10 Considerations Before You Pick Your Floors

1. Budget:This is important for everyone. Although price is an important factor, what you really want is the lowest price for the floors that will fit your home best. With the wide range of options and prices, factoring your budget into your decision will help you find a good match without breaking the bank.

• If you can, leave a little bit of extra room in your budget for accessories like molding.
• If you see floors you really like that are out of your budget, ask about a cheaper option. For example, if you like American Cherry hardwood but can’t afford it, Brazilian Cherry can make a nice substitute.
• . This might lower the overall cost and still provide you with the look and feel of your ideal floors.

2. Room(s):than an entryway. For example, the entryway is a good place for materials that are easy to clean. The floors in a bedroom, on the other hand, should be warm and comfortable. 
3. Lifestyle / Wear & Tear:. 
4. Style & Décor: The flooring you choose should match the style and décor of the rest of your home. Your floors’ style help set the tone for your entire house.  
5. Comfort:to make your floors even more inviting. 
6. Climate: Don’t forget to consider the weather. Is it warm and dry all year-round? Is heavy rainfall common? Some floors are more resistant to changes in the climate during the year, making it an important factor in your flooring decision. 
7. Sub-floor: What surface will be under your new floor? Different types of floors can be installed over various surfaces; it’s important to know if you’ll need to remove the existing floor or if you can just build on top of it. 
8. Allergies & Health Factors:If someone in your family suffers from allergies, you should avoid carpets as they can hold allergens like dust, mites, pet dander and molds. The good news is there are a lot of hypoallergenic options like wood flooring, tile or vinyl. 
9. Going Green:that might be a good fit for your home, too. 
10. Contractor: like if they have a valid CA state contractor’s license and if they have references to whom you can talk.

How to Select Your Floors

1. , select the option that works best in the home's climate. Engineered works better for humid areas, whereas both solid and engineered can handle dry climates. 
2. is a good choice if hardwood floors are too expensive. It provides many of the same benefits at a much lower price point. 
3. . 
4. help your home appear well maintained without you needing to invest a lot out of pocket. It's best to select a neutral shade for this flooring option too. 
5. as it’s much more cost-effective than tile; luxury vinyl tile provides many of the same benefits as stone or ceramic tile as well.

• Think about the space the floor will occupy and select a design that will complement the overall feel.
• Find the center of the space and make that the focal point of the design. This will also be the spot from which you lay out your furniture and rugs, too.
• Create symmetry by imagining a line down the center of the space and balancing the design elements of the two sides.
• Consider adding a border as a visual boundary or bridge between rooms.
• Think about whether the basic design of the room or home is small, medium or large when selecting the design for the hardwood floors.

• For traditional styles, oak and ash are very popular. In terms of finish, rich colors like mahogany or honey hues would be worth exploring.
• For modern or contemporary styles, many homeowners gravitate toward maple or exotic hardwoods. In terms of finish, a sleek, high gloss, dark stained floor might be the best fit for you.
• , which come in a variety of colors.

• is a decorative geometric mosaic of wood developed by the French in the late 1600s that’s still common today.
• is an Italian-based form, also from the 16th century, that creates a mosaic pattern using curved or free flowing forms.
• , a V-shaped pattern found in twill fabrics, is also a popular design pattern.
• .

How to Tie Your Floors Into Overall Interior Design

1. Use the same materials, fabrics and patterns to tie the spaces together. Even if you use different floors in various rooms, pick finishes that are the same color and repeat patterns in your flooring and accessories. 
2. when you make your selections. Once you have major elements like flooring and furniture in place, use small accessories like throw pillows, a vase with flowers or even a bowl of apples to put on the finishing touches. 
3. In addition to being used as your flooring, using the same type of wood in your cabinets, tables, chairs and mantels can give your home a very cohesive look and feel. 
4. As you come up with interior design ideas for two rooms next to each other, use color to subtly shift from one space to the next. 
5. If you're feeling bold, one way to connect your spaces is to choose elements that add an interesting conflict, such as a rustic table in a modern dining room.