When you become a parent, most of the decisions you start making revolve around the well-being of the little one, including the flooring you choose for the house. There are a lot of things you need to take into consideration when choosing the flooring that is best suited for the children. On one hand, you don’t want to lose the aesthetic of the room by covering everything with rugs, just because they are easier to clean. But, on the other hand, the thought of their baby crawling around on a dirty floor is enough to make all parents want to take out the sanitizer. Fortunately, there are a lot of options that are both easy to clean and still look pleasing.
Carpet
The most common choice for bedroom flooring, carpet can be found in most children’s rooms, as it has many advantages. The main reason for this is because the material is soft, making it safer for when children fall or crawl on the floor. Carpet also keeps the floor warm, allowing kids to play and sit around. However, everyone knows that carpet can be quite difficult to clean, especially if you don’t use stain protection. But when it comes to the safety of the children, which carpet certainly brings, protecting them from bumps and falls, many parents are ready to give up on the aesthetic. A great advantage of carpet flooring is that it comes in many colors and prints, doubling as a creative playground for the little ones. The best option is to choose colors where stains are hardly visible, such as brown, gray or earthy tones. Carpet also absorbs sounds, such as children running and jumping around, which can make it a perfect option, especially if the kids’ bedroom is on the upper floor and you don’t want them to wake up the entire house.
Vinyl
Another popular option, which holds many advantages for both children and parents, vinyl planks can be a good choice for the children’s bedroom. Vinyl is quite an inexpensive option, perfect for circulated areas, where you fear the floor may get damaged fast. Vinyl is easy to clean, perfect for when the kid is making a mess everywhere, because it is water-resistant and can be swiped off fast. Scratches are not an issue either, as the material is soft and hard to damage. If you opt for luxury vinyl planks, they can look even better than laminated flooring and can also provide the room with a bit of extra insulation. They are also extremely quiet, allowing children to run and jump around without disturbing others in the house. Vinyl flooring also comes in a variety of colors, to match the rest of the room and, if you add a nice rug on top, the room is going to look even better.
Hardwood
Many parents avoid choosing hardwood for their children’s room, as they fear it can get damaged fast and the material is quite hard, especially for toddlers, who tend to fall quite often. However, sometimes hardwood can be the only option, especially if you live in an old house and you don’t want to replace the flooring. Hardwood gives good insulation, making it perfect for colder areas. When it comes to damages, hardwood floor is extremely durable and can last for over 100 years, so you don’t need to fear having to replace it. If it does get worn out in some areas, it can be easily polished and restored, getting rid of all the unpleasant scratches. If you fear hardwood may be too hard for a child’s bedroom, you can cover certain areas with rugs, to provide extra protection for when the kid may stumble and fall. Add a small rug in front of the bed, and another one where the pay area is. Another option to provide some softness to the floor is to buy some soft rubber foam tiles, which are designed for kids’ rooms. They come in various colors and shapes and can double as a fun play area. For more information on different kinds of floors suitable for your home, you can check Ambient online.
Rubber
There is no wondering why playgrounds prefer rubber flooring in detriment of any other choice. Rubber is soft, absorbs impact even form moderate highs, such as the bed, giving parents some peace of mind when it comes to their child getting hurt from falling. The material is very durable and can resist scratches, tears and rips, so you don’t have to worry about furniture or toys scratching the floor and damaging it. When it comes to cleaning, rubber is your best friend. It is stain-resistant, and even if it gets dirty, can be easily swiped and cleaned. One big disadvantage is that rubber is one of the most expensive choices, especially when compared to vinyl and other water-resistant options, which are much more cost-effective. Keep in mind that rubber also has quite a distinct odor which, although not harmful, can be quite unpleasant for some children. This is why it is recommended to test the children’s reaction to the material before purchasing it.
Cork
Although a more unusual choice, cork can have many advantages for the kids’ room, providing many of the qualities a carpet floor has. The first advantage is that cork is a very soft material, protecting the little ones from scratches and bumps, if they fall or crawl on the floor. This is why cork flooring is gaining more and more popularity with parents of toddlers. Another great advantage of cork flooring is that they are anti-microbial and anti-static, as the material is a natural mold-repellant. This makes the room a much cleaner space and, when it comes to children, parents would do anything to protect their health. Cork can be treated and made almost waterproof, making cleaning much easier. However, a big drawback is that the material is quite soft and can be damaged quite easily. Moving furniture around or scratching it with pointy ends from plastic toys can bring permanent damage to the floor. To easily replace damaged areas, you can opt for cork tiles, which can then be changed individually when they get too damaged.
