Renovating your home involves a multitude of decisions, but one of the most impactful is choosing the right flooring. Flooring plays a crucial role in the overall comfort, safety, and aesthetics of your space. For homeowners who have multi-generations under one roof here are many factors you should consider. Let’s review a few so you make the right flooring and financial decision. If you are aging in place or acting as family caregivers, selecting flooring isn’t just about style—it’s about practicality, safety, and long-term durability. In these situations, Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) has quickly become the go-to choice over traditional hardwood and tile flooring, and for good reason.

It is important to understand the needs of aging in place and family caregiving. When you’re preparing a home for aging in place—either for yourself or a loved one—or you’re caring for an elderly family member, the requirements for flooring shift significantly. Priorities include:

• Slip resistance and safety
• Ease of maintenance
• Comfort underfoot
• Zero transitions
• Durability under frequent use
• Affordability for large-scale renovations
• Water resistance, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways

All of these considerations point to LVP as a flooring material that offers superior benefits compared to hardwood or tile.

What Is LVP? Luxury Vinyl Plank, or LVP, is a high-performance synthetic flooring that mimics the look of real wood or stone while offering modern-day technological advancements. It’s made from multiple layers of vinyl with a rigid core for strength and a clear protective top layer that resists scratches, stains, and wear. Available in a variety of textures, colors, and finishes, LVP gives you the aesthetic of hardwood or tile—without the drawbacks.

Let’s look at LVP vs. Hardwood. Hardwood flooring has long been praised for its timeless beauty and home value appeal. However, for aging homeowners and caregivers, hardwood poses several challenges:

• Hardwood is slippery when wet, which increases the risk of falls—especially dangerous for seniors.
• It can dent and scratch easily, especially under mobility aids like walkers or wheelchairs.
• Hardwood requires regular maintenance such as refinishing, polishing, and specialized cleaning products.
• It is not water-resistant, making it a poor choice for bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.

On the other hand, LVP is slip-resistant, making it significantly safer. It also absorbs more shock, which adds comfort and reduces injury risk from minor stumbles. The durable wear layer resists dents and scratches from pets, dropped objects, or frequent foot traffic and mobility aids making it ideal in caregiving environments. And unlike hardwood, LVP is entirely waterproof, allowing it to be installed seamlessly throughout the home—including moisture-prone areas.

LVP vs. Tile. Comfort and flexibility win out. Tile is another popular flooring choice, especially in warmer climates and modern kitchens. While it is durable and water-resistant, it has downsides for those aging in place:

• Tile is hard and cold, making it uncomfortable for those with joint issues or who spend long periods standing.
• It is also extremely slippery when wet, increasing fall risks.
• Installation and material costs for tile can be significantly higher than for LVP.
• Grout lines collect dirt and require consistent scrubbing to maintain.

In contrast, LVP provides a more forgiving, cushioned surface. It remains warmer underfoot and offers slightly more give than hard tile—making it easier on knees and hips. For family caregivers who spend long days on their feet assisting others, this added comfort is a major plus.

LVP has waterproof advantages which is ideal for life’s messes. When caregiving or aging in place, accidents happen—whether it’s a spilled drink, a pet mishap, or a bathroom slip. LVP’s 100% waterproof design is a game-changer. You don’t need to worry about warping, staining, or mold growth the way you would with hardwood or laminate. The waterproof nature of LVP makes it the best choice for wet zones in the home, including bathrooms, kitchens, entryways, and basements. This is also an advantage for our costal location with many residents coming back from the pool or beach.

Even better, many LVP products come with seamless locking systems, so water won’t seep through cracks into the subfloor. This is especially important when dealing with incontinence or mobility-related accidents—giving you peace of mind and an easier cleanup process.

Another advantage to LVP is its durability and low maintenance. Whether you’re caring for an aging parent, assisting someone with a disability, or preparing your own forever home, durability and maintenance are top concerns. LVP wins again here:

• Resistant to scratches, dents, and stains
• Stands up to wheelchairs, walkers, and high traffic
• Doesn’t require sealing or refinishing like wood
• Cleans easily with basic sweeping and occasional mopping

This low-maintenance aspect is crucial for caregivers who already have demanding schedules. You won’t need to worry about delicate flooring or time-consuming upkeep

Affordability and style without compromise can be achieved. Home renovations can be costly, and flooring usually makes up a substantial portion of the budget. One of the most compelling reasons to choose LVP is its affordability. It provides the look of hardwood or tile at a fraction of the cost—for both materials and installation.

• LVP often installs faster than tile or wood, reducing labor costs.
• Many LVP products can be installed as a floating floor, saving additional subfloor prep expenses.
• You can run the same flooring throughout the house, creating a cohesive, open-concept look without breaking the bank.

Make a stylish, smart choice. While safety, durability, and cost are paramount, today’s LVP also delivers on style. With advances in digital printing and embossing, many LVP options are indistinguishable from real wood or stone, giving homeowners the design aesthetic they want—without sacrificing function.

Whether your style leans coastal, rustic, modern, or traditional, there’s a wide range of LVP patterns and finishes to fit your vision. Selecting flooring during a home renovation is more than just a design decision—it’s a choice that affects your lifestyle, mobility, and peace of mind. For those aging in place or serving as family caregivers, Luxury Vinyl Plank offers unmatched advantages over hardwood and tile: it’s waterproof, durable, safe, comfortable, low-maintenance, and affordable. If you’re planning a renovation with long-term comfort and care in mind, LVP isn’t just a good choice—it’s the right one. To look at sample and pricing stop by Coastal Cottage of Amelia, we can help you. www.coastalcottageamelia.com

BYLINE: Yvonne Fenn, Owner & Designer for Coastal Cottage of Amelia. Originally from Florida with family roots tracing back to Nassau County in 1800’s. A transplant from Connecticut, Yvonne has traveled and lived in various placed across the US and Internationally brining that knowledge into designing for her clients. She is a graduate of NYIAD (New York Institute of Art & Design) and member of Design Society of America. For more details www.coastalcottageamelia.com