One of the most important decisions when planning a basement renovation is the type of flooring you will use. There are many options available now and it can be quite daunting to make this decision. For our basement renovation, I looked at all the options and the pros and cons of each for a basement application. In this post, How to Choose Flooring for your Basement Renovation, I discuss each option in detail and the things you will want to consider when making this important decision. I also share the flooring I chose for our basement home office and the progress made for week three of the One Room Challenge.
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Before we get started on the flooring options for a basement, I want to remind you all where I’m at with the One Room Challenge and the serene basement home office. Two weeks ago, I started the Challenge to transform a part of our unfinished basement into a home office and reading area for our family. For week one, I shared our plans for the serene basement home office and last week I shared my post on how to choose serene paint colours for a home office. There are only five remaining weeks in the One Room Challenge Spring 2024 edition and I can’t wait to finish this space and share the big reveal on May 22.
How to Choose Flooring for Your Basement Renovation – Flooring Options
There are many different flooring options for a basement renovation and in this part of the post, I summarize each type of flooring. Additionally, I provide the pros and cons of each for a basement application. Basements tend to be cooler and prone to water damage, so I have considered these variables in the discussion. However, the type of flooring you choose for your basement will also depend on the intended use of the space, and whether you have young children, pets, allergies/asthma, or other things that might affect your flooring needs. Note that I have not included traditional hardwood floors in my list as they are not suitable for basements.
Carpet
Basement applications of wall-to-wall carpet vary from basic low pile carpet to durable Berber to plush mid-to-high pile carpet. Carpet can be installed on top of a carpet underpad placed directly on concrete.
Pros– reasonably priced, many style and colour options, installation can be done in a day, feels warm and comfortable underfoot, dampens sound, soft play surface for babies and toddlers.
Cons– usually requires professional installation, not easily cleaned, not a good option for allergy sufferers, not the best option for pet owners as it can damage and stain easily, dries slowly and can develop mildew and mold.
Ceramic tile
Ceramic tile comes in a variety of tile sizes and shapes from small squares to tiles that resemble wood planks. It is known for its durability and is available in many colours and styles.
Pros– durability and longevity, easily cleaned, many colour and style options
Cons– fairly expensive especially if professional installation is needed, time-consuming to install and grout, requires proper substrate preparation to prevent cracks and that ice-cold feeling, feels hard underfoot.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood is a special kind of hardwood in which a layer of hardwood is affixed to layers of engineered materials designed to provide support and water resistance to the floors. Note that regular hardwood flooring is not recommend for basements due to the variations in temperature and moisture issues common in basements.
Pros– beauty and longevity, feels warm, supportive, and comfortable underfoot, many colours and grains to choose from, can be refinished, absorbs sound.
Cons– very expensive, somewhat time-consuming to install, could become damaged if the basement floods, scratches somewhat easily.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring
LVP is a newer type of flooring that is made of vinyl. It mimics the natural grain of wood or other materials like natural stone. The top layer has the look of wood and the bottom layers provide cushioning and support. LVP pieces come in a variety of lengths which join piece by piece into a floating floor.
Pros– easy to install, can be installed directly on concrete, water resistant, fairly durable, attractive with many design options, easy to remove.
Cons– high-quality LVP is fairly expensive, cannot be refinished, is thin and can transmit some of the coldness of the underlying concrete, possible clicking or hollow sounds when you walk on it, subfloor must be flat for a successful installation.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is best used with a subfloor as laminate is prone to irreversible moisture damage. This warm and cozy flooring comes in a variety of attractive patterns and can be installed quickly and easily in a basement.
Pros– fairly inexpensive, easy installation, somewhat warm underfoot, some sound absorption.
Cons-susceptible to water damage, can look cheaply made, thin and can produce clicking or hollow sounds when you walk on it.
Sheet Vinyl
Sheet vinyl is an old-school inexpensive flooring option that many people used for kitchens and laundry rooms in the past. It is thin and comes in many design patterns that mimic the look of ceramic tile, marble, or wood.
Pros– Inexpensive, can be installed quickly, many design options, easy to clean and water resistant.
Cons– Not the most attractive options, very little cushioning, feels thin, only moderately durable, usually requires professional installation.
Cork
This type of flooring is made of natural cork (harvested from the cork layer of trees) and can be stained in a variety of colours. It is soft and cushiony and has a natural look. However, it needs to be installed on a subfloor which can create extra labour and expense for your basement project.
Pros– good cushioning and feels warm and comfortable, attractive (though very unique looking), absorbs sound.
Cons– fairly expensive, difficult to install, requires a subfloor.
Concrete
If you want a more industrial-style basement, then concrete floors are an inexpensive option. Since most basements already have concrete floors, it can be a quick process to upgrade the basic concrete to a more attractive option through painting, staining, and or polishing.
Pros– inexpensive, easy to upgrade existing concrete floors, durable and unlikely to suffer water damage.
Cons– cold, hard, and loud underfoot, not attractive for family living spaces, not cozy and inviting.
