If you’re looking for quality, easy-to-clean, durable flooring that brings your home to life, vinyl flooring is the way forward. A popular choice for those who want to refresh any space, vinyl flooring will not only allow you to express yourself, you’ll also save a pretty penny when it comes to materials and installation. Available in hundreds of effects, patterns and colours, you can take your home from ordinary to extraordinary, from traditional to modern or from plain to bold in no time.

Sold? Great. We’ve created this blog to help give you all the answers on how to choose the best vinyl flooring that will transform your home.

Why Choose Vinyl Flooring?

Let’s first talk about all of the amazing benefits of choosing vinyl flooring:

Cost Savings

This durable flooring option will save you money on the initial purchase and in the long run. The technologies out there today mean that you’re able to find great quality vinyl flooring at an affordable price. Whether you choose to go with sheet vinyl or vinyl planks you can feel confident that you won’t be needing to replace it for years to come.

Variety

Whether you want to get a traditional wood effect vinyl or go for something more modern like bold block colours or contemporary patterns, there are so many options when it comes to purchasing vinyl. The days of poorly textured designs are definitely a thing of the past; vinyl flooring can now authentically mimic wood or stone without the high cost, maintenance and difficult installation.

Durability

Modern technologies have taken vinyl flooring to new levels or durability – it’s actually seen to be one of the most resilient types of flooring out there. When properly installed, it can last decades. As with all flooring, the better quality you buy at the outset, the longer you’ll get out of it, but you can guarantee that all vinyl flooring in today’s market is built to endure. It’s a great option for high traffic areas such as a kitchen or bathroom as it has a great resistance to dents and scratches.

Low Maintenance

One of the biggest appeals of vinyl flooring is that it’s easy to maintain. Unlike hardwood, it will never need to be resanded; unlike tiles, you won’t obsess over cracked or stained grouting. And with resilient protective coating, it’s resistant to staining, dirt and dust – and spills or splashes can be cleaned easily.

Comfort

Contrary to hardwood and stone floors, vinyl flooring doesn’t get cold in winter months and creates an insulating layer which means it’s environmentally friendly too. Its texture also means that you’ll enjoy more give and comfort underfoot than you would with traditional flooring.

Choosing A Type Of Vinyl Flooring

How to choose the best vinyl flooring for your home? Here are some things to consider:

The Right Floor For The Right Room

The floor, walls and ceiling all give a room its aura. The floor is the base – providing weight and character. But it’s important to consider the functionality of a room and the rest of the decor when choosing what flooring you’re going to choose. How is the room used? How often? Vinyl plank or tile? A kitchen is going to require a very different type of vinyl than a guest bedroom.

Which Colour Vinyl Flooring Should I Choose?

Of course, colour choice is subjective. But it can have a strong impact on how a room feels. So think about the lighting source, size and other statement pieces you have in the room. If you have dark wood furniture for example, perhaps a light wood effect vinyl or bold pattern vinyl is the best option. If you’re laying your vinyl in a big open-plan space, you have a little more flexibility when it comes to choosing darker shades.

Sheet Or Tile?

Sheet vinyl is very low cost, coming in one piece, and will be cut to your size requirements. It consists of a PVC core sandwiched between a bottom and top layer which features the printed design and protected by a transparent wear layer. The bottom is generally made of a soft material such as felt or fibreglass. It’s easy to lay but care must be taken because incorrect cutting can’t be undone and small rips or damage can’t be repaired seamlessly.

More often designed to look like real wood or stone, vinyl tiles are rigid and come in squares – and can often be grouted – adding an even more authentic finish. Softer than stone and wood, they are comfortable to walk on and add insulation, sound absorption as well as working well on top of underfloor heating.

Care And Maintenance

A huge benefit of vinyl flooring is the ease with which it can be maintained. A regular hoover and wipe clean with vinyl-safe floor cleaner is genuinely enough to keep it as fresh as the day it was installed but for larger stains, ensure you clean it right away with a gentle abrasive if necessary. Minimise denting or tearing of softer vinyl flooring by lifting instead of dragging heavy furniture and apply felt or rubber floor protectors to chairs which are moved around on a regular basis to prevent unsightly scratches or dents.

We hope this guide has helped you decide on the best vinyl flooring for your home. Check out all of our vinyl flooring types and styles where you can also envision the look of each flooring within your own home or read on further with our Guide To Vinyl Thickness & Flooring Sizes