If you like the appearance of natural wood, but you're concerned hardwood floors are a high-maintenance nightmare, then vinyl ...

“A very popular flooring is vinyl plank and tile,” said Carrie Abbring, owner of Value Flooring in Valparaiso. “The vinyl looks like real wood, yet is water resistant.

Luxury vinyl flooring? Really? Yes — but these products definitely are not the shiny orange sheet that covered your mom’s kitchen floor, or the old peel-and-stick school hall tiles your dad ...

It looks like tile, feels like tile and it’s not hard under your feet. My guests always comment how nice it is and they can’t believe it’s not regular tile.

When choosing new flooring for your home, remember that each type—from hardwood to vinyl—has its place. Porcelain tile suits rooms where things get busy, wet, and messy, like entries, mudrooms ...

“A lot of sheet vinyl looks like ceramic tile and stone. It’s not the shiny, high gloss finish like it used to be.” ...

Tile that looks like wood is gaining in popularity, so Consumer Reports has tested it for durability. Consumer Reports also checks out less expensive flooring options that mimic wood.

So why choose luxury vinyl? Again, the appearance is one reason. The tile-look products can be grouted, to make it look more like ceramic or stone. The wood-look planks feature rich colors and ...