%title% %sep% %sitename% Practical Guide to Living Room Flooring

A floor that fits your daily life

The living room is your go-to spot to kick back at the end of the day, hang out with friends, and watch the kids grow up. Your flooring is basically the stage where all those memories happen.

In this guide, we are going to help you pick a floor that actually makes sense for your lifestyle and your budget.

Key Takeaways

Hardwood and engineered floors usually give you the best long-term bang for your buck.
Vinyl and laminate floors are the budget-friendly picks known for being tough and easy to install yourself.
Tile and carpet can also work great depending on the vibe you are looking for and how you use the room.

Solid hardwood floors

Every piece of hardwood is cut from a solid block of wood like oak, maple, birch, or ash. These types of wood are known for being tough. Since it is natural, every plank is one of a kind and you get a unique mix of grain patterns, knots, and colours.

Most of the time, these planks are nailed down or sometimes glued straight to the subfloor.

It is important to store flooring boxes properly between purchase and installation. According to our experts, “Installing flooring doesn't start with nailing down the first board; it starts before that to ensure you end up with a beautiful floor”. Contact our team for all the recommendations you need before installation to ensure a beautiful floor.

Benefits of hardwood flooring

People love hardwood because it is the real deal. It usually bumps up the resale value of your home too.

It has a classic look that never goes out of style, so it works with pretty much any decor you pick.

Plus, you can usually sand it down and refinish it four to seven times. That means it is going to last a long time.

Downsides of hardwood flooring

Solid wood reacts to fluctuations in humidity, which can cause gaps and cracks. For this reason, the boards should be acclimatised in the room for at least 48 hours before installation. The temperature and humidity in the room should also be monitored.

It also scratches fairly easily, so it might be a bit of a headache if you have young kids or a dog.

It is also usually the priciest option on the list.

Engineered wood floors

Engineered flooring has a real hardwood layer on top, but the bottom is made of multiple layers of plywood or high-density fibreboard (HDF). This design gives you the look and feel of real wood while handling moisture and humidity way better.

You can nail it, glue it, or even "float" it over an acoustic membrane.

Just like hardwood, how the planks are stored will affect the quality of the installation, so ask your retailer for advice on the ideal flooring.

Benefits of engineered flooring

Engineered flooring has the same great look as real wood, but the layers underneath help it handle humidity way better than solid hardwood. Even so, an acclimatisation period of at least 48 hours is recommended. Just like hardwood, the temperature and humidity level in the room should be controlled, following your retailer's advice.

Because this type of floor is so stable, you can use way wider planks than you ever could with old-school hardwood. This really opens up your options for the overall look and design of your home.

Downsides of engineered flooring

That top layer of real hardwood is just as likely to get scratched up, which is something you really have to think about if you have young kids or pets.

You can still sand and refinish an engineered floor–but only one or two times–all depending on how thick that wood layer is. We recommend hiring a professional for this job.

Even though it is usually more affordable than solid wood, most people still see engineered flooring as a high-end choice.

Vinyl flooring

Vinyl floors are made of layers, including a top layer that mimics the look of wood, stone, or ceramic.

You can find it in tiles, peel-and-stick, rolls, or click-together planks.

Benefits of vinyl flooring

Vinyl is super easy to clean and holds up great against scratches, spills, and sales. That is why you see it in a lot of shops and businesses.

It is simple to install and gives you a lot of options. You can even lay the planks in a herringbone pattern if you want to get fancy.

When it comes to the price, vinyl is one of the most affordable options out there.

Downsides of vinyl flooring

At the end of the day, vinyl is still a man-made product. Even though it looks way better than it used to, it does not have that same "high-end" feel or value as natural materials.

Floating flooring

The term “floating floor” is really just a way to install a few different types of flooring, including engineered wood and vinyl. Most people use this name when they are talking about laminate.

This material does not have any solid wood in it at all—it is just an image of wood or stone printed onto a base made of medium or high-density wood fibre boards, which are also called MDF or HDF.

Benefits of floating flooring

Laminate is usually the cheapest way to go. It is super easy to click together without glue or nails, which makes it a favourite for a quick weekend DIY project.

The top layer is also pretty tough against wear and tear, scratches, and fading from the sun.

Downsides of floating flooring

Since the pattern is printed, it repeats itself, which can make it look a bit "fake." Even if the texture feels okay, it is just not the same as the real thing.

You cannot sand or refinish laminate. If a plank gets ruined, you might be able to swap it out, but the colour might not match perfectly even if you find the same product again.

A few other options

Tile flooring

Tiles that look like wood give you that warm look but with the durability of ceramic. It is waterproof and easy to clean, and it is the best choice if you want to put in heated floors—which is a total game-changer in the winter! It is usually for kitchens or bathrooms, but it can look amazing in a living room too.

Carpet

Even though it isn’t as popular as it was back in the day, carpet, available in rolls or tiles, is still an awesome pick for a cozy living room. It gives you that soft, warm feeling under your feet and really helps with the acoustics by cutting down on noise. On top of that, it is one of the easiest products to install or swap out if you ever need to.

Find the best living room floor for your family

Choosing a floor is not just about what looks good. It has to fit your life, your long-term plans, and your wallet. Stuck between a few choices? Drop by your local Déco Surfaces store or reach out to our team to find out what is going to work best for your place.

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