Let’s face it, the living room is probably the most important in the home. This is a space for you to gather as a family, to have some well-deserved “me time” and a place you’ll be hosting in. So when it comes to decorating your living room, the pressure is on to make sure everything is perfect. From the paint colour, the furnishings and of course, the floor.

Ultimately, the living room is somewhere you’ll be spending time in every single day and it has to do a lot. Your living room needs to be relaxing, cosy and welcoming. It has to be somewhere you’re prepared to show off when friends and family come round, and let’s not forget that it has to be practical too. When you come to choosing your living room flooring, you’ll need to consider how large the space is, how much use the floor will be getting, and what sort of look you’re trying to achieve. You might have started looking at flooring types but you’re a bit stuck on where to start. So let’s run through each of the flooring types and whether they’re right for you.

Hardwood Flooring

Wooden flooring is really popular in living rooms. Solid or Engineered wood looks so elegant, timeless and stylish and it brings a lot to the room in a really instant way because of the classic materials. In terms of looks, it’s really impossible to beat for your living room which is a room that deserves only the very best. Wooden floors are also hardwearing and can be sanded and refinished, meaning it’ll last you a lifetime or at least 60 years depending on which type of floor you go for.

One thing to note is that for living rooms with underfloor heating or a wood-burning stove, you will want to go for an engineered wood flooring over a solid option, as they’re designed to handle these temperature changes.

There are so many options in terms of different styles and shades so you can choose the look that suits you best. For all you maximalist-lovers, a more neutral wooden floor choice won’t clash with the many patterns and textures the room has going on. Alternatively, an on-trend Parquet floor such as herringbone gives your living room a level of sophistication especially when paired with high, white ceilings.

Cream Sofas in living area, parquet flooring, dark traditional fireplace, off-white walls

Painswick Biscuit Oak

Luxury Vinyl Tiles

A great alternative to your more traditional types of flooring is Luxury Vinyl Tile. It’s a stylish replacement for wood, tile or stone and can be softer underfoot. Recent developments in technology mean this synthetic type of floor can replicate wood textures and stone effects exceptionally well. The surface features embossed vinyl that’s made to look and feel exactly like real wood or stone.

Vinyl floors are compatible with underfloor heating so that your living room could be an extra cosy place to be. Your guests will never want to leave! This warm and welcoming option will tie in well with Scandinavian inspired furniture to bring in an element of hygge to your home. In fact, because Luxury Vinyl Tiles are manmade, there are limitless options in terms of colours and styles so we’d even go as far as to say that there isn’t a home style that luxury vinyl tiles won’t match.

Another super important thing to consider is that luxury vinyl tiles are really tough and hardwearing. They’re waterproof too in case you have kids or even pets who are likely to cause some spillages. Or you might just be particularly accident-prone and are subject to the odd wine spill (don’t worry, it happens to the best of us!)

Laminate Flooring

If you’re looking for wooden style flooring on a budget, Laminate flooring is a fantastic option. Probably the main selling point for laminate floors is the incredible look at an incredible price. The planks imitate real wood or stone effects in quite a convincing way and there are hundreds of styles you can choose from that all look amazing.

As living rooms can be quite large spaces, don’t let money be an object that’s getting in the way of you taking the plunge and treating your home to a new floor. With laminate floors, you can turn your living room project into something achievable and affordable, especially as laminate floors are really easy to install yourself if you fancy putting your DIY skills to the test! This gives you yet another way to save money as there’s no need to hire an expensive flooring fitter. The money you save could go into other living room spends, like new cushions for the sofa, or some fresh new paint. Laminate floors are also great for living rooms hosting little ones or pets as spills and stains can be wiped away with ease.

Luxe 12mm London Oak Laminate

Luxe London Oak Laminate

Other Types of Flooring

We just love wooden flooring and imitation wood-like luxury vinyl tile and laminate because they look modern and make any room feel fresh and stylish. But obviously, these aren’t the only flooring types out there! Carpets have never gone out of style and bring some warmth, comfort, and softness to your home, which might be just what you’re looking for in a living room. Bear in mind that carpets are much tougher to clean and can hold onto dust and pet hair in case that’s something you’ll need to consider for your living room makeover.

One other option to consider is natural flooring such as jute or seagrass. This is becoming more and more popular in recent years. Usually coming in a range of neutral tones, it can really accentuate natural light making your living room feel brighter. Embrace the natural textures with a casual take on the boho look with layers of rugs, pillows, and prints.

Now that you’re armed with the know-how on the best floors for living rooms, there’s nothing left to do but browse our Luxury Flooring range and order yourself some free samples! To make it easier you can head straight to look at our range of Living Room Floors so it’s even easier to find your dream floor.