Best Flooring for Every Room in Your Home

Australian homes have long embraced open-plan living, and it’s easy to see why. This layout suits our climate, relaxed lifestyle and casual approach to entertaining. With so much daily activity taking place in these shared spaces, choosing the best living room flooring is essential. Consider how your household functions day to day. Do you have children or pets? Is low-maintenance flooring a priority? Or do you prefer the timeless look of timber-inspired designs? For busy family homes, hard flooring options such as laminate and vinyl are popular choices thanks to their durability, resilience and ease of care.

Adding a rug is another smart way to enhance open-plan areas, helping to define different zones, such as a lounge area within a combined living and dining space. If you have pets, choose a non-loop rug style to prevent claws and paws from catching on the fibres and causing damage. The same advice applies to carpets, helping them stay looking their best for longer.

Hard flooring options:

Engineered timber flooring: timeless style, authentic feel
Vinyl flooring: cost-effective, easy to maintain, durable, some styles offer water-resistant characteristics
Laminate: scratch-resistant qualities, easy to care for, beautiful range of timber-look options, some styles are water-resistant

Carpet options for living room:

Wool carpet: natural and sustainable fibres, classic look and feel
Synthetic fibres: Solution dyed nylon and polypropylene for ease of maintenance and care
(check individual styles for stain-resistant characteristics).

When exploring bedroom flooring ideas, it’s important to create a space that feels comfortable, inviting and conducive to rest. Flooring has a significant impact on the overall warmth, style and functionality of a bedroom. Carpet remains a popular choice thanks to its soft underfoot feel, making those first steps out of bed on a cool morning much more comfortable. It’s also worth considering how your bedroom flooring connects with adjoining spaces, such as selecting a carpet colour and texture that complements timber flooring in a hallway. For a more detailed look at carpet vs timber in the bedroom check out our blog.

A common question homeowners ask is, “Is timber flooring good for bedrooms?” The answer is yes. Timber and timber-look flooring can create a spacious, light-filled feel while delivering a clean and timeless aesthetic. They’re also easy to maintain and can work beautifully in both contemporary and traditional interiors. To add extra warmth and comfort, consider layering a large rug beneath the bed, which helps soften the look and feel of hard flooring while adding texture and style to the room.

Hard flooring options:

Engineered timber flooring: authentic, hard-wearing
Vinyl flooring & Hybrid flooring: easy to live with, low-maintenance, wide range of styles
Laminate: resilient, authentic timber look and feel

Carpet options for bedrooms:

Wool carpet: naturally fire-resistant, broad range of loop and cut pile options
Synthetic fibres: easy to clean, low-maintenance, large variety of styles and colours

Entryways and hallways are some of the busiest areas in the home, so it’s important to choose flooring that can handle daily wear while still making a great first impression. Hard flooring is often a popular choice for these spaces, with hybrid, vinyl and laminate flooring offering durability, easy maintenance and a stylish timber-look aesthetic. Carpet is another option, bringing warmth and comfort underfoot, particularly when selecting resilient fibres suited to high-traffic areas.

To help protect your flooring and add personality, consider layering an entryway rug or hallway runner. These can help trap dirt, reduce wear and define the space, while regular cleaning and a few practical habits, such as removing shoes at the door, will help keep your flooring looking its best for years to come. You can read a more in-depth analysis of this space on the blog. 

Hard flooring options:

Engineered timber flooring: classic style, can require more maintenance
Vinyl flooring & Hybrid flooring: easy to live with, low-maintenance, some products are water-resistant
Laminate: resilient, authentic timber look and feel, certain styles scratch and water-resistant

Carpet options for entryways:

Wool carpet: naturally fire-resistant, broad range of loop and cut pile options, loop piles resilient in high-traffic areas
Synthetic fibres: easy to clean, low-maintenance, large variety of styles and colours

When choosing the best kitchen flooring, it’s important to focus on durability, practicality and style. Kitchens are among the hardest-working spaces in the home, so flooring that can withstand daily foot traffic, spills and regular cleaning is essential. Hard flooring is often the preferred option, with timber providing an authentic and timeless look that adds warmth and character to the space. For households seeking a cost-effective and resilient alternative, vinyl and hybrid flooring are excellent choices, offering impressive durability, easy maintenance and a wide range of contemporary styles. Laminate flooring is another popular option thanks to its hard-wearing surface and simple cleaning requirements.

A common question homeowners ask is, “What’s the best flooring for a kitchen with kids and pets?” In busy family homes, durability and ease of care are key considerations. Hybrid, vinyl and laminate flooring are particularly well suited to active households, as they are designed to handle everyday wear while remaining easy to clean. Many modern flooring products also offer water-resistant properties, providing extra peace of mind in a room where spills and splashes are inevitable. With a wide variety of colours, textures and timber-look designs available, it’s possible to find a practical flooring solution that complements any kitchen style.

Hard flooring options:

Vinyl flooring & Hybrid flooring: easy care, low-maintenance; some products are water-resistant
Laminate: authentic timber look and feel, durable, certain styles are scratch and water-resistant

Absolutely. If you’re wondering, “Can I use a rug in my alfresco area?”, the answer is yes. Outdoor rugs are specifically designed to withstand the demands of external living spaces, making them a practical and stylish addition to patios, decks and covered alfresco areas. Made from durable materials that are resistant to everyday wear, these rugs are also easy to clean and maintain, making them ideal for busy households and outdoor entertaining.

Beyond their practicality, outdoor rugs are a fantastic way to introduce colour, texture and personality to your space, helping to define zones and create a more inviting atmosphere. Positioning an outdoor rug beneath a dining setting or lounge suite can instantly elevate the look and feel of your alfresco area while adding an extra layer of comfort underfoot. Check out our range of outdoor rugs for inspiration. 

How can I clean carpet?

Carpet can be enjoyed for many years with care and maintenance. Extend the life of your carpet by promptly attending to spills and marks. Read our carpet care guide for spot removal tips and cleaning.

Are timber floors high-maintenance?

Timber floors sit higher on the maintenance scale in the hard flooring world. But while laminate flooring, vinyl and hybrid flooring might require less maintenance, all flooring requires some level of care to keep it looking like new for longer. The look and feel of real timber is also aspirational, authentic and full of genuine character which can last for years if cared for. It also has the ability to be repaired in many cases, which is why we see beautiful old homes with original (restored, often) flooring.

What is laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring is constructed from several layers to create the appearance of timber or stone. Laminate floors utilise cutting edge photographic technology to simulate the grain, stain and texture of wood at a fraction of the price. It’s highly resistant to scratches, dents and stains, with the top layer, known as the wear layer, usually made of a aluminium oxide or melamine resin which enhances it’s durability.

Disclaimer: In some states of Australia, the building regulations for Vinyl Planks, Vinyl Tiles and Hybrid flooring varies. Meaning they may not be suitable for areas requiring water resistance, such as bathrooms and toilets. We advise to always ask your local Flooring Xtra store for the correct advice regarding the local regulations. We also advise to follow the manufacturer’s recommended installation instructions and guidelines, not following the instructions could make the product not fit for purpose, for the area it’s being installed into and void your product warranty. To ensure you get the appropriate product for those areas, please contact your local Flooring Xtra store.