Let's Talk About Floors (Without Getting Scammed)

Okay, can we just acknowledge that shopping for flooring is the worst? You're standing in some warehouse store staring at tiny samples under horrible lights while someone explains "wear layers" like you should definitely know what that means, trying to imagine how that 3-inch square will look across your entire house.

Here's what actually matters when you're trying to not hate your floors:

The Real Deal on Your Options

Hardwood is gorgeous and will outlive you, but it costs a fortune and you can't put it everywhere. If you've got the money and you're staying put for years, go for it. But don't let anyone make you feel bad about choosing something else. Not everyone needs to blow their budget on floors.

Also, hardwood needs babying. It scratches, it doesn't like water, you'll need to refinish it eventually. Just know what you're signing up for.

Engineered wood is not "fake hardwood" and I'm tired of people saying it is. Good engineered wood is smart as hell, especially if you have a basement or your kitchen gets humid. Look for at least 2mm on the top layer so you can actually sand it if it gets messed up. The cheap stuff with the paper-thin top? Skip it. That's just expensive laminate lying to you.

Vinyl has gotten really good, but it's still plastic floors. The fancy "luxury vinyl plank" stuff can look surprisingly convincing and it's basically bulletproof if you have kids or pets or that friend who always spills red wine.

If you go vinyl, spend money on: 12-20 mil wear layer (that's the clear coat that keeps it from looking like garbage), SPC core (stone plastic composite—it's more stable), and patterns that don't look like the same plank repeated 47 times.

Carpet in your main rooms? Just... don't. I know it's cozy but it's also a magnet for every gross thing that happens in your house. Get a really good rug instead. Same warmth, no commitment, you can actually clean it.

The Thing That Really Matters

Your floor is literally the biggest thing in your room and your brain sees it constantly. Pick something that makes you feel good walking on it, not something that makes you paranoid about every drop of water or pet hair.

Also? Installation matters more than the material sometimes. Amazing hardwood installed badly will look terrible and cause problems. Decent vinyl installed well can look great for years.

The "right" choice is whatever works for your actual life—your mess level, your budget, how long you're staying. Ignore what Instagram says you should want.

There are SO many other flooring options that I'll get into in other blog posts, but to keep this short and simple, this is a good place to start. Stay tuned for the wild world of tile and so many unique forms of flooring. And remember to do your research before any major decision. Everything has a pro and con and it's up to you to know where your bang and buck is going.