Home Design Showcase: Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Updated on December 15, 2025: This story was originally published on December 17, 2018, and has been updated with new information.

Technology continues to reshape the way we build and design homes, and it’s not just smart devices making an impact. Innovative construction methods and next-generation design products are raising the bar for style, performance, and long-term durability.

Flooring products, in particular, have undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. Gone are the days when hard-surface options were limited to ceramic tile, costly hardwood, or dated linoleum. Today’s homeowners have a wealth of choices - and few products have advanced as dramatically as vinyl flooring.

For many, the word vinyl still evokes memories of sheet flooring or linoleum. But modern luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring is something entirely new. Rather than being rolled out in large sheets, LVP is crafted in individual planks and engineered to look nearly identical to real hardwood. The result is a floor that delivers the warmth and character of wood at a fraction of the cost.

Beyond its authentic appearance, luxury vinyl plank offers practical advantages that make it one of today’s leading flooring trends. It is low-maintenance, highly durable, water-resistant, and suitable for areas where traditional hardwood isn’t recommended (more on that below).

When we introduced vinyl plank flooring at the Highland Homes design center in 2017, it quickly became a popular choice among our homeowners. Today, LVP flooring has surpassed ceramic tile as the preferred hard-surface flooring option in our new Florida homes.

What is Vinyl Plank Flooring?

Luxury vinyl plank flooring is an affordable, durable alternative to hardwood flooring. Thanks to advanced photorealistic and 3D printing technologies, manufacturers can now produce planks that closely mimic the look of real wood, but with lifestyle and longevity advantages. Modern production methods also provide for realistic wood textures, and innovative plank designs help minimize the repeating patterns common in other flooring types.

Wood vinyl plank flooring is manufactured with multiple layers:

• A backing or pad layer sits against the subfloor, providing comfort and sound reduction.
• A waterproof core layer that won’t crack, swell, or peel.
• A balancing layer provides stability.
• A print or image layer using a photorealistic, high-definition wood print.
• A clear wear layer provides a durable, protective finish.
• Some vinyl planks include an additional stain shield, enhanced urethane, and/or PVC layers.

With individual vinyl planks installed using either a glue-down or click installation method, you will be hard-pressed to see the difference between this and traditional hardwood flooring.

Benefits of Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

With a realistic wood look, affordable pricing, and easy maintenance, what's not to love?! Luxury vinyl plank flooring provides many benefits.

It's Water-Resistant (or Waterproof!)

Because vinyl, as a material, is water-resistant, vinyl plank flooring can be installed in rooms where traditional hardwood isn’t recommended due to moisture.

Even better, our luxury vinyl plank flooring by Shaw is 100% waterproof - This means it can withstand spills and pet accidents so that you can live without worry! And, it's optimal for rooms where water is likely to get on the floor, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.

Of course, it isn't limited to wet areas - This on-trend flooring is also a popular option to have throughout your living area, thanks not only to its beautiful appearance but also durability and ease of maintenance.

It's Durable

It survives moisture, absorbs shock, won't crack or chip, and is easy to maintain and clean up spills. This makes vinyl plank especially popular in high-traffic areas and households with kids and pets.

• Vinyl plank is non-porous. So, if Fido has an accident, not only will this waterproof flooring keep that accident on the surface, making it easy to clean, but it won't absorb the odor.
• The wear layer on vinyl plank is scratch-resistant and makes the surface resistant to dings or dents, unlike real hardwood.
• It's long-lasting and easy to clean - More on this below!

It's Comfortable

Compared to other hard floorings, luxury vinyl plank is preferred by many for its comfort. Because of its multi-layer manufacturing, it has a more comfortable underfoot feel than sheet vinyl, tile, or hardwood. And, it's temperature stable, meaning you won't have a cold floor underfoot (a common complaint by people with ceramic tile).

How to Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring

This may be the top benefit of luxury vinyl plank flooring - Cleaning and maintenance are a breeze! Thanks to its high durability and water resistance, you can live worry-free - and spend minimal time doing housework!

• Sweep, vacuum, or dust mop your floors regularly to remove loose dirt. Avoid vacuums with a rotating beater bar.
• If you have a spill, surface liquids normally won't affect the flooring, though you should wipe up spills as soon as possible.
• Keep your floors sparkly clean by simply wet mopping. If more elbow grease is needed, use a non-abrasive, pH-balanced cleaner for common spills and residue, or use rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) with a clean white cloth for spots requiring a solvent-type cleaner that water and cleaning agents cannot remove.
• Avoid using abrasive cleaners, ammonia-based products, vinegar-based products, and harsh chemicals, as they can damage the LVP's surface. Always refer to your care guide for a complete list of products to use and avoid.

To protect your flooring and keep it looking great for years to come, it is recommended to use furniture protectors on the bottom of chairs, tables, and sofa legs, so they don’t dent or scratch the finish. And, invest in high-quality floor mats for your home's entrances to trap goo off your shoes, such as oils, sand, and grit.

Selecting Vinyl Plank Flooring for Your New Home in Florida

Vinyl plank flooring was so popular among our new homeowners, it's now included in all of our Florida new homes in the wet areas (foyer, laundry room, kitchen, and bathrooms).

Many homeowners choose to install luxury vinyl plank across their main living spaces because it offers a high-end look without the high-maintenance upkeep. If you have children, pets, or accident-prone adults (I'm raising my hand for this one), LVP is a top flooring choice throughout the entire living area and complements today's open-concept home plans by creating a smooth, unified flow from the foyer through the gathering room, kitchen, and dining area.

Here in Florida, many homeowners also choose it for high-traffic hallways and flexible-use rooms, like dens. It’s an option for bedrooms, too, though many people still enjoy the cozy feel of carpet underfoot in the bedroom.

At the Highland Homes design studio, we offer top-quality, durable Shaw luxury vinyl plank flooring in a variety of stylish colors.

Shaw Cedar Street and Heardsville Plus Luxury Vinyl Plank is included in wet areas and available as an upgrade to other rooms in your home. The popular option to add throughout the main living area and hallways will run you about $2,000-$3,000 on average, depending on the size of your new home. This flooring offers:

• 20 color choices;
• Click installation;
• 4.8mm thick planks with beveled edges, providing an elevated look and feel of individual wood planks;
• 12 mil wear layer;
• A waterproof, stain-resistant, and pet-friendly surface.

For a more traditional look in your new home in Florida, Shaw Cedar Street in Almond Oak and Driftwood provides the look of traditional oak hardwood. For a rustic look, the Heardsville Plus line offers more color-varied planks with Fresh Pine offering our favorite rustic wood finish. If you are looking for a light wood floor, Hearsdville Plus in Feather Grey and Carmine Landing in Silk vinyl planks provide the look of distressed whitewashed wood. And, if you like the on-trend greige (grey-beige) tone for flooring, Shaw Cedar Street Oyster Oak and Sea Haven in Hearthstone Grey lead the pack in popularity.

Our interior designers at the Highland Homes Personal Selection Studio will walk you through designing every room in your dream home and selecting the features, colors, and finishes to suit your lifestyle and budget.

Get design inspiration and start planning your dream home by favoriting options in our online Inspiration Gallery, and call or email our Florida New Home Specialists to start building the new home of your dreams today!