy a box of the product you think you want. (If you end up not using it, you may be able to return it, but keep in mind that most stores will charge a restocking fee which can be up to 50%. Better to buy a box and not like it than buy a whole floor and hate it!) As you can see, the actual product below looks nothing like the sample above even though it’s the same floor! Its lighter, has much more color variation between boards, and has more knots.
Take Your Time
Installing a new floor is a big investment in your home. Its a big decision that shouldn’t be rushed. Take the time to review a variety of samples in different lighting conditions. Don’t rush yourself and certainly don’t let a sales person rush you. Take as much time as you need to consider your choices and to consider the lighting situation in your home to ensure that you get the floors you will absolutely love!
I hope these tips help you when you are trying to decide how to choose the right flooring.
