Hello friends! Today, I’m thrilled to share a pivotal decision we made for our home: choosing laminate flooring. This article delves into the journey that led us to embrace laminate, revealing why it was not only the right choice for us but also a decision I would confidently make again and again. Prepare to discover how modern laminate flooring has truly revolutionized home renovations, and why it might be the perfect solution for your living space too.
To truly understand our flooring transformation, let me take you back to where my flooring philosophy began. Our first home, a charming structure built in 1925, boasted magnificent heart of pine wood floors – a true testament to timeless craftsmanship. Our second residence, constructed in 1990, saw us investing in brand-new oak hardwood floors even before we moved in, setting a precedent for our love of natural wood. Then came our third home, a 1926 gem featuring exquisite original oak floors, which we lovingly had professionally refinished to restore their former glory. For years, I was an unwavering devotee of traditional hardwood flooring. The mere mention of laminate floors or any alternative budget-friendly flooring options would make me wince. In my mind, nothing could compare to the authentic beauty and prestige of real wood.
However, life, as it often does, presented us with a new challenge at the close of 2012 when we acquired our current home, built in 1986. This property presented a very different flooring landscape. The only existing “wood” floors were badly damaged bamboo, whose color and grain we found utterly unappealing. The remainder of the house was a patchwork of uninspiring tile, outdated vinyl, and worn-out carpet – a far cry from the elegant hardwoods I cherished. It was clear a major overhaul was needed. (On a side note, you can see how we creatively tackled some of these issues by painting the bamboo floors in our kitchen and dining room, and how we even painted the vinyl floor in our laundry room).
Immediately after settling into our new abode, the conversation around selecting new flooring became a top priority. What followed was an intensive period of research, deliberation, and, ultimately, a decision that would stun my former self: we definitively ruled out real hardwood floors and chose to install laminate. I can almost hear your surprise, because believe me, I was just as astonished! Yet, looking back, it’s a choice I would wholeheartedly endorse again and again. For our family and our lifestyle, it proved to be the absolute perfect fit.
So, you might be asking, what prompted such a dramatic shift in perspective? How did a self-proclaimed hardwood enthusiast become a laminate advocate? The answer lies in a combination of practical benefits and remarkable advancements in flooring technology. Here are the compelling reasons that guided our decision and convinced us that laminate flooring was the superior option for our home:
Four Key Reasons We Chose Laminate Flooring for Our Home
1) Cost-Effectiveness: A Smart Financial Decision
One of the most significant factors influencing our decision was, undeniably, cost. Laminate flooring offers a considerably more budget-friendly solution compared to genuine hardwoods, a difference that becomes even more pronounced when you desire a specific aesthetic like a hand-scraped finish. The truth is, hand-scraped hardwood floors were simply beyond our financial reach. Even basic oak planks, without any specialized finishes, would have severely strained our budget, primarily due to the substantial square footage of our home. This house, spanning 3,400 square feet, is by far the largest we’ve ever owned, and furnishing it with hardwoods throughout would have been an astronomical expense.
Furthermore, our preference for hardwood installation involves a specific, more costly process: having the planks installed, then sanded and finished on-site. This method, while yielding a beautiful result, necessitates completing the entire installation in one go, a considerable financial commitment that we were not prepared to undertake. We are committed to avoiding loans for home improvement projects, making a home equity line an unviable option. Laminate flooring, on the other hand, allows for a phased approach. With our home’s layout, we can easily install it one room at a time, spreading the cost over a more manageable period. There’s no complex staining or sanding to consider, making it a much more flexible and affordable project. The material cost itself is also significantly lower, making laminate an undeniable win for our budget.
2) Unmatched Durability: Built for Real Life
Beyond the cost, the superior durability of laminate flooring was a game-changer for us. Let me illustrate: in 2007, we welcomed Titan, our loving 90-pound Boxer, into our family. In our previous home, after investing in refinishing those gorgeous hardwoods, we heartbreakingly noticed that Titan’s playful toenails left noticeable marks on the surface. While entirely not his fault, it was the undeniable reality of living with a large, active dog on delicate wood floors. The concern lingered, limiting his freedom to play indoors. Then, in 2011, our twin girls arrived, further amplifying our need for resilient flooring. The thought of constantly worrying about them pushing toys, wagons, or grocery carts across real wood floors, fearing every scratch and dent, was simply unappealing. We wanted them to enjoy their home without us constantly fretting over potential floor damage.
Our laminate floors have completely eliminated these concerns. We now freely allow Titan to play fetch, run at full speed (Road Runner style!), and even roughhouse inside the house without a single worry. It’s truly astounding; not even the tiniest mark appears on the surface. When our girls drag their toys around, drop objects, or engage in boisterous play, we don’t even flinch. The floors in their playroom have been installed for over 2.5 years, and those in the laundry room for more than two years. This extensive real-world experience has convinced us that these floors are darn near indestructible – a stark contrast to our experiences with real hardwoods, where constant vigilance and maintenance were a necessity.
3) DIY-Friendly Installation: Empowering Homeowners
For homeowners who appreciate the satisfaction and cost savings of tackling projects themselves, laminate floors are incredibly DIY-friendly. As mentioned, we successfully installed the flooring in our girls’ playroom in a single day. The same efficiency held true for our family room, a very spacious area measuring approximately 30 by 20 feet, which also took us just one day to complete. This is a monumental difference compared to the complex, multi-stage process of installing, sanding, staining, and finishing hardwood floors. That, truly, is a whole different ball game, demanding specialized tools, significant skill, and a much larger time commitment. If we had managed to afford hardwoods for our entire home, we would have unquestionably needed to hire professionals for the vast scope of the work.
