Four Easy Steps for Buying the Perfect Floor
17 November 2006(NC)-Your floor is more than just a surface you walk on; it’s an extension of your home. With all the choices and technical considerations, finding the perfect floor can be an intimating decision, but there is hope. Follow these four easy steps to ensure you get the right floor for your décor, lifestyle and budget.
Step 1: Choose your décor, then your floor
A well-selected floor will enhance your décor. To find your décor style, first determine the mood you want to create in your new space: traditional, casual or modern.
Traditional Decor: Elegant, formal, classic lines and detailed finishing. Complimented with regal tones, such as green, blue, 
burgundy and gold. Choose hardwood with distinctive grains and dark tones or exotic hardwoods such as mahogany, merbau, jatoba and cherry.
Casual Decor: Comfortable, cozy spaces that are charming and inviting. Furnishings have a country touch and relaxed details. Such interiors flourish with mid-tone and natural floors to create the look of warmth. Look for products with lots of texture and heavy grains.
Modern Décor: Monochromatic with geometric patterns. Bold, dramatic, daring, but still functional with clean lines. Choose floors that will make a statement with colour and pattern or subtle-grain hardwood floors to create a neutral pallet for these contemporary spaces.
Step 2: Determine the function of your space
Choose flooring that will fit your lifestyle and the lifestyle of your new space. Consider how your new space will be used and what expectations you have in terms of durability and maintenance.
Active Spaces: High traffic spaces such as family rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. Look for style and durability. Laminates
Relaxing Spaces: Medium to low traffic spaces where life still happens. Cork is a unique find; soft, warm and low maintenance. Look for cork floors with bevelled edges and a leathered texture. Engineered hardwood is an excellent option, as it will not gap, warp or buckle and will look beautiful longer giving you more time to relax in your new room.
Step 3: Think outside the box
What if you could install your new hardwood right over the ugly parquet or ceramic tile? Flooring is a significant purchase. The cost of removing your current flooring and installation costs of new flooring can quickly add up and restrict your budget. Consider floor systems that can be installed right over your existing flooring and easy for the do-it-yourselfer. Check out Torlys Flooring (www.torlys.com), for their “floating floors” in laminate, cork, and hardwood. These floors all feature the Uniclic joint, a unique click system that does not require nails or glue for installation and can be installed over your existing flooring. Only you’ll know what’s under your beautiful new floors.
Step 4: Fall in love
Your home is a personal reflection of your style. Find a floor you love, before considering performance and functional elements. Fall in love with the colour and texture. If you buy the floor you love, you’ll love your new space.
Credit: www.newscanada.com