No matter how large or small your home, how luxurious or humble, it has at least one type of flooring. Many have two or more. If you don’t absolutely love or hate what’s there, you probably don’t think much about it at all. Builders usually install the most neutral materials that make sense for their communities. Live in an affordable suburb and you may have vinyl in your kitchen and baths. Live in a luxurious enclave and you likely have wood, natural stone or porcelain tile. The good news is that there are tremendous advances across the board, and updating your floor can have a tremendous impact on your home’s style and value. It can also improve your well-being, comfort and convenience. Where to start You have more choices than ever in flooring for your home, and the choice of what to use should start with functionality. How much wear will it take? How will moisture impact it? How easy is it to maintain? How hard or soft is it underfoot? Trends change over time — remember carpeted ma...