Trends come and go, but good style endures. When remodeling your home, you'll want to choose timeless styles that will look great for years to come. And while a wall is easy to paint over when you're ready for a new look, flooring isn't so simple.
That's why choosing your flooring is one of the most important design choices you'll make. It's best to choose floors that will stand the test of time rather than a trend that will be out of date in a few years.
Designer Kristin Washco tells Martha Stewart when it comes to flooring, "nothing can match the timeless simplicity of materials that provide visual warmth, tactile engagement, and connect the inside and outside in continuity." Here are four flooring options that will never go out of style.
Carpet
Carpet can get a bad rap nowadays, but when used tastefully, it looks great while making a room cozy, safe, and welcoming. Carpet changes the look and feel of a room and can cut down on echoes to give you a peaceful space.
Depending on what is most important to you, there is a carpet option for every need. You can choose natural materials like wool and cotton or synthetic materials like nylon and polyester.
Cheryl Simmons writing for the Spruce says wool is "the most commonly used natural fiber in carpeting." Though there are other options available, wool is known for its durability and resistance generally. It can resist soiling better than other options as well as resisting flames. Simmons says if a cigarette dropped on the carpet, it would probably leave a mark, but your whole floor would likely not go up in flames.
When choosing what kind of carpet is best for your house — and what will remain most timeless — consider what rooms you're planning to carpet. If you're carpeting a dining room, you'll probably want a stain-resistant fiber. A child's room may need something softer and with more padding.
If you have questions about where to start with carpet in your home, reach out to one of the experts at Giant Carpet One.
Luxury vinyl
Luxury vinyl flooring checks all the boxes: stain-resistant, waterproof, durable, and easy to maintain. Not to mention it looks high-end! Vinyl is cost-effective while still giving the stylish look you're going for.
Luxury vinyl is highly engineered for performance. According to Chauncey Crail and Corinne Tynan for Forbes Home, it's very resilient and it usually won't stain. It's a great choice for rooms where water is a concern, so your kids can splash away in the bath without having to worry.
Some vinyl options are so difficult to tell apart from real wood that you're hard-pressed to see any difference without getting on the floor and touching it.
Hardwood floors
There's nothing quite as timeless as a classic hardwood floor. They're soft enough to walk on with bare feet, warmer than tile in the winter, and hold up well year after year. The best part is that hardwood can work with any personal aesthetic—from farmhouse chic to midcentury modern.
With so many varieties of hardwood, or materials that look like hardwood, buyers can choose any style, color, and finish that suits their fancy—just keep in mind that some finishes age better than others.
If you enjoy lighter flooring, white oak and white maple are two of the best choices for a neutral color that won't go out of style anytime soon. If darker tones are more your type, walnut and cherry woods are both classic looks, according to Washco for Martha Stewart.
Natural stone tile
Tile is a versatile pick that can be used in any room of your home, from the kitchen to living areas to bathrooms. Its durability, affordability, and ease of maintenance make tile a solid pick for any budget or aesthetic. The trick is to choose a tile that will stand the test of time.
Travertine and limestone are both natural stone tiles that will age gracefully and establish a weathered look over the course of your home's life, according to Bob Vila. Natural stone tiles are built to last, just look at the Colosseum in Rome!
Marble is a timeless stone that has truly stood the test of time—you can still find ancient marble floors in Roman and Greek ruins that are thousands of years old.
Designer Amy Studebaker tells Martha Stewart that marble is an obvious choice for an enduringly stylish bathroom floor. "Whether in a herringbone, hexagon, or basketweave, your marble flooring will always look gorgeous and classic," Studebaker says.
Marble does need to be properly cared for if you want it to last forever. To keep those floors in pristine condition, you'll need to have the marble professionally sealed each year.
Visit the flooring experts at Giant Carpet One
Giant Carpet One has knowledgeable experts to help you sort through all the types of flooring out there to find the perfect fit for your home. Visit your local Utah Giant Carpet One to see, touch and feel your new flooring options — from carpet to luxury vinyl, hardwood, tile, and more. Whatever your budget, you're sure to find something you love that works for all members of your family. For more information or to find a showroom near you, visit Giant Carpet One.
