Flooring for your home or rental apartment? The right choice can save thousands of euros

When renovating a home or furnishing a new property, almost every owner eventually reaches the same question: which flooring to choose? At first glance it may seem like just a matter of taste. In fact, flooring affects everyday comfort, maintenance costs, durability and even the value of the property. Even more important is to understand that the best solution for your own home and for a rental apartment may not be the same at all. Let’s look at which floor coverings are used today and what to keep in mind before deciding.

Flooring in your own home: comfort and quality first

If it is a home where you plan to live for years, comfort and quality should come first when choosing flooring.

The key questions are:

• Are there small children in the home?
• Are there pets?
• Is there underfloor heating?
• How much maintenance are you willing to do?

For your own home, it often pays to invest in higher-quality solutions, because flooring is one of the few elements that is not replaced every couple of years.

Flooring in a rental apartment: durability above all

In a rental apartment the priorities change. The most important thing here is not a luxurious look, but that the floor lasts for years and withstands the everyday use of different tenants. Good rental flooring should be:

• scratch-resistant;
• moisture-resistant;
• easy to maintain;
• reasonably priced;
• easy to replace if needed.

That is why rental apartments often use laminate or vinyl flooring, which offer a good balance between price and durability.

Which flooring to choose? Pros and cons of the most common options

There are dozens of floor coverings to choose from today, but Estonian homes most often use laminate, vinyl, engineered parquet and solid wood floors. Let’s look at some pros and cons of each.

Laminate flooring

Laminate is one of the most popular floor coverings thanks to its price and wide range of designs.

Pros:

• affordable price;
• easy to install;
• good wear resistance;
• wide choice of colours and patterns.

Cons:

• damage generally cannot be repaired;
• more sensitive to moisture;
• harder underfoot than natural wood;
• can feel cooler underfoot without underfloor heating.

Laminate suits rental apartments, a first home, or situations where the budget plays a major role.

Vinyl flooring

In recent years vinyl flooring has become one of the most popular floor coverings. Its success is down to very good durability and moisture resistance.

Pros:

• very good moisture resistance;
• works well with underfloor heating;
• quieter than laminate;
• easy to maintain;
• good wear resistance;
• softer and warmer feel underfoot.

Cons:

• higher-quality options can be more expensive;
• does not create quite the same feel as natural wood.

Vinyl flooring is especially well suited to kitchens, hallways, families with children and rental apartments.

Engineered parquet

Engineered parquet is a classic choice, valued for its natural look and high-quality overall impression.

Pros:

• natural and warm look;
• a timeless solution;
• can be sanded and refinished;
• increases the value of the property.

Cons:

• higher price;
• needs more maintenance;
• more sensitive to moisture.

If the goal is a long-term home or higher-end property, engineered parquet is often a very good investment in terms of both comfort and property value.

Solid wood flooring

Solid wood is the most natural and longest-lasting solution. Many older wooden houses still have solid wood floors laid decades ago.

Pros:

• very long lifespan;
• can be restored repeatedly;
• natural look;
• the warmest and most natural feel underfoot;
• increases the value of the property.

Cons:

• higher price;
• needs regular maintenance;
• softer wood species can be damaged more easily.

Solid wood flooring suits detached houses in particular, and people who see their home as a long-term investment.

Which flooring do buyers like?

If you plan to sell the property in the coming years, it is worth thinking from the buyer’s perspective too.

What usually works best:

• light and neutral tones;
• the same flooring throughout the living space;
• quality materials;
• well-maintained surfaces without signs of wear.

Very bright colours or trends that quickly go out of fashion can actually reduce the pool of buyers. A simple, timeless solution usually appeals to the widest audience.

When preparing a property for sale, flooring should be viewed as part of the whole. In addition to floors, buyers’ first impressions are shaped by furniture layout, lighting, colour schemes and the overall presentation of the home. You can read more about this in the article “Home staging before selling: make your apartment a buyer’s favourite”, where I share tips on presenting a property as attractively as possible and increasing buyer interest. 

Summary: the right flooring depends on the goal

There is no single best floor covering. The right choice depends on whether it is your own home, a rental apartment or a property going on the market. If you are looking for a solution for your own home, focus on quality and comfort. If you are furnishing a rental apartment, it makes sense to prioritise durability and easy maintenance. The right flooring helps preserve the value of the property, makes the home more attractive and may contribute to a faster sale or rental in the future. If you plan to renovate your home or put your property on the market, it is worth considering, for the bigger decisions, which improvements actually create value and which expenses may not pay off.

Want to know your property’s current market value, or which changes would bring the most benefit before selling? Get in touch – we will look over the property together and find the solutions that help achieve the best possible result.