Dining Room Flooring

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Dining room flooring needs durability, maintainability, and project a warm atmosphere

The dining room is typically used for more formal occasions when guests are over. However, sometimes its more frequently used on a regular basis. Choosing the most optimal dining room flooring needs to reflect both of these uses.

The Importance of Dining Room Flooring

You may not think your dining room flooring makes much of a difference in your decorating scheme but…think again. Your flooring, along with your walls, cover the most space in the room. It is one of the first things a person sees when they walk into your dining room. It’s traveled across, admired, and even graces your feet while you eat. A dining room floor has multi purposes to serve so you’ll want to put a lot of thought into your purchase.

The Many Roles of Dining Room Flooring

Sets the Mood: You only have seconds to make a good first impression so make sure it counts by having flooring that sets the tone you wish to portray in your dining area. Modern, sophisticated, warm and welcoming, or a vintage or farmhouse appeal are all excellent options.

Supports the Cause: Your flooring not only helps establish your decorating scheme, it should also be appropriate for the activities that will take place in it. If your dining area will have a lot of foot traffic or if you have pets who will trod over the surface or children who are likely to be spilling food and drinks on it, you’ll want to opt for flooring that is durable and easy to clean. For a more elegant look, a lighter colored, higher maintenance flooring might bring the perfect formal atmosphere you’re wanting to achieve.

Comfort is Key: Even if your dining room is going to be a formal room, you’ll want to make sure the flooring is comfortable to walk and stand on. The quality of linoleum often reflects the amount of “give” it has – the thicker, the more cushiony.

Safety Matters: Be mindful of safety when choosing flooring for your dining room. Some floors are slick which can cause slips and falls while others have natural traction or anti-skid coatings. Bumpy, irregular floors pose tripping hazards. Especially if you have young children or older adults who will frequent the room, you’ll want to pay close attention to the texture your flooring’s surface.

Being Budget-Friendly: There’s no doubt flooring is one of the most important investments you’ll ever make in your home. It should last for years and possibly even decades. You certainly don’t want to “settle” when choosing it. Going into debt over your flooring isn’t necessary when you are wise about it though. Consider bargain shopping or waiting until the flooring you have your heart set on is on sale. Another measure to take is to compare flooring installers for the best prices or you may even be able to install it yourself.

What Dining Room Floors are Trends are In?

Dining rooms come in many forms and fashions. They can be formal or informal and can be in a separated part of the house or connected to the kitchen. The flooring of a dining area is typically reflective of what goes on in the room – who uses it, how often, and for what. If meals are frequently served informally, the flooring is usually informal as well and easy to care for. Formal dining rooms often have more luxurious flooring.

Whatever the mood and atmosphere of the dining room is, interior designs that are popular come and go. The latest top trends in dining area flooring include:

Unique

No longer are dining rooms expected to be an extension of the rest of the house. They can do their own thing. Eclectic wall hangings, charming rugs, photos of vacations past can all set a one-of-a-kind aura for the room. But what about the flooring? Believe it or not, you can go with anything you like as long as it compliments the chosen unique décor and blends into any flooring that can be seen from the room or that touches it. For instance, if you choose a distressed solid wood flooring, you wouldn’t want it to bump up to a light wood floor. Instead, if you aren’t continuing the exact same rustic wood, choose a patterned tile linoleum or something totally different than the rustic wood.

Colors, Colors, and More Colors

Colors are in! Shiney yellow, bright earthy orange, beach glass blue, waterfall blue, vibrant indigo, deep reds, sky blue, rust, and ash green are all taking center stage now. Don’t be afraid to bring your color in by way of your dining room flooring. Linoleum tiles and vinyl come in planks and tiles in practically every color imaginable. You can throw in a pattern if you’d like or go with solid. Bring out the main color with an accent rug and wall décor. You can add a colorful table cover too.

Bleached Wood Flooring

Bleached wood flooring is extremely popular, especially in the dining area. Although solid wood can be bleached, it’s bleached engineered wood flooring that is taking the nation by a storm for dining areas because they are waterproof, durable, scuff and skid resistant, and very, very fashionable.

