IBQUILTIN

I have a light colored laminate in my sewing room and love it, it is so easy to care for. I have also seen the bamboo flooring that is supposed to last almost forever, so you might want to look into that. I can't help you with vinyl, because I don't like it at all, so my judgement would be prejudiced

fireworkslover

Have you thought of cork? That's what I have in my sewing room. It comes in tiles with an acrylic coating on top to protect it from moisture and getting poked with scissors, seam rippers, etc. I grew up with cork in both our living room and den. It was different back then w/ no acrylic coating on it and had to be paste waxed. The cork you get now is easy care - damp mop very occasionally, otherwise vac or sweep. It's smooth, my chair rolls across easily, I do have a mat by my computer and sewing machine (for hard surface floors), it's not cold in the winter or summer. Mine is on the main floor with a basement under it so that might make a difference. Friends of ours installed cork floor on a slab in their condo and love it- they live in MN too. They don't complain of it being cold in the winter. It comes in lots of colors & patterns. I highly recommend it.