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Living room flooring design


10 ways with carpet, wood, vinyl and more |

(Image credit: Future / Paul Massey)

Choosing the right living room flooring ideas is a big decision as they are areas in frequent use, plus living rooms are often one of the spaces with the largest footprint in the home, especially with the popularity of open-plan living spaces, this means that the flooring you choose can have a big impact on the look and feel of a space.

Flooring is a big commitment, too, as once it’s down it’s not easy to replace, so before deciding it’s important to do your research and to examine exactly how you use the space. It’s also worth getting in plenty of samples. 

Ultimately, the decision is likely to be a balance between practicality and aesthetics. To help inspire your living room ideas we’ve rounded up a selection inspiring spaces with different types of flooring along with some tips from the experts.

Living room floor ideas

Searching for living room flooring ideas can be daunting as there is such a dazzling choice of materials and looks available. From luxurious solid stone and wood to edgy polished concrete and fitted carpet, each option brings with it a wealth of advantages and disadvantages, plus different maintenance requirements. 

Living rooms are spaces to relax and unwind, and when it comes to creating a cozy, inviting room, a luxurious, deep pile fitted carpet will offer the ultimate in softness underfoot, but will also help deaden sound and can help insulate drafty floorboards, too. Low pile living room carpet ideas made from curable materials such as wool and sisal can be brilliantly durable options for high traffic areas such as family living rooms.

Hard floors of solid timber planks, stone tiles, porcelain and ceramic tiles or terracotta, terrazzo and polished concrete are generally all durable and easy to clean and are perfect flooring ideas for open-plan living room ideas. They can also work well with underfloor heating to take the chill off underfoot.

However, without underfloor heating hard floors can feel cold, adding a rug can help provide extra layer of warmth and texture as well as help zone the main seating area. If you add a rug be sure to plan its position. ‘A larger rug will help pull the room together,’ advises Andy Guard, creative director, Roger Oates Design . ‘In open-plan living rooms placing all the furniture on the rug will define the space and unify the pieces. If possible the rug should extend 6-8 inches on each side.’

1. Create a feature floor with a flatweave rug

(Image credit: Future / Polly Wreford)

A statement rug is a brilliant way to bring pattern, color and personality to a living space, especially in a rooms where you may feel cautious about introducing bold shades and prints on walls. In this characterful living room the beautiful wall panelling has been painted in a warm neutral to let the detail sign through making the floor a perfect canvas for adding decorative interest. 

With its myriad subtle greens and delicate geometric design this Swedish Silow flatweave rug by Robert Stephenson makes a lovely textural and versatile base for showcasing bold, sculptural furniture.

2. Choose a plush carpet underfoot

(Image credit: Robert Sanderson / Future)

If there's one thing a living room needs to be it's relaxing and a soft, deep pile carpet in a bright neutral is guaranteed create a restful, welcoming space where you can kick your shoes off and put your feet up. 

‘In any interior scheme, decorating with neutral colors and the comforting texture of carpet brings a feeling of softness and calm,’ says Jodie Hatton, residential design manager of Brintons. ‘These are best suited to rooms where you spend a lot of time, such as a bedroom or living room, where relaxing is key to creating a happy space.’ 

3. Choose practical engineered wood

(Image credit: Oak Parquet ‘Silver White’ Oiled flooring by The Natural Wood Floor Company)

Capturing the beauty of solid wood but with practical benefits of being easier to lay and the ability to be fitted over underfloor heating, engineered wood is a popular choice for living room floors available in a huge array of timbers, finishes and formations.  

'Helping to bring nature indoors in a very practical way, we are seeing engineered wood floors being increasingly chosen for living rooms,' says Peter Keane, director of The Natural Wood Floor Company. 'Not all wood flooring is suitable for every room in the home. Solid flooring, for example, has historically been the primary choice for interiors, but is not suitable for environments with high humidity and can’t be used with underfloor heating. Engineered boards, on the other hand, can be fitted in most rooms in the house.'

This Oak Parquet in Silver White is perfect for brightening up small living rooms or for Scandinavian living rooms which are often characterized by pale wood finishes.

4. Create a tailored space with a fitted carpet

(Image credit: Brintons)

Carpet trends offer a wealth of benefits for living spaces. Not only do they bring comfort and warmth underfoot, they can help insulate sound – helping to create a feeling of calm – and heat, which is particularly useful in older properties.  