When we moved into our current house, our twin girls were approaching their second birthday, meaning our precious free time was extremely limited. Dedicating endless hours to a house full of intricate hardwood flooring installation was simply not feasible. Laminate flooring, with its intuitive click-and-lock system and minimal tools required, proved to be an incredibly manageable and rewarding DIY project for us. It empowered us to transform our home on our own terms, saving significant labor costs in the process and allowing us to enjoy our beautiful new floors much sooner.
4) Striking Aesthetics: Modern Elegance Within Reach
Perhaps one of the most compelling transformations in the flooring industry is just how far laminate flooring has advanced in terms of aesthetics. Gone are the days of artificial-looking, hollow-sounding laminate planks. Modern laminate, particularly the hand-scraped varieties we selected, are, in my honest opinion, just as visually appealing as many high-end hardwood floors. The technology behind laminate has evolved dramatically, allowing for incredibly realistic wood grain textures, authentic-looking hand-scraped finishes, varied plank designs, and even beveled edges that mimic the look and feel of genuine wood planks. The depth, richness, and visual warmth they bring to a space are truly impressive.
When comparing them side-by-side with hardwoods, modern laminate floors often hold their own, or even surpass them, in the aesthetics department, especially considering the price point. We were able to achieve a sophisticated, high-end look that perfectly complemented our home’s design vision without the exorbitant cost associated with traditional hardwoods. This perfect blend of beauty, affordability, and performance truly makes laminate a winner in our book.
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Our Laminate Flooring Choice: The Perfect Product for Our Home
After extensive research and countless samples, we finally discovered a laminate floor that truly captured our hearts and met all our criteria. Our search led us to hand-scraped laminate floors made by Select Surfaces. The most appealing aspect was their availability at Sam’s Club, priced at an incredibly reasonable $1.76 per square foot. The hand-scraped finish masterfully mimics the sophisticated look of expensive hardwood floors, providing that high-end aesthetic we craved without the premium price tag. Additionally, these laminate floors are impressively thick and feature a pre-attached foam backing, which immediately gave me hope that they wouldn’t produce that notorious hollow sound often associated with some laminate products. Trusting our instincts, we took a leap of faith and purchased a substantial quantity of the Canyon Oak flooring. (A crucial tip: I highly recommend ordering the full amount of flooring you need directly from Sam’s Club’s website and having it shipped to your home. Shipping is often free and will save you considerable effort in loading and unloading. Alternatively, pay online and opt for in-store pickup to guarantee availability, as we learned the hard way after a trip to Sam’s Club only to find they had just a few boxes left.)
Our first installation project was our girls’ playroom. This room was initially a dull, beige box, burdened by old, unsightly carpet. The transformation was swift and remarkably clean. We installed the new laminate floors in just one day, with minimal mess involved. The only truly messy part of the process was the initial task of ripping out the old carpet and its padding, which, frankly, was quite gross and dusty.
The actual installation of the laminate floors was a genuine pleasure – no sanding, no staining, and no toxic fumes! Once we mastered the technique of clicking the planks together, the work progressed very quickly and smoothly. The inherent design of the planks made the process intuitive, even for DIY novices.
The end result in our girls’ playroom exceeded all our expectations. We were absolutely thrilled with how the new floors looked. Just take a moment to appreciate that incredible hand-scraped texture – it adds so much character and warmth to the room, truly elevating its design.
And the best part? Absolutely no hollow sound when you walk on them! This was one of my biggest worries, and I am so relieved to report that it’s simply not an issue with this product. The integrated foam backing truly makes a difference, creating a solid, quiet feel underfoot. You would honestly never guess you were walking on a laminate floor; it feels incredibly substantial and realistic.
Just a few months later, emboldened by our success and satisfaction, we installed the same gorgeous Canyon Oak laminate floors in our family room. The impact was nothing short of monumental. This room, which began as a dated space, now feels entirely transformed, largely thanks to the stunning new flooring. Here’s a glimpse of how it looked before we began:
And here is the incredible after, a testament to the power of modern flooring and a clear demonstration of how laminate can elevate a space:
The journey with laminate flooring continues! I am absolutely thrilled to announce that Select Surfaces has generously offered us the opportunity to try out one of their newest laminate flooring products. This time, we’re working with the same fabulous, high-quality hand-scraped laminate, but in a slightly different finish called Truffle. Our plan is to install these beautiful floors in our hallway and master bedroom. I cannot express how excited I am to finally remove the old, tired carpet from these two crucial spaces. This upcoming project promises to make a tremendous and much-needed difference in both the aesthetics and functionality of our home.
We’re eagerly anticipating sharing a detailed post documenting the installation process of these new Truffle floors, along with the dramatic final reveal. I literally cannot wait to get started! Our goal is to have them installed by the end of August, with the grand reveal article scheduled for sometime in September. Stay tuned for all the exciting updates and transformations!
Ahhhh, just looking at them, aren’t they absolutely gorgeous?! The Truffle finish is going to infuse so much warmth and sophistication into our hallway and master bedroom. The anticipation is truly palpable! We believe these new floors will not only enhance the beauty of these spaces but also contribute to the overall comfort and value of our home. Stay tuned for the complete saga!
For those of you wondering how I approach the exciting challenge of transforming rooms and spaces throughout our home, be sure to check out Designer in a Binder®. It’s a resource I’ve poured my heart into, designed to help you navigate your own home decor journey with confidence and ease.
And if you’re eager for exclusive content, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and direct insights into our ongoing projects, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter before you leave! We love sharing our journey and connecting with fellow home enthusiasts.
