The Right Type of Flooring for Every Room Wood wins the prize as America’s favorite hard-surface flooring type, outselling vinyl, porcelain tile, and every other ­option, according to market-research firm Mintel’s 2016 report on residential flooring. But wood can be a loser in the kitchen, where a dropped can of peas can literally leave a lasting impression. Or in the laundry room, where a splash of bleach can blemish its finish.