For a look which is both practical and stylish but will stand the test of time, try a neutral carpet with a delicate pattern – muted colors provide an uplifting and versatile base for any look and the delicate pattern can help disguise stains and dirt making it a good choice for family room and living areas which are in frequent use.

5. Add pattern with a Berber rug

(Image credit: Juliet Benning)

A monochrome carpet with a simple geometric design such as a traditional Berber rug can make a beautiful backdrop for layering colorful furniture and patterns as part of a quirky, Bohemian living room scheme as this space demonstrates. With a deep pile, Berber rugs will also bring ultimate softness under foot. 

'By it’s very nature, a Berber rug offers a sublime combination of luxury and charm,' says Luke Irwin . ‘In many ways this is the most honest of all rugs. Made in the Atlas mountains, their primary purpose is warmth, but they have a decorative purpose too; simplistic, child-like designs that lift whichever room they are in. '

6. Bring rustic charm with a jute rug

(Image credit: The White Company)

Solid wood floors are beautiful country living room ideas but they can leave spaces feeling cold and clinical – a large rug that complements the grain will allow the floor to remain visible while bringing texture and softness to the space. 

Country decor is all about celebrating the rustic charm of nature, so choose a rug made from natural fibres such as this beautiful Jute design from The White Company. Jute also comes with additional benefits as Mark Winstanley, chief creative officer of The White Company highlights.

'We love to use natural fibres, jute is a favorite that doesn’t rely on insecticides or pesticides, therefore making it completely biodegradable,' It is also an incredibly efficient source of renewable materials only relying on natural rainfall (rather than extensive and energy-consumptive irrigation systems), it also absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen much faster than trees, and enhances the fertility of the soil it grows in for future crops,' he adds.

'This particular fiber is Ideal on hard floors and carpets alike and feels remarkably soft under foot and is the perfect piece for protecting hardworking parts of your home like kitchens, hallways and living rooms.'

7. Create a contemporary feel with polished stone

(Image credit: Paul Massey)

Hardwearing, easy to clean and boasting beautiful natural grain, polished solid stone tiles or stone-effect porcelain tiles can make a practical and stylish living room floor choice, plus they work well over underfloor heating too. This benefit makes them particularly suitable for modern living rooms as underfloor heating removes the need for radiators allowing spaces to remain sleek and spacious. 

(Image credit: Amtico Signature Gingham flooring)

If you are looking to create a striking geometric look then luxury vinyl tile (LVT) could be a great option. There are hundreds of wood and stone effect designs to choose from but also a dazzling array of abstract tiles which can be laid in variety of patterns. Made up of a trio of monochrome tiles, this gingham design would make a stylish modern living room idea but can it help spaces feel larger, too.

Water resistant and hardwearing it makes a great kitchen flooring idea – and vinyl is also lightweight, flexible and easy to install. 

9. Add color with an abstract rug

(Image credit: James Merrell)

If you love art then the floor can make a great canvas for adding a decorative focal point, offering an extension wall. This colorful, abstract rug from Robert Stephenson helps balance the busy artwork-filled walls of this stylish living room and is complemented by cushions in abstract fabrics on the sofa. 

10. Create a traditional look with an antique rug

(Image credit: Future/ Brent Darby)

If you're looking to create a traditional living room then a large antique living room rug is a great way to bring timeless charm. Beautifully handcrafted and often unrivalled in quality, antique rugs with ornate patterns help create a cozy, homely feel. In this characterful space, the ornate pattern of the rug helps to balance the busyness of the floor-to-ceiling bookcase. 

11. Combine flooring types to help zone spaces

(Image credit: Future)

Using the same flooring type throughout an open-plan living area is guaranteed  to unify the space, however, it's also important for the different areas of a living space to have their own separate feel and personality, too. Engineered wood planks are a practical flooring choice for open-plan living spaces as they look stylish, bring the beauty of the outdoors into interiors and are durable – to distinguish the living area and give it an extra layer of texture, decorative interest and comfort consider adding a patterned rug.

Which is the best flooring for a living room?

The best type of flooring for a living room will depend on a huge array of factors, from the size of your living room to the look you are trying to create. From stone and wood to vinyl, each surface has various pros and cons.  

Carpet can provide an instant refresh, it also adds comfort, natural insulation and is an excellent choice for living rooms, being warmer than hard flooring and softer on the soles of feet,' says Punum Chada, buyer at Carpetright . 

