A quality LVT resists scratching from dragged chair legs far better than wood or laminate and food and drink wipe straight off without staining. Fitting felt pads to every chair leg is the simple step that keeps a dining floor pristine and a thicker wear layer adds extra protection in a heavily used room.

A dining room is low traffic per square metre, so a 0.3mm wear layer such as Karndean Knight Tile or Amtico First is enough for normal family use. Step up to 0.55mm or 0.7mm mainly when the dining floor is part of a continuous specification with the kitchen or hallway, or when you want a longer warranty across the whole ground floor.

Wipe spills up promptly with a cloth or damp mop; because the LVT wear layer is a sealed PVC film, food, wine and grease sit on the surface and do not soak in. For routine cleaning use a pH-neutral vinyl floor cleaner and avoid abrasive pads, wax polishes and steam mops, which can damage the surface.

LVT is quieter than tile or laminate when chairs are moved and felt pads on the chair legs make it quieter still while also protecting the floor. On an upper floor or a suspended timber base, a glue-down install or a rigid-core click floor with an acoustic backing further reduces sound transfer.

The dining room is where wood-effect parquet, herringbone and chevron look their best, because the pattern is on show and the room gets the most attention from guests. A feature herringbone in Amtico Form or Karndean Art Select is one of the strongest design statements LVT can make, while a classic wood-effect plank suits a continuous open-plan floor.