Flooring can change the aesthetics of your home. With so many options in the market, what type of flooring should you choose?
You might know that you want wood-patterned flooring for your Scandinavian-style home, but with “wood-patterned flooring” ranging from laminate flooring to solid hardwood, there are still so many choices to consider!
If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry: Here, we’ll provide you with a brief overview of the seven most popular flooring types in Singapore.
Do note that all prices stated below only account for the material costs. Additional costs, like adding subfloors and skirting, are not included.
Vinyl
PHOTO: Unsplash
Price: $4-18 PSF
Suitable for: Living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens
Where to buy:
Vinyl Flooring Singapore
The Floor Gallery
Malford
Pros
Vinyl flooring comes in a wide variety of designs and colours. It can mimic the appearance of wood or stone but at more affordable rates.
There are two types of vinyl flooring: vinyl sheet and vinyl tile. Vinyl tile is more expensive as it can better replicate wood or tile floorings.
Vinyl flooring is quiet and comfortable underfoot, water-resistant, stain-resistant, easy to install and maintain, and relatively durable.
High-quality vinyl also has high slip-resistance and load tolerance, making it ideal for living rooms and bathrooms.
Cons
Vinyl flooring needs to be laid on top of a subfloor, usually cement screed. This might incur additional costs.
Vinyl dents and scratches easily, so be careful when placing heavy or sharp objects on vinyl flooring.
It’s also prone to fading and discolouration under excessive UV exposure, like direct sunlight.
Hardwood
PHOTO: Unsplash
Price: $28-50 PSF
Suitable for: Living rooms, bedrooms
Where to buy:
Hafary
The Floor Gallery
Moods
Pros
Hardwood flooring can make any home look sophisticated and cosy.
Because hardwood flooring is made up of solid wood pieces, it can be refinished to remove imperfections. It has a very long lifespan and can increase the value of your house upon reselling.
Cons
Unfortunately, hardwood flooring can get chipped and scratched easily, making it hard to maintain.
It’s not waterproof and prone to mould and termites too. Hardwood flooring can also expand and shift in Singapore’s hot weather.
Engineered wood
Price: $6-20 PSF
Suitable for: Living rooms, bedrooms
Where to buy:
The Floor Gallery
Get ready for a journey that feels like a walk through a wooden wonderland. We present Wood & Wood—the ultimate showcase of timber that’s as friendly as your favorite sofa, but with a hardwood twist. The star of the show? Jotterwood, the luminous timber that keeps everything on its toes.
Why Jotterwood Is the Talk of the Town
- Natural Soul – Every plank whispers age-old stories about the forest.
- Sturdy & Stylish – It can withstand anything you throw at it—like a coffee mug, a toddler, or a wild dance party.
- Eco‑Chic – Sustainable sourcing means the planet gets a little hug back.
Feel the Magic on Your Feet
Whether you’re laying it down in your living room, resetting your office vibe, or designing a dream dance floor, Jotterwood gives your space that irreplaceable, warm comfort—like a hug from a seasoned timber.
Get Your Floor, Get a Laugh
We know the debate between pine and oak can get heated. At the Floor Gallery, we keep things light and downright laughing: the best floor in the business deserves a good chuckle, right?
Browse our collection, feel the grain, and let your floor be the conversation starter you’ve been waiting for. Cheers to floors that make you feel at home—literally!
Pros
Engineered wood flooring, or layered wood flooring, is made by combining high-quality plywood with a thin piece of high-quality wood (like oak or maple) on top.
This prevents the wood from expanding and contracting too much when the temperature changes.
It has the same aesthetics as solid hardwood flooring, but it is much more affordable.
It’s also quite durable, less susceptible to water damage than solid hardwood, and relatively easy to maintain.
Cons
However, engineered hardwood has shorter lifespans compared to solid hardwood.
For those who fear markings on your floor, be warned: engineered hardwood is not scratch-resistant.
