Flooring completely transforms the atmosphere of a home, yet it remains one of the most frequently mishandled design elements. Homeowners often obsess over paint colours, kitchen fittings, and furnishings, but flooring quietly defines the character of the entire property. When chosen wisely, it elevates the space; when done poorly, even a stunning house can feel inexpensive, chaotic, or oddly outdated.
Interior Expert Weighs In
Interior specialist Jordana Ashkenazi told the Daily Mail that flooring has become one of the most overlooked decor decisions. 'You can walk into a property within seconds and immediately tell whether it feels calm, expensive, and well designed or cold, patchy, and dated, and the flooring is usually a huge part of that,' she said. Below, she outlines the most frequent flooring blunders and how to correct them.
Skimping on Real Wood
According to Jordana, nothing compares to genuine wood flooring, which improves with age. She explained that real wood develops character naturally, while cheaper alternatives often 'just develop damage'. It also provides a heavier, more solid feel underfoot that people subconsciously associate with high-end homes. 'It has warmth, texture, and character that instantly elevates a home, and unlike cheaper alternatives, it actually gets better with age,' she said. 'You can sand it back, restain it, change the tone over time, and restore it properly rather than replacing the entire floor.'
Jordana noted that laminate and vinyl nearly always reveal themselves. 'There are definitely some better laminate options on the market now, and many are practical and easy to clean, especially for busy family homes. But no matter how expensive they are, you can almost always tell they're not real wood,' she continued. Tell-tale signs include a hollow 'click clack' sound when walking in heels, lifting or gaps after heavy furniture is placed, and faster wear. 'Over time, laminate and vinyl tend to chip, wear, and age much faster than real timber, and unlike wood, you can't properly restore them; you usually end up ripping the whole thing out and starting again. There's also something about vinyl in particular that still feels very plastic visually, no matter how much it tries to imitate natural materials. From a design perspective, it can instantly cheapen a space.'
Dismissing Underfloor Heating
Jordana said underfloor heating instantly makes rooms feel calmer and more luxurious because it eliminates radiators that interrupt walls and dictate furniture placement. 'From a design perspective, radiators are always tricky to work around, so having clear walls completely changes what you can do with a space,' she explained. Modern systems are now more intelligent, allowing zoning for different rooms and app control to avoid heating the entire house unnecessarily. 'People assume it's outrageously expensive, but smart zoning can actually help save money in the long run,' she added.
Choosing Wall-to-Wall Beige Carpet Downstairs
Especially when paired with cream walls and pine banisters. 'Carpet absolutely has its place upstairs, but fully carpeted downstairs spaces can quickly make a property feel stuck in the late 90s,' Jordana said. 'Timber flooring layered with rugs feels far more elevated and intentional.'
Herringbone and Chevron Flooring Scream Middle-Class
'If a house has herringbone or chevron flooring, black steel doors, and a kitchen island, you already know somebody owns matching labelled storage baskets and has an oat milk subscription,' Jordana quipped. While the look can be beautiful, it has become the signature of the modern British renovation.
Signing Off on Ultra Gloss Flooring
Jordana declared ultra shiny floors as the 'fake tan' of interiors. 'The shinier the floor, the worse it usually looks. Large ultra gloss tiles in particular can instantly make homes feel cold, tacky, and overly show-home-like,' she said. 'They reflect every light, footprint, and speck of dust and often end up giving “nouveau riche nightclub bathroom” rather than relaxed luxury.' She recommends matte finishes, textured stone, and softer natural surfaces for a calmer, richer, and more timeless appearance.
Or Faux Marble Flooring
'This is one trend that can look incredible or absolutely dreadful depending on the material chosen,' Jordana noted. 'If the veining is too chunky, too grey, too repetitive, or obviously fake, it instantly cheapens the whole space and makes a home look dated. If you're going to do faux marble, it needs to be a very high-end porcelain or quartz with realistic movement and variation, laid carefully so the veining flows naturally like real stone would.'
Patchwork Floors Look Cheap
Consistency in flooring makes homes feel more expensive, Jordana told the Daily Mail. 'One of the biggest mistakes people make is creating a patchwork of different flooring throughout the house. Obviously, you may want wood flooring or tiles downstairs and different tiles in bathrooms, but when homes start mixing random stair runners, carpeted landings, wood in one bedroom, laminate in another, and odd tiles here and there, it can quickly start to feel visually chaotic and disconnected.' She suggests picking a few harmonious finishes and tones to achieve a calmer, more intentional home.
