What flooring would you put in this room?

[Firsthomechoices]

We are buying our first home and need to choice flooring throughout. I’m going to go for a very pale beige/almost cream carpet in the living room and bedrooms, but we then need to choose flooring for the hallway/downstairs toilet/kitchen diner and utility. I want the same flooring for all those rooms as they flow together and I think it will make the rooms look smaller if they’re different.

I’m struggling a bit, as the doors are oak but then we have high gloss white kitchen cabinets and a white quartz countertop with grey flecks. We’ve had grey floors in our last few houses and I’m sick to death of them. The kitchen is very light and airy, but I’m worried it will look clinical as it’s all white so I want to try and bring some warm tones in.

So I think I want a wood effect. Or would something else look better? I’m now trying to decide between Amtico/Elka laminate/bamboo.

we found a shade in the elka that we really liked but I’m worried it will look cheap or will get ruined with water, though they say it’s water resistant.

I like the concept of Amtico, very durable etc. but worry it will look fake/like a roll of vinyl and I can’t decide what shade I’d have.

bamboo sounds great and like it would tick all the boxes but the flooring I can find it all either light and quite warm/yellowy or darker/grey.

Amtico Spacia would be the top range of our budget. I don’t think engineered wood is therefore an option, and I also don’t know if it would be suitable in a kitchen/toilet etc.

no pets but two young children, lots of spills on a regular basis! If you’d just bought this house, what flooring would you put in it? Shade suggestions also greatly appreciated. It’s our first home and I’m so excited but so overwhelmed. I’m worried about making the wrong choice and ruining our new home before we even move in!

picture of the doors and cabinets attached, and the shade of elka lino that seemed to work best from the sample - though it looks different on the website which worries me!

The Elka that seemed to match

I have the same doors and wall colour and was going to suggest this colour and pattern of floor covering to you.
Mine is Karndean and I have absolutely no regrets. Have you considered the various patterns it can be laid in, such as planks, chevron and random?

I like the Elka too.

If you have a lot of spills you'll very quickly regret your carpet choice. Would you consider the Elka in your living so it's the same floor through the downstairs? Maybe even upstairs?

My mother in law has similar doors in her house and similar floors. Her whole vibe is very Scandinavian and it looks lovely. I'd also consider wooden floors in all the rooms upstairs too but I'm not a fan of carpet on anything but a runner on the stairs.

Food for thought on the carpets - we are definitely going for a bleachable carpet so I’m hoping the inevitable stains will at least be easily tackled. I had thought about hard floor in the living room but I worry it will feel cold. We also spend quite a lot of time sat on the floor playing with the girls so I like the idea of something soft, and feel like a bleachable carpet should be easier to spot treat than if we have rugs? I’ve always had carpets in the bedrooms but maybe need to rethink carpet in the lounge.

I’m glad others think the Elka will go, I think that’s helped to sway us. Colour wise it’s the closest thing we’ve seen to what we’re after so I think to save months of hand wringing about it we’ll go with that!