There is a wide range of flooring available for the home. Which type of flooring you choose will depend on the room in which it is to be laid and your own preferences as to colour and style.

Laminate flooring is a popular choice because it is cheaper than hardwood flooring. Hardwood flooring can also be more expensive to maintain. Laminate flooring comes in a wide range of colours and styles and modern designs can be hard to tell from real wood floors. Laminate comes in a range of thicknesses and generally the thicker it is, the better the quality is. Thicker laminate flooring is less likely to buckle and will feel more like hardwood flooring. Laminate flooring is fairly easy to install and you can do it yourself. However, there are many professional flooring companies who will be able to install it for you. If you are having the laminate installed in a bathroom, a professional installer is a better option because the seams need to be glued together carefully to prevent moisture penetrating and causing bubbles.

Wood flooring is also becoming very popular even in areas where it would not traditionally have been considered, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Hardwood flooring is hard wearing and beautiful, and it can be made waterproof by the application of certain coatings. The only problem with hardwood is that it can be scratched. If you want to have a new hardwood floor fitted it is best to get a professional to lay the floor.

Vinyl used to be considered tacky, but modern vinyl is much more attractive and can be made to look like just about any type of flooring including wood, slate or ceramic tiles. Vinyl is good for areas that have a moisture problem, and it can be laid over old vinyl. It is also easy to repair providing the seams are sealed properly. Vinyl is a soft type of flooring so it can be dented if you stand heavy objects on it.

Like vinyl, modern tiles are available in a dazzling array of colours and styles. Generally there are two types of tiles – unglazed tiles that take their colour from the clay or pigments added to the clay and glazed tiles that take their colour from the glaze. For areas where moisture is a problem glazed tiles are best, but in other areas it is simply a matter of preference. Tiles can be cold if you don’t have under-floor heating. Unless you are good at DIY it is best to get a professional to lay your floor.

The bathroom is an area of the home that needs special consideration because of the likelihood of water spills. However, with modern flooring you have a wide range of options from rubber, vinyl or wood to porcelain tiles and travertine tiles. Wood can be used as bathroom flooring, but if you do choose wood it should be laid professionally to ensure that there are no gaps. Rubber and vinyl can be quite attractive and tiled floors such as travertine can give a much more contemporary look and feel.

Today homeowners have the option of using a wide range of flooring in their homes, but still one of the most popular is carpet. Many people are unaware of how carpet fibres and the construction of a carpet can make some carpet types very superior to others. Carpet retailers are often guilty of encouraging customers to sacrifice quality in the drive to save money. However, spending a bit more to get a better quality carpet can save money in the long run. Another common problem is poor fitting. Badly fitted carpets will leave noticeable bumps and gaps. A good professional carpet fitter will ensure that your carpet is laid properly. The National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers is the UK trade association for floorlayers/carpet fitters.

Before choosing a carpet you need to think about where the carpet will be installed. If it is in an area that is often used, such as a hallway, then you need a carpet that is very durable being made for heavy domestic use. The colour and style of your carpet is also important and there is a huge range of colours and designs on the market today. Take a swatch home and check that it looks okay with your décor both during the day and in the evening with your house lights on. Set your budget before you look at carpets – around £20 per square metre should be enough for a good quality carpet.

If you keep to one style between different rooms it can create a feeling of continuity. Plain carpets are often easier to coordinate, but can be uninteresting in large rooms. Patterned carpets are becoming more popular and they can provide a focal point for a room. Alternatively you could use plain carpet and use patterned rugs to provide interest. There are many rugs on the market today from traditional Persian designs to funky modern designs. Texture can also add interest to your plain carpet. Neutral shades are popular because it is easier to build a decorating scheme around them. However, light colours will show marks. Warmer colours are better in north-facing rooms which don’t get much sunlight. Borders can provide interesting contrast and hall runners can look good on stairs. Rugs in halls can also provide an interesting feature.

Synthetic fibres are best for bathrooms. Nylon is hard-wearing and cheaper than wool. It is especially good for areas such as hallways. Polypropylene is cheaper than nylon, is stain resistant and very durable. However, it is flammable and may flatten quickly. Polyester is also very hard wearing but flattens quickly.

You should always choose good underlay as it improves the feel of a carpet and provides sound insulation. It can increase the life of a carpet by up to 40 per cent.