Homeowner's Guide: The Best Material For Your House

Building A Home That’s Made To Last

That's pretty much the agenda for many of us renovating a space; After all, when you're forking out thousands of dollars for a renovation, you'll want a home that screams you, yet can stand years of careless wear and tear. (Because life's too short to tip-toe around your house.)

But, with so many materials to choose from, it’s often overwhelming trying to select the right surface for your floors, walls and even countertops. Which is why we're here to make your life easier - by rounding up the most durable and effective materials for 5 important areas in your home.

1. Flooring

Best Materials: Granite/Homogenous Tiles

Interior Designer: Deseo Creativo
Location: Setia Eco Park

Flooring covers a huge amount of space and it is where everything rests on - so, it's got to be hardy! Granite tiles are tops in terms of lasting durability, however they can be costly.

Interior Designer: Latitude Design
Location: La Thea

Homogeneous tiles are your next best option as they are firm, resist water and stains and are easy to clean.

Interior Designer: Nice Style Refurbishment
Location: Mirage Villa

If you are looking for a warmer, more rustic feel, choose wood vinyl tiles over the usual parquet, which is resistant to scratches and impact absorbent.

2. Kitchen Countertops

Best Materials: Granite, quartz, Kompacplus, solid surface

Interior Designer: Designers Home
Location: Tropika

You'll need to ask yourself these two questions before choosing the right countertop.

How often will you cook? Everyday or once in a while?
What kind of cuisine do you often cook? Western, Chinese or Indian?

Interior Designer: Deseo Creativo
Location: Setia Eco Park

Interior Designer: KitchenLab
Location: KL Residence

If you're whipping up heavy-duty cuisine like Indian or Chinese on a regular basis, get a stone countertop made from either granite or quartz. Quartz has the lowest water porosity, which means that it's pretty resistant to absorbing spilled liquids and the like. Meanwhile, granite has the highest heat resistance.

Interior Designer: 2 Cube ID & Reno Sdn Bhd

Interior Designer: Yong Studio
Location: Puchong Kinrara

If you don't cook much, easy to clean and maintain Kompacplus panels or solid surfaces (e.g. Corian) would be sufficient.

3. Kitchen Backsplash

Best Material: Tempered glass

Interior Designer: Latitude Design
Location: La Thea

Back in the olden days, tiles were used to cover this extra wall between your countertop and top cabinets. However, grout lines easily absorb dirt and grime, resulting in dirty look after a couple of years.

Interior Designer: Flidesign
Location: Mutiara Damansara

These days, it's best to get backsplashes made from tempered, spray painted glass. Why? They are easy to wipe, give a glossy, polished look and reflect more light, allowing the kitchen area to feel bigger. Plus, tempered glass is superb at resisting heat.

4. Feature Wall/TV Console

Best Materials: Solid plywood with laminate finish

Interior Designer: Movent Signature Design
Location: Vortex KLCC 2

Your feature wall/TV console isn't just a decorative piece, but also a storage space to keep your Medusa-like TV cables in check. Use a durable, but relatively lightweight material like solid plywood in laminate finish; That will not put too much weight on the actual wall, and will also provide a smooth, seamless finish.

Interior Designer: Nice Style Refurbishment
Location: Ceria Type A

As for the TV console storage unit, if you're looking for a closed, tidy look, it's best to use frosted or tinted glass drawer doors, as this material allows your infra-red signal to go through to your players.

5. Curtains

Best Materials: Suede or velvet

Source: Pinterest

Don't overlook your curtains! They take up a large portion of your visible space, and can also contribute to the overall aesthetic of your home. If your home gets a lot of sunlight, blackout suede curtain materials would prove useful.

Interior Designer: X-Two Concept
Location: Cheras Idaman

On the other hand, if your home has thin walls and gets a lot of noise, velvet would be the best as they block off and bounce off sound well.

Have a better idea of what materials you should use for a timeless, durable interior? It's time to find the right interior professional to help you put it all together. We can help - drop us a free quote request, and we can match you up with 5 IDs, based on your style and budget.

For more local home design inspiration, download the Qanvast App, available on the App Store and Google Play, and start saving those ideas on the go!