Flooring materials are more varied than ever before. Angie's List tips to make the best flooring choice for your home:

• Some floors are not recommended for all areas of the home. Choose waterproof flooring for the bathroom such as vinyl or ceramic tile in the event that your sink, toilet or bathtub overflows.
• Carpets are excellent insulators both during cold and hot spells, but avoid carpet if you have allergies. Carpet can hold dust, mites and other allergens.
• Hardwood flooring is a big trend right now. But they do not work well in below-grade environments such as basements. For those that are concerned with high humidity, engineered hardwoods expand and contract very little, as opposed to solid hardwoods.
• Green flooring is really popular right now, and a ton of options are available, including cork, bamboo and recycled glass.
• Even though you hire a professional to install your new flooring, be prepared to do some work yourself ahead of time. You'll need to remove all the furniture in the area and leave room for easy access to materials and in and out of the house. Unless you've arranged for the installer to remove the original flooring, you should do that yourself before they arrive. You may also need to have the gas company disconnect appliances if you're working in the kitchen.
• Remember that you'll have to do something with your old flooring when the new one comes in. If you’re going to take care of disposal yourself, remove the old flooring at least one day prior to installing the new floor. Starting with a blank slate will help ensure the new floor gets put into place correctly and as quickly as possible.
• Once the floor is laid, your work is still not done. Ask how long you’ll need to stay off the floors before putting your furniture and appliances back in place. You don't want to ruin your investment on the first day! When you can safely move your furniture back in, put down floor protectors to help prevent gouges and indentations as you move the furniture back in.