By OCH Interiors – Full-Service Interior Design in Sevierville, Knoxville & Beyond
Flooring isn’t just about aesthetics — it affects how your entire home functions and feels. Whether you’re building your dream home, renovating a vacation rental, or upgrading a single room, the right flooring material can transform your space and make daily life easier.
At OCH Interiors, we help homeowners in Knoxville, Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and surrounding East Tennessee areas choose flooring that balances durability, climate-resistance, and visual impact.
Here’s what you need to know before you pick a material — plus our expert recommendations based on years of experience in local homes and cabins.
🏡 1. What Makes Flooring Right for East Tennessee?
East Tennessee’s unique environmental factors include:
- Seasonal humidity changes
- Mountain elevation and cooler winters
- High-traffic zones (especially in rentals or large families)
- Vacation rental turnover needs in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge
That means your flooring needs to handle:
- Moisture (in kitchens, baths, basements)
- Temperature fluctuation
- Easy cleaning & long-term wear
- Aesthetic flexibility across styles (modern rustic, farmhouse, mountain contemporary)
We always ask:
🔹 Where will this floor go?
🔹 What’s the wear-and-tear level?
🔹 Who will be walking on it: kids, pets, renters, boots?
🔹 What’s your design style and comfort preference?
🌿 2. Best All-Around: Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
LVP has become our go-to for many East Tennessee homes because it offers the perfect balance of performance and appearance.
âś… Pros:
- 100% waterproof — perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms
- Scratch-resistant — great for pets and kids
- Realistic wood-look options — works with rustic, farmhouse, or modern interiors
- Affordable and quick to install
- Easy to clean and maintain
We’ve used LVP in everything from Smoky Mountain cabins to downtown Knoxville remodels, and clients love how it performs without sacrificing style.
🌲 3. For Warmth & Character: Solid or Engineered Hardwood
Wood floors remain a favorite for homeowners wanting warmth, resale value, and timeless appeal. But the choice between solid and engineered hardwood matters more in our region.
đź”· Solid Hardwood:
- Natural beauty and character
- Can be refinished multiple times
- Best for upper-level living areas with controlled humidity
đź”· Engineered Hardwood:
- Real wood top layer over stable core
- More resistant to humidity and shifting
- Great for basements, ground floors, and vacation homes
Our Tip: In mountain homes, we recommend engineered options with a matte or wire-brushed finish to hide scratches and suit rustic aesthetics.
đź’§ 4. For Bathrooms & Laundry: Porcelain Tile
Tile remains unbeatable in wet zones, and with new formats like wood-look planks or stone-inspired styles, it can complement any design.
âś… Benefits:
- Extremely moisture-resistant
- Easy to sanitize and clean
- Pairs well with underfloor heating for cold mountain mornings
We use porcelain tile in:
- Custom showers
- Mudrooms with boot benches
- Laundry rooms in high-humidity zones
🛏️ 5. For Comfort Underfoot: Carpet in Select Zones
While hardwood and LVP dominate common areas, carpet still has its place, especially in:
- Bedrooms
- Home offices
- Lower-traffic guest suites
We recommend:
- Low-pile, stain-resistant options
- Neutral colors that complement your color palette
- Carpet tiles for basements and rec spaces (easy to replace)
In rentals? Stick with hard flooring — it’s easier to maintain and more resistant to spills and wear.
🏠6. Special Consideration: Vacation Rental & Cabin Floors
If you own a property in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, your flooring needs to be:
- Durable — withstand boots, snow, mud, pets, suitcases
- Photo-friendly — look amazing in Airbnb listings
- Easy to replace or spot-repair
That’s why we often use:
- LVP throughout entire cabins (even bathrooms)
- Hard-surface stairs with textured runners
- Waterproof wood-look tile in kitchens and dining areas
🔨 7. What About Subfloors & Installation?
We don’t just pick finishes — we design for performance. That means:
- Checking for proper underlayment
- Ensuring floors are level
- Using floating installs for LVP and glue-down for tile where needed
- Choosing transitions that don’t break up the visual flow
Bad installation = squeaks, cracking, and costly repairs later. We work with local contractors who know what East Tennessee homes need.
🎨 8. Matching Flooring to Interior Design Style
We don’t just ask, “What floor do you like?” We ask, “How does your flooring connect to the rest of your space?”
Design pairings we often create:
- LVP with painted shaker cabinets in modern farmhouse homes
- Engineered white oak with open shelves and matte black fixtures in rustic modern kitchens
- Stone-look tile with custom vanities in Gatlinburg bathrooms
- Natural finish hardwood with brick or shiplap accents in Sevierville remodels
We tailor your flooring with your cabinetry, layout, color palette, and lighting plan — so nothing feels out of place.
✅ Let’s Choose the Right Floor for Your East Tennessee Home
Whether you’re building a custom home in Knoxville, remodeling a cabin in Gatlinburg, or just refreshing your flooring in Sevierville, our design team will guide you through every step — from material selection to final installation.
👉 Schedule a consultation with OCH Interiors today and let’s make sure your floors feel right, function beautifully, and last for years to come.
