Admit it.

You've always wanted to do this, right?

Repeat Tom Cruise's iconic dance from the film "Risky Business"? You just can't slide that way on carpeted floors, although you might be able to do it on a tile or linoleum floor, even.

Here's a look--->

This time of year, I begin to take stock of everything around me, figuring out what needs to be readied for the holiday season, especially if I am expecting company, and even more if I am hosting holiday parties, which may include family, friends and business associates on the guest list.

That is when I start to see my home through their eyes. I start to notice things like dust bunnies that I didn't notice before, but that is usually because I don't regularly examine or dust my window shutters.

I decide that I need to get the carpeting in the bedrooms shampooed because they could use a brightening up. But as I walk through the house and look at the hardwood floors in the main hall, living room and foyer, I think how beautiful they look even after 10 years of service.

If you're thinking of having new flooring installed for the holidays, or thinking about doing it yourself, I can say in all honesty it is the best decorating decision I ever made. The hardwood flooring is the first thing people comment on when they come over, and it also adds to the value of your home. Right now, flooring costs (both materials and installation) are coming down to entice homeowners to get 'er done. And with so many new and affordable options available, it makes that decision not as scarifying as you might think.

Hardwood, laminate, bamboo, or something else?

The best way to begin shopping for your new floor is to take full advantage of your computer's search engines and shop around online first. Every major home improvement center and flooring supplier has their inventory online, including design suggestions and price per square foot, installed and not installed.

I like to visit places like IKEA and walk through each of their displays, not only to get decorating ideas but to see what floors look best with different design and decorating schemes. It's fun and informative. Many companies also have lists of bonded, licensed contractors who will give you free estimates, as well as how-to guides that you can read to see if this is something you might be able to do yourself.

Classic Hardwood Flooring

Classic wood flooring comes in a myriad of colors, shades, textures, finishes and wood types. Some of the available wood types include:

• oak
• pine
• birch
• ash
• beech
• walnut
• cherry
• maple

Part of your wood selection includes the style of wood floor:

• plank - wide planks for a rustic look
• strip - thin strips for a more formal look (this is what I have)
• parquet - typically consisting of pieces of wood formed into patterns

Classic wood floors add a pleasant formality to your home while at the same time imparting a sense of warmth. It's really nice when you set up your Christmas tree and see all the colored lights reflecting on the floor.

Shop and compare online first, then visit your home improvement center for a touch & feel session. Some centers will even let you borrow a couple of samples to take home overnight, or sell you a couple for a few bucks. It's worth it in order to give you a visual of what your new floor will look like.

I want to go green!

If you want to go green, then bamboo floors might just be for you. Sustainable materials are becoming more popular, so you are seeing a bigger selection of them in stores these days. Unlike other woods, most bamboo flooring is manufactured with very little (or no) formaldehyde,

Bamboo flooring comes in beautiful natural colors (light and dark), and can also be dyed any color to match your interior design.

Don't worry, you won't be depriving any pandas of their food supply — The bamboo harvested for flooring is of a kind that they don't eat!

I'm going to install it myself.

If you decide to install your new floor yourself, laminate flooring is probably the way to go. Many laminate floorings are relatively easy to install (lay), and look as good as real wood floors. Plus you get the satisfaction of laying it yourself and having more money in your pocketbook.

If you don't have all of the tools for installing flooring, many home improvement centers will rent you any tools you need for the day. Then when you're done, just drop them off at the center. You can also buy cheap installation kits that come with basic tools to help make your install a success.

The manufacturer, home improvement center and online "how to" sites all provide a wealth of information for anyone eager to install their own laminate floors. To see if this is for you, just visit these sites or your home improvement center to get started!

But Christmas is just around the corner...

Actually, this time of year is the best time to put in new flooring, if you have been thinking about it. Flooring manufactuers and home improvement centers are offering great incentives to people who want to save some money and have their floors looking spiffy for the holidays.

Many flooring companies have extra staff on hand to handle the influx of new customers, and are slashing prices (many by more than 50%) to close out their books for the year and make way for next year's inventory.

Wait, what's "something else"? You forgot to add it.

The newest material for flooring, besides bamboo, is cork flooring.

Wait, did you say cork? Isn't that that stuff on the walls at the auto repair shop?

Not exactly. This kind of cork, like bamboo, is a sustainable material, and some say quite beautiful. Cork is actually wood from a cork tree, grown in countries like Spain, Italy, and France, and has an interesting composition of microscopic air pockets that make for a very cushioned and comfortable floor, and comes in a matte or glossy finish.

Cork floors are in the same price range as tile floors, yet they absorb noise a lot better!

Well, there you have it, a high-level snapshot of what's out there in the world of flooring. To find out more, research online or visit your local home improvement center today!