So many factors come into play when we’re deciding on the right flooring. With both looks and practicality to consider, it can be a challenge to get exactly what you want. But there’s certainly no reason you can’t have both! Before you set your heart on a certain flooring types, consider these factors first!

• Under-floor heating

If this is something you’re planning to install or already have in your home, then it will massively influence your flooring choice as not all options are compatible with it! Even if it’s not something that you are looking at getting any time soon, it is definitely worth giving yourself the option as it will help the selling value of your home when it is time to move on.

Although solid wood is beautiful, durable and popular, it isn’t compatible with under-floor heating. Don’t panic if you’ve set your heart on it though, its counterpart engineered wood is compatible with this fantastic feature! It is also a lot cheaper than solid wood, along with better maintenance properties.

Luxury vinyl tiles and laminate also work with under-floor heating and again are a lot cheaper than solid wood, and again with much better practicality properties!

• Cleaning and Maintenance

As much as none of us enjoy it, cleaning our floors is just something we have to do. This then ends up playing a massive part when we’re looking at a new flooring. The good news is that you should have no issue with vinyl and laminate, both of which are very easy to keep clean and don’t need any specialist flooring cleaners. Unlike carpet which is a pain to clean as it harbours dust.

One of the best attributes of real wood flooring however is that it can be sanded down and refinished if scratches and stains do occur, perfect if you have pets with sharp claes or kids’ toys that can scratch! However, if you’re wanting something a little more practical and easier to maintain on a day to day basis, then laminate and vinyl are the best options.

• Durability

A big factor in our flooring choice, the last thing we want is to spend our hard-earned cash on a new flooring to then find it’s worn out in a few year’s time! Solid wood is probably the most durable, with it lasting centuries and is likely to even out live you! Vinyl and laminate are good contenders, but just weigh up paying more money for a higher quality flooring, it’s likely to last longer!