Carpets VS Wood Flooring: Which Is Right For Your Living Room?
Whether you're decorating your first home or the interior of your property needs some TLC, the flooring you choose will have a big difference in how your property looks and feels. However, deciding between carpet or laminate flooring can be difficult, especially in your first house.
To help you make an informed decision, this blog will explain the pros of each flooring type, how each will suit your desired decor and important lifestyle factors to consider.
The benefits of hardwood flooring
Wooden flooring is a modern and popular choice for many homes, offering an effortless yet modern look to the home.
Despite being vulnerable to wear and tear, oak laminate flooring can be very durable and resistant. Whereas carpet can begin to lose its pile over time, hardwood flooring is long lasting as it can withstand heavy footfall in domestic and commercial environments.
Unlike carpet, hardwood flooring requires little maintenance to keep it looking good. This type of flooring can be refinished, making it look like new simply by sanding and polishing it. Furthermore, wooden flooring is a lot easier to keep clean - a steam mop will kill all germs remove odours. However, carpets have been found to hold around 200,000 bacteria per square inch, making it 4,000 times dirtier than the average toilet seat! To properly clean carpet, professional carpet cleaning equipment is needed to remove dirt and germs that sit below the surface area.
If cared for properly, hardwood flooring can last for years. Additionally, hardwood flooring is a timeless investment that won’t go in and out of fashion, this is great within the home as you’ll be able to switch up your decor without running the risk of your flooring clashing. Choosing this type of flooring will stop you from laying down something new after only a few years.
A similar option to hardwood flooring is vinyl. The surface of vinyl flooring is simply a printed copy of hardwood flooring, on a softer and more flexible material. Benefits include:
Moisture resistant - the biggest advantage of installing vinyl flooring is its water-resistant properties. In comparison, moisture and spillages can cause hardwood flooring to warp and expand, or leave permanent stains on carpets. Vinyl, however, is easy to clean and won’t absorb moisture, making it the perfect flooring for humid areas such as bathrooms.
Low maintenance - to keep vinyl flooring clean, all you need to do is sweep it to get rid of dirt and crumbs, and use a damp mop with floor cleaner to remove stains and germs.
Budget-friendly - if you want the look of hardwood flooring but without the price tag, vinyl flooring is a great option.
Despite hardwood flooring taking preference throughout many homes, carpet is still a great choice, especially for particular areas of the home such as the bedroom and living room.
Warmth
If you want to add some warmth into your home, carpet will keep your feet toasty warm, especially during the winter. Carpet provides excellent insulation to a space, easing you into those early morning starts and making the whole home feel cosy.
Sound
Spaces where hardwood flooring is installed often have an echo, however, carpet will eliminate this by absorbing sound and muting noise. From loud footsteps to scratching paws, your home should be a space to relax, by minimising the amount of noise that’s produced. Carpet is a great option if this is a factor you’d like to address, not to mention, regular scratching and banging on hardwood flooring will eventually cause permanent marks and damage.
The great thing about carpet is the range of colours, textures and patterns that are available. Having such a vast choice means you can choose something that fits your decor exactly, creating a well-designed look throughout.
One great thing about carpet is that it cushions your footsteps, reducing your chances of tripping or falling. If you’re worried about the safety of your home, or perhaps you’d like some reassurance for a loved one, carpet may be a safer option than hardwood floor. For those a little unsteady on their feet, wooden flooring can become slippery and dangerous, however, carpet will offer support and increase your confidence when moving around the home. Carpet does not have to be used throughout a home or workplace, but installing it in areas that are frequently used such as hallways or entrances will ensure they are safe.
What look are you trying to achieve?
It’s important that you think about what decor style you are trying to achieve, and a big part of this is through the flooring you choose. Here we explain some common decor styles and how carpet or hardwood flooring may suit them.
Modern and contemporary design are two words that are often used interchangeably, however, modern design usually refers to simple colour palettes and sleek designs whereas contemporary decors incorporate the trends of the here and now. If this is the look you want to achieve hardwood flooring may be the best choice as it fits in with the sleek and simple core of modern design.
Scandinavian
Taking influence from the decor used in many Nordic countries, Scandinavian decors use natural elements such as wood, focus on good lighting and uses textures such as sheepskin and wool. Colour palettes usually contain neutral tones, greens, blues and blush. Usually, this kind of design is finished off with wooden flooring, however, you could also add textures by laying down fluffy rugs, or installing a carpet which fits the colour palette.
Glam
If you want to add a luxurious feel to your home, a glamorous decor will truly make a statement. From plush velvet to grand mirrors and antiques, carpet is the perfect flooring type for this style. Not only will it match your other soft furnishings, but your home will instantly feel warm and comfortable.
Of course, you don’t have to stick to just one type of decor, if you enjoy mixing pieces from all periods, trends and styles, you most likely have an eclectic taste. When put together in the right way, this type of decor can reflect your personality and free-spirited nature. Made up of items you’ve collected over the years or purchased in vintage, modern and secondhand stores your home will tell a story which spans across several periods.
Does vinyl wood flooring suit your lifestyle?
As well as ensuring that your chosen flooring fits in with your tastes and practical requirements, it’s also important to make sure it suits your lifestyle. It’s all well and good having flooring that is nice to look at, but if it doesn’t match its environment it may not be the best choice.
Whether you have an excitable puppy or a house cat, animals are prone causing wear and tear around the home. If your pet needs house training, carpet may not be the best choice - even when fully trained accidents can happen. In this case, hardwood flooring or vinyl will be easier to clean and keep odourless. However, you should consider that you may notice scratch marks on hardwood flooring, and vinyl flooring may experience rips caused by claws.
Small children can cause a mess from sticky hands to spilt drinks, you want a flooring type that will make cleanup easy. If this is a priority for you, then hardwood flooring or laminate flooring could be best. On the other hand, it may be safer to opt for carpet as this will support young children as they learn to walk.
No matter if you work full-time, part-time or from home, balancing your job and tasks around the home can be difficult. Both carpet and hardwood flooring is easy to maintain, however, carpet may start to look grubby quicker. If you need something that isn’t high maintenance, hardwood may reduce your time spent cleaning.
Country Flooring and Supplies: Making wood flooring cost affordable
If this blog has helped you make your decision about flooring, or perhaps you need some more time to see what's on offer, County Flooring and Supplies have a range of hardwood flooring, carpets and vinyl. Based in Nottingham, we offer high-quality flooring to suit everyone’s needs. Visit our showroom today and see what we have on offer.
