Guide to Selecting the Perfect Floor

   Six months ago, I had no idea what I was in for when it came to picking out the perfect floor for our living room. I knew what I liked ,when I saw it , but had no clue that I had to take a multitude of other factors into consideration to make sure I ended up floored, in a good way.

I decided to take note of the checklist that I wish I had going into this overhaul. Hopefully, this can help make your flooring experience a lot less time consuming than mine!    



1. Start with Budget - Price can be a kicker. You can fall in love with the floor of your dreams , then you look at the price tag and then instantly your flooring dreams are crushed. Save yourself the heartbreak. Set your budget and browse within your allocation.


2. Type - I'm sure most people don't even realize how many types of flooring there actually are to choose from these days . I know, I didn't. Hardwood, laminate, tile and vinyl are just a few of the options available these days. Not to mention more eco-friendly choices like bamboo or cork that have rose in-demand over the last few years. Each of these choices will have there pro's and con's that will depend upon your space. 
   For example, If you live in a humid climate, hardwood might not be the best option as it is affected by humidity. Bathrooms and kitchens are also not ideal for hardwood because of the moisture in those spaces. You can still achieve a similar look as hardwood by choosing another option like vinyl, which performs great in those conditions.  


3. Color -  For most people this is the easy part. I thought that would be the case for me and it was , kind of. I know what I like when I see it but what I didn't realize is that I had to take lighting into consideration. Similar to picking out paint, depending on the natural or artificial light that the room gets the paint color , in this case the floor, will appear differently under different lighting scenarios .

Note: The flooring may appear darker in-store or online vs. in the lighting in  your home. That is why samples are key! Not a sample , SAMPLES! Request enough samples so that you're able to make a versed decision.

4. Finish - Smooth, Shiny, Matte, Distressed. Each options has it's pro's and con's, from cleaning to overall aesthetic. It is easy to get caught up in the face of flooring vs. reality. Remember to ask yourself, is it practical for my lifestyle? If you have pets , you may want to steer clear of Hardwood , for example, as it is the least desired because of Hardwoods ability to hold scent from urine stains. Who wants a beautiful floor.. that smells? In the end, practically always wins whether you chose it or not.


5.  Retailer - Half the battle is finding a retailer. I visited several floor covering stores before deciding to online shop. Online shopping can be intimidating but because Build Direct offers samples before you purchase; it ,essentially, is like bringing the store to your home without the hassle of a salesman or middleman.If you do happen to have any questions the customer service is available at your leisure via chat, e-mail and phone . Personally,  I don't like to be rushed into decision making , especially when it comes to something as costly and important as my home. For me, shopping online saved me more than money, it saved me my sanity!

----Ever heard the saying " Time is money" ? Shopping online on BuildDirect saved me both.


BuildDirect.com makes it easy to browse through each home improvement category, sub-category of flooring type followed by filters for your specific wants and needs.

If you're curious about the floors we ended up choosing, they are the Stately Manor Engineered Hardwood floors by Mohawk from BuildDirect.com. These floors met all of my "wants". Even though it did take a little longer for me to sift though all of these considerations since I didn't have this guide. In the end, we couldn't be happier. These floors are the perfect foundation for our living room!