Everything You Need to Know About Flooring Types and How to Choose One (2024)

Home Improvement

Interior Remodel

• 01 of 10

  Hardwood Flooring

  

  Best for: Entire home minus wet environments

  Hardwood flooring has remained a top flooring material throughout history for many reasons. It's durable, can last several lifetimes, and its beauty is unmatched.

  Oak is the most commonly used hardwood flooring species, but other species like cherry and maple are popular options. Every hardwood species can be further customized through patterned layouts and finish options.

  Pros

  • Beautiful appearance

  • Durable

  • Low maintenance

  • High ROI

  • Can be refinished

  Cons

  • Sensitive to moisture

  • Expensive

  • Not ideal for pets

  • Can scratch easily

• 02 of 10

  Laminate Flooring

  

  Best for: Bathrooms, kitchens, basem*nts, whole home

  Laminate flooring is perfect for those who want the look of hardwood flooring without the high price point. However, laminate can also mimic the look of stone and tile.

  Many laminate options even feature an embossed wear layer to add a texture that makes the imitation more convincing.
  

  Pros

  • Affordable

  • Durable

  Cons

  • Sensitive to moisture

  • Can't be refinished

• 03 of 10

  Vinyl Flooring

  

  Best for: Bathrooms, kitchens, basem*nts, whole home

  Vinyl flooring comes in many forms, such as sheet vinyl, vinyl tiles, and LVP, which stands for luxury vinyl planks. Vinyl is inexpensive and highly durable, making it a great flooring option for those with kids and pets. Best of all, vinyl flooring is easy to install yourself, saving you the cost of professional installation.
  

  Pros

  • Water-resistant (some options are 100% waterproof)

  • Affordable

  • DIY-friendly install

  Cons

  • Can't be refinished

  • Not eco-friendly

• 04 of 10

  Tile Flooring

  

  Best for: Kitchens, bathrooms, commercial use, laundry room

  Tile flooring is an extremely popular flooring option that offers supreme durability and easy maintenance. From large-format tiles to penny tiles, the scale can be adjusted to better fit different-sized spaces, while the various materials, colors, and patterns offer plenty of stylish combinations.
  

  Pros

  • Highly durable

  • Water-resistant

  • Low maintenance

  Cons

  • Expensive, especially professional installation

  • Hard underfoot feeling

  • Can feel cold

  Continue to 5 of 10 below

• 05 of 10

  Bamboo Flooring

  

  Best for: High-traffic areas, whole home, commercial use

  Bamboo flooring is often chosen as a low-maintenance, durable alternative to hardwood flooring. This highly renewable material is often mistaken for wood when it's technically a type of grass. However, as a flooring material, it's comparable to wood in many ways.

  Pros

  • Eco-friendly

  • Low maintenance

  • Durable

  Cons

  • Scratches

  • Sensitive to moisture

• 06 of 10

  Carpet

  

  Best for: Bedrooms, hallways, playrooms

  Carpet has remained a popular flooring option for decades. While you don't see carpeted living rooms and dining rooms much these days, homeowners still opt for carpet in bedrooms, hallways, and bonus rooms like playrooms, as the comfort of carpet is second to none.
  

  Pros

  • Comfortable underfoot

  • Dampens sound

  • Decently affordable

  Cons

  • Attracts allergens

  • Can be hard to clean

  • Stains easily

• 07 of 10

  Stone Flooring

  

  Best for: High-traffic areas, kitchens, bathrooms, outdoors

  Stone flooring is one of the most luxurious flooring options on the market. However, this luxury comes at a high price. Whether on its own or paired with other natural materials like hardwood, stone can make a major style impact on your space.

  While natural stone flooring is generally low maintenance and easy to clean, some varieties can stain easily.

  Pros

  • Durable

  • Can be used outdoors

  • Deters allergens

  Cons

  • Expensive

  • Can be cold

  • Some varieties stain easily

• 08 of 10

  Concrete Flooring

  

  Best for: High-traffic areas, whole home, commercial use

  Concrete floors are as low maintenance as they get. Incredibly easy to clean and with unmatched durability, concrete is the best choice for high-traffic areas.

  Concrete floors aren't always the first choice of many homeowners, as they yield a very specific aesthetic. However, you can manipulate the look of concrete with area rugs and furnishings.

  Pros

  • Durable

  • Low maintenance

  • Affordable

  Cons

  • Can be cold

  • Hard underfoot

  • Can stain easily if not sealed

  Continue to 9 of 10 below

• 09 of 10

  Cork Flooring

  

  Best for: Bathrooms, kitchens

  Cork flooring isn't as popular as traditional materials like hardwood, tile, and carpet, but its many unique qualities make it a flooring material worth getting to know. Cork is naturally pest-resistant, offers a soft underfoot feeling, and even has insulative qualities that dampen sounds.

  Pros

  • Naturally pest-resistant

  • DIY-friendly install

  • Comfortable underfoot

  • Dampens sound

  Cons

  • Tends to fade

  • Requires sealing

  • Poor durability

• 10 of 10

  Linoleum Flooring

  

  Best for: Bathrooms, kitchens

  Linoleum is highly regarded for its durability and budget-friendliness. Often mistaken for sheet vinyl, linoleum is available in sheets and tiles with a nearly endless list of styles.

  Tip

  If you opt for linoleum, you may want to avoid white if you plan to keep it for awhile, as lighter-colored linoleum can yellow over time.

  Pros

  • Highly durable

  • Many styles available

  • Eco-friendly

  Cons

  • Some varieties can dent easily

  • Some varieties yellow over time

  • Sensitive to prolonged water exposure