Have you recently bought your first home and are not feeling the vibe that you get when you walk in? Do you feel that you need to do a bit of an upgrade on the flooring in the hallway?
If so, please note it is not that hard, and it is one of the most common parts of a home that is made over. However, you will need to consider a few things, such as the feel of your home, your budget, the amount of maintenance you can provide to your flooring, and how much you want to increase the value of your property.
In 2023, many people are opting for more natural materials when it comes to their hallways and, indeed, their homes overall, so here, you will be walked through some of the best hallway flooring options to have installed this year.
Limestone Tiles
First on the list are limestone tiles. Classic, classy, and cultured!
This choice of tiling is ideal for hallway flooring for many reasons, with the main one being the stones’ durability. It is a dense and durable stone, meaning it can handle the high foot traffic that will come with being placed in a hallway. Many people who have limestone tiles in their hallway have found them to also hold their value, as they don’t show signs of damage easily, and repairs are often easy and affordable.
This stone is also low maintenance, which is a plus, meaning that to keep it looking great, all you need to do is sweep it and mop it with a pH-neutral stone cleaner. You should never attempt to clean this surface with any acidic cleaners, and if you spill anything like wine, vinegar, or orange juice onto it, then you should aim to wipe it up quickly to prevent staining.
If you live somewhere hot, limestone tiles are ideal, as they allow for a natural cooling effect. The porous texture of the flooring allows it to stay cool on hot days, so if that sounds ideal to you, head to mystonefloor.com for more information about limestone tiles.
Hardwood
Becoming more popular in 2023 is hardwood flooring, and yes, this also applies to hallways!
Much like stone tiles, this option can add a touch of instant class to your home and is also exceedingly durable, meaning it will hold up against toddlers, dogs, and kids! The most popular hardwood options for hallways are oak, maple, cherry, hickory, and walnut, especially if you want to give your hallway a deeper and darker look. If you want brighter wood, opt for ash or birch.
Many modern homeowners have concerns that hardwood will scratch easily. If you avoid dragging furniture, it will usually be alright, but if it does become scratched, all you need is a hand sander and some polish, making it relatively easy to maintain.
There is another benefit, too. If you or a member of your household has allergies, investing in a hardwood floor can be extremely beneficial, as this smoother surface does not allow dust or pet dander to become trapped. Provided that the surface is swept and mopped regularly, this can help to keep allergens down and to keep your family healthier and happier.
Porcelain Tiles
At this stage, you may be thinking, ‘these are all pretty pricey options,’ and while there is an upfront cost that comes with all of these flooring options, in the long term, they will all hold their value and will be certain to up the value of your home. This leads nicely onto porcelain tiles.
These are highly durable, easy to maintain, and also offer an option that is resistant to fading. So, even if you have a bright hallway that is covered in UV light for most of the day, these tiles will not fade. Unlike the other options on this list, which are uniform in their appearance, porcelain tiles come in an array of colors and patterns, meaning that you can color or pattern match them to the other parts of your home.
Best of all, porcelain tiles are water resistant, meaning that if you have an umbrella stand in your hallway, you may want to put a mat underneath it, or you may end up with a slippery hallway! Due to this, it is often best to clean these tiles with a slightly damp mop rather than a wet one and to allow plenty of ventilation to help air dry the tiles.
Laminate
Last on the list, laminate flooring is easily the best option if you are looking for a glamorous look for your home on a budget.
It is easy to repair should it become torn or cracked, it has consistency in its appearance, making it ideal for larger surface areas, and it does not require an extensive installation process. In fact, depending on how much space needs to be covered with it, it can be installed in a few hours, meaning no upheaval or stress! Laminate is preferred by many people who have families with young children as, if the flooring becomes damaged, the repair or refit will be more affordable. Also, if you want to install it yourself, it is easily done, with many people being able to lay laminate flooring quickly and without any special tools being needed.
As you may have guessed, it is also easy to maintain and, unlike a lot of other flooring options, should something become spilled on it, you can use harsher chemicals to clean it up, leading to a much lower chance of staining. If you have a hallway that has a lot of foot traffic due to kids, dogs, or people, then never fear, as laminate is one of the most durable of all flooring materials, and it will likely last for many years with no scuffing.
Remember, when it comes to choosing the flooring material for your hallway, you need to think about how it will fit into the theme of your home. You will also need to consider if it is a worthwhile, long-term investment in the value of your property. So, look around online to get a shortlist of the best ideas for your hallway.