Oak or carpet in bedrooms

[HowAnnoying]

We are having oak flooring on the ground floor (apart from kitchen which will be tiled). But can't decide what's best for our bedrooms carpet or oak? the staircase is oak as will the floor on the landing.

DP wants carpets, he thinks DCs will ruin oak by dragging toys around etc, but I think they will ruin carpets by being sick and peeing on them! They are 5 and 3 and we have another on the way. Carpet is also cheaper.

It's engineered oak not solid.

What do people think?

[noisytoys]

Carpet for bedroom it is so much warmer and nicer. For the cost difference you could always replace it with more carpet when they are older

[wendybird77]

I think it is down to personal preference. We have oak downstairs and it is marked up from kids dragging toys all over. We have carpet upstairs and they do pee on it (no sick yet, but I'm sure we'll have that too). I'm more of a wooden floor type person - I like to change it up with new rugs every now and again. We'll soon be replacing flooring upstairs and I'm thinking we'll sand the floorboards in the kids' rooms, but DH wants carpet in ours (also for noise insulation as above the kitchen). I'll get the kids patterned rugs of some sort which can be cleaned and will hide stains. I wouldn't put expensive carpet in the kids' rooms though as it will need replacing.

[GrendelsMum]

I would go for carpets myself, as we find they make a terrific difference regarding noise and draughts. We were previously in a bedroom with carpet and after redecoration moved to one with floorboards and rugs. It looks terribly terribly elegant, but believe me, I am definitely putting carpet in when things allow.

But then my DH cannons round the house like a one-man elephant herd.

[TooMuchRain]

I would go for oak because I don't like carpet at all - but you will need to factor in rugs for playing on / putting near the bed and it will also be a bit noisier.

[PigletJohn]

Hard floors upstairs are noisy, and also allow conversations, TV, music to be heard upstairs.

[LittleChimneyDroppings]

We've got wood flooring in the kids bedrooms. It is a bit louder but you quickly get used to it. On the plus side, they think I have super powers because I can hear exactly what they are up to.

[breatheslowly]

We had engineered wood in the bedrooms of our old house and I much prefer it to the carpet we have now as it is easier to keep clean and doesn't harbour dust and dust mites. I don't think it is that easy to damage and I think if your DC were going to damage it then they would damage it downstairs too.

[GrendelsMum]

How about taking up your existing carpets upstairs and seeing how happy you are with the resulting noise levels?

Or indeed, how about coming round to my house and listening as DH galumphs around upstairs?