Wooden flooring is not high on maintenance. A weekly vacuum is all you need to keep it dust-free. However, here are a few things you should avoid.

• Use a damp mop when cleaning your floor but avoid excess water.
  
  
• Avoid dragging heavy furniture around as this will scratch the flooring.
  
  
• It is advisable to re-sand and re-polish your floor once in five or six years to keep it in top condition.
  
  
• Get your floor lacquered or melamined by a professional.
  
  
• Watch out when parading in your stilettos. The little stone particles on the heel might damage the flooring.

Look-Alikes

When it comes to kids' rooms, wooden flooring is a strict no-no. But you can still get that cosy, tree house look with vinyl or wooden laminates. They do not get scratched easily, which means your little fellow can run his cars on them all day long.

These flooring options make it easier to clean up spilled paint or juice and the floor does not get damaged. Finally, vinyl and wooden laminates have a soft surface. So if your little one falls, he is less likely to get hurt.

Vinyl flooring is available between Rs.60 and Rs.200 per sq. ft. (approx.) You can get wooden laminates for around Rs.95 to Rs.250 per sq. ft.