Best Flooring for Your Beach House

Choosing beach house floors can be exciting and perhaps a little overwhelming at the same time — especially if you want to invest in long-term beach house flooring that's stylish, durable and easy to clean and maintain. The good news is that you don't have to compromise.

With the vast array of flooring products available on the market, it's become easier to compare different options to find the best flooring solution that meets your needs and budget. Learn about the best flooring options for coastal homes below.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Flooring for Your Beach House

As you explore flooring ideas, you'll want to consider your interior design goals and personal preferences. It's also important to keep in mind that a beach house is often exposed to various external factors, such as water and moisture, sand, dirt, heavy foot traffic, and pets. Therefore, the ideal beach house floor is extremely durable, safe and easy to clean.

Durability

Durability is a broad term used to describe the waterproof, scratch- and stain-resistance qualities of a floor. For a beach house, floor durability is typically the most important factor to consider. Your beach house may be on or down the road from the beach — either way, moisture, sand and dust exposure is inevitable. Choose a flooring type that can hold up against the elements and your busy family and friends.

Safety

Safety is always important, especially if small children and older adults are present. In a beach house, floors can easily become wet and slippery. The safest option may be installing sturdy flooring with a steadfast grip. Adding an area rug on top of your new flooring can make the space even safer in the event of a fall.

For some people, hypoallergenic floors are important — these floors are sealed with a finish to help prevent allergens from embedding into the floor.

Maintenance

When you're at your beach house, you likely want to relax, so your flooring should be easy to clean. Floors that can be wiped with a damp cloth or occasionally mopped are ideal. You may also want to consider how easy it will be to maintain and repair the flooring if needed.

Color

When considering the best color floor for your beach house, you may opt for practical, neutral colors. Neutral colors are timeless and tend to make rooms look more spacious. Darker neutral colors may also be more sensible as they can camouflage sand, dust and other debris.

Cost

Your budget may play a part in dictating your final decision. Key questions typically include how many square feet of flooring you need and which options best meet your requirements while remaining within your budget.

3 Beach House Flooring Ideas

Everyone's needs and preferences differ. A retired couple's beach house interior may vary from that of a family with young children and pets. A general rule is to set up your beach house with a long-term vision and keep the future in mind. This is also especially important when considering the resale value of your home.

While many types of flooring exist, these are three visually appealing, durable options that are often the best choice for beach houses:

1. Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Luxury vinyl flooring is a great choice for beach house flooring, combining some of the best qualities and characteristics of hardwood and laminated floors. You can choose between luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) and luxury vinyl planks (LVP). LVT looks similar to ceramic tile, while LVP imitates real wood.

A few benefits of luxury vinyl include:

• Modern: Luxury vinyl flooring is available in various colors, styles and textures. It's a stylish, luxurious option that can suit many home interior design styles, especially coastal designs.
• Durable: Luxury vinyl is waterproof. It can withstand moisture, stains and scratches and is more durable than real wood. Luxury vinyl floors are an ideal flooring solution for areas that often get wet.
• Safe: Luxury vinyl flooring is soft and comfortable to walk on, making it a safer option than tile. Softer flooring can also create a sense of warmth and may help reduce the noise of heavy foot traffic.
• Easy maintenance: Luxury vinyl floors are easy to maintain and keep clean. Simply sweep regularly to remove debris, and use a mop with a nonabrasive cleaning solution to clean up bigger messes.
• Cost-effective: Luxury vinyl is a more affordable option than many other floor types. If you're searching for a lower-cost replacement option for your beach house flooring, consider LVT.

2. Laminate Floors

Another great option for beach house flooring is laminate flooring. One of the main differences between luxury vinyl flooring and laminate floors is the way they're manufactured and the materials they consist of. Laminate floors have different layers pressed together at hot temperatures, making them thicker.

Like luxury vinyl flooring, laminate floors are stylish, easy to maintain and cost-effective. This flooring is also easy to install, hypoallergenic and often made from eco-friendly materials. Keep in mind that while laminate is durable, most are only water resistant, not waterproof, so consider placing it in areas where water accumulation won't be an issue.

3. Engineered Hardwood

If you're interested in hardwood, engineered hardwood flooring may be your preferred option for your beach house. Engineered hardwood is made from durable layers of wood bonded together. It will allow you to bring warmth and elegance to your home — as with traditional hardwood — with better resistance to moisture, humidity and general wear and tear. It's also available at a lower price compared to traditional hardwood floors.

The Best Time to Update Your Beach House Floors

The best time to update your beach home floors depends on your home. If your current flooring is old and worn down, or you're planning to sell your home, you may want to invest in a replacement soon for safety and design purposes. In general, it's ideal to plan your project in the off-season so you can enjoy your beach house later in the year without any interruptions. This approach is also important to consider if you rent out your beach home — you'll want to install the flooring at the right time to keep guests comfortable.

Visit Carpet & Tile Mart to Find Your New Flooring

Are you ready to transform your beach house flooring? This project may take a little planning, but choosing the right flooring supplier can make the process much easier. At Carpet & Tile Mart, we offer dozens of different flooring options for you to choose from for your home.

Our expert team is available to help you select an affordable flooring solution that meets your requirements and suits your budget. Visit your nearest Carpet & Tile Mart for an in-person preview of our wide selection of beach flooring options. You're also welcome to contact us via our online form with any questions.