For the situations where laminate flooring isnt so ideal, theres no shortage of alternatives. The most popular, obviously, is wood, but there are others too that are equally worth considering.

Hardwood floors are natural, unique, and dont feel manufactured they give a room a certain look that is impossible to fake. Many consider it to be a thousand times more beautiful than laminate flooring. However, it does tend to wear out more quickly, and it isnt cheap if you want the quality stuff.

Another alternative is cork flooring. Cork is a very interesting substance it is a kind of wood, and yet its soft and springy. It doesnt make the annoying sounds than many floors do, sounding more like carpet than laminate. It is better for the environment than normal wood, as the tree is only stripped of its bark every few years to make cork, not actually chopped down. It is also fire-resistant and stops heat from escaping through your floor, reducing your heating bills.

A slightly more exotic floor covering to consider is bamboo. It is even better for the environment than cork, as it is a crop, a grass that can easily be harvested and re-grown every bamboo (or other non-wood) floor actually helps save rainforests from being destroyed! If you live somewhere hot, bamboo floors are ideal, as they wont buckle the way other floors do. Bamboo is easy to dye in different colours, so it will fit into your house easily in the same way as laminate does.

Of course, you could always take a trip back in time and go back to carpet. For all the bad press its been getting recently, carpet can give a home a warm feeling, with its soft, furry surface great if you have a traditionally decorated home. However, you should steer well clear if you have allergies, as there are few things in the world worse for them than carpets.