If you opt for a patterned carpet, be honest with yourself: Do you want the pattern because you like it, or because it will camouflage dirt? If the latter is your real reason, please reconsider. With that motive in mind, you will most likely clean your carpet less often and that's not good for the life of the carpet and not good for the cleanliness of the air in the room. And the truth of the matter is that a dirty patterned carpet looks just as dirty as a solid colored one that has also been neglected.

If you feel daring and bold, then go ahead and pick a pattern. But be careful. If the pattern is overpowering and it is the first thing that strikes you when you walk in the room, you will have a difficult time decorating around it.

If you have a small house or apartment, consider carrying one floor treatment of the same color throughout, breaking only at the kitchen and bathroom areas. Also, plain colors give a room more "space" than a pattern. And the solid color is easier to decorate around as well.

In a larger house, if you choose to change color and/or flooring between rooms, picture how the transition will look when the doors are open. In changing from one type of flooring to another, envision the change of one material to the other at the threshold. Will it be a smooth transition? Will all the colors coordinate? Will all the colors fit into a general scheme?

Ceramic tiles, stone, marble, quarry tile and even wood floors can be very noisy. Cork, rubber and vinyl have good sound absorbency. And cushion-back vinyl is quieter than flat vinyl.

There are underlayments that can be applied before tile is laid, however, to absorb sound between floors. In other words, someone walking on marble on the second floor would not be heard by the party on the first floor if a sound-absorbing underlayment is in place.

A low-cost alternative is laminate. It can mimic any look including wood.

Laminate flooring has an inner core and a glued-on layer or layers of outer material. Many types of laminate flooring simulate wood; some look like marble or granite. A popular alternative to hardwood or vinyl, high-quality laminate flooring resists staining, wear and fading much better than wood while providing its looks and appeal. It's durable -- about 10 times stronger than a kitchen countertop -- and water-resistant, so it can be used in a bathroom as well as a kitchen or hallway.

Laminate flooring usually rests on a foam-cushion underlayment and may be installed over existing vinyl flooring. Because it's not glued or nailed down, it's easy to remove if you get tired of it.

Wood is a popular choice for today's kitchens. It feels good underfoot and creates a warm look. Today's prefinished wood floors withstand heavy traffic and water stains. High-pressured plastic laminates are an alternative that provide the same look for less money.

Cork is a durable, versatile material available in a variety of colors. It is water resistant and reduces impact noise. Designers are starting to see cork used more often for kitchen floors because it is resilient, soft and helps to reduce noise.

Cork is known for its comfort underfoot, ease of installation, noise reduction, and allergy benefits. Cork flooring comes in parquet-style tiles that have a natural, variegated style to them, similar to linoleum and some styles of stone flooring.

Porous tile should not be used in kitchen work or wet areas.