One of the most important aspects of a house is the flooring. Whether you choose carpeting, hardwood or a combination of wood and rugs, it is certain that your choice will have a large effect on the look and feel of your home.

Here are some of the most popular Floor Covering Options.

Wall-to-Wall Carpeting

For a soft, comfortable floor, wall-to-wall carpeting is the way to go. Nearly any kind of cut-pile carpet will look great and be soft. It is tempting to choose Saxony, or plush, carpet for a large room. The catch is that this luxurious style will show every mark from footprints, vacuuming and other actions that disturb the even appearance of the pile. For carpet that is soft but resistant to visual marking, choose a weave that is a bit curlier than type used for plush.

Berber carpet is known for being wear resistant. This makes it good for some high traffic areas. There are two aspects of this type of carpet that may be of concern. First, it is not nearly as soft as cut pile. That’s fine if you don’t want to sit on it, but it won’t be a comfy surface for watching TV or playing games on the floor. The other thing to be careful of is staining. Since Berber has looped pile, dirt can fall in but is hard to vacuum back out. Therefore, it should not be used in areas subject to heavy soiling or heavy foot traffic.

Tile Floor Coverings

Tile is great for areas that are commonly subjected to puddles of water or spills. For this reason, you’ll usually see Tile in bathrooms and kitchens. It’s extra easy to take care of tile. Just sweep and mop it on a regular basis and you’re set.

One of the keys to making tile look good is matching the size of the tiles to the size of the room. In general, large tiles are good for large areas, while small tiles look good in confined spaces like bathrooms. Another tip is to choose a tile color that will pick up the color of another major household surface like the walls or the floor of an adjacent room. This will help unify the decor even if the patterns used differ.

Linoleum Floors

Linoleum can look great or it can look cheap. To ensure that your floor is of the first type, choose patterns that mimic dark tile or have multiple complementary colors.

Avoid patterns that look like they belong in a school or have an overly flat appearance. A good-looking linoleum pattern can be obtained for just 50 cents or a dollar more per square foot than an ugly, cheap one. If the cost difference is a problem, save up. You’ll be looking at that linoleum for years, so it’s worth waiting to get a good style. It’ll still be less expensive than tile.

Hardwood Floors

Polished hardwood floors are the epitome of solid floors. They are luxurious and bring an air of wealth to the room, but like posh carpet, they have some aspects you’ll need to keep in mind. The first is that any scrape can stand out on a hardwood floor. The floor will also have to be resealed or waxed on a regular basis.

To keep hardwood floors looking great, put rugs down in high traffic areas. Make sure the rugs have a non-slip backing for safety. If you want to show off your entire floor for an occasional gathering, you can take the rugs away during the event.

With all of these options, you can get the exact floor covering you want for any room. Choose a type and style that fits your taste and how the room is used, and you’ll surely be happy.