'Underlay is important because it reduces wear of the flooring, making it more resilient, and, more importantly, offers a softer and more luxurious feel. Opting for a thicker underlay will boost the longevity of your flooring and a good underlay can make a big difference to a cheaper carpet, helping to make it feel plusher underfoot.'

In terms of carpet material Jodie Hatton, Residential design manager at Brintons suggests that ‘wool is the ultimate sustainable choice for flooring. It insulates your home, it's easily recyclable and biodegradable, plus shearing sheep is essential for their welfare.'

'Wool-rich carpets are known for their quality because they are highly durable, which helps maintain their appearance,' adds Hatton. 'Wool provides luxury underfoot and helps to insulate your home for warmth and comfort. It absorbs sound to give a sense of calm and tranquillity. It is naturally fire resistant and fall-friendly for little ones.’

Alternatively, Robert Walsh, founder and owner of Ted Todd argues that, 'wooden flooring is best for living rooms as it’s both durable and stylish.'

'If you’re looking to include underfloor heating, then we would recommend choosing a sustainably sourced, engineered wood floor as they are designed to work with heated floor systems,' he adds.

Can you put vinyl flooring in a living room?

Luxury vinyl floor tiles are a good choice for living room floors as they are durable, easy to clean and they come in a huge array of designs, plus they can be very cost effective. Vinyl floor tiles work particularly well in kitchens, which in turn makes them a great choice for open-plan living areas where you may want to create a cohesive look throughout the kitchen, dining and living space.

'LTV is a great option to be creative with your flooring,' says Sarah Escott design manager at Amtico . 'It’s extremely durable and robust and is resistant to stains making it great for any room in the home, in particular high traffic areas. Furthermore, LVT flooring is warm underfoot and can be used with underfloor heating making it the perfect choice.'

Pippa is Content Editor on Homes & Gardens online contributing to Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors print issues. A graduate of Art History and formerly Style Editor at Period Living, she is passionate about architecture, creating decorating content, interior styling and writing about craft and historic homes. She enjoys searching out beautiful images and the latest trends to share with the Homes & Gardens audience. A keen gardener, when she’s not writing you’ll find her growing flowers on her village allotment for styling projects.

Best Flooring Ideas for Your Living Room

Depending on how often your living room is used and what you use it for, there’s a different type of flooring that’s right for you. Typically, the neater you and your family are, the more options you’ll have. The good news is—even for the messiest, pet-filled households—there are flooring options that will stay beautiful for years to come. Here are a few living room floor ideas.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floors are a classic choice for any room in your home but work especially well in living rooms. Many shades of hardwood will bring warmth to the room, and when combined with area rugs, they create an even cozier space. Consider different stains of wood to create a new look for your living room. Dark and cool-toned wood floors are popular because of their ability to match well with both warm and cool colors, so it will be easier to match your décor to them. A more traditional option, blonde-colored wood can be installed in styles varying from distressed to glossy, depending on the look you’re going for. Honey and copper-toned wood are other warm-toned options to make your living room feel like home.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring is another great option for the living room and kitchen. With its endless design options, durability, and waterproof quality, vinyl is perfect for any room that gets a lot of use. If your dream living room consists of hardwood floors, but you’re worried about your kids spilling or your cat scratching, vinyl is your best friend. Vinyl floors can mimic wood, tile, or stone floors, so you can have the design you want without having to stress too much about it getting damaged. 

Laminate Flooring

Laminate and vinyl flooring are often confused for one another, and rightfully so. They are both durable and stain-resistant and come in a wide variety of designs that mimic more expensive flooring options. So how do you choose between them? Well, there are a few key differences to consider. Laminate flooring mimics its natural floor counterparts slightly better than vinyl, laminate flooring is thicker and therefore quieter and softer to walk on, and vinyl flooring is fully waterproof, while laminate flooring is not.

So, if you’re a spill-prone household or in the midst of training a new puppy, you might want to choose vinyl. But if you’re a neat, pet-free household and you just want comfort and quiet, go for the laminate.

Carpet

If you spend a lot of time relaxing in your living room, you might want to choose a super-soft carpet with a deep pile to cozy up the room. But if you use your living room for entertaining and not much else, choose a carpet with a lower pile so you can more easily clean up those inevitable crumbs from your next charcuterie board.

One way to add the comfort of carpet without giving up the look of your hardwood, vinyl, or laminate floors is to add a rug. A statement rug is an easy way to bring personality to a room while making it more visually interesting.