Laminate
Price: $3-$8 PSF
Suitable for: Living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens
Where to buy:
Laminate Flooring Singapore
Vohringer Laminate Floor
Floor Xpert
Pros
Laminate flooring is similar to vinyl flooring, as both have many designs, styles, and colours. While vinyl is usually made up of PVC, laminate flooring is made of fibreboard with a hard, transparent top later on top of the printed design layer.
This makes the material durable, water-resistant, and relatively easy to maintain.
Cons
Laminate floorings must be installed correctly! Just like vinyl, it’s laid above a subfloor. If not applied on an even subfloor, it might break over time. And if not sealed properly, it can swell when in contact with liquids.
Laminate flooring is also prone to discolouration. Once the top layer is scratched, it cannot be repaired.
Tiles
PHOTO: Unsplash
Price: $3-12 PSF
Suitable for: Bathrooms, kitchens
Where to buy:
Soon Bee Huat
diModa
Hafary
Pros
There are many types of floor tiles, like porcelain and ceramic. Floor tiles are durable, waterproof, and stain-resistant.
They’re often used in bathrooms and kitchens as the cheapest waterproof option. If a tile is damaged, it’s easily replaceable without redoing the entire flooring.
Cons
The grouts are easy to stain but difficult to clean. They also don’t feel very comfortable walking on, so you probably won’t want to install tiles in your bedrooms.
Polished cement screed
Price: $15-30 PSF
Suitable for: Living rooms, bedrooms
Where to buy:
Paramount Construction
Faith Interior Design & Renovation
Diatom Reno
Pros
When we think of cement screed flooring, we often think of the grey floor on our void decks. It’s also usually used as the subfloor to even surface other flooring types like vinyl.
Then, it might come as a surprise that polished cement screed has started becoming popular in homes.
Why? Some people go for it because of its “industrial” look, which adds to the modern, industrial style.
Cons
Cement cracks easily, so even though the protective coating will help resist wear and tear, you might still see some cracks on the floor.
It’s also slippery and should not be used for bathrooms.
Marble
PHOTO: Pexels
Price: $40-70 PSF
Suitable for: Living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens
Where to buy:
Hafary
Hup Kiong
Soon Bee Huat
Pros
Since marble is a natural stone, each pattern is unique and one-of-a-kind. It’ll help make your house look elegant and stylish! Having marble flooring will improve the value of your home if you wish to sell it.
Besides its good looks, marble flooring is very durable. It’s also cool to the touch, which is a bonus in Singapore’s hot and humid weather.
Cons
Marble: A Beautiful but Budget‑Busting Choice
Thinking about dropping a marble floor in your home? Hold up. While marble looks like liquid stone, it comes with a hefty price tag and a slew of tricky maintenance quirks.
1⃣ Cost Is a Big Deal
- Material costs are already high—your wallet will feel the burn before the first tile is laid.
- Installation? Too. Skilled labor plus special equipment pushes the price further up.
2⃣ Stains and Fades Like a Bad Tattoo
Glass, coffee, and even a little stray bottle ketchup can leave permanent marks. Over months, the surface may discolor and lose that dazzling sheen you dreamed of.
3⃣ Scratch‑Prone “Hard” Surface
Marble’s high hardness means it’s durable in one way but ultra‑vulnerable to scratches. Drop a heavy chair? You’ll see the damage right away.
4⃣ Not the Friendliest Floor for Fall‑Prone Households
Because it’s slick and hard underfoot, it’s a risky choice for families with kids or seniors. A slip could lead to a bigger fall—listen to those kids’ “oops” moments!
Bottom Line
Marble’s allure may be strong, but the high cost, maintenance headaches, and safety concerns make it a hard decision for many homes. If you’re all in for the shine, just be ready to pay the price—literally and figuratively.
Check out other flooring options
You can consider other options, such as natural bamboo, granite, and linoleum. Within each flooring, the quality and design of the specific material will also affect the flooring price.
With so many options abound, it’s best to consult your contractor and designer to see which flooring type best suits your style!
ALSO READ: Home staging tips: 6 reno-free ways to ‘zhng’ your house and enhance its value
This article was first published in 99.co.
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