Your floor makes up one of the largest surfaces in your home and in most rooms it’s going to suffer wear and tear. When choosing your flooring, you need to take into account replacement costs, the look and feel and, if you’re selling your home, how your flooring looks in marketing photography.

Most of us want flooring that is cost effective, durable and low maintenance. And some of the options might surprise you.

So we’ve got you (and your property’s floor) covered with your main cost-effective options, how to make the right choice.

Eco-friendly flooring for your home

• Lino: No longer seen only in Depression-era and post-War homes, lino these days comes in a range of beautiful patterns and colours. Best of all, linoleum is made from natural materials including jute and linseed oil, making it both sustainable and biodegradable. Lino is easy to clean; a quick mop and then finish with a vinegar and water rinse. (Many of us will remember our grandmothers wiping the floor with kerosene or getting out the polisher. Trust me, vinegar will give the same look.) Lino used to be readily available but these days it’s more of a specialty product. The bonus is that it comes in some beautiful colours and patterns our grandmothers wouldn’t recognise. Lino might be tricky to source but you can order it through some flooring companies including Forbo.
• Cork: We love cork for its softness and warmth, and it’s also easy to care for. Cork is a sustainable and eco-friendly product that’s also not readily available. However, this flooring product is worth the effort.
• Eco-friendly carpet: Wool carpet is not only an amazing insulator (for both warm and cool weather) but also is extremely sustainable. Wool is easier to clean than nylon alternatives and is soft underfoot. If you find wool too expensive and you still want an eco-friendly carpet, you could choose regenerated nylon carpet made from 100% recycled yarn.
• Tiles: Tiles made using sustainable practices can be eco-friendly but you’ll need to check the credentials of your supplier. This product seems to be the default for many regional and coastal homes and I get it; you can sweep and mop easily, they’re good for high-traffic areas and the right tile choice can give your home a touch of luxury. The downside is tiles can crack or chip and can be difficult to repair. Grout can discolour so if you choose tile, choose the grout colour with as much care as you choose your tile.
• Bamboo: Bamboo flooring comes in different types and can be an eco-friendly choice as long as it’s manufactured without glues that can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Tougher than most hardwoods and extremely durable, bamboo is a renewable resource. However, most bamboo flooring is manufactured overseas, which means it must be shipped to Australia.

Durable flooring

• Vinyl plank: Extremely popular for regional homes and especially in rentals, vinyl plank gives you the look of wood flooring without the cost. It’s easy to clean, it’s durable and comes in a fantastic range of wood tones to suit any colour scheme.
• Vinyl tile: This durable product can give you the look of marble while being more budget-friendly. It’s another product that’s easier to care for.
• Laminate: All the comfort of wood and suitable for concrete floors as laminate floors generally are installed as floating floors. Not as durable as vinyl plank but more luxurious.

How to choose the right flooring for your home or rental

Selecting a floor for your home or rental property means you need to balance price, durability, aesthetics and sustainability. I hope I’ve given you food for thought when it comes to choosing clean and green flooring. However, if you need professional advice on flooring ideas, drop in and talk to Nicky at Gloucester Furniture Zone & Flooring. She has a fab range and you’re sure to find something to suit.

Need advice on selling your Gloucester region property?

As a proud local, I’m here to guide you through the process of selling your home. I specialise in lifestyle, rural and residential properties. I’ve done it myself and helped many families over my career. So give me a call; I’m here to help.