Tips For Choosing The Flooring In Your Bedroom
Types Of Flooring:
Carpet: Carpet is a very popular choice for bedrooms due its soft texture and insulating properties. Carpet is perfect on those chilly winter mornings to stop cold-feet-syndrome and adds an element of cosiness as well as luxury. Bedrooms are a low traffic area so you don’t need to worry as much about the quality of product you chose, carpet is one of the least expensive types of flooring so can be a very affordable way to freshen up your rooms.
Hard Flooring (Vinyl, Laminate and Hybrid): Hard flooring is durable, low maintenance and moisture resistant and is often used in areas with high foot traffic. This means it is not commonly used in bedrooms, but the right hard flooring can be used to create a statement as it comes in a range of colours and styles. The versatility of hard flooring means you can get flooring that looks like hardwood, timber, or tiles to save cost but at a much lower cost. A good choice for those with allergies who need to keep a dust free environment.
Colour:
When choosing flooring, as with choosing any staple piece in a room, it is important to pay careful considerations to colour. Different colours create different moods and atmospheres in a room and since bedrooms are often areas of relaxation, when picking your carpet, vinyl, or hardwood colour keep in mind how you want to feel when you walk into your bedroom.
Carpets and vinyl offer a wide range of colours and styles from your basic neutrals, to bright and bolder colours, and even striking darker shades.
Neutral colours are easy to match with pre-existing décor, and are a safe option when it comes to colour. While warm reds can make a room feel cosy, they are not often used in bedrooms as it is a stimulating colour, instead for the warm, cosy feel, try shades of burnt orange and gold. Similarly, bold and bright colours energise a room so are great for themed or children’s bedrooms.
Things To Consider:
While bedrooms are not as well used as a living space or hallway, you still spend a large amount of time in them. This means when choosing flooring, there are a lot of factors to consider before making a final decision.
Allergies: Carpets are a great place for dust, hair, and tiny dust mites to gather. This can become a problem, not just because it can detract from the carpet, but because exposure to dust mites and dust can trigger allergies and inflame asthma. You spend half of your time in your bedroom, which means if you have asthma or allergies, you need to think about what you’re breathing in while you sleep. There are lots of allergy friendly carpets out there, for example since Harrisons Zen 3 carpets are made out of synthetic fibre, they are relatively allergy friendly, but dust can still build up. It may be a better choice to have vinyl, laminate or hybrid plank in your bedroom if you suffer from allergies.
If you are dead set on carpet in your bedroom, to reduce the chance of your allergies or asthma being triggered, vacuum regularly to prevent the build-up of dust, dirt, and dust mites.
Underlay: Underlay is the layer of cushioning underneath flooring which helps prolong its life span, and insulate against heat and sound. In the case of carpet, underlay can also give your space a luxurious, soft feel underfoot which is ideal for a bedroom.
Pets: If you have pets, it’s important to think about their needs when you choose your flooring, especially if they spend time in your bedroom. Carpet is great for reducing noise, so they’re great for homes with loud dogs, or very vocal cats, but it’s important to consider the type of carpet you get. Looped carpets are not ideal as they can catch claws and nails, causing damage to both your pet and the carpet as the loops will unravel. Instead, choose a cut pile style carpet without troublesome loops.
Laminate or Vinyl is a popular flooring choice for homes with pets as they are durable with a long life span and harder to scratch and dent. It also quietens the sound of your pet’s claws. And since vinyl is completely waterproof, it’s perfect for homes with any young pets still being trained.
Children: Childrens’ bedrooms have different needs than a teenagers and adults bedroom. Carpet is a good choice for bedrooms because of the comfort and warmth underfoot, and will be more forgiving for falls and accidents. Although many carpets are stain resistant, most warranties only cover food and beverages, not crayons, pens etc so choosing a dark colour will help hide those stains that don’t come out.
Hard flooring is also a good choice for a children’s room as they are easy to clean and because they have a smooth surface, dust and dust mites are less likely to build up. However, they can make a room feel cold, and any rough and tumble on these harder floor types could hurt. A soft, colourful rug can be a fun way around this problem.
Care and Maintenance: All types of flooring require maintenance, however some require more than others. While a bedroom may not have the same amount of foot traffic as a living space or well used hallway, it will still see a decent amount of use so make sure that your floor is durable and take care to maintain it.
Carpets require regular vacuuming to remove dust, hair and loose dirt – the more frequently you vacuum, the less chance there is of dirt sinking into the fibres, prolonging the life of your carpet, as well as keeping it looking spotless. Make sure to clean up any spills or messes as soon as possible using our Carpet Cleaning Tips. Simple things such as using doormats and wearing shoes inside less often also do wonders for keeping your carpet looking good. You should also get your carpet professionally cleaned every once in a while, once every twelve to eighteen months is a good time frame.
Vinyl flooring is very low maintenance, but you still need to make an effort to care for it to ensure it lasts. Get protective coverings for the legs/feet of furniture to prevent scratching and denting. It’s important to sweep your floors either using a broom or microfiber pad to remove dust, and to mop regularly. Some vinyl can be sensitive to chemicals so make sure to follow your installers advice and instructions to keep your floor looking spick and span.
