In the US, over 45% of families have children in their household. Chances are, you have at least 1 or 2 little ones in your home, so you're always looking for ways to make it a safer place for them.
One area a lot of parents forget to consider is flooring. But in fact, it's important in your children's upbringing since the type you choose can decrease the chance of accidents and cushion any potential ones.
So are you now wondering about child-friendly flooring? Then read on. We'll give you several options to help you make a child-friendly house!
Carpet
If you're thinking of starting a family soon, have a newborn on the way, or already have a baby or infant in the house, then carpet is the best choice you can make.
For one thing, installing carpet is very cost-effective, which can be very helpful when you're new parents. With baby on the way (or just born), you'll need every spare penny you can get.
This type of flooring insulates your home better. This means that when you get up for those nighttime feedings, you and your infant won't feel as cold. You'll also save even more money on your heating bills since your HVAC system won't have to work as hard.
Also, carpet is nice and soft. Eventually, your little one will start crawling, which means you want something that's easy on their bodies. Not only will they be dragging themselves around, but they'll also have some tumbles along the way.
And with time, they'll grow up even further and start walking. When this happens, you want to make sure that when they fall (because they will fall!), your kids will have something soft to land on.
Regardless of how old your children are currently, you'll probably have to get on the ground with them too. So why not opt for flooring that'll be easy on your knees and legs too? Chances are, you'll be down there often, so make it easier for everyone!
Drawbacks of Carpet
While carpet is certainly cost-effective and soft, it does have its drawbacks.
The main disadvantage is that it'll stain easily. And with infants and toddlers, accidents and stains are inevitable. However, considering that carpet is cheap, you can always replace it in the future.
To keep stains to a minimum, opt for low pile carpet if you can.
Hardwood Floors
Just because carpet is very child-friendly doesn't mean you should carpet your entire house. In fact, you shouldn't, especially in places with moisture and water (such as the kitchen and bathroom).
In these places, you should choose to go with hardwood floors.
Earlier, we mentioned that the main drawback to carpet is that it stains easily. Hardwood floors are very easy to clean, meaning stains won't be a problem at all.
Hardwood flooring is also very durable. This means that if your children love to run around, and occasionally are naughty and use their skates indoors, your flooring will be able to take it.
And if you're a stylish homeowner, you won't have to worry about hardwood floors going out of style. While it's a simple type of flooring, it'll definitely withstand the test of time, since homeowners of all decades have chosen hardwood flooring.
Drawbacks of Hardwood Floors
The most obvious drawback of hardwood flooring is that it's a hard surface. That means if your little ones fall, they can suffer more serious injuries.
Also, because it doesn't have soft material on it, hardwood flooring won't insulate your home as efficiently. So your heating bills might be a bit higher with them. Also, it won't be as pleasant when you get up for those nighttime feedings.
Laminate Floors
Perhaps you like what hardwood floors have to offer, but you just don't have the budget to get this type of flooring. In that case, you should take a closer look at laminate floors.
This type of flooring is synthetic. It is made of several layers that are fused together; hence the "laminate" part of its name. More specifically, the layers consist of a photographic applique and clear protective parts.
Laminate floors look like hardwood but don't cost as much. Plus, there are many more colors and styles, which means you can pick different laminate flooring for each room if you wish. It also means the flooring is much more customizable.
Laminate floors can be made to look like stone too. So if you'd rather have a stone floor than hardwood, laminate can be a fantastic alternative for stone flooring too.
Drawbacks of Laminate Floors
With laminate flooring, you shouldn't always go for the cheapest option. It'll usually be very obvious that you've chosen something dirt cheap since the quality will be lacking.
Also, laminate floors aren't very resistant to moisture. So if you were considering it for your bathroom, you're better off with another flooring type. Laminate floors might be ok for kitchens and laundry rooms, but you'll have to be careful.
Luxury Vinyl Floors
For a good middle ground between hardwood and laminate, you should consider luxury vinyl. It's pricier than laminate, but it has a more upgraded look, which means you'll get what you pay for.
Considering laminate isn't that moisture-proof, if you're after flooring that is, luxury vinyl is great for that too. This material is waterproof, which means it'll be hard to stain as well.
Luxury vinyl is also a bit softer than laminate because it has a cork underlay.
Drawbacks of Luxury Vinyl Floors
There are very few drawbacks to luxury vinyl flooring. However, the main ones are it can't be repaired, has a shorter lifespan than hardwood, and it's not an eco-friendly choice.
Get Started on Child-Friendly Floors Today
Now that you know a little more about child-friendly floors, you're probably interested in replacing yours. Even if you already have a child-friendly material, it might be old and worn out, which warrants a replacement.
Either way, you'll want to speak to us to get started. We at National Floors Direct are more than happy to help, plus we have the lowest prices around, guaranteed!
Are you ready to get child-friendly flooring? Then schedule your free in-home estimate now!
