Carpet or laminate

[SWFARMER]

Carpet or laminate for a living room?

It's a fairly small cosy living room.

OH wants carpet as it's cosier and warmer but I want laminate as we're planning to have children in next few years and it just seems more practical and easier to maintain in the long run.

Thoughts?

[wowfudge]

Carpet. Much more pleasant for little ones to crawl on and less noisy when they toddle around and drop things.

[misscph1973]

Maybe it's because I'm not English, but I detest carpets. They get filthy and you can't clean them yourself. I grew up with real wood floors and I miss the smell of freshly washed wood. I hate the smell of musty carpets.

I would get laminate, it's not as nice as wood, but it's a lot nicer than carpet. Get yourself a washable rug that fits in your washing machine. I have 2 identical cotton rag rugs so I can always lay the other down while the first one is washing/drying.

[Bunbaker]

Carpet. Laminate is so cold underfoot and noisy to walk on. We don't have small children so our carpets don't get filthy or musty. I also have them cleaned regularly.

[Bunbaker]

And we don't wear shoes indoors, so our carpets don't get dirty from feet either.

[LadyB49]

Laminate.....plus a large rug

[TremoloGreen]

I don't think carpet and small children mix - dropped food, spilt drinks, potty training accidents, upset tums, paint and glitter... I prefer wipe-clean every time, but then I am lazy.

I grew up in a house with stone floors downstairs, my kids learnt to crawl/walk on wood, as do many others... no issues!

[wowfudge]

I would just keep food and craft stuff out of a living room. We have carpets and they are neither filthy not musty.

[TremoloGreen]

Ah yes, you could do that I just tend to operate on a strict principle of having as few different floor types as possible in a house; I'm very anal about 'flow', so I would have the same floor in sitting room, dining room (study?) and hall for example, then maybe one other type throughout the kitchen, utility and loo. I realise this probably doesn't matter to everyone.

[Bunbaker]

"I don't think carpet and small children mix - dropped food, spilt drinks, potty training accidents, upset tums, paint and glitter"

I agree, which is why we did all this stuff in the kitchen where we didn't have carpet. I still prefer a carpet in the living room. I live on the edge of the Pennines and an uncarpeted living room is cold and unwelcoming.

[TooMuchRain]

I would go laminate plus rug because I hate hoovering!

[Bunbaker]

But you still have to clean the laminate to avoid dust bunnies.

[HeadDreamer]

Laminate. I hate hate my carpets upstairs. DD1 has wee and vomited on it. I can't get rid as DD2 is a baby. You just can't get it cleaned.

Luckily we have laminate downstairs. I can't tell you how many times she has spilled drinks in the living room.

Buy and cheap rug and throw it away when it gets grotty. We are on rug number 2 and DD1 is 4yo.

[ChilliAndMint]

Laminate and rugs. Those cotton ones from IKEA are ideal when you have children as they can be bunged in the washing machine.

[chipsandpeas]

laminate - easier for cleaning imo - spills are cleaned up and dont need to hoover (ok you need still to brush and wash)

[WeAllHaveWings]

much prefer the look of laminate/wood, but carpet is much more practical for a baby rolling/crawling/learning to walk on in socks without slipping/you on the floor with baby playing or changing nappies (in the living room ).

Obviously carpet has its issues with spills and baby wee, sick etc so always have the appropriate cleaning products and tools to hand and expect it not to be in tip top shape after a while. to be honest your carpet, sofa, bed etc is all going to need this over the next few years, you cant get rid of them all!!!!

We kept our carpet when ds was born and replaced with a new carpet once he was past spilling things etc now the problem is the dog who cant walk on slippy floors.