Skip to main content

Is wood the best flooring for your living room?

Choosing the right flooring is a huge decision, especially if you’re moving from one type, like carpet, to another kind, like stone. The right flooring for your living room is crucial since this space is often the meeting place for the whole house. Flooring sets the tone for the entire room and can dictate how the room is decorated and what the general aesthetics of the space will be.

There are pros and cons to all types of flooring, so your research will take more than Googling “best flooring for living room.” You also need to consider things like cleaning, maintenance, and resale value. If you’re considering wood floors for your living room, keep reading —we’ve got you covered.

Wood

If you’re fortunate enough to live in an older home that has hardwood under the existing flooring, you’ve hit the jackpot. Refinishing existing hardwood can be quite a project, but it’s significantly cheaper than buying new wood floors. Sanding, staining, and sealing old hardwood can freshen up a room and give it an updated feel. If you don’t have hardwood under your existing flooring and need to start from scratch, consider reclaimed wood. Not only does it look cool, but it is also a sustainable way to source wood. Hardwood is easy to care for and maintain but can scratch easily depending on the finish and the types of traffic on the floors. The upkeep is well worth it though since this flooring adds to a home’s resale value.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Carpet

Though carpet can be cozy in bedrooms, it’s a fairly unpopular choice for living rooms for a couple of reasons. First, carpet is less expensive than hardwood, but it stains easily and soaks up those spills and odors, making it difficult to maintain in the long run. Second, living rooms are high-traffic areas so the carpet will wear and stain more. If you have pets and kids, carpet may not be the best investment and it won’t add to your home value. If you’re committed to carpeting the room, a good vacuum and carpet cleaner will extend its life.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Stone

Stone flooring may not the first material you consider for the living room, but it can work in some settings. Stone gives rooms a solid and high-end feel that works with ultra-modern or elegant architectural styles. Stone can be locally sourced, so it’s one of the most environmentally friendly options. Additionally, you can find one-of-a-kind options that make your space truly unique.

Unfortunately, both of these factors make stone flooring one of the most expensive options out there, and the investment likely won’t translate to added home value. Because it’s not a classic flooring type, this may turn off some buyers, especially considering the stone will be icy in cold climates. Stone floors can also be challenging to clean and maintain since stone is porous, making it prone to stains.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Concrete

Concrete floors used to be reserved for big box stores and warehouses, but recent trends in industrial-chic home design are making concrete a popular indoor floor choice. Concrete flooring can be polished, stained, scored, and painted. The concrete pouring process results in one-of-a-kind, beautiful, and surprisingly cost-effective floors. They’re relatively easy to maintain, considering they can withstand almost anything, be it cleaning supplies, food, mud, grease, and any household messes.

On the other hand, concrete is so hard it will damage or break just about anything you drop on it, so it’s not the safest choice for households with children. Concrete is also loud and reflects sounds so any room will concrete flooring will need some rugs and furniture to help absorb the sound and add some warmth. Concrete floors are not for everyone, but they will add to your home’s overall value.

Whether you choose a new plush carpet or discover some existing hardwood in your living room, flooring is a big deal. Choosing the right flooring for one of the most-used rooms in the house is a huge decision and can affect your family’s life and your home’s value. If you want your investment to last, maintenance, cleaning, cost, and resale value should all play a part in your flooring plans.

Editors' Recommendations

Kelly Kaliszewski
Kelly's work has appeared in blogs and on websites. When she's not writing, she is playing with her two dogs, cooking, or…
How to choose a coffee table for your small living room
These coffee tables ideas are perfect for small spaces
modern glass table in living room

A living room's coffee table is an important piece. Not only does it bring the whole room together, but it's also a functional part of a living room. Your coffee table holds beverages on family movie night, game boards and puzzles, and your laptop on work-from-home days.

When you have a small living room, you may be tempted to forgo the coffee table in favor of more floor space -- but don't. The right side table won't make your room feel too cramped. In fact, it can actually make the room feel larger if the placement and size are right. You just need to know how to choose a coffee table that works with your small space. We're here to show you how.

Read more
Make the most of your living room/dining room combo with these stellar tips
Watch your living room/dining room combo shine with these tips
Gray monochrome living and dining room

Many contemporary homes have open-concept living, meaning fewer walls and shared space between rooms. It's a great idea for those who entertain or want minimal disruption between spaces. It's also good when you have small children and want to keep an eye on them while you're cooking, folding laundry, or watching TV. If you have one large area for your living room and dining room, there are some things you can do to get the most out of each room.

Of course, there's a lot to consider when it comes to which colors to choose, how to arrange furniture in a living room/dining room combo, and what wall and other decor can be used to blend the spaces together. Here's how to find the right mix that works in one collective space.

Read more
The best green paint colors for a soothing, sophisticated home
Recommendations for warm and cool green tones to add to your space
Green wall color with plant nearby

Green is a color we’re seeing everywhere in home design. Named Color of the Year for 2022 by many of the most prominent names in the paint industry, green is a trendy hue that you can expect to see in many interior designs in the foreseeable future. Green has an incredible way of adding a sense of vibrance and authenticity to your space. So, if you’re a homeowner in need of a soothing and sophisticated shade, then green might be just what you’ve been looking for.

This color can help you invite a renewed sense of vitality and energy to a space, making it perfect for homeowners looking to change up their existing palette. While green was trending in home design as 2022's "it" color, it has become a popular staple even as we venture into the coming years. So, it's safe to assume that this wonderful shade will likely add a timeless and natural look to any space. If you're eager to incorporate green into your design scheme, here are some of the best green paint colors to inspire your next renovation.

Read more