No matter what type of flooring you choose, keep cleaning in mind when choosing the color. If your kids tend to track in dirt after their soccer games, do yourself a favor and opt for a darker-colored floor. If you have a light-haired dog like a golden retriever, you’ll want a lighter-colored floor, so you don’t have to vacuum every day to keep your floor from looking like a used lint roller. 

If you’re working to find the best flooring option for your living room, your local Flooring America experts are here to answer all your questions. Ready to help with all your latest home improvement projects, start your flooring journey at Flooring America today.

Want a preview of how new floors will look in your home? Try our room visualizer, My Floor Style. Upload a photo of your room, select your style preferences, and get a virtual look at each different flooring style. With My Floor Style, there are no surprises. Only beautiful new floors.

Floor in the living room - 80 photos of ideas for perfect design and combination in the living room

> Living room > Floor in the living room - which one to choose? Overview of the best floor design for the living room (80 photos)

Beautiful and practical, durable flooring is the basis of the interior of any room, the material that is correctly selected and then correctly laid by specialists is an excellent background for furniture and for further decor.

When buying flooring, there are certain factors to consider. nine0003

It is important to understand that the hall is the room in which the family spends most of its time, guests are received, and feasts are sometimes arranged on the occasion of the celebration. Naturally, a colossal load on the floor.

Scratch resistant material. This is true if the family has children and animals.

It is important to take into account the fact that the floor covering must be flexible and fit the style of the interior.

"Classic" assumes that a dark floor is used in the living room, that is, a massive board made of dark wood species is selected. If the design is in the "country" style, then the light floor in the living room is mainly performed.

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Parquet versus laminate - who wins?

They never save on flooring, and therefore, if wood was chosen, it is better to choose parquet, which will give warmth to the room, coziness, comfort. The material is very beautiful, but it is capricious. nine0003

So, parquet is sensitive to moisture, to the rays of the sun, and in addition, it needs special care - varnishing and special cleaning are carried out with a certain frequency.

If the repair budget is limited, then you can pay attention to the laminate. Laminate perfectly imitates any wood, stone, tile, and it can easily be used in any interior.

Laminate flooring is easy to install, easy to maintain and also resistant to sun, water and damage. It is important to remember such a minus of the laminate that if the plank is damaged, then it changes entirely, without restoration. nine0003

In general, if you are thinking about which floor to choose for the living room, then after what has been said above, we can say that the laminate is a very practical and budget option.

Carpet or linoleum?

The classic among flooring is, of course, linoleum. It is characterized by an extensive range of colors, low cost, but minus its artificiality and not the best quality of operation.

In principle, linoleum is used for the hall, but only with a very limited budget. nine0003

Carpet - comfortable for the feet, creates a very pleasant atmosphere in the room. Manufacturers offer carpet, both natural and artificial. Natural carpet is vulnerable to moths, to hard-to-remove dirt, and in this regard, it is the synthetic coating that is more reliable.

Cork or ceramic?

If you look through catalogs with modern renovations, with the design of the floors in the living room, you will notice that tiles or porcelain tiles are not so often on the floor, but there is still such a design option. nine0003

Is it worth it? Tile - the material is very cold, and it makes the room uncomfortable, and in fact, many people put it in the bathroom, maximum in the corridor.

It is a misconception that such flooring is not hospitable, because it is important to simply choose warm-colored materials, make a “warm floor” and then the problem will disappear. The tile easily imitates natural wood, allowing you to embody the color of the floor in the living room, whatever your heart desires.

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Experts believe that cork is the best thing you can think of, because it perfectly retains heat, and it is also comfortable to walk on it with bare feet. The cost of the cork is prohibitive, but it is justified.

It is important that the interior, the floor in the living room, reflect the individuality of the owner, his wealth, making the most pleasant impression on the guests.

There are many different options for covering a guest room, and everyone will be able to choose the material that suits their taste and budget allocated for flooring, which will complement any interior. nine0003

The variety of flooring, which can be seen on the photo of the floor in the living room on the Internet, allows you to create an attractive floor design, very memorable. The main thing is to let your imagination run wild.

Photo of the floor in the living room

Floor in the living room - 77 photos of the best stylish design options

The living room is the main showroom in the entire apartment, so the atmosphere in it should be exemplary, and the repair should be perfect.

The floor in the living room plays an important role in drawing up an opinion about the whole room. nine0003

Well-chosen design, quality materials and professional installation will contribute to creating a pleasant impression of the living room, the house as a whole.

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Which floor to choose?

