After all, it's not the first thing people notice. But choosing the right material can make all the difference in your home's interior design, so it's worth taking the time to consider your options. Traffic Patterns First, think about the amount and type of traffic the room receives. If it's a family room that's at the mercy of plenty of foot traffic, you'll want to consider the durability of the floor type. Bill Cook, a flooring salesperson, ranks hardwood floors along with ceramic tile and laminated floors as the most durable choices.
Ceramic tile is bulletproof.
And artificial wood is the simplest to take care of. It requires only a weekly dry dusting and the use of a floor cleaner every other week. Both types usually require replacement sooner than ceramic or wood floors. Once you have an idea of the amount and type of traffic a room will receive, Aileen Blair, a decorating consultant and part-owner of a flooring store, recommends considering the look you want to achieve. You're probably looking at ceramic floors or carpeting such as berber, because it's a colder, more stark look.