Flooring is a must for all homes, and it is an element that adds to the decor and ease of maintenance. When you lay down a floor for a small home, you will not require too much of money, but even so, a budget can be a constraint, depending on the material you choose.
Your choices of floors can vary from, linoleum to vinyl tiles, ceramic or stone flooring, hardwood floors and even carpet tiles. When the home is small it makes sense to have all the areas in it covered with the same flooring, as bulk buying can get you discounts that can lower your costs further. Linoleum and vinyl tiles are the least expensive alternatives and are available in a wide variety of designs and colors that can make your small home look quite elegant. It is necessary that you take extreme care in creating a subfloor that is absolutely level so that the vinyl or linoleum placed over it does not suffer any damage from unevenness that can easily create tears or cracks in this rather fragile material.
Ceramic tiles or stone tiles will give you a floor in your small home that is very easy to maintain and clean, as the smoothness and hardness that these materials have will help. You can also opt for mosaic tiles that are made from cement and marble chips and can take a high degree of polish that helps to keep the area dust free. Mosiac tiles are also available in a wide range of patterns and colors, and you can even personalize a floor to make it unique. Marble is the preferred material among stone, as it is relatively cheap, compared to granite or others, though slate can also be equally competitive. Marble can be polished to a high gloss but is a relatively soft material that may require redoing every five years or so. Ceramic tiles are hard and durable and again available in a great variety of textures, patterns, and colors.
Hardwood floors can be expensive, but they bring a warmth to a home that is hard to beat. If it is a small home, the areas to be covered may not be large, and it is an alternative that you must consider if you can subject your budget to some stretching. Carpets and carpet tiles are alternatives that can be considered for the flooring of a small home. Carpets can fade in places where there is high traffic, and this problem can be avoided if you use carpet tiles. Carpet tiles allow you to replace the faded portion easily. Carpeted surfaces require a high degree of maintenance and are not recommended for homes that are in dusty areas, or have a lot of dirt brought in by the children and pets.
Your choice of flooring for your small home must take into consideration the amount of time that you can spend on keeping it clean. If you cannot spend a few hours every week sweeping, cleaning and mopping your floors, go in for floors that are resistant to dust and easy to clean. Durability is another factor that you need to consider, as replacing a floor over time can set you back quite a bit.
Any floor that you install must fit into your theme of decor, and must not be at odds with it. Make use of small rugs and other ways to reduce the monotony of any floor, as this will make your rooms that much more interesting and elegant. The minimum of furniture can make your small home look that much more spacious and requires you to choose the right floor, as more of it will always be visible.