How to Renovate Your Home with Flooring

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Renovating my Home with Flooring

Over the past five years, I’ve slowly been renovating my home with small and large upgrades. When I purchased my condo in 2014, it was a blank slate. I purchased it as an estate sale meaning it had been vacant for a while and wasn’t staged. Even though it was just an empty condo, I saw so much potential to make it my own.

Most of the elements in the condo were original. The carpets, kitchen and guest bathroom had not been upgraded since the late 1980s. This meant I had several home renovation projects in mind as soon as I moved in.

Of course, I couldn’t afford to do them all at once. But as long as everything functioned properly, I knew I could upgrade at my own pace.

There were two projects I knew I needed to finish right away – flooring and painting. While I probably would have painted anyway, the entire condo – I mean floor to ceiling including trim – was a pink-peach color. It had to go!

The flooring was actually essential in order to receive a certificate of occupancy. The original carpets were dirty, gross and half-torn away from the walls. So before I even moved in, I had already embarked into the world of home flooring renovations.

How to Approach Flooring Renovations

There are several factors to consider when you start to make home renovations. For any home project, I think it’s very important to do some research before you begin. Research is especially important if you are a new homeowner or it’s a project you’ve never done before. Home renovations, whether big or small, are an investment in your home and your future.

Here are some things to consider when starting a flooring renovation or other home project:

Budget

As with anything, you need to begin by looking at what is best for your personal finances. Do you have a savings account for home projects? Will this affect your emergency fund? Or do you need to save money in other areas? Once you have a number you are comfortable with spending you can start shopping.

Aesthetic

Next it’s important to start thinking about what you want. Your personal style should definitely shine throughout your home. Do you prefer modern or traditional? Are you drawn more toward bold or neutral tones? Is it more important to look good or to feel cozy? These are just some questions to ask yourself.

Lifestyle

It’s also important to consider how you live. For instance, do have pets or kids? If so, you might want options that have high durability. Also, what is your cleaning style? If cleaning drives you nuts, you might want to look for easy care options. Another thing to consider is how much time you spend at home. If you are always on the run, would you rather save on home upgrades and spend your money on travel? Do you do a lot of entertaining or do you tend to meet friends outside your home? These are all good considerations to weigh when deciding on home renovation options.

Flooring Renovations to Upgrade Your Home

Once you decide on budget, aesthetic and lifestyle, it’s relatively easy to find which flooring is best for you. There are many different options out there, including:

Vinyl or Linoleum

These are two different materials that are very similar in nature. They are usually relatively lower in cost than other options, are easy to install and are generally highly durable and moisture-resistant. Vinyl and linoleum are often found in high traffic areas, like kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms and basements.

Carpet

Carpet is a very common option, usually for bedrooms, living rooms and second-floor rooms or apartments. Carpet is very versatile because it comes in many colors, textures and styles. Price-ranges can vary, but installation and care are generally very easy.

Tile

Tile is like an upgraded version of vinyl and linoleum, but generally a bit more expensive and more difficult to install. Like vinyl and linoleum, tile is durable, moisture-resistant and easy to care for and can often be found in kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and mudrooms.

Laminate

Laminate is a great alternative to hardwood. It’s generally a bit less expensive than hardwood and easier to install. It’s also relatively easy to care for, although it’s not good for high-moisture areas or very high-traffic homes. 

Hardwood

Still the king of flooring, hardwood maintains the test of time. It comes in a variety of wood types and finishes and can be used in most rooms throughout the house. Hardwood is not great for high-moisture areas, like bathrooms or mudrooms, but it is quite durable throughout the rest of the house.

Based on my price range, aesthetic and lifestyle, I decided to purchase a laminate flooring that looks like hardwood. I would have loved hardwood, but ultimately price was the deciding factor. I still think this was the best decision for me because my floors look amazing, they’re easy to clean and they are still very durable.

I highly recommend laminate if you are trying to upgrade on a budget, especially if this is your first home. It can save money, while still functioning like hardwood and may still bring your home added value.

If you’re able to afford hardwood, it’s definitely a wise investment. Not only does it look beautiful, is easy to care for and will last a long time, according to Realtor.com, it can also increase the resale value of your home.

Purchasing Your Flooring and Professional Installation

The final piece of your home renovation is actually purchasing your flooring and having it installed. Whether you choose hardwood, laminate or another option, the right materials and professional installation are super important.

Unlike painting and other smaller projects that can be do-it-yourself, flooring installation is best left to the professionals. I also highly recommend shopping local for your flooring. Although big box stores might entice with the best pricing around, I think there are more options and higher quality of service when you shop at a local flooring store. 

It’s important to visit a few stores to compare different options, pricing and speak with several professionals. If you’re in New Jersey, you can check out Selecta Flooring who have over a decade of experience in hardwood, laminate and other flooring options. They should be a go to company to help with any questions, concerns or ideas you have to transform your home into what you’ve always wanted. 

Make sure to ask specific questions to find the best flooring and installer for you. You want to make sure that the product you select doesn’t just match the style you are going for, but also meets your needs in terms of pricing and durability. Now is a good time to also ask questions about installation time, cleaning and caring for your flooring, and long-term care (i.e. how often do you need to seal or refinish, if you are going with hardwood).

Once you have found your flooring and installer, it’s time to sit back and prepare for your upgraded home.

Final Thoughts

Home renovation projects are exciting and can have a big impact on your living space. Whether it’s small DIY projects like painting or larger projects like new flooring, it’s always important to do your research first.

By knowing your budget, aesthetic and lifestyle, you can start the process on the right foot and keep your home projects on track and within budget. Choosing when to hire a professional and when to try it yourself is also important to consider. 

What home projects have you worked on or what’s on your to do list? What was most important to consider when starting your home improvement project? Let me know in the comments below.