Garage Flooring OptionsWhether you're building a custom home from the ground up or would like to update the current flooring in your garage, there are many types of flooring that you can choose from. Each flooring material alters the appearance of your garage. The main flooring options available to you include everything from epoxy and vinyl to stone and rubber tile. The following guide should give you all the information to determine which flooring option is right for your garage and home. EpoxyEpoxy is a polymer compound that can provide your garage with a beautiful appearance. This option is particularly beneficial if your current garage has an existing flooring that you don't want to tear up. Epoxy is a long-lasting and durable coating that can last for 10-20 years if properly maintained. While you can apply epoxy to practically any type of flooring, it works best with concrete and stone flooring materials.Benefits of Installing this Flooring• Easy to clean• Available in numerous colors• Resistant to water and stains• Highly cost-effective compared to other flooring types• Can be paired with an anti-slip coating Vinyl TilesVinyl tiles are affordable flooring materials ideal for garages that don't have a considerable amount of foot traffic. When vinyl tiles are coated with urethane, they become comfortable and flexible, making them a great option for practically any garage. Benefits of Installing this Flooring• Can be obtained in many colors• Requires only a small amount of cleaning and maintenance• Very affordable• Resilient and durable if you obtain engineered vinyl• Water-resistant StoneIf you want your garage floor to have a natural and beautiful appearance, the stone is a fantastic flooring option. The most popular types of stone for garage flooring include flagstone, sandstone, and graphite. Keep in mind; however, that stone floors are costly and can be cold during the winter months.Benefits of Installing this Flooring• Extremely durable• Easy to clean• Should add some value to your home• Available in unique patterns Rubber TileRubber tiles are a more flexible flooring material that's easy to install and comes in various patterns. In most cases, rubber tiles can be selected as 12x12-inch or 24x24-inch tiles. You can install rubber tiles on nearly every type of sub-flooring, including concrete floors. Benefits of Installing this Flooring• Very affordable and easy to install• Able to withstand all conditions• Doesn't require much maintenance• Absorbs sound• High impact resistance Polished ConcretePolished concrete is the ideal flooring option for many homeowners. If you want durable flooring that will stand up well to high foot traffic, polished concrete is the way to go. These floors are exceedingly resilient and can be surprisingly affordable. Because the material is polished, it can provide your garage with a sleek and elegant appearance.Benefits of Installing this Flooring• High durability• Low maintenance requirements• Resistant to the majority of chemicals• Available in numerous design options• Can last for 30-100 years even when exposed to harsh environments Installing new flooring materials in your garage is a great way to enhance its appearance and even improve the value of your home. The five flooring options discussed above are considerably different from one another while also providing distinct benefits. With these benefits in mind, you can choose a flooring option that matches the style and appearance of the rest of your home.

6 Easy Ways to Separate Areas in an Open Floor Plan Homes with open floor plans tend to be airy and filled with light. Instead of moving through rooms separated by walls, you can flow through these spaces, moving from one area to the next. There’s a problem with all that openness, though. If you don’t create separate spaces, it can feel like one big, chaotic room with many purposes. And that’s not what you want.In this article, we offer six ways to create distinct areas in your open floor plan. The goal isn’t to destroy the floor plan with walls or harsh dividers. After all, you’re living in an open concept home for a reason. Instead, you can use patterns, colors, and furniture to create visual divisions between each area.Create Different Zones by Arranging FurnitureOur first tip might be the most straightforward and obvious. Arrange your furniture to create natural divisions between areas, such as your kitchen and your living room. Turn your couch or chairs so their backs are facing away from the focal point – your TV, fireplace, bookcase, whatever. This creates a direct visual line that separates this purposeful living space from the rest of your home. Repeat this in each area – kitchen, dining room, den – to define specific zones in your home.  Use Area Rugs to Separate SpacesYou can find area rugs in just about every shape, size, and color. Use area rugs in your living space, quiet reading corner, family room, wherever! Area rugs contrast with the rest of the flooring to create an immediate, visually distinct setting. Make sure the rug you choose matches the rest of the furniture in this area and is the right size for the space. You don’t want to have a huge rug that encompasses more space than your couch or chairs.Separate Rooms with Curtains Who said curtains are only for windows? Install rods toward the ceiling and use drapery to separate rooms. But remember, the fabric you choose is to create subtle visual separations, not block out the rest of the house. Use material that isn’t fully opaque so light can still filter through, and that sense of openness remains.Consider a Non-Permanent BarrierIf your floor plan doesn’t have many built-in divisions, such as an inset ceiling or sunken room, you can always add a non-permanent one. There are benefits to each type of non-permanent barrier, depending on what you’re looking for. A classic folding screen can add a nice decorative touch. The bonus of a folding screen is it’s portable, so you can put it away or move it to another area. A decorative wood or metal divider might be more permanent but would add a dramatic accent to any space.Designate Spaces with ColorIf you’re looking to create visually distinct areas while maintaining the flexibility and flow of an open concept, color is your friend. Pick a color for each space and weave it into your furniture, artwork, area rugs, and other decorations as much as possible. Don’t opt for a bold, solid color on everything, or you’ll be drowning in it. Instead, incorporate the colors you choose into patterns or subtle accents on furniture or rug fabric.Divide Areas with Shelving or Closed StorageMaybe you want a bit more than the back of a couch to separate your living area from your dining area. Shelving or closed storage works great for this!If you want a more dramatic division, opt for a tall open wood or metal shelving unit. You’ll maintain the openness of the space while maintaining separation. You can use open shelving to store everything from books to dishware and plants. Fill the shelves as much or as little as you want for the level of openness you desire.If you’re looking for something more subtle, closed storage cabinets can provide that visual line without completely closing you off. You can also opt for a bookcase or taller cabinet to create a more solid division between the two areas.Your open concept home should feel relaxed and livable, not unstructured and chaotic. You need to create separate areas to lounge on the couch, quietly read a book, cook a meal, and entertain guests. And by following these tips, you can accomplish all of that without having to build a single wall!