Our homes should be a sanctuary and where we spend most of our time, a place where we can be ourselves and feel relaxed and safe. For some people, that means a house full of pets or kids, and for others, a minimalist, spa-like space where calm is the focus.

Whatever your aim is, it will likely affect your choice of home décor. Fixtures like flooring are a dominant feature in a room, so it’s important to make the right choice for you. They are also often one of the more expensive items and can be disruptive to get installed, so you want to make sure that you’ll be happy with your choice for longer than a few weeks.  

Choosing can sometimes be a tough decision between luxury and practicality, but if you’re struggling, there are some questions that you can ask yourself to help you decide.

Do you have children or pets?

Both children and pets can both cause a level of chaos that your adult-only home may not be used to. From muddy paws and dirty shoes to spillages and accidents, being able to clean your floors quickly and successfully to avoid staining is a key part of being a child or puppy parent. 

If you’re looking for a quick and easy clean, hard flooring such as tiles, lino or laminate is best, as you can simply wipe or mop up any spillages as soon as they happen. With carpet, it often takes a little more work to get the dirt out. It’s important to let wet carpets dry, otherwise, you risk them becoming damp and smelly.

If you’re really set on having soft flooring, you can get a stain-resistant carpet that is designed to repel liquid. It’s not 100% stain-proof, but it will help. Otherwise, washing machine-friendly rugs can be a good way to add coziness to a room, and can easily be rolled up and removed when the kids are playing.  

Longevity

Whilst you might be happy to fork out for new flooring every five years, doing so doesn’t come cheap. Before you buy, think about how long you want the product to last for, and then take into account how often the manufacturer recommends you clean it, and how often you will actually clean it. 

You should also think about the amount of wear and tear that the flooring will get. An area like a living room is likely to get a lot of traffic, whereas adult bedrooms see less footfall. Consider the furniture that you’ll have in the room as well, as desk chairs can leave marks on carpet or wooden floors from the rolling castors, as they move on a regular basis.

Cleaning

Proper cleaning can go a long way to extending the life of your flooring. Whether you choose carpet or hard flooring, make sure to read the latest reviews, and choose a quality hoover that is the right fit for your needs. If you’re a pet owner, choosing a hoover that is specifically targeted for your furry friends will mean that you pick up more hair and reduce allergens, especially on carpet. 

At first, hard flooring appears to be low-maintenance, but just remember that you’ll need to clean up any spills right away on wood flooring, to avoid the liquid soaking in and the wood becoming swollen.

To sum up

Ultimately, the choice of flooring is down to you, and what you want to achieve in your space. Whatever you choose, remember that quality flooring doesn’t come cheap, but it can last a long time.