Flooring Ideas For Your House: Vitrified Tile, Marble, Wooden, or Granite - What to Choose?

Choosing the right flooring for your home is a big decision. It sets the tone for the entire room and needs to be both beautiful and practical. If you're wondering whether to go with vitrified tiles, marble, granite, or even wooden flooring, this guide breaks down the popular options to help you decide.

Vitrified Tiles: The Popular Choice

Vitrified tiles are a top pick for many homes, mainly because they come in a huge variety of styles and are readily available at a good price. You can find them in different finishes like glossy, matte, textured, silk, metallic, and full-body. Glazed Vitrified Tiles (GVT) are common, where only the top layer is glazed. If a tile chips, the base material will show. Full-body tiles are more like natural stone; if they chip, the color is consistent throughout. These are great for busy areas and even outdoors.

Standard sizes for vitrified tiles include 2'x2', 2'x4', 4'x6', and larger ones like 8'x4'. For living rooms, bigger tiles make the space feel larger because there are fewer grout lines. Remember, tiles larger than 2'x4' need special adhesives, so don't skimp on quality there. For bathrooms, 2'x4' and 4'x6' tiles work well. You can use glossy tiles on walls and matte or textured tiles on floors for better grip.

Popular brands include Varmora, Simpolo, Somany, AGL, and Kajaria. The cost for vitrified tiles starts around ₹60 to ₹200 per square foot.

Marble: Timeless Elegance

Marble adds a touch of luxury to any space. After polishing, it has a very shiny, high-end look. Since most marble is imported, it's usually more expensive. The price depends on the color, veining, and clarity of the stone. As it's a natural stone, sizes can vary, so always check what's available.

Lighter colors like Statuario, Botticino, and Bianco are popular. For darker, richer tones, consider Armani Brown, Black Portoro, or Dark Emperor. Some special marbles, like Onyx, allow light to pass through, creating beautiful patterns. These are perfect for accent walls, temples, or decorative features. Onyx comes in colors like blue, green, honey, and white.

Italian marble is typically 18-20mm thick and can cost anywhere from ₹300 to ₹7,000 per square foot.

Indian Marble: Durable and Affordable

Indian marble is a popular choice for homes in India. It's more durable and denser than Italian marble, making it a good option for areas with heavy foot traffic. It has a slightly less glossy finish but still offers a sophisticated look. The average thickness is 20-30mm.

Makrana marble, famously used in the Taj Mahal, is a well-known Indian marble. Other options include Ambaji, Karara, Banswara, Kolkata Pink, and Green marble. You can create beautiful patterns by inlaying brass or other stones into Indian white marble, a common feature in many Indian temples.

Indian marble costs start from around ₹70 to ₹1,000 per square foot.

Granite: The Durable Workhorse

Granite is one of the most durable natural stones for flooring. Its main limitation is that it mostly comes in darker shades, which might not be ideal for all indoor spaces. However, its toughness makes it perfect for outdoor areas.

Granite can have different surface finishes like mirror, leather, river, and lappato. Popular choices include Telephone Black, Red Cat Eye, Blue Pearl, and Platinum White. Granite is usually 14-18mm thick, and its cost ranges from ₹80 to ₹500 per square foot.

Kota Stone: Earthy and Trendy

Kota stone is an earthy, natural stone that's becoming quite popular again. It comes in green, grey, yellow, and brown shades. If you like a natural, grounded look, Kota stone is a great choice. It's very durable and can be used both indoors and outdoors.

You can find Kota stone in various colors and sizes, and you can even create unique patterns by mixing colors or inlaying it with other stones like marble. Standard thickness is 1 to 1.5 inches. The cost starts from ₹15 to ₹100 per square foot, with uniform colors in larger sizes costing a bit more, around ₹80 to ₹100 per square foot.

Cement Tiles: Handcrafted Charm

Cement tiles are handcrafted and can add a traditional yet modern touch to your home. Their small size, intricate patterns, and bright colors make them very attractive. Brands like Bharat Floorings and Osaan Designer Tiles offer beautiful options.

Wooden Flooring: Warmth and Comfort

If you prefer a softer feel underfoot, wooden flooring is a great option. Modern wooden flooring options are often treated to be termite and weather-proof, and you don't have to worry about water damage as much as you might think. You can even install wooden flooring over existing tiles without any issues.

There are different types:

• Solid Wood Flooring: Made from a single piece of wood, very durable but costly.
• Engineered Wood Flooring: More stable and cost-effective than solid wood.
• SPC Flooring (Stone Polymer Composite): This is a very practical choice. It looks and feels like natural wood due to realistic prints and is typically 6mm thick. It uses an interlocking system, so no glue is needed, and it won't damage the floor underneath if removed.
• Vinyl Flooring: A cost-effective option, usually 1.5mm to 2mm thick, offering good strength and durability.

If you love the look of wood but are concerned about maintenance, consider tiles with a wood finish.

Carpet Flooring: For Sound Absorption

Carpet flooring is ideal for spaces where sound absorption is important, like offices, gyms, or gaming rooms. However, it can be difficult to clean, especially if stains occur, and requires regular vacuuming. It's best suited for specific areas rather than general home use.

Key Takeaways:

• Vitrified tiles offer variety and affordability.
• Italian marble provides luxury but at a higher cost.
• Indian marble is durable, cost-effective, and sophisticated.
• Granite is excellent for durability, especially outdoors.
• Kota stone offers an earthy, trendy look and is very durable.
• Cement tiles add a unique, handcrafted touch.
• Wooden flooring (especially SPC) provides warmth and practicality.
• Carpet flooring is best for sound absorption in specific areas.