Hallways are the most used spaces in the house. They end up full of umbrellas, suitcases, and wet dog shakes. And naturally, people often forget to wipe their shoes. Because of this, hallways need to be able to handle dirt and the wear and tear of constant use over time.
Laminate
Laminate holds up alright in hallways, but has poor durability against grit. Sand and little rocks that get brought in from the outside act like sandpaper on laminate and wear away the finish. This happens much more frequently in a hallway than it does in a bedroom or a lounge. Higher quality laminate (AC4 or higher) will hold up much better than lower quality options, which can start to deteriorate in a year or two.
Laminate does not hold up to moisture well either. A quick puddle from wet shoes won’t cause problems if it’s wiped up promptly, but laminate that sits wet for any length of time will swell. So, if a hallway has a boot room, laminate becomes a better option.
Vinyl
No other option comes close to the practicality of vinyl flooring in hallways. Grit, mud, and dirt won’t scratch the surface like vinyl flooring. Vinyl planks (especially click-fit Luxury Vinyl Tiles) are 100% waterproof and are far more durable than sheet vinyl. Vinyl is more forgiving than laminate, meaning dragged items won’t leave a mark, and no flooring has to deal with the chaos of pets (especially wet and/or muddy ones) and spills like vinyl does.
Vinyl doesn’t have a wood-like appearance as laminate does, but the gap has closed even more recently for better Luxury Vinyl Tiles. Since practicality matters much more in hallways than the appearance of wood-like flooring, this gap won’t be missed. Vinyl is also the most cost-effective option, and this matters even more when the hallway leads to other rooms to avoid expensive renovations.
Hardwood
Hardwood is always an appealing flooring option, especially in hallways, because of its aesthetic value and first impressions. However, this is a high-maintenance option and a bad one for hallways. Hardwood flooring is scratched by grit and damaged by standing water, so with all the traffic, hardwood would need much more upkeep than in other rooms.
Engineered hardwood is slightly better than solid hardwood because its top layer can be sanded and refinished which gives a little more time on its life. If you want hardwood in your hallway, a good doormat on the outside and inside of the doors, and a “shoes off” rule can provide a lot of protection. Without these things, be prepared to refinish the hardwood more often than desired.
What makes sense
If you want something that is going to last and is low maintenance, then the most reasonable option is vinyl. It is tough and can take anything that the hallway can throw at it.
If you want something that looks a little bit better than vinyl and doesn’t offer the same level of deterioration as real wood, then a high quality laminate with a high wear rating is good, but only if you have a vestibule or a boot room that’s going to get the worst of the grit and moisture.
While hardwood definitely looks nice, you have to be honest with yourself. A hallway is one of the most difficult places to keep wood looking nice. It can definitely be done if you are going to keep up with the maintenance. If you are looking for a wood floor to install and forget, you shouldn’t use hardwood.
Ultimately the right choice comes down to the balance of maintenance you are willing to put in and the level of abuse the floor is going to take.