Consider the Room

Before you can decide color, designs, patterns, or style for your flooring, you need to first consider the room where the new flooring will be installed. If you have an open floor plan, you will likely opt to install the same flooring through the adjoining rooms to create a clean, continuous appearance. There are several options that will work throughout your home. Though you can install most any flooring type in any room, there are some that work better than others.

Living Room & Bedroom

Your living room is a place for relaxation and socialization. Whether you're kicking off your shoes to watch a movie with your family at the end of a busy week or you are hosting a game night with your friends, you want your living room to be beautiful and comfortable. When it comes to your bedroom, you want to add comfort and create the perfect place for ultimate relaxation. There are several choices for every style and budget, including carpet, hardwood, and laminate:

Carpet is available in a variety of colors, patterns, and designs, and is also soft underfoot, adds warmth, and helps reduce noise. Today's carpet is more durable than ever so it can handle areas with high foot traffic without worry. Carpet is versatile and adds comfort like no other flooring can.

If you prefer the wood look in your home, hardwood is the obvious choice. Hardwood can be elegant or rustic and can last you a lifetime with the right care. Hardwood is an investment that will increase your home's value.

If you want the look of wood without the price tag, laminate is another great choice. Laminate is designed to mimic the natural colors and characteristics of wood but is more affordable and easier to install.

Kitchen & Bathroom

The kitchen is frequently the center of a home. Whether you love to cook and host get-togethers, or teenagers are always rummaging your refrigerator for after school snacks, you want a kitchen floor that can handle wear and tear, spills, and moisture. When it comes to your bathroom, you want a floor that can handle kids splishing and splashing at bath time and those rushed mornings where you're dashing to get ready. No matter your personal style or budget, there is a durable, waterproof option for you for both your kitchen and bathroom, including tile and luxury vinyl:

Tile is a great option because it is incredibly strong. Available in a wide selection of colors, patterns, designs, shapes, sizes, and materials, you can customize your tile flooring for a look that is uniquely you. Tile is even available in a wood look so that you can have the beauty of wood without worrying about damage.

Both luxury vinyl tile and luxury vinyl plank provide you with great flooring that can handle rooms with moisture and high traffic. Luxury vinyl is waterproof, low-maintenance, and durable, and available in a wide variety of styles, patterns, and designs. Luxury vinyl is a more affordable option and is easier to install than tile.

Consider Your Lifestyle

No matter the room, it's important to consider your lifestyle when choosing your flooring. Whether you need kid-friendly, pet-friendly, waterproof and water-resistant, or flooring for high-traffic areas, there are plenty of options for each style and each room.

Kid-Friendly Flooring

When you have kids, you never know what your floors may endure. From muddy cleats fresh off the ball field, to a budding Van Gogh's rogue artwork, to spills, and much more, your floors need to be able to handle a wide range of messes. But you also want your floors to be comfortable underfoot. That's why carpet, laminate, and luxury vinyl are the best floors for homes with kids. Today's carpet is made to last and stand up to everyday messes. Carpet, laminate, and luxury vinyl are all available in a wide range of styles so you can choose the one that's best for you. But they are all also resistant to stains, wear and tear, fading, and more, for low-maintenance, worry-free flooring that will last for many years.

Pet-Friendly Flooring

From toenails scratching your floors to accidents, pets bring another level of wear and tear to your flooring. You don't have to sacrifice style and beauty for floors that will last in a home with furry family members. There are pet-friendly carpet options that are made to be resistant to pet messes. Otherwise, you will want to consider laminate, luxury vinyl, and tile, all of which provide you with water-resistant flooring that is easy to clean and hard to scratch.

Waterproof & Water-Resistant

Whether you need flooring for your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, mudroom, an entryway, or another area of your home prone to moisture, you will want floors that can handle water. There are several options that provide you with water-resistant or waterproof floors. Many laminate flooring options are water-resistant, while some have a waterproof backing. Tile and luxury vinyl are both waterproof. All options are easy to clean and low maintenance.

Flooring for High-Traffic Areas

Whether you have a large family or you like to host get-togethers, you need flooring that can handle high volumes of traffic. Fortunately, no matter which type of flooring you choose, there is a high-traffic option. Even much of today's carpet and many hardwood species, such as hickory or oak, are sturdy enough to stand up to high foot traffic. Tile is a strong flooring option that can handle a lot of wear and tear. Laminate and luxury vinyl flooring are affordable, yet extremely durable, flooring options for spaces that see a lot of people.

Consider Your Style

Once you've determined the right flooring material for your room and your lifestyle needs, you get to factor in your personal style. From contemporary to traditional, minimalist to maximalist, transitional, or anything else you can imagine, there is a flooring option that will work in your home. You can choose any flooring type to achieve the look you want.

Contemporary & Minimalist

For a more contemporary or minimalist design style, you'll want to choose flooring that is light, gives you clean lines, and helps create an open space. The best flooring for these styles will be white or gray hues. Wide plank hardwood flooring can achieve either of these styles beautifully. But if hardwood is not in your budget, then laminate or luxury vinyl plank are good options as well. You can use carpet in your living room or bedrooms for this style. Wood-look tile floors are also a great option to achieve this style.

Traditional, Maximalist, & Transitional

To achieve a traditional, maximalist, or transitional style, you'll want to look for neutral colors that create a cozy vibe. You'll also want natural textures. To create these looks, choose hardwood, laminate, or luxury vinyl plank flooring, in browns or creams to add the warmth and eye-catching textures. You can also choose a neutral-colored carpet, or a stone tile. By keeping your flooring neutral, you will have a beautiful blank canvas so you can layer other pops of color through your furniture, décor, or an area rug.

Other Styles

There are numerous other interior design styles, including rustic, farmhouse, elegant, bohemian, industrial, and the list goes on. No matter the style you like, there is a flooring choice to match. Many of these styles are achieved through the right colors, patterns, and textures. When it comes to rustic or farmhouse, you may want a mid-tone brown wood that has a lot of textures and unique characteristics. With a boho or more elegant style, you'd likely want a light-colored, smooth wood or sleek tile. Your flooring options are endless and can be used to enhance or create a home design you'll love.

Consider Your Budget

Of course, your budget should factor into the flooring you choose. No matter your budget, you can find a flooring type to match. If you want to make an investment in your home that will last many years or even a lifetime, it is a good idea to invest in hardwood or tile. But if you need a more affordable option, you can choose from laminate or luxury vinyl. Carpet is available in a wide range of price points, depending on the material and design you prefer.

Browse Stine Home and explore several flooring options for your home, including carpet, vinyl plank, tile, laminate flooring, flooring accessories and more. You can also find a Stine Home location near you in Louisiana.