Flooring is the most integral element of your living spaces. It comes with versatile patterns and colors that improve the beauty of your places and make them more functional. So, while building a new home or renovating an older one, you must choose flooring with great attention. Here, the question is should you mix flooring types in one home or choose the same material for the entire house. To answer this question in detail, in this blog post by Fixit Flooring, we will list the pros and cons of mixing different types of flooring in the same home. Additionally, we will explain in detail how to do this process in the right way. So, without delay, let’s start reading the blog.
Why Is There a Need to Mix Flooring Types?
Various types of flooring are available in the market these days, making the selection process a bit complicated. You might be stuck on whether to choose the same type of flooring for a uniform look or to take the risk of combining different types.
The rooms of the home serve various purposes. So, it is quite evident that the floor of each room should not be the same. For the kitchen flooring, you must pick a waterproof material. On the other hand, for the bedrooms, there is no use of water; you can choose wooden floors. When we talk about the living room floors, which is a high-traffic zone, you can choose the SPC floors. These floors offer aesthetic appeal and improve the functionality of the space. The functionality and purpose of the room are the main reasons behind choosing a different type of floor material.
Benefits Of Mixing Different Flooring Types
Choosing the same type of floors for the entire home can be boring sometimes. So, to add some colors and texture to your residential space, you can try different flooring materials. Below are the benefits that you can get after combining different floor materials.
1. Specific Functionality for Each Room
As we mentioned earlier, each room of the home has different demands. In the kitchen and bathrooms, water is used, and there is a high chance of spills. For these water-prone areas, you need waterproof flooring options. Some highly beneficial options include Vinyl and Laminate floors. In addition to this, you can choose the carpets, wooden, or SPC floors for your bedroom, guestroom, and living room. These floors make your rooms warm, cozy, and inviting. By choosing different floor materials, you can fulfill each room’s needs without any hassle.
2. Define The Zone
The flooring is available in various shades, designs, patterns, and materials that ultimately add to the beauty of your place. Not only this, but choosing a different floor option, especially in open-plan homes, creates a zone without any defined boundary. For instance, selecting the vinyl for the kitchen and the wooden floor for the living room will create a visible difference between each zone.
3. Budget Control
Mixing different floor materials helps you stay on budget while renovating your home. For instance, you can choose luxury floors (like wooden or marble) for your living room and cost-effective vinyl for the rest of the rooms. This way, you can make your home look appealing and save a lot by spending on cost-effective flooring materials.
4. Easy Maintenance and Cleaning
When you choose the right flooring materials according to the room functionality, then its cleaning and maintenance become very easy. For example, the hardwood floors in the home interiors allow easy cleaning and maintenance as compared to the outdoor flooring. So, mixing the different floor materials saves you time and energy in the long run.
5. Light Flow
Combining different flooring materials in your home improves the light flow. When we talk about the spacious room, the bold and dark hues of the floor are the top pick. For the congested areas with less lighting, you can choose neutral and light colors with a glossy finish for maximum light reflection. Make sure to choose the colors and material according to the space lighting conditions.
Cons Of Combining Different Flooring Types
Here are a few drawbacks of combining different flooring materials. So, we recommend reading them carefully before making any final decision.
1. There are the Chances Of Visual Disconnection
Installing different flooring materials can cause a visual disconnection in your home. This problem usually happens when you combine different contrasting colors. According to the expert, you can combine only 2 to 3 colors at a time for the flooring.
2.Complex Flooring Transition
Another drawback of combining different materials is the tricky transition. To ensure a smooth transition between the different floors, you may need transition strips and boards. If you skip this part, then there is a high chance of tripping and an uneven floor look.
3. Resale Value Considerations
If you are planning to sell your home, then combining different flooring options will not be the best choice. Most of the buyers love the unified look for their living space. So, if your home has different colors, patterns, and styles of floors, then it may not appeal to the buyer. Ultimately, there will be a high chance of lessening your home’s resale value.
4.Matching Floor Tone is a Very Tricky Task
While choosing different flooring for your place, you must not only focus on the materials. The undertone and texture of the floors are equally important. Finding the right color, design, texture, and material of the flooring that perfectly blend with each other is a very tricky and challenging task. This process might take a few days to a week of research.
Best Tips For Combining Different Flooring Types
We all know that combining different flooring materials can be challenging and risky. But by following the tips below, you can perform this task very easily.
1. Keep Color Palette Same
Choose the same color palette for the floor. This magical tip will help you maintain the cohesive look of your home even when combining different flooring materials. Natural hues are trendy for the floors these days.
2. Limit the Number Of Materials
Another practical tip for combining different flooring types is to keep the material choice minimal. According to the expert, two to three flooring materials in a home are enough to create a versatile look. If you use more materials in a single home, it may feel overly fragmented.
3. Use The Transition Very Wisely
The transition strip is one of the most integral elements that can make or break the look of the flooring. So, you must choose the one that coordinates with its colors and patterns. You can also take help from the experts to make an informed decision.
4. The Flooring Should Match The Style of The Room
Each home is designed according to a unique layout and style. So, you must choose the flooring type that looks best there. For example, if the home is designed according to the minimal modern style, then you must choose floors with neutral colors and minimal texture. For the traditional homes, you can choose hardwood flooring and stone tiles.
Final Words
Let’s answer this question: Should you mix flooring types in one home? In one word – Yes. The pairing of different floor materials provides a versatile look, improved functionality, and budget flexibility. You can get all these benefits only if you pay great attention to the colors, designs, and patterns of the floors.