Bedroom flooring options - carpet or not?

[charlieandlola]

I really can't decide what to do. My teenage daughter with SN is frequently and unexpectedly sick and more often than not, when she is in bed, so her bedroom carpet is usually the recipient. This happens about once every 6-8 weeks and she takes medication to try to control it.

It is now beyond serviceable repair and needs replacing. Would you replace with another carpet, or go for Amtico/some other padded vinyl instead and put washable rugs down for the "warm" factor. All of the upstairs bar the bathrooms ( which have vinyl) are carpeted, and am worried it will look odd to have one bedroom which does not match.

I am concerned that her bedroom will look a bit hard. Her dad thinks it will be more like a prison cell and we should put cheap carpet down and replace each year - easy for him to say as he won't be (a) paying for it, (b) going through the hassle of choosing/organising it or (c) moving all her heavy furniture each time it needs doing - it will be me on my own as carpet fitters need the room bare and ready to go, including old carpets ripped up and disposed of !

I can see his point of view, but I am busy enough without this level of hassle.

If i go for vinyl/amtico - recommend me some nice non utilitarian ones :)

wwyd.

[Greenrememberedhills]

Laminate is cheap and serviceable.

Also, in my old house we had a room with wooden floorboards which were old and tatty and we could not find the time to sand them after we had had a huge paint spill on the carpet.

So we scrubbed them instead and rubbed a dark we stain on them and they looked great.

I agree carpet would be a mistake and a huge hassle for you. Unless anyone else is cleaning the vomit I would not involve anyone else in the decision!

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Id go for Laminate over a vinyl. It would be odd to have vinyl in a bedroom but laminate is just as easy to clean and a lot nicer.

[01818118181]

Non carpet floors in bedrooms get really dusty in my experience. I'd carpet the room and buy a cheap rugs to line the sides of the bed or wherever they're most stuck. Perhaps these could be machine washable ones to save you mopping up sick from a flat floor (where spills just spread, rather than get absorbed and chucked in the washer)?

[paxtecum]

Don't have laminate, the liquid from the vomit will go down the joins.
You could get a vinyl with a floor board pattern on and rugs. It would look great.

My DD's cat used to wee on a laminate floor. It was impossible to get rid of the smell.

[Monica101]

Amtico is warm and looks great imo and has no grooves in it so will be ultra practical.

It is pricey but I'd be happy with it in a bedroom with a rug.

[Bunbaker]

Yes, don't get laminate. Vinyl is a lot warmer underfoot than laminate and easier to clean/sterilise. You can get really nice, non utilitarian looking vinyl flooring these days.

[EvaBee]

Another vote for vinyl...or maybe rubber? There are some gorgeous ones out there www.harveymaria.co.uk/Floor-Range

[TheEmpressofBlandings]

Is she able to direct it at all, ie into a permanent sick bowl?
If not, regardless of what flooring you get, could you get something like a garden tray (like the type to stand grow bags on) and keep it under the bed, pull it out each night or whenever she's in bed so that at least it would catch the majority and make cleanup easier?
Or how about a washable ragrug sort of thing but with a waterproof backing - you can buy pul fabric online (which is what washable nappies generally have as a waterproof layer) by the metre, I made waterproof bed mats out of it and some old towels.

[charlieandlola]

Thanks for all your replies:

I agree that whilst a good idea in theory, cheap ;aminate is out as it is crap, and with anything more £££ like engineered or real wood the vom would go down the joins and smell over time. [bitter face of experience]

I am liking the idea of carpet 018181 with rugs over the top, will consider this thanks.

The Empress we think she gets no warning sadly and her SN is so great she can't communicate that it is coming, so out it comes wherever she is... great idea if she was more able, thanks.

i have never heard of Harvey maria, thanks EvaBee, am loving the raspberry pink floor - this is just what I wanted, something a bit more cheerful than normal utlitarian bathroom type vinyl

[sianihedgehog]

I think washable rugs are the way to go - either over laminate or over carpet with a waterproof backing. Or possibly you could get some of that clear vinyl carpet protector for around her bed? Like this stuff? I have this down to stop a cat wee problem...
www.amazon.co.uk/William-Armes-Carpet-Protector-183X69cm/dp/B000W9FL12?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
As a side note, I have one of these for dealing with incessant cat vomit, and it's amazing. Gets vomit out of carpet REALLY WELL. They often seem to be on sale for cheap, and are also great for clearing drains. Might be worth having if you don't already have one. www.vax.co.uk/carpet-cleaners-and-washers/6151f-1-1-132432-00

[TheSortingCat]

These floors are lovely, and the bright colours could mean that it wouldn't look 'hard' -

www.colourflooring.co.uk/

[EvaBee]

Those plastic rugs are horrid. It's a young girl's bedroom - it would look awful to put that in.

[EvaBee]

Colour flooring is lovely too (SortingCat's link) I received samples and the rubber felt beautiful and soft. We didn't use it (but kind of wish we had).

[lagirafe]

I'd go with a wood effect Amtico/Karndean and then some cheap ikea rugs which can be binned as/when necessary and replaced.

[TheSortingCat]

EvaBee we just got some samples through - I think we are going to put it in the kitchen.

This shows how it can look in a bedroom - I don't know what colours your dd likes OP but this doesn't look cold or unfriendly to me.

www.colourflooring.co.uk/collections/all-flooring/products/lemon-vinyl-flooring-1

[EvaBee]

That's lovely - I don't think you even need rugs. I think teenagers would think that was really cool.

[TomPetrelli]

I'm so sorry to hear about your difficulties with your daughter's illness. My name is Tom and I am an operations manager at a flooring company based in Leeds. I actually joined the site because I have twin sons and i've been a long time lurker. When I saw your message I thought that perhaps I could help.

I am fortunate enough to be able to have a large range of floor coverings at my disposal. Feel free to give me a call sometime and hopefully I can advise you, when you come to replace the floor. I would probably look towards a vinyl covering, as it's easy to clean and keep sterile. I hope this doesn't come across as a shameless plug, because it really isn't. My number is 0333 577 0025. No pressure or obligation, I can even just advise if you wish to purchase elsewhere.

Tom Petrelli

[shovetheholly]

Please don't go for laminate. If it gets wet for any length of time, it peels and you cannot disinfect it properly. It will also start to smell if this happens

Some of the high quality vinyls (Amtico, Karndean) are virtually indistinguishable from wood and much more practical.

Lino is an option. I know it calls up all kinds of institutional ideas, but actually there are some extremely pretty, patterned linos now. And it is naturally antibacterial.

[ecosln]

what about carpet tiles? and then a bright ikea rug to stop it looking too office like...