Which type of flooring is best for high traffic rooms?

We have already considered what type of flooring is best for upstairs rooms such as the bedrooms, landing and stairs, and have also considered the best type of flooring for rooms where the floor is likely to get wet, such as the kitchen or the bathroom. This post will now consider the remaining “high traffic” rooms, which are rooms which have floors that are walked on quite frequently. These are the lounge, dining room, hallway and conservatory.

The good news when it comes to choosing flooring for these rooms is that there is really very little that can’t go in any of them, so a large part of the decision is going to come down to personal taste, and the look and feel that you are trying to achieve for your room or for your house as a whole. The following are your five key options:

Carpet
Carpet is the option for you if you want to walk or sit around in your lounge, dining room, conservatory or hallways in bare feet, because it is soft, warm and comfortable. It provides extra insulation to a room, and is ideal if you have children that want to crawl, sit or lie on the floor. It also provides them with a soft landing if they fall over. However, it is worth bearing in mind that because these are high traffic areas, you should choose a good quality carpet. There are a huge range of colours and designs available that can really make a huge difference to a room – just because it is carpet, doesn’t mean it has to be beige! Be creative, and you will have a floor that can make a fantastic impact.

Wood
These rooms are the ones which will be seen most by your guests and visitors, so you want to make a great impression with them. A wood floor will do just that. The key point about a wood floor is that it is unique – each piece of wood is completely different as it is a natural product. This gives it a rustic charm and beauty, but it also means that you don’t have any control over how it looks. Whilst a wooden floor is long lasting, it will scratch and is high maintenance. To many people, this only adds to its character, but others don’t want a floor in a high traffic area that scratches and needs lots of maintenance, so again it really is a matter of personal taste.

LVTs
If you really want to make a fantastic impression on guests in your most visited rooms and you don’t want wood, then LVTs are your best option. LVTs (Luxury Vinyl Tiles) are designer floors and look incredible –the design options are practically endless, with each floor being custom made and therefore unique. You can add borders, motifs, your own designs, change directions – the list goes on and on! They are extremely hard wearing, and if maintained properly still look like new even after 25 or 30 years! They are also easy to keep clean, needing only a mop, and so are perfect for high traffic rooms.

Laminate
Easy to keep clean, easy to maintain, and more or less scratch proof – three reasons why laminate is perfect for high traffic areas. However, don’t be tempted by a cheap, poor quality laminate floor. A good quality laminate floor should come with a 20 year warrantee, so you know it will last.

Vinyl
Vinyl is another great option for high traffic areas because it is easy to maintain and keep clean – all you need is a mop. It is very hard wearing and especially robust, often coming with a 15 year guarantee, and has come a long way in terms of appearance and quality from your grandmother’s lino!

For more advice on what type of flooring would suit your tastes and needs in each room of the house, please take a look at our online room by room flooring guide, give us a call on 01522 524374, or pop in to our company showroom in Lincoln for a chat with our friendly and experienced sales staff.