What’s on the surface?

A lot of times, we don’t pay much attention to the surfaces in our homes; if you move into a house or apartment that you played no part in building or designing, you are barely aware of what’s on your floor or countertops.

I am sure some of you have just tried to visualise your home after reading that just to prove me wrong.

If your attempt has failed, find consolation in knowing that you’re hardly the only one. Unless it was in dire need of repair, you moved in, embraced it and life went on.

If you have a chance to pick or change the flooring and countertops you have in your home, style should be the first thing to consider: What appeals to you, and is it in sync with your style of décor?

The next thing you should consider is your lifestyle: Are you single, living as a couple or married with children, and do your home surfaces work for the people who live within your “four” walls?

Lastly, think about your personal entertaining style (if you don’t like people in your home, feel free to ignore this particular consideration): Do you entertain a lot? Where do people gather most? Are your children’s friends regularly at your house?

These may seem like a rather random bunch of questions with no particular relation to the fact that if you are building you have probably made up your mind, but hopefully, a breakdown of various home surface options and their pros and cons will shed more light on how these questions will better inform your decision.

Flooring

This is perhaps the most neglected of surfaces in the house. There are several options to consider when it comes to flooring and these include:

Hardwood flooring

Hardwood floors are beautiful and timeless and they add to the resale value of a home. They are durable and, if well maintained, will stand the test of time.

They are available in several types of woods including oak, cherry and walnut, and can be sanded and stained to suit your taste. The downside is that installation is costly and the floors are susceptible to scratches and blemishes, especially if children and pets are in the picture.

Laminate flooring

This type of flooring offers the look of hardwood or stone flooring, but without the expense and required maintenance. It is durable as well as scratch- and moisture-resistant and comes in a wide range of colours and designs. (Avoid installing it in high moisture areas though as it is likely to warp.) The downside is that once this flooring is damaged, refinishing is not an option; it must be replaced.

Stone flooring

This includes granite, marble, limestone, engineered stone and slate. This type of flooring is beautiful, durable (nearly indestructible unless you are actually trying to destroy it) and comes in many colour and pattern choices.

The cons are that it’s expensive, cold and hard on the feet, glossy finishes can be slippery when wet (an obvious hazard) and, except for engineered stone and granite, they all absorb dirt.

Tile flooring