When remodeling or updating your home, there are a lot of decisions to be made. Some of those decisions are small and easy to make. But other choices, like what flooring to go with maybe really important. Laminate is very popular right now to use in living area and bedrooms instead of carpet. Here are a few things to consider when making this decision.
1. Aesthetics
Most people would likely agree that laminate wood floors can really make a house shine. Unlike carpet, which can get dull and dingy over time, laminate wood floors can look brand new even years later if maintained well. Interior designers report that buyers tend to prefer hard floor surfaces, so if the ability to re-sell in the future is important, wood floors may be a sound investment.
2. Ease of Cleaning
One major reason people go with laminate wood flooring is the ease of cleaning. If something is spilled, it is much easier to wipe up off of the laminate wood floor than it is to scrub and clean the carpet. Similarly, dust and dirt on hardwood floors can easily be taken care of with a pass of a soft dry cleaning pad, which requires less time and effort than lugging around the vacuum cleaner or worse the carpet cleaner.
3. Frequency of Cleaning
The flip side is to ease cleaning for wood floors is the frequency of cleaning, which favors carpet. Laminate floors – especially darker ones- show dust and dirt very easily, requiring a person to clean quite frequently, often multiple times a week. Carpet, on the other hand, often needs to be vacuumed far less often, perhaps once a week, and shampooed only once or twice per year.
4. Allergy Concerns
If family members are affected by allergies carpets may not be the best option. Carpets tend to hold dirt, dust, dander and other allergens much more so than wood floors.
5. Lifestyle
There are certain lifestyle factors that should be taken into consideration as well. For many parents of young children who spend time crawling on the floor, carpet may be a more desirable option rather than a hardwood surface. On the other hand, pet owners may prefer wood floors, making it easier to quickly and effectively clean up pet hair.
6. Cold Feet
There are a few things worse than climbing out of bed on a winter morning and having your feet hit the cold, hard floor! Obviously, this is a concern alleviated with carpet, but not with laminate wood floors. Be sure to take this into consideration and, if laminate wood floors are your choice, check out some fuzzy, warm slippers to keep by your bed.
Once the decision between carpet and wood has been made, the analysis doesn’t end. Next up will be deciding which carpet or wood to select. Patterns, cost, color, durability…all of these should be kept in mind. Here are a couple of additional things to consider.
- For carpet, keep in mind that lighter carpets show wear and tear easier than darker carpets. This is particularly a concern in high-traffic areas like hallways. Also, be sure to consider the structure and quality of the carpet and remember, oftentimes you get what you pay for!
- For laminate wood flooring, color is again an important consideration. Darker woods tend to show dirt and dust easier. Also, options that are hand scraped with grooves will better hide minor scratches or dents.
Whatever you decide on we hope the tips we’ve provided are helpful in determining which type of flooring is right for you and your family’s needs and lifestyle.