The entryway to your home is your first chance to introduce your unique style. So, why not floor your guests as soon as they step into your home! In addition to your floors being stunning they should also be durable enough to remain beautiful for years to come. Your foyer and hallways get a lot of visibility but they take on the largest amount of foot traffic and therefore, take the biggest beating. But don’t worry, you won’t have to sacrifice beauty for durability or vice versa. This guide will help you find beautiful, long lasting flooring that will suit your needs and unique style.
Features to look for
There are a number of great flooring options out there. However, there are essentially three things you want to look for when shopping for hallway or foyer flooring.
You want a flooring product that:
- Is easy to clean & maintain
- Is resistant to scratches & everyday wear
- Has a versatile look that won’t go out of style
Other things to consider
Do you have an open floor plan? If yes, consider what flooring you have throughout the rest of your home. Open floor plans often look best when the same floor is carried from the foyer, throughout the rest of the house.
Consider your lifestyle. Do you have children or pets, who are constantly trekking water and dirt into your home? If this is the case you may want to look at a waterproof vinyl over a solid hardwood product that is susceptible to moisture damage. If you have pets and would like a hardwood or a wood look product, pay attention to the tone of the wood. Mid to dark-tones are more forgiving to dust and pet hair, however a pale-tone helps make a room feel larger and more expansive.
Do you love patterned floors? If so, your foyer and hallways are an excellent place to install flooring in a pattern. The design will be more visible because there will be less furniture covering up your beautiful floor. Try parquet pattern, it makes for a handsome floor and creates quite the statement as you walk through your front door.
Vinyl Sheet
Vinyl is a very affordable product that is a breeze to clean and one of the most water-resistant flooring options. Vinyl has come a long way in recent years and you can now find it in a number of realistic visuals and textures that mimic the look and feel of hardwood, stone and much more. Sheet vinyl also comes in a variety of patterns and colours to suite your unique style.
Luxury Vinyl
Luxury Vinyl is a great choice for entryways and hallways because of its durability in high-moisture and high-humidity areas. There are even 100% waterproof products available on the market. Again, you can find luxury vinyl in a variety of beautiful, on trend styles from wood, stone, concrete and more. Luxury vinyl can also be a more budget friendly option over ceramic or porcelain tile. Another great thing about luxury vinyl is that it does not require grout, so it saves you time during installation.
Tile
Tile is the prefect choice for foyers and hallways because it is the most forgiving. Tile is easy to clean, maintain and it is highly durable. However, those pesky grout lines can be hard to clean in high-traffic areas so try using a darker colour – this will show less wear and tear. There are tons of tile options on the market, from a wide variety of colours, sizes, shapes and styles you’ll be sure to find a tile that suits your style and is within your budget.
Hardwood
Although moisture and hardwood are not a combo you want to encounter, hardwood still makes the cut as a great choice for your foyer and hallways. Hardwood is great for standing up to traffic and it is a breeze to clean up. Also, because you can sand and refinish hardwood, it can last for years to come, all while maintaining its timeless and natural beauty. To avoid water damage, keep a plastic boot tray near the door for those wet days and always have a dry towel handy for quick cleanups, you want to wipe up spills as soon as possible. Also, placing area rugs in your foyer can help stop water and dirt from being tracked throughout your home.
Your Flooring Experts
Still not sure what to choose? Stop by your nearest Nufloors showroom and speak to one of our friendly flooring experts or contact us for a free estimate!
