If you’re of a certain age, you might remember the basements of years past: heavy shag carpeting, a huge pit of couches that faced a TV or media cabinet with a larger-than-anything-else-in-the-house TV, and functional lighting that may or may not have been off center (and not that pretty to look at).
Those days are gone—no longer are basements afterthoughts, but they’ve evolved to become a natural extension of the home. While it’s still common for the basement to be a perfect place for recreational activities (think movies and ping pong and hobby space), it’s now just as common for the basement to be designed in a way that naturally flows with the rest of the home, rather than it being an afterthought or a place to “make do.”
Part of this evolution is the expansion of flooring choices over the years. No longer are we relegated to either installing wall-to-wall carpeting or adding throw rugs over existing concrete. Now basement floors can be treated with a paint and epoxy treatment, or stained, or tiled (ceramic or vinyl) or corked. But one of the most popular options—and one we’ve seen clients opt for more often—is luxury vinyl tile (LVT).
Luxury vinyl tile is a product that looks like a real element (think stone or wood) but is actually vinyl. Because it’s available in so many different options (this is true whether we’re talking about design aesthetic, quality, and price), it’s a great choice for almost all budgets.
But it’s not just about the budget. Basements present some unique design challenges, one of which is that there is often the added worry of flooding or water damage than might be the case in other areas of the house. Because of this, flooring is an especially important consideration. You need something that looks phenomenal but can also be installed over concrete, something that can be withstand a little more wear and tear than other areas, and something that can withstand the challenges of potential water damage or flooding due to heavy rains or other issues.
LVT is kind of like the best of both worlds: durable but attractive, affordable but not cheap. It’s durable, which means it won’t wear as quickly as truly cheap options that have to be replaced sooner—or worse, might require additional work and money to fix. It gives the look of a natural floor covering—like hardwood flooring or stone, but isn’t susceptible to the issues those natural elements might face in a basement.
If you’re thinking about turning your basement into a space your entire family will love, we’d be honored to work with you. Check out our portfolio or reach out when you’re ready!