Short answer: luxury vinyl (LVT) on the hall floor, carpet on the stairs. That is what we fit most often in Clydebank and Glasgow, and it is what we would do in our own houses. Here is why, and when you might do it differently.

What a hall has to put up with

Wet shoes, muddy paws, the buggy, the bike, the shopping, the dog shaking itself dry. In the west of Scotland the hall floor is wet for a good part of the year. Whatever you put down has to shrug off water, hide grit and clean with a mop or a hoover, not a specialist.

LVT in the hall

Luxury vinyl tile is a thick, layered vinyl plank or tile with a printed wood or stone design and a hard wear layer on top. It is fully waterproof, so a wet coat dripping on it or a dog bowl knocked over does nothing. It is warm underfoot compared with real tile, quiet, and it wipes clean. Karndean and Moduleo are the names most people know; we fit both, plus Lifestyle Floors and Likewise ranges that give a similar look for less.

The only real drawback is cost. LVT is a premium product and needs a smooth, level subfloor, which in an older house often means a latex screed or plywood first. That preparation is part of the job and it is on every quote we give, so there are no surprises on the day.

Carpet in the hall

Cheaper, warmer and softer, and a good polypropylene twist in a mid tone hides an astonishing amount. The problem is water. Carpet by the front door stays damp, mud works in, and after a couple of winters it looks tired no matter how good it was. If you want carpet in the hall, choose a bleach-cleanable polypropylene, a flecked or heathered colour, and a good mat inside the door. Better still, put a barrier mat well inside so the first two metres take the hit.

Stairs

Carpet wins on stairs almost every time. It is quieter, it is safer for children and older people, and it is far more forgiving if someone slips. Hard floors on stairs look good in a magazine and sound like a drum in a house. If you do want a hard look, a carpet runner with painted or LVT-clad edges gives you both.

Stair carpet wears at the nose of each step, so this is where quality pays. A heavier twist or a wool blend lasts far longer on stairs than in a bedroom, and a good underlay matters more here than anywhere else in the house.

Laminate?

Laminate is a wood-fibre board with a printed top. Most laminates swell if water gets into the joints, which in a hall it will. There are water-resistant laminates now, and they are fine for a dry hall in a flat, but for a family front door we would still say LVT.

Dogs and cats

Claws mark soft floors. LVT with a decent wear layer takes a big dog in its stride; the cheaper thin vinyls do not. For carpet, avoid loop pile, which claws catch and pull. A cut-pile twist is the safe choice.

What it costs

Every hall is different, so we measure rather than guess. The free home measure covers the hall, stairs and landing together, and the quote is itemised: floor, underlay or preparation, fitting, door bars and delivery, so you can see what each part is doing. Book a free home measure or come and walk on the samples in the showroom.

See our luxury vinyl and carpet ranges, or the flooring overview.

Paul James Home, Co-op Department Store, Clydebank. Monday to Saturday 9 to 5. 0141 266 0400.