The floor in the living room should not only be beautiful, complement the style and image of the room, but also meet the requirements of practicality.

Which floor to choose for the living room so that it is resistant to wear, does not cause unnecessary worries during operation, has served for many years, fits perfectly into the style of the room? nine0003

This question cannot be answered definitively. After all, there are many possible options, each of which has its positive and negative points.

Consider the main types of coatings most commonly used for interior flooring in the living room:

Each of them has individual functional characteristics, is attractive in its own way, able to fit into certain style solutions. nine0003

After looking at the photo of the floor in the living room, you can form your own opinion about the visual effect of each option.

Parquet - an unsurpassed classic

The naturalness and environmental friendliness of finishing materials has always been in price, and recently this trend has been especially gaining momentum. Therefore, the choice of parquet as a floor covering does not lose its popularity.

Moreover, this is a classic that fits into most interiors. In addition, parquet flooring never goes out of style. From year to year he will talk about the taste, the status of his master. nine0003

There is a choice of strip parquet or parquet board. It all depends on financial possibilities. Naturally, piece parquet made from a good variety of wood is an unbeatable option.

And the versatility of its installation options will create a unique atmosphere. The design of the floor in the living room will be the perfection of style. This option is simply necessary in baroque interiors and other "elite" styles.

A simpler option, but no less attractive, is the choice of parquet boards. This material in its appearance resembles its piece counterpart, but it is more economical and will not cause difficulties in laying. nine0003

Laminate parquet - the main leader

When the budget is limited, and you definitely want to decorate the floor with wood, laminate is suitable. In recent years, this coating is confidently leading among the floor. Its leadership justifies the excellent combination of price and quality.

A variety of colors, textures, quality characteristics will allow even the most capricious buyer to make a choice. Ease of installation is another positive side of this material. nine0003

Laminate will easily create an imitation of expensive piece parquet. With its help, any style accessory of the room is easily supported.

Elementary care and excellent preservation will ensure a presentable appearance for a long time. The only significant drawback is the difficulty of repair in the event of such a need.

Carpet - soft indulgence

Next to wood in the list of popular living room flooring is carpet. nine0003

Indeed, with its softness and fluffiness, it provides additional comfort and warmth in the design of the room.

It's nice to come home after a hard day and step barefoot on the fleecy floor of the living room. Fatigue as if by hand removes, and adversity will fly away.

Carpet is available in both natural and synthetic versions. Although natural coatings are environmentally friendly, healthy, they require special care and are short-lived. nine0003

Synthetic types go through several stages of various treatments, so they will last a very long time and they have many more design options.

Tile durable and practical

Ceramic tiles are another option for flooring. Although tiles are not widely used for decorating living rooms, they are still applicable.

Tiles can be a good solution if the living room is combined with the kitchen, especially if the studio does not differ in size. Also, a small living room-hall is often tiled, if you are lucky enough to have one in the house. nine0003

A variety of colors, textures, patterns, the presence of gloss will help create a unique interior. Caring for such a coating will definitely not cause problems, and durability can only be envied.

The only thing is that it may not be very comfortable to walk on a cold floor. The solution to this problem is the use of a "warm floor" under the main coating.

Bamboo and cork - high environmental friendliness

Recently, given the human craving for nature and everything natural, bamboo and cork flooring options are especially popular. nine0003

With their help it is easy to create an amazing atmosphere, enliven the interior. They will support both the ethnic environment and fit perfectly into the modern style.

Designers call these materials ideal for the living room. They perfectly retain heat, do not absorb odors, and are resistant to damage. However, their cost is quite high.

Self-leveling floor - trendy

Self-leveling floor has not yet become widespread. With it, you can create an absolutely stunning interior that will definitely not be forgotten. nine0003

This coating can serve as the main decorative element of an entire room. A variety of construction options can play different effects. The main disadvantage is the complexity of the pouring process and its duration.

Floor color scheme

The color of the floor in the living room is chosen based on the overall style of the room. Before you buy a coating, you need to carefully consider the decor and design of the room.

The bright floor in the living room is a classic of the genre. This option helps to slightly expand the boundaries of space. nine0003

Will help not to create a barrier to the distribution of light. In a company with a light floor, darker furniture looks great. In this case, you can allow the walls to be made in dark colors, play with bright accessories.

The dark floor in the living room is less common, but no less attractive. The combination of dark flooring and light walls, furniture will create harmony in the environment, group interior items into a single whole.

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