I just got some flooring samples and am more confused now than I was before.

I want to put flooring over a concrete slab in my basement and use the room as an art studio. I have arthritis in my knees, and want something soft. I thought I wanted rubber, but it looks like too much of a challenge for me to lay. I then looked at cork, but the samples I can afford are ugly. I've moved on to laminate and vinyl click lock planks. The samples I like best aesthetically are a 7mm laminate and a 4mm thick vinyl.

I'm planning on using a vapor barrier and 1/4 inch cork underlayment. How much difference does the thickness matter? There's also a 12mm laminate I could live with. Help?