Flooring is the foundation for any home design. Sometimes considered the ‘fifth wall,’ flooring can be bold or neutral depending on your design goals.

Choosing flooring that is best for your living room will depend on a few key factors.

As a room that sees plenty of foot traffic, the flooring has to be durable and functional. High-traffic areas make floors more prone to scratches and scuffs, so a tough material is a must.

Living room flooring should also be comfortable, so your family and guests are happy to spend hours together in one space.

Finally, your living room flooring should exist in harmony with your furniture and décor. When your flooring is right, the rest of the room shines, too. A well-designed living room will make you happy and calm every time you walk into a living space that is all your own!

Next, we’ll walk through the pros and cons of some of the most popular living room flooring materials to help you create a living space you’ll love.

When you think of natural flooring for living room spaces, you probably envision hardwood floors or even stone tile floors. But natural carpet is becoming more and more popular. The appearance of natural carpeting brings the outside in, creating a soothing, spa-like effect in your living room.

Natural carpet fibers like wool, sisal, seagrass, and robust coir are the most common options for living room flooring. The design experts at National Design Mart can advise you on the best natural flooring choice based on your design preferences and the amount of foot traffic you expect in your living room.

Natural Carpet Pros:

• Excellent at hiding dirt
• Certain flooring materials, like wool, are very durable
• Can be flame retardant

Natural Carpet Cons:

• Best for higher budgets
• Stains more easily than synthetic carpet
• Some varieties can be less comfortable underfoot

Tile may be more common in kitchens in bathrooms, but lately, this stylish and durable flooring option has been popular for living rooms, too. The color and style you choose will make all the difference in terms of style, comfort, and strength.

Depending on the look you’re going for, you can use tile to mimic the look of hardwood floors with laminate or vinyl flooring. Or, go bold and create patterns with living room tile. You could border the room with a second color, creating a tile ‘rug.’ If you choose ceramic tile, place a few accent tiles for playfulness and charm.

Living Room Tile Pros:

• Wide variety of colors, styles, and materials
• Extremely durable
• Options for every budget

Living Room Tile Cons:

• Can be cold
• Requires some maintenance

If you’re investing in hardwood floors, consider protecting and embellishing them with a high-quality area rug. National Design Mart carries Ohio’s best selection of designer area rugs, so you can find the perfect rug to fit your design style.

Area rugs are one of the best, low-risk ways to add bold touches of personality to a space. Without any permanent changes or renovations, you can transform the entire look of your living space!

Pros of Area Rugs:

• Endless colors, patterns, and sizes
• Section off smaller areas in large spaces
• Comfortable
• Easy to maintain

Cons of Area Rugs:

• Can slip and slide without rug pad
• Can accumulate dust
• Lower-quality rugs may wear quickly