Rental flooring nemeses: Parquet, carpet and linoleum

We all have our deal breakers when it comes to rental flooring. Maybe you hate carpet, maybe you can’t deal with linoleum or maybe you despise tile. Me, I hate parquet. And when I say parquet, I mean the cheap generic stuff you find in apartment buildings, not the beautiful 17th century flooring in Versailles. I’m not insane, obviously those floors are gorgeous.

Parquet

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Linoleum flooring is an eco-friendly and versatile option as it comes in many colours and patterns. But, because it is soft, it tears and scuffs easily. It also yellows when it’s exposed to light and so it doesn’t look great if it’s poorly maintained. In rental homes today, you will often find outdated linoleum in the kitchen if landlords have not updated the flooring in a while. It can look cool, especially if the vintage pattern is interesting and reminiscent of the '50s, but having flooring that has spanned across that many decades, unfortunately, means it likely holds the stains and dents of tenants past too.

It’s to each their own in the rental world. I love hardwood, even grimy old stuff like the wood in my apartment. I currently have a few planks in serious need of repair, but I would still choose this over parquet. I was never that impressed by the tile in my kitchen, but a friend came over once and loved it. My highrise-dwelling friends take no issue with parquet because all you need is a Swiffer to clean it. So hey, whatever floats your boat. As always with renting, it all depends on your likes, dislikes and budget. One renter’s parquet is another renter’s hardwood.

Main photo from flickr user James Vaughan via Creative Commons License