Maisy Dawson
Selecting flooring for any room in your home involves careful consideration of the overall house’s style. Living rooms – a high traffic space in a house, are where family and friends gather to spend time together, relax, socialise and entertain at the end of the day. Thus, by taking the title as ‘social hub of the home’, the living room requires big investment to certainly work hard for its appellation. This article will break down the top living room flooring ideas, with an eye for design and functionality in mind.
Real wood flooring options have historically been in high demand, constantly appreciating in value and beauty over time. Even though this is an expensive option, you are guaranteed to make your investment worthwhile thanks to the longevity and unparalleled visuals they bring.
The upfront costs of installation and purchase of materials are balanced by the longevity and endurance you receive, especially when you have children and pets actively travelling around the home that causes heavy traffic in areas like the living room. This is because real timber can be sanded and polished multiple times every decade or so – removing accumulated scratches and scuffs for a brand new look. Pre-finished solid timber – refers to planks which have been sanded and polished in the factory, meaning they can be walked upon immediately after installation without further preparation. – refers to planks which have been sanded and polished in the factory, meaning they can be walked upon immediately after installation without further preparation.
Raw solid timber – selected for its customisation capability, as it allows for sanding, staining for a specific colour, and then polishing with a coating of your choice. At a similar material price, the overall cost including labor tends to be slightly higher for raw hardwoods.
Solid timber can be sanded and polished multiple times, allowing them to last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. Hardwood flooring can age beautifully over time, as the tannin material makes them become richer in tones.
Solid timber is prestigious, but it is also expensive to purchase, and difficult (thus costly) to install as you need nails and glue.
This engineered wood has a real hardwood veneer (0.6 – 4mm) layer on top of man-made materials like plywood or composite core-boards.
It’s designed and created to counter the downfall of its natural counterpart, especially for rooms which are high on moisture It is a great alternative living room floor to solid or engineered hardwood as the two ranges offer vastly different visual designs.
It is favoured by designers for aesthetic appeal and by industry trade for the ease of installation and breadth of application. This flooring option creates the perfect talking point in both commercial and residential spaces. Despite of being more cost-effective than solid hardwood, your savings may vary and engineered timber is more expensive than vinyl flooring option and laminate alternative Engineered oak flooring made from plywood core-boards are prone to water damage, as opposed to composite core alternatives.
When you have kids and pets who simply have too much energy, sometimes it is worth it to invest in a synthetic floor covering rather than natural timber. This comes with benefits including greater moisture resistance (or even full waterproofing), durability, and is lighter on the budget!
Laminate floors consist of a durable print layer glued to a strong particleboard. Hybrid planks are made of multiple layers of materials pressed together for an extremely hard wearing floor and come in various designs and styles.
Stone Plastic Composite (SPC): the core of the floorboards are comprised of limestone, polyvinyl chloride and stabilizers. Lack of authenticity of timber floors due to their plastic composition, especially in lower ranges Contemporary interiors are often thought of as being ultra minimal with an abundance of razor-sharp lines, graphic prints and high-shine materials and surfaces. The best living room flooring will make your space look great, feel cozy and prove easy to care for.
