Work-at-homers, this complete guide to home office flooring has it all: most durable floors, most budget-friendly flooring, and the floors that do it all.
Home office floors
Most budget-friendly floor for home offices
Carpet remnants
Carpet remnants are the remainder of a roll, and are typically sold at discounted prices. Remnants are perfect for small home offices. They are available at local flooring stores in a variety of colors and styles. Homeowners who need more durable carpets should ask for low-pile carpets with easy-to-clean features. Some carpets are also hypo-allergenic, which is ideal for homes with allergies.
Pros: Soft underfoot, durable, budget-friendly, available in a wide variety of colors and styles
Cons: May stain from spills, installation costs
Most durable floor for home offices
Luxury vinyl plank
Luxury vinyl plank is an incredibly durable home office flooring. These floors are ideal in homes with pets and kids because they are easy-to-clean and hold up well in high-traffic spaces. They are also water-resistant, which is ideal for home offices because they are not easily stained by spills. Luxury vinyl plank floors are available in styles that look like stone and wood; the vinyl floors that resemble wood allow homeowners to have a floor that adds the warmth of wood without worrying about water damage.
Some LVP flooring is made in easy-to-install products that click together. These floors are typically more expensive than LVP floors that need to be glued down, they are easy to install as floating floors without adhesive.
Pros: Durable, easy-to-clean, available in a variety of colors and styles, water-resistant, looks like wood, fairly easy DIY project
Cons: May scratch
Most beautiful floor for home offices
Wood flooring
Hardwood flooring is a stunning floor option for home offices. They are available in wide and narrow planks, and a variety of stains that match with almost any décor. Because they are popular floor choice, wood floors may add value to a home.
Wood floors are a very durable floor, though they are susceptible to warping from standing water. If this is a concern, ask a local flooring professional to see waterproof wood flooring. Homeowners need to wipe up spills immediately and not leave standing water after mopping.
Pros: Durable, available in a variety of colors, wide and narrow plank, may add value to a property
Cons: May scratch, can be damaged by standing water
Best option for home offices with radiant underfloor heating
Tile
Tile is one of the toughest floor options and come with a variety of features that make them ideal in a home office. They are easy-to-clean, making them a good choice for busy households. Furthermore, porcelain, ceramic, and stone tile naturally conduct heat, making them a natural choice for homes with radiant underfloor heating. Most tiles, including porcelain and ceramic tiles, are water-resistant so they work well in home offices near a pool or lake.
Tiles come in a variety of styles and colors that match almost any décor. Some tiles resemble wood, making them a good choice for homeowners who want the look of wood without worrying about water damage. Tiles can also be paired with different colored grouts for a striking look. In homes with pets and kids, homeowners can choose dark colored grout that hides stains.
Pros: Water-resistant, durable, natural conductor of heat, easy-to-clean, available in a variety of styles and colors
Cons: Very hard underfoot
Most affordable hard floor option for home offices
Laminate
Laminate flooring is an incredibly affordable home office flooring option. These floors are built of multiple layers with base layer of wood. They are a durable floor and a good option for home offices with a lot of foot and paw traffic. Laminate floors look just like wood floors, and are available in many styles and colors. Like wood floors, they are prone to water damage from standing water.
In addition to being affordable, laminate floors are a fairly easy do-it-yourself project. They can be installed as a floating floor without adhesive. Laminate floors require very little floor prep before install; the sub-floors only need to be level and smooth. Flooring should be brought into the home office approximately two days before install to ensure that the installation is smooth and the end result is beautiful.
Pros: Very affordable, Durable, Easy-to-clean, Fairly easy DIY project, Available in a variety of styles and colors
Cons: Prone to damage from standing water
How to keep office floors looking new
- Regularly vacuum or sweep home office floors (at least once a week).
- Clean up spills promptly. (Don’t scrub carpet fibers. Blot them.)
- Always use a manufacturer-approved floor cleaner for spills and deep cleaning.
- Schedule an annual carpet cleaning for carpeted home offices.
- Deep clean hard flooring bi-annually as directed by the manufacturer.
- Put felt pads on all furniture to protect hard flooring.
- Use a plastic mat to protect floors from rolling chairs.
- Move area rugs around so flooring does not fade.