The Best Flooring Option for Basements
So, what are the best flooring options for basements? For me there are two options that I would seriously consider for a basement renovation at this time. The first is Luxury Vinyl Plank and the second is wall-to-wall carpet. Both options come in a variety of price points and qualities and can give your basement a variety of looks. However, I would only consider carpet if your basement does not have a history of flooding or dampness. At one point I did seriously consider engineered hardwood, but the price was out of our range and I didn’t want to risk it getting damaged in a basement.
I love the look of Berber carpet in a basement in a warm oatmeal or beige colour. We have oatmeal Berber carpet on the top floor of our home and it has been comfortable and cozy as well as bright and attractive. The main downsides for us have been the retention of allergens in the carpet and the difficulty in cleaning the carpet when there is a spill or accident. If comfort, price, and warmth are your top priorities, then carpet may be your best option. If appearance, durability, washability and water resistance are your priorities, then LVP might be your first choice.
What Flooring Did I Choose?
For us, I didn’t want to worry about spilt drinks or craft supplies on the carpet (paint, clay, glue, glitter, glitter + glue, etc.) so an easily washable option was a must! I also personally love the look of good quality LVP as it really resembles natural wood. Plus, it feels fairly comfortable underfoot. So, in the end, I decided on Luxury Vinyl Plank in a white oak finish. It’s in the colour Finally Mine by Provenza Flooring. It has a natural and rustic quality and is light to medium-toned, which will keep the space looking fairly bright. I love how this flooring looks in our basement family room and yoga room.
Before Photo and Mood Board
This is what the room looked like at the beginning of this week.
And this is the mood board I created for the future home office.
Window seat image- Alexander Design Group, Shelving image- Angela Marie Made, Desk image- Samantha Potter
What I Accomplished this Week for the One Room Challenge
My main focus this week was to install the LVP flooring. The flooring I chose has a built-in underpad, so I was able to install the flooring directly onto the concrete. I have already written a post on installing this flooring in the other areas of our basement and you can read about that here. That post was from the last One Room Challenge I did and I shared everything you need to know to install LVP floors.
For this challenge, I started installing the flooring in our home office by the opening to the yoga room. I worked my way from the doorway to the back of the room. Unlike the rest of the basement, this part was very straightforward as the office has all straight walls and no pillars or anything unusual to work around. The whole process from start to finish took about 10 hours which I completed over a two-day period. I got quite lucky on the “math” for this room and hardly had any cuts to make for the entire room!
The Flooring is Done
It was such a relief to finish the flooring because I feel like the next couple of projects are going to be the most challenging. I guess it’s always that way with things I’ve never done before. So far, this challenge has been relatively straightforward. But now it’s time to shift into a higher gear. I love how the LVP looks here especially next to the walls painted in Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White. Everything looks crisp and clean, inviting, and quite large! Somehow it seems like there’s so much more space in here.
In addition to installing the flooring, I ordered most of the components for the desk wall I will be building in weeks 5 and 6. I also ordered some storage units from IKEA and everything was delivered this week. I started assembling the IKEA furniture since it’s something I really enjoy. Bringing it all down the stairs was the hardest part. As a friend of mine likes to say, IKEA furniture is like Lego for adults. I put on an audiobook and get in “the zone” and before I know it, all the furniture is assembled.
I also went shopping for door hardware and purchased the square/round doorknobs on the left. They were affordable and I like the modern look. Home Depot for the win this time.
Progress on the Project List for the Home Office
Here’s my updated project list for the One Room Challenge Spring 2024 edition:
- Plan an optimal layout for the space ✔
- Clean up the space- remove everything, sweep, and wipe every surface clean ✔
- Construct window jamb extensions and frame the window ✔
- Prime and paint walls and ceiling ✔
- Install vinyl plank flooring ✔
- Design and construct a reading bench
- Plan and construct built-in shelves
- Design and construct a two-desk wall unit with storage
- Apply feature wall behind desk unit
- Prime and paint desk unit
- Apply and paint trim
- Install lighting
- Make a cover for the reading bench and choose/make pillows
- Decorate with rugs, cushions, plants, and accessories
Plans for the Coming Week
My goal for the coming week is to build the reading bench and paint the entire unit white. I will also be purchasing a cushion and making a cover for it. However, I don’t know if I will have enough time this week to do that as the bench is fairly time-consuming and I will possibly order fabric from out of town. I may present the completed bench and decorative pillows when I do the final reveal on May 22. Anyway, this is the space where I will build the custom reading bench. It’s a 40″ by 76″ space, so there’s enough room for a daybed-sized reading bench.
Finally, this week I need to purchase the lighting for this room and mentally prepare for building the big desk unit the following week. In the photo below, you can see the large (unpainted) wall where I will be building the desk unit.
Summary
I’m very excited to finish our basement and create a serene basement home office. I hope you have enjoyed reading about how to choose flooring for your basement renovation and seeing the progress I made this week installing Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring. Thank you for joining me this week and I’m looking forward to sharing my weekly projects and updates with you. The final reveal is May 22, so stay tuned! Please check out the posts by the other participants here. I’m really invested in some of these projects!
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