Flooring Tips for Every Room of the Home

This space really takes a hit when it comes to flooring! It’s the buffer from the outdoors to in and it’s also the space where first impressions are made. In other words, it needs to look fantastic while being resilient. In terms of hard flooring, laminate and vinyl are particularly hard-wearing. The most important thing here, regardless of flooring style, is to minimise the transfer of outdoor grit and dust in. Either have a ‘no shoe’ inside policy or have a quality mat to get rid of shoe-travelling dirt. A lovely round entry rug in this area is a welcoming addition too if you want to create impact and protect flooring underneath.

There are many flooring options for this room in the home. For a full guide, read the entryway and hallway blog exploring this topic.

Like the entry, the hallway weathers high traffic more than most areas of the home. Hard flooring can be protected with a runner-style rug (with an anti-slip mat under as it’s such a commonly walked on space) or benefit from the shoes-off policy if hard flooring. If your home is a busy one, consider what material this flooring might be. Some hard floorings are particularly resilient, such as hybrid, vinyl and laminate. If you want carpet in the space, opt for a hard wearing variety (such as nylon) that is easy to maintain and remove stains from.

Carpet is a popular choice for these restful spaces. It’s cosy and warm and makes for a nice, relaxing vibe and textural palette. Hard flooring is a wonderful look too though, whether contemporary or classic, a rug placed under the bed can cosy up the room while maintaining a seamless look of running the same flooring throughout living and bedroom spaces. Consider what is important to you and how you want the space to feel. If maintaining the flow of the same flooring throughout the whole home is integral, go with this. If it’s comfort you’re after, there’s an abundance of carpets to choose from. It doesn’t endure the same workload as other areas of the home. Carpets such as wool, or those in lighter colours will work here as there’s less likely to be wear and tear and spills (maybe not in children’s rooms though, where a synthetic fibre would be a good choice!).

Flooring in the bedroom is a contentious topic! Flooring Xtra has created a guide on how to choose flooring for bedrooms to cover common questions.

In modern Australian houses, these areas are increasingly open plan and the heart of the home. It’s where everything happens. One space can be for eating, relaxing, entertaining, overseeing homework and even work-from-home situations. If you’re considering new flooring for these spaces, really take time to work out what goes on in this space and what you need your flooring to do for you! If they merge into kitchens, there are lots of excellent options that are waterproof or resilient to spills (such as some vinyls and laminates).

Rugs can help bring warmth, encourage children to play on the floor and create ‘zones’ in open living areas. If you would prefer carpet, choose one which is particularly hardy in terms of the fibre (synthetic fibres are excellent). Formal spaces or less-used living areas are not as restricted, opening up the options even more for you. The most important way to keep your flooring looking great for an extended period of time- no matter what you choose- is care. Prompt cleaning of spills and regular vacuuming will do the trick.

Modern technology is a wondrous thing. In the areas of hard flooring, certain products have been constructed to be water resisitant, meaning you can have the seamless and contemporary vibe of timber-look product in every room of the home, including kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. There are several timber and timber-look products across the range that will fit the bill and your local Flooring Xtra store would love to help point you in the right direction.

Some rugs can play a role here too. Runner style rugs can add the comfort and interest (as well as warmth underfoot!) at the kitchen sink and in the laundry where you might stand for long periods of time, for example.

As more and more people work from home, study spaces are getting the attention they deserve. The flooring in this space generally flows on from the rest of the home and in terms of care should be considered equally. It’s important to make this space inviting and comfortable to encourage work and make it enjoyable to be in. Keep in mind the pesky desk chair- if it’s on castors it will likely create damage to whatever flooring you have underneath. A specific plastic protector mat, or a beautiful rug, will help protect the flooring underneath.

Stairs, like the hallway, are real work-horses of the home. They also require some thought as they can be transitional spaces. For example, a home may have all hard flooring on the ground floor, then carpeted upstairs. So really, the stairs could be either hard flooring or carpet in terms of blending in. Whatever your preference, it needs to be hardy and resilient. If you want hard flooring; timber, hybrids and laminates are an excellent option. If you would like carpet on the stairs, all carpets have a stair rating for your reference. Just check with your local Flooring Xtra expert on what option is best for your home.

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.