Jan 10, 2024 | Flooring America
Each room in your home demands careful consideration when it comes to selecting the right flooring. While some spaces are versatile and adaptable, others, such as bathrooms and mudrooms, require a more thoughtful approach with water-resistant flooring. Let's delve into the realm of top flooring trends and the most popular flooring choices for new homes, where aesthetics seamlessly merge with practicality.
Renowned for its timeless elegance, hardwood flooring introduces sophistication and warmth to any living space. Beyond aesthetics, these floors boast exceptional durability, even in high-traffic areas with heavy foot traffic, making them a wise and enduring investment for homeowners. Plus, with advancements in engineered hardwood, you can now get waterproof hardwood floors in your kitchens and bathrooms alike. Their versatility allows for easy integration into various design styles, providing a neutral backdrop that complements a wide range of furnishings and color schemes.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal, hardwood floors are celebrated for their hypoallergenic properties, creating a healthier indoor environment by avoiding the harboring of allergens or dust mites. Moreover, with a commitment to sustainability, responsibly sourced hardwood emerges as an eco-friendly choice, as it lasts a lifetime and is a renewable resource. The enduring charm of hardwood lies in its ability to enhance both the aesthetic and functional aspects of a home, making it a favored flooring option for many new homeowners.
Tile stands as the obvious choice for kitchens and bathrooms, being naturally waterproof and highly durable. Trends in tile flooring include natural stone or wood looks, with timeless options like marble, limestone, or slate often featured in new homes. For a contemporary aesthetic, concrete-look tiles provide a solid choice. To address the discomfort of walking on cold tiles, especially in colder climates, consider installing a heating system underneath. For a warmer and more budget-friendly alternative to tile, explore laminate or luxury vinyl flooring, which can give you the look of tile at a fraction of the cost.
When it comes to choosing flooring for your new home, luxury vinyl flooring emerges as the most popular flooring in new homes. Recognized for its durability, affordability, and comfort underfoot, luxury vinyl flooring is both practical and stylish. Its waterproof and stain-proof nature makes it suitable for various spaces, including bathrooms, kitchens, and mudrooms. Additionally, this flooring material offers the flexibility to replicate the appearance of more expensive materials like marble and hardwood, contributing to its recent surge in popularity.
Often considered vinyl flooring's counterpart, laminate flooring shares similarities in cost, lifespan, and stain resistance. While both exhibit comparable aesthetics, distinctions arise in water resistance, comfort, sound, and environmental impact. Unlike vinyl, laminate is not waterproof, which may pose challenges in moisture-prone areas.
However, it excels in comfort, especially when enhanced with foam or felt underlayment, providing a quieter and softer walking experience. Exploring the unique attributes of laminate and vinyl flooring will help determine the ideal fit for your new home.
Carpet continues to be a popular choice for new homes, offering a blend of comfort, versatility, and aesthetic appeal. Beyond providing a soft and cozy surface underfoot, carpet flooring contributes to a warm and inviting atmosphere, making living spaces more comfortable and family-friendly. The extensive range of colors, textures, and patterns available allows homeowners to personalize their interiors, whether aiming for classic elegance or contemporary flair.
Additionally, carpeting is an effective insulator, providing warmth during colder seasons and contributing to sound absorption to create a quieter living environment. With its ability to seamlessly integrate various design styles and its capacity to enhance overall comfort, it's no wonder that carpet remains a go-to flooring option for new homes.
In the dynamic realm of interior design, eco-friendly flooring has become a compelling trend, seamlessly blending style with environmental responsibility. While cork and bamboo are celebrated for their sustainable attributes, the enduring appeal of responsibly sourced hardwood stands out as a popular choice. Look for hardwood products that are labeled "Responsible Wood Certified" or "PEFC-certified" to ensure that they are harvested from well-managed forests. Hardwood flooring offers more durability and boasts a longer lifespan, especially with faster-growing species like oak and maple.
Offering both timeless elegance and eco-conscious living, a sustainable wood floor emerges as a favored flooring option for homeowners seeking a chic and environmentally responsible choice. This convergence of style and sustainability emphasizes that this flooring is not just a trend but a lasting lifestyle commitment, with hardwood leading the way.
Whether you're embarking on a new home build or seeking to refresh the flooring in your current home, start by consulting the experts at your local Flooring America. They are eager to assist with all your projects, guiding you through the benefits of each flooring solution to find the floors best suited to your preferences and lifestyle.