New floors to refresh your space

When it comes to making your home feel fresh and alive again, there are many ways to revitalise your space. Simple DIY tips & tricks can breathe new life into old rooms, but if you want to dramatically change the look of your home, think about getting new floors - it’s actually easier than you think. Today’s flooring innovations make changing the look of floors easier and more affordable. The right flooring can meet or exceed your design inspiration, and give you the space you’ve been looking for.

But how do you know which flooring option to choose? Besides personal styles and colour preferences, knowing how to choose flooring can be an easier decision when you consider a few important factors.

Location

The type of room can help decide what flooring is right for you. If the new floor will be in a high-moisture area like a full bathroom, or below grade like a basement, solid wood flooring should be avoided. If you’re keen on the look of wood, try laminate flooring or luxury vinyl planks. These days, they do a great job of copying the look of traditional wood floors.

Durability

Have kids or pets, or do you love to entertain? Rooms that experience lots of traffic can get a boost with durable floors. Consider floors like bamboo, stone, tile, laminate or luxury vinyl flooring. Solid wood floors are durable as well, but may need to be refinished fairly often to restore them to their original glory.

Installation

Considering DIY flooring? Doing a DIY floor-install can help reduce overall costs, but your mileage will vary depending on what you choose to install. Floating floor types like laminate, engineered wood floors, or luxury vinyl are great for beginners.

Maintenance

Protect your investment. All floor types will require a cleaning routine to keep them looking their best. However, luxury vinyl and laminate floors are known for their extreme low-maintenance qualities.

Solid wood

This is a highly sought-after flooring type, that can increase a home's value and resale price. It comes in a variety of colours, finishes and styles to fit your personality. And it can be refinished over its lifetime, so it doesn’t need to be replaced.

Engineered wood

This differs from laminate, in that engineered woodfloors has a top-layer of natural wood, and is thicker than laminate. It can be installed in basements, and installation is easire than with hardwood.

Laminate

It's a durable, DIY-friendly alternative to wood floors. The top of laminate boards have photo-realistic image of wood floors. It's easy to clean, and resists stains and scratches well. And it can be installed over existing floors.

Stone/Tile/Ceramic

Natural stone can increase the value of your home. New innovations can make materials mimic natural surfaces like wood. It's waterproof, so it's a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms.

Luxury Vinyl

These days, luxury vinyl can mimic natural surfaces, like wood and stone. It comes in planks, sheets or tiles, to make installation easier, can be laid over existing floors. Extremely durable, waterproof and low maintenance. And it's a great option for the cost-conscious.