Light Trend

One of the biggest trends in home decorating now is to let light in wherever possible. The airy atmosphere is ideal for dining areas regardless of if they are casual of formal. But…when choosing your flooring, beware. Some flooring tends to fade when exposed to a lot of sunlight. Dark wood and some light wood, like maple, fade with too much light as does epoxy, linoleum, and vinyl. Oddly, Brazilian cherry and various other more exotic woods darken in extreme extended sunlight exposure. The best flooring options for light exposed rooms are bleached wood, stone, ceramic, and porcelain tiles are ideal for the cause.

Warm Wood

Wood flooring is a classic look that never goes out of style. It’s warm and inviting, the kind of look and feel that’s perfect for both informal and formal dining areas. The more beat-up the wood looks, the cozier it makes the room seem. Warm colors like dark blue, gold, rust, and dark green pull the room together for a warm welcome.

Considerations When Choosing Dining Room Flooring

Some of the main factors to keep in mind when looking for dining room flooring include:

Durability: Flooring is a considerable investment that should last for years, if not decades. Skimping typically costs more money in the long run. The better the quality, the longer your flooring will last. Some flooring materials, like oak hardwood, engineered hardwood, porcelain tile, and vinyl, are naturally more durable than others and will therefore outlast them.
Cleaning and Upkeep: Dining rooms that double for hang-out areas and homework hubs tend to experience more spills and stains than formal dining room flooring does. Be sure to research how easy or difficult the cleaning of the flooring your considering is and be aware of any regular maintenance that will be required. Laminates and porcelain tiles are low-maintenance and a cinch to clean while some types of solid hardwood flooring, such as Brazilian cherry, may be more suitable for formal dining areas that are only used occasionally.
Lifestyle: The way in which your dining area is to be used will help determine what flooring is ideal for it. If it will have heavy traffic or is a room frequented by kids and/or pets, you’ll need resilient flooring like vinyl, ceramic tile, solid wood, or engineered wood. If you will be using the dining area strictly for entertaining adults, you may want to opt for a more sophisticated flooring and go with an elegant look rather than being too concerned about it being durable.
Location: The location of your dining room in the house as well as the geographic location of your home should be taken into consideration. Highly humid climates are not conducive for some flooring like certain types of solid hardwood. If your dining area has the potential to be flooded from a nearby laundry room or bathroom, you’ll want to stick with ceramic tile or a another type of waterproof flooring option.
Cost: The price of flooring is figured in square feet. The cost can add up quickly, depending on the size of your area. Consider looking for flooring companies that offer deep discounts and other specials and don’t forget to add in the price of installation. You can also save by going with “look alike” options such as engineered hardwood vs. solid hardwood.
Style: Your flooring will make the dominate statement about your dining room so be sure the flooring and the theme and color scheme of the décor flow accordingly. If your dining room table is traditional, your flooring should be as well. If you are going with a modern look, tile or light solid wood or light engineered wood flooring works great.
Comfort: Even if you only use your dining room occasionally, you’ll want the floor to have a certain degree of comfort. If it’s a room that used frequently, comfort should be one of your main considerations. You’ll want flooring that is easy to walk and stand on that doesn’t get too cold in the winter or hot in the summer.

Dining Room Flooring Options

There are so many dining flooring options to choose from, it can be overwhelming. Here’s a look at some of the most popular options and the strengths and weaknesses of each:

Hardwood

Hardwood flooring can be an excellent choice for a dining room…or not. Solid hardwood floors are timeless and versatile. Some project an elegant air while others are ideal for farmhouse, vintage, or traditional dining areas. You’ll find hardwood is available in a myriad of options such as different wood types, grains, and stains. Each have unique appearances and their strengths and weaknesses.
Hardwood typically comes in planks. You can find it in prefinished versions, or you can stain and finish it yourself. Hardwood is available in very soft wood through extremely hardwood and is rated on a Janka scale according to its degree of hardness.

Pros:

There are many options in solid hardwood flooring for dining rooms, so you are sure to find one that fits your needs.
Hardwood floors are beautiful regardless of if they are of the weathered look, are prim and polished, or fall somewhere in between.
Hardwood flooring boosts the value of your home by 2.5% and more.
Hardwood never goes out of style.
Hardwood flooring is natural and sustainable.
Hardwood floors tend to last for decades.

