For those blessed with a busy family life, one thing that needs a good deal of thought is the flooring. With children running around, pets scampering up and down the stairs and friends and family coming and going, you will want something that is functional and hardwearing but which looks great as well.
The first thing you might want to do is ask yourself a few pertinent questions about each room in the house. Is it a high traffic area like the kitchen or the hallway? Is it just footfall that you need to protect against or spills, for example, in the bathroom or dining room? How much time do you really want to spend cleaning this space?
Flooring Ideas for Busy Families
Here are just some types of flooring you might like to consider.
Ceramic Tiles
These are becoming very common in areas like the kitchen and bathroom because they are easy to lay, super easy to keep clean and very hardwearing. They can often feel a little cold, however, and are not the best choice for everywhere in your home. The range of colours and designs available means they are a great way to create style and substance with your flooring without compromising durability.
Hard Wood Flooring
Another popular options is hardwood flooring which looks particularly great in areas like the dining room, home office and living room. Again, fairly easy to lay as long as you follow the instructions and easy to clean either by sweeping or using a slightly damp mop, please check the advice provided with your flooring. While there is less choice in the design, you can add variety to certain areas by introducing the odd colourful rug here and there.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring and tiles have gone a little out of fashion in recent years but they’re still a great choice for bathrooms, toilets and kitchens. A relatively cost effective flooring solution and you can get some great, vibrant designs. The surface is also very easy to keep clean. The one issue you have to work with, however, is that vinyl needs to be laid on an even surface. If you are replacing old flooring, you may need to get your kitchen floor smoothed over as any small imperfections can show through the relatively thin layer.
Hard Wearing Carpet
Most people want to have at least some carpeting in the house. Not only does it look great, it also helps keep the place warm. This is especially relevant in areas like the living room and bedrooms. The good news is that you can get fairly hard wearing carpet that is designed to last. Make sure you put in a good underlay as this will increase the life of your carpet while also making it more comfortable underfoot.
There are plenty of options to choose from if you have a busy family – the best thing is to consider each room on its own merits and choose the right flooring according to your needs and how you want it to look.
