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There is far more to floors than their hard surface or carpet categories. In fact, when choosing between flooring options for a brand new home, it’s wise to factor in personal style preference. But make sure to spend time on vocabulary.

From stone tile and hardwood to vinyl, laminate, and the throw rugs that cover them all, to carpet padding choices and radiant-heating options, there’s no end to the possible flooring combinations a new-home buyer can create.

Some luxuries are practical, too

Some of the most desirable and durable contemporary flooring choices include an alphabet of acronyms in need of navigation.

What’s the difference between LVT, LVP and VCT, for instance?

To understand all three, let’s start by defining luxury vinyl. Unlike the vinyl or laminate of days gone by — many of which may still be good for spaces such as mudrooms and laundry rooms — luxury vinyl comes in planks or tiles, rather than sheets or rolls.

Contemporary luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) floors come in an enormous variety of patterns and colors mimicking natural materials ranging from hardwood to stone or tile.

Some LVT includes seams for grout and comes in a wide range of tile sizes, shapes, and finishes. Many of the LVP options are offered in wide or narrow widths and in various lengths.

LVT and LVP finishes include deep embossing that gives a textured appearance; matte or high-gloss finishes; and even hand-scraped, wire-brushed, weathered or distressed looks that give the appearance of hand-hewn wood.

In addition to durability; scratch, water and breakage resistance; and replacement flexibility, some homebuyers prefer the comfort level of the “floating” installation of LVP and LVT flooring.

Instead of gluing or grouting down planks or tiles, LVP and LVT planks and tiles are snapped together atop the subfloor, often with an air gap membrane and/or a vapor barrier above the subfloor. These layers not only protect the flooring but create a lighter, softer feel underfoot.

Finally in this category are selections of engineered woods or even vinyl composition tile flooring (VCT). New-home buyers likely won’t choose VCT, which contains vinyl and lower levels of plastic but also incorporates mixtures of other materials such as limestone. Because they’re more porous, VCT floors are more popular for commercial use than in homes, but can be a good choice for a less-slick garage surface.

Engineered “wood” or engineered vinyl plank (EVP), on the other hand, remains popular in new homes. Built with high-density fiber or stone cores, these luxury-level engineered floors are not only strong but often come the closest to resembling real wood.

Natural material always holds value

Nothing can replace the purity of natural materials, whether hardwood, marble, porcelain or other stone and, when maintained properly, these floors will never lose appeal, even as color trends change over time.

Entryway flooring in a pale wood that stretches through living areas can give a bright, welcoming feel. Wood choices might include American white oak, American hard maple or a white or whitewashed pine.

For added elegance and interest, some buyers choose to use a herringbone pattern or position an inlaid pattern of a darker wood in a spot such as under an entryway chandelier. The same goes for tile accents on sleek marble surfaces.

Some buyers will choose a repeating pattern on wood or tile throughout the house or will add drama to a small room, such as a den or powder room.

Still others choose a mixed-media effect, blending wood floor inlays of tile or stone into hallways or up against baseboards, cabinetry, doorways or fireplaces.

Some buyers want sustainable floors

In this age of conservation, recycling, reclamation, reuse and Earth-friendly living, many buyers may prefer floors made from materials that are both stylish and environmentally sound.

Perhaps with the exception of wall space, the largest spanning surface area in any home is the floor space. Choosing sustainable material for flooring can dramatically increase a home’s percentage of green features.

Sustainable woods include those from trees and vegetation that regrow quickly, such as bamboo; they also may include woods that have been certified for maintaining strict harvesting practices.

Some manufacturers even offer strand-woven floors, which are created using a basket-weave methodology. Strand-woven floors often are made of bamboo or mixtures of bamboo and scraps of other kinds of wood that might otherwise become landfill.

Whatever materials you prefer for flooring, start by choosing color schemes and patterns that blend from room to room, whether you prefer blond and gray tones or browns and blacks.

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