It’s often said that the living room is the heartbeat of the home. As a gathering place, it’s an ideal room for relaxation, family time, and entertaining. Whether you’ve purchased a new home or you’re looking to modernize your existing space, flooring renovation projects bring warmth, comfort, and functionality to your living space.
The various living room flooring options available are designed to suit unique styles and also require different levels of maintenance. A well-chosen floor will enhance your space, add visual dimension, and create ambiance. At Panel Town & Floors, we understand the excitement and possibilities that come from renovating a major room in your home.
Here are our top picks for long-lasting and attractive living room flooring ideas.
Hardwood Flooring
There’s a reason why hardwood floors have been a classic flooring option for hundreds of years. Not only do they look beautiful and add warmth to any living room, they’re also durable and easy to maintain. The versatility of hardwood allows you to choose from a selection of woods, stains, and finishes. Premium hardwoods are available in engineered, prefinished, and unfinished varieties.
- Engineered hardwood flooring is a composite made from natural and manufactured woods. This popular flooring material is affordable, durable, sustainable, and available in various colors and coatings. With a veneer of real hardwood on top of each panel, engineered hardwood has the look and feel of beautiful natural hardwood. Since engineered hardwood isn’t water resistant, it’s best-suited for formal living rooms and low-traffic seating areas.
- Prefinished hardwood flooring is made from natural wood coated with a clear factory finish. Each plank is coated with polyurethane and oven-cured with aluminum oxide to create a strong a durable acrylic finish. Prefinished hardwood floors are a preferred material for living room renovations because they’re quick and easy to install and typically need less maintenance and repairs long-term. The range of colors, grains, and dimensions of prefinished hardwood is more limited than natural hardwood, and refinishing can be labor-intensive.
- Unfinished hardwood flooring are natural, untreated hardwood planks without beveled edges. This allows each plank to fit tightly beside each other—creating an even, flat, and stable surface. The wood planks are installed in their natural form and stained, sanded, and finished onsite. This is the preferred material for new builds and renovations because it can be custom-fit into any space and treated to match any architectural style or interior design you prefer.
Popular hardwoods for the living room include hickory, maple, oak, ash, pecan, walnut, and cherry.
Examples of Hardwood Flooring in the Living Room:
Waterproof Hardwood Flooring
For families with young children and pets, waterproof hardwood is the perfect solution for living room flooring. This engineered hardwood is designed with a durable top layer to protect it from spills and stains. High-quality waterproof flooring, such as Raintree, is an investment that will add value to your home and withstand wear in your busy living room. Waterproof wood floors are available in various styles and colors, and are designed with an insulation layer to buffer sounds and vibrations—perfect for your home’s entertainment hub.
Despite its benefits, waterproof hardwood has a few minor limitations. Although the core is 100% waterproof, the veneer layers can become damaged by flooding or other major moisture issues. Also, the top layer of veneer, known as the wear layer, isn’t designed to be refinished and has a lifespan of 15 to 25 years.
Examples of Waterproof Wood Flooring in the Living Room:
Luxury Vinyl Flooring
One of the most popular living room flooring ideas for homeowners and interior designers is luxury vinyl. This durable material is ideal for high-traffic areas, and is perfect for homes with kids and pets. Luxury plank vinyl is also budget-friendly, making it a great choice for first-time home buyers or homeowners looking for an affordable way to add value and functionality to their living room.
Vinyl flooring, such as Happy Feet, comes is a wide range of colors and styles—with designs including wood grain, stone, brick, and ceramic tile. Although vinyl is versatile, affordable, and durable, it does have a few drawbacks. Unlike hardwood, vinyl isn’t sustainable or biodegradable. It can also be difficult to repair surface tears and scratches.
Examples of Luxury Vinyl Flooring in the Living Room:
Laminate Flooring
Another durable option for busy living rooms is laminate flooring. This stain and scuff-resistant material is ideal for families with young children and pets. Laminate flooring, such as Torlys, tends to be thicker than vinyl and also feels more cushioned underfoot. Laminate features a multi-layer design that includes a dense core board center and durable top layer that resists scratches, dents, and fading. This living room flooring option is cost-effective, but it can have a hollow sound if it’s not installed with the proper underlayment.
Examples of Laminate Flooring in the Living Room:
Carpeting
Wall-to-wall carpeting was once a popular option for living rooms, but it can’t meet the demands of today’s busy households. Carpet is difficult to maintain and keep clean, and it becomes worn out quickly in high-traffic areas like the living room. Homeowners are choosing hardwood, laminate, and vinyl alternatives to give their living room an elegant aesthetic—along with easier clean-up and maintenance.
Living Room Flooring Considerations
The living room tends to be a high-traffic area—especially if you have children and pets. As one of the most popular rooms in the home, it’s essential to choose materials that suit your lifestyle. From durable surface coatings to built-in waterproofing, modern flooring options have a wide range of features and functions.
Before selecting your living room flooring, consider:
- How busy is your living room?
- Is your living room a walkway to other rooms in your home?
- What types of activities occur in your living room?
- Do you have pets or young children?
- What style is your home’s interior design and architecture?
- Do you prefer modern or traditional style?
- What is your budget?
Replacing your living room floor is a major renovation that should be planned for carefully. At Panel Town & Floors, we provide you with the materials you need to make your living room renovation project a success. From hardwood, waterproof, and vinyl flooring to tools, equipment, and machines, we help you turn your flooring dream into a reality.
To set the scene and help you envision how our flooring will look in your living room, upload a picture to our Visualizer tool.
View our online selection of flooring or visit our store today!
