Flooring by Room

Why the room matters

Every floor in our range will look good. Not every floor will last well in every room. The three things that decide it are moisture, traffic and heat: how wet the room gets, how much walking it takes, and whether there is underfloor heating beneath it.

Get those right and the choice comes down to colour and pattern. Get them wrong and you are lifting the floor in three years.

Kitchen flooring

Kitchens combine spills, dropped pans and constant foot traffic, usually with underfloor heating as well. That rules out solid wood in most cases, because it moves too much with changes in humidity and heat.

Engineered oak is the usual answer. The multi-ply core stays stable where solid boards would cup or gap, and most of our engineered range is rated for underfloor heating. Choose a 4mm or thicker wear layer if the kitchen is the busiest room in the house, and a lacquered finish rather than oiled, since lacquer copes better with spills.

LVT and laminate are the other strong options, particularly on a budget or where the floor needs to shrug off almost anything.

Bathroom flooring

Bathrooms are the one room where wood is the wrong answer. Standing water and steam will damage any timber floor eventually, however well finished.

Choose LVT or SPC vinyl instead. They are fully waterproof rather than water-resistant, handle temperature swings without moving, and the tile-effect designs give you a stone or marble look that is warmer underfoot than the real thing and considerably cheaper.

Living room flooring

The easiest room to choose for. Moisture is not a concern, traffic is moderate, and this is usually the room you most want to look right.

Almost anything in the range works. Solid oak comes into its own here, since there is rarely underfloor heating and the humidity is stable. Herringbone and chevron are worth considering in a living room more than anywhere else, because it is the space where a pattern gets seen and appreciated.

Oiled finishes suit living rooms well. They give a softer, more natural look than lacquer, and scratches can be spot-repaired rather than needing the whole floor redone.

Hallway and conservatory flooring

Hallways take more traffic than any other floor in the house, and all of it arrives from outside carrying grit. Grit is what wears a finish down, so choose a thicker wear layer, and put a doormat at every external door.

Conservatories are a different problem: large temperature swings between a summer afternoon and a winter night. That movement is hard on solid wood. Engineered oak, LVT or laminate handle it far better.

Choosing across the whole house

If the floor runs through several rooms, or you can see one from another, keeping to a single floor makes the space feel larger. Where you do need to change, a threshold or ramp profile makes a clean transition.

Where the same floor runs into a bathroom or utility, switch to a waterproof LVT in a matching decor rather than continuing the wood. Browse flooring by colour to find a close match.

Flooring by room: frequently asked questions

What is the best flooring for a kitchen?

Engineered oak for a real wood floor, or LVT and laminate for maximum durability. Solid wood is generally not recommended, particularly over underfloor heating.

Can I put wood flooring in a bathroom?

We would not advise it. Standing water and steam damage timber over time. LVT and SPC vinyl are fully waterproof and give the same look.

Which flooring is best for underfloor heating?

Engineered oak, LVT and most laminates. Suitability is stated on every product page, and you should follow the manufacturer's temperature limit.

What wear layer do I need for a hallway?

Thicker is better. A 4mm or greater wear layer gives more life in the busiest part of the house, and allows more sandings over the years.

Can I use the same floor throughout the house?

In most rooms, yes, and it usually looks better. Bathrooms are the exception, where a waterproof alternative in a matching decor is the sensible approach.

What flooring is best for a conservatory?

Temperature swings are the issue rather than moisture. Engineered oak, LVT and laminate all cope better than solid wood.

How much flooring will I need?

Measure the room and use the flooring calculator on any product page. It works out the packs including an allowance for cuts.