Top 10 Flooring Do's

First determine how you are going to use a room, then start looking at floor-covering selections.

9. Shag Is Back!

Shag carpets and other long-pile rugs are back in style. Enjoy the new textures and forget the old ideas — this is not your grandmother's carpet.

8. Warm & Cozy Bathrooms

Warm up cold bathrooms with radiant heat in the subflooring, or use a beautifully plush area rug that is made to resist mildew.

7. Save With Sealants

Sisal and other natural fibers will stain quickly and frequently if not treated with a sealant. Spend the money and save the rug.

6. Fabulous Polypropylene

Use one of the fabulous new polypropylene woven rugs as a walk-off or runner at doors or in high-traffic areas; they're quick, easy to clean ... and look great!

5. Sunscreen for Floors

Apply UV (ultraviolet ray) film on windows to protect valuable rugs and floor finishes from sun damage. Think of it as sunscreen for flooring!

4. Slippery When Wet

Never use wall tiles on bathroom floors as they are inherently slippery. Get corresponding floor tiles for a perfect match.

3. Don't Forget Samples!

When shopping for floor coverings, always bring samples of your fabrics, paint colors and wallcoverings to narrow down your choices and to make the best selection.

If you have allergies but still want to go wall-to-wall, think about choosing natural fiber floor coverings, such as sisal, coir, seagrass and abacca. They pose fewer problems than conventional carpets.

1. Get Price Quotes

Get competitive floor-covering quotes, and make sure they include the same elements — the same yardage of carpet and quality of pad, the same footage of tile and quality of grout and sealant, as well as any up-charges for flights of stairs, removal of old floor covering and freight.