The living room is arguably the most used room in your home. As the communal hub for most families, flooring that’s comfortable, aesthetically pleasing and durable is key. Depending on your family size, lifestyle, and room design deciding between carpet, concrete, tiles, wood variations, or laminate is an important decision. When deciding on your living room flooring, consider a few of the following things:

Do you have pets?

If you have pets, timber flooring and carpet risk scratching and pulling. Consider opting for tiles to ensure the longevity of your living room flooring. You can always soften up the room with a rug and add splashes of warmth and colour with throws, cushions or artwork.

Messiness

If your family is likely to make a mess, you need to consider flooring that’s easy to clean and maintain. Families with young kids, or who love to entertain could benefit from choices such as vinyl or engineered timber. Vinyl is becoming an increasingly popular option for living room flooring. Not only does it look good, but it’s almost impossible to stain and is extremely low-maintenance.

Comfort

If you want a living room that is all about comfort and coziness, with space for kids to sit on the floor, then consider carpeting to soften up the area. Carpeting adds that welcome home feel and there is a huge range of carpet types and styles to suit any living room floor. Carpeting can be harder to clean, so pick colours carefully. Something lightly patterned or textured will help to hide dirt or wear and tear.

Traffic

If you love to entertain or relax together as a family, there’s bound to be plenty of foot traffic through the living room. In this case, avoid carpet flooring, or opt for low pile carpeting with small textures or patterns to reduce visibility of worn, heavily-trafficked areas.

Allergies

Allergies run rife in many families and since the living room is your family’s main communal space, it’s important to consider allergy-friendly options. Vinyl, wood, and synthetic carpets emit volatile organic compounds which can trigger asthma and irritate the respiratory system. If anyone suffers from allergies then opt for wooden or tiled floors. If carpeting is a must, low pile carpet is the  best choice as it traps less dust.

Subfloor heating

Not all flooring materials are suitable for subfloor heating. Carpet acts as an insulator, preventing you from feeling the heat from your subfloor heating. Vinyl can fade over time and the heat can result in the vinyl releasing chemicals into the air. Hardwood will buckle and crack over time as the material shrinks and expands alongside changes in your heating. Instead, consider engineered woods, stone, slate, or ceramic tiling. Consult a specialist to be advised on what materials work best in these situations.

What is your environment?

Hardwood can warp and buckle and carpet can mould in humid environments. Engineered wood is less prone to warping and has almost the same effect as hardwood, at a cheaper cost. Tiles are also a great alternative in these conditions. They are easy to clean and come in a variety of colours and textures to suit any home.

Searching For More Living Room Flooring Ideas?

If you’re still unsure about what flooring might be right for your living room speak to one of Andersens’ flooring experts at your nearest Andersens showroom.