Abundance of tile, carpet, wood choices may floor you

"What man wants is simply independent choice, whatever that independence may cost and wherever it my lead." Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881), Russian novelist, "Notes From Underground" (1864)

I've been writing about decorating first steps, and today I'm focusing on flooring. Countless books have been written about floors, but let's start with a very quick refresher.

Floors are the workhorses of design. They take a beating every day and yet are expected to look their best. For floors to look good at all times, you must first begin at the beginning -- selection of flooring materials.

Today, we're not necessarily happy to lay carpet in every room of our homes. There are so many choices and so many price points that most of us can afford to "live a little" when it comes to flooring choices.

For bedrooms, carpet is still the number one choice. It's warm and fuzzy and is welcoming to bare feet. It's great for children's bedrooms because they will most likely be on the floor, and carpet breaks falls better and provides a little warmth for toddlers. Selections in carpet are also endless, sometimes to the point of creating total confusion. Regardless of the content you may choose -- nylon, wool or a synthetic -- I would recommend a neutral color because in reality, the carpet is a background for your furnishings. Carpet color shouldn't have to become a consideration for your upholstery and window treatment choices.

For most other rooms, tile and hardwood are growing in popularity. The beauty seldom fades, maintenance is simple and they will last until you tire of them. And again, choices and price ranges are endless. When installing tile, the larger the tile, the more open the room appears; and if the tiles are installed on the diagonal, the space looks even larger.

If you are among those who believe that a tile or a hardwood floor is cold and unwelcoming, an area rug takes care of that. It makes the room cozier and defines a particular area.

In a lot of model homes you will see a wall-to-wall type carpet installed in one area, i.e., in the seating area of a family room. I wouldn't recommend it at home. It is very limiting for furniture arrangement, and quite frankly, it looks a little goofy to me. Again, if you want the warmth of a carpet in one area, just buy an area rug. You can move it around where you need it and not limit your furniture placement. Remember, you may want to repurpose that room someday.

If you want total coverage of a hardwood or a tile floor, a good carpet layer can custom cut carpet to fit the room and not actually "lay" the carpet. It will have a pad and basically it's an area rug, but cut to the exact room measurements. This application is more common in bedrooms.

Some believe that hardwood floors throughout a house are boring. I disagree, but if you believe you would tire of looking at solid flooring, a wooden medallion is an excellent way to break up a space. Medallions can be custom designed or can be purchased ready-made; and the installer just pops them in and continues with the flooring material around them. Medallions are great for entryways, possibly replacing a small carpet, or they can be used between two separate areas in a large room.

Whether you decide to carpet, install tile or hardwood, or a combination of all three, do your homework and price shop. The range in price is considerable.

Also when checking prices, be sure to clarify whether the price includes installation. If it does not, that will add a significant sum to your bottom line.

Carolyn Muse Grant is the editor of Southern Nevada Home & Garden magazine. Her Inside Spaces column appears weekly in the Home & Garden section of the Review-Journal. Check out other decorating tips in Southern Nevada Home & Garden magazine, which is published the first Saturday of each month. Send questions to cgrant@reviewjournal.com.