Cons:

Hardwood flooring can be expensive.
Some hardwood options are not suitable for frequent food and drink spillage.
Installation of hardwood flooring planks can be expensive too.
Not all hardwood is suitable for humid locations or those that are extremely hot or cold.
Some hardwood requires considerable maintenance.
There is no insulation under hardwood flooring.
Hardwood flooring makes for a harder surface than some other options.

Types of Hardwood Flooring Worth Considering for Dining Rooms:

Some of the most suitable solid hardwood flooring for dining areas include:

Red Oak: highly durable, improves with age, gorgeous grain, one of the most popular options, nice pick for high-traffic areas
White Oak: closed grain, even more durable than red oak, water resistant, excellent for modern and contemporary decorating,
Cherry: warm brown hues, smooth grain pattern, soft wood, excellent choice for low-traffic dining rooms
Walnut: deep, rich tones, large straight grain patterns, gives sophisticated air,
Hickory: great choice for rustic, farmhouse, and vintage styles, durable, holds up in heavily trafficked areas
Maple: very durable, fine grain pattern with occasional dark specs and streaks, adds interesting visual appeal

Laminate

Laminate floors are durable and highly resistant to stains. They look similar to tile and are beloved for their ability to mimic wood and other natural flooring materials. Laminate floors hold up well to wear and tear, moisture, and don’t fade easily.

Laminate is comprised of synthetic composites. It consists of four layers that are fused together to create an extremely durable surface.

The layers are as follows:

Back: The back layer includes a reinforcement of melamine which gives it structural stability and makes it water resistant.

Fiberboard Core: The fiberboard core is notable for providing a reinforcement of stability. It also makes the flooring impact resistant. The edge-sealing treatment gives is even more durability and stability.

Decorative Layer: The decorative layer is the part that provides the beauty to the flooring. It is an in-depth photo with details that reflects the appearance of wood, ceramic, tile, or other materials.

Pros:

Laminate is very durable, making it ideal for dining areas.
It is versatile and comes in many options, so you are sure to find a great fit for your dining area regardless of if it is a formal or informal area.
Laminate resists stains and moisture so it’s great for frequently used dining rooms.
It is more affordable than many other types of flooring.
Laminate is pet and kid friendly.
It is low maintenance and easy to clean.
Laminate is hypoallergenic.
Laminate is recyclable.
It is easy to install.
You can fit laminate together so that it is seamless without gaps.
It is available in peel and stick and padded options.
Laminate is easy to clean.

Cons:

Not optimal for humid areas of the home or moist geographical locations.
Some lower-quality laminates have a fake appearance.
Laminate flooring can be noisy underfoot.
Laminate can be hard to stand or walk on.
There are chemicals present in laminate flooring.
Although installation is supposed to be a breeze, that’s not always true.
Laminate is difficult to repair if it tears or cracks.
Laminate can be sensitive to the chemicals in some cleaners.

Types of Hardwood Flooring Worth Considering for Dining Rooms:

Some of the most suitable solid hardwood flooring for dining areas include:

Red Oak: highly durable, improves with age, gorgeous grain, one of the most popular options, nice pick for high-traffic areas
White Oak: closed grain, even more durable than red oak, water resistant, excellent for modern and contemporary decorating,
Cherry: warm brown hues, smooth grain pattern, soft wood, excellent choice for low-traffic dining rooms
Walnut: deep, rich tones, large straight grain patterns, gives sophisticated air,
Hickory: great choice for rustic, farmhouse, and vintage styles, durable, holds up in heavily trafficked areas
Maple: very durable, fine grain pattern with occasional dark specs and streaks, adds interesting visual appeal

Tile

Tile is a nice choice in dining room flooring because it has a hard surface that offers a good amount of structural support for furniture such as heavy dining room tables and solid wood hutches.

Tile is a “catch-all” term that encompasses hard-wearing flooring that consists of tiles and the gaps in between are filled with grout. Tile can be made with a clay-based material or ceramic. It can be porous or nonporous (ceramic). Tile is tremendous for the dining area in many instances.