Carpet

• Carpeting is soft underfoot, muffles noise and can be a unifying element in interior design. A plush carpet made of nylon fibers looks luxurious and is easy to maintain. Nylon fibers are stain resistant and manufacturers warranty their texture typically for five to seven years. This means the fibers will retain their shape and feel with normal wear.
  
  

Hardwood

• Hardwood has a classic look that complements any decorating style. One advantage of hardwood flooring is that the planks can be sanded down and stained to update the look. Another advantage is longevity. A well-made solid wood floor can last for decades. The disadvantage to hardwood flooring is that it does require maintenance. It does need to be varnished and sealed on a regular basis.
  
  

Laminate

• Laminate flooring has several advantages. It is less expensive than hardwood flooring. It is easy to install and should a plank be damaged, the plank can be replaced. Laminate flooring has a wood chip center, around which are layers of plastic and melamine. The pattern seen on the surface of laminate is a photograph that has been laminated to the plank. The advantage of this construction is a laminate floor can look like hardwood or natural stone, at a fraction of the cost.
  
  

Tile

• Tile can be made of ceramic, porcelain or natural stone. Ceramic tiles are usually the least expensive. Installation of tile is time consuming and labor intensive, and it can be expensive. Once installed, however, a tile floor can remain intact for decades. Natural stone tile is usually the most expensive. Because stone tiles are porous, they need to be sealed every six months to a year to prevent deterioration.
  
  

Cork

• Cork flooring may be considered the more eco-friendly choice of flooring options. The material is bark harvested from living trees; no harm comes to the trees and because the tree grows new bark, it's considered a sustainable, renewable resource. Cork flooring is soft, fire-resistant, non-toxic and hypoallergenic. This last feature is important for those with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
  
  

Alternatives

• Other options for flooring include painted or stained concrete, linoleum and area rugs used with both hard surface and carpeting. Bamboo plank flooring is also an alternative, though in dry climates the planks tend to shrink. Engineered wood is an alternative to hardwood. Made up of layers of composite materials sandwiched between thin layers of real wood, engineered wood is sturdy and durable.