wooden floor in bedroom - options? (pic included)

[butterandcrumpets]

I am currently redoing my bedroom. The original idea was to have new carpets but after ripping out the old one I now really like the wooden floor look. The boards are not in the best condition and it wouldn't be a simple sand and varnish job. What are my options? I hate laminate flooring. Could anything else be put over the existing boards? Or is this all a bad idea and I should just get a nice fluffy carpet?

[YelloDraw]

I'm a fan of carpet in bedrooms so intrinsically biased - get some nice warm soft fluffy carpet back down ;-)

[butterandcrumpets]

Ok, not quite what I want to hear but I take your point - it just looks so nice

[FurbysMakeSexNoises]

I'm considering sand and varnish slightly ropey wooden boards and then a massive rug under the bed leaving a large strip of visible wood but still squishy material when I get out of bed.

[sentia]

What's wrong with the existing boards? It's hard to tell from the photo.

Personally I'd keep the floorboards, I think they're lovely. But get a huge rug as well, so you get best of both worlds.

[Cel982]

Yes, are you sure the existing boards aren't salvageable? They look pretty good in the picture. If I could I'd keep them and get a very large, deep pile rug as Furbys suggested.

[butterandcrumpets]

There are gaps in between some of them and some are splintered. I am most worried about cold/draught, and noise too. (Although it's just me in the house - redecorating after husband has left for OW). A huge shaggy rug under the bed might work?

[butterandcrumpets]

I don't think they are unsalvageable but need patching up.

[sentia]

There are products that you can use to fill the gaps between floorboards (draughtex, stop-gap etc) but I've no idea how they perform over time and which is best - you need a PigletJohn recommendation

[fluffikins]

I'd be worried about it being cold and noisy. I'd be tempted to overboard with hardboard and then wooden flooring (NOT engineered but proper wood) that way you can get some sound proofing insulation in.

[SwedishEdith]

They look pretty good to me. We're doing this atm so I'll following this for any tips.

[Timeforabiscuit]

They really look beautiful, i would be a bit cautious of just saying sanding and varnishing, its an absolute fucker and creates so much dust, varnishing is tricky to get the colour just right and youll probably need a couple of coats at least (and its not a pleasant job).

I received this advice from a hollow eyed friend who reckoned it would only take a weekend....

[butterandcrumpets]

So I could have wood flooring put on top of it to help with noise? What is the different between engineered wood and 'proper' wood? I am mindful of costs as I need to replace all furniture. The room is roughly 11sqm.

[SwedishEdith]

What did the hollowed eyed friend recommend? I'm thinking painting may be easier and not need such a perfect finish.

This blog is quite useful

[Timeforabiscuit]

They said to do it before you move in, or be out while someone else does it professionally. But they are an accountant by day so not the handiest, but also pretty tight fisted so wouldnt buy help in unless they absolutely had too.

I think it depends what finish you want, I dont know much about it but i think paint flakes off with traffic, so it would quickly look shabby in a hallway, but not too much footfall in a bedroom unless heavy stuff gets dragged across it.

[FurbysMakeSexNoises]

I agree my concern is also heat and noise- wood looks so lovely but for me the bedroom has to be peaceful and restful too.

[NannyPlumsMagicTrick]

I'd go for the boards, with a rug.

Here's a really good blog post on restoring wooden floor boards:

www.simplythenest.com/journal/2013/11/21/how-to-sand-and-restore-a-victorian-wooden-floor.html

Also read about this product for filling gaps between boards:
www.amazon.co.uk/Green-Stamp-Stop-Gap-Floorboard-Excluder/dp/B004GH7ALK?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[butterandcrumpets]

Thank you, some very good links there. I think I will give boards and rug a try, and I do like a bit of a project . Will try the draught excluders and ensure I have fluffy rug for a little more warmth. Better get reading!

[Acopyofacopy]

I see you have made up your mind already... I was going to suggest wood effect pvc flooring (amtico etc.). Just visited friends who had this done and it has the beauty of wood, is soft(-ish) underfoot and really easy to clean. No gaps either. I loved it!

[SwedishEdith]

God, I've just lost an hour on that blog.

[SwedishEdith]

We're partner is ripping out wood effect flooring as I type...

[user1471503992]

I've done it everywhere else in my flat and am dying to do it in the bedroom too but our whole flat is a project so haven't got round to it yet. We used osmo hard wax oil instead of varnish - rub on with a rag, soaks in beautifully, you can add more oil if you want to cover scratches later (have not bothered to do this and it still looks good 3 years on). The oil is so quick we did one coat the night before, the second coat in the morning before work and put the furniture back that evening. The sanding is bloody hard work, the sander is incredibly heavy but we did our big living room in one day and you'll be amazed at how gorgeously the wood comes up! I found the dust was much easier than plaster dust if you've ever sanded plaster - still gets everywhere but easier to remove.

[IlPorcupinoNilSodomyEst]

As an aside, what's the name of the blue on your wall, it's gorgeous!

[Hobbes8]

We have stripped floorboards in our bedroom and I don't find them cold. Laminate can be cold and plasticky under foot but real wood feels nice. Your floorboards look in better nick than our we're before we had them sanded. We got someone in to do it though, so I can't advise how tricky it was.

[NotAMammy]

For those that have wood and a big rug, where did you get the rug and what size do you need for under a double bed and do you know how much-ish it cost?

Love the idea of this too but don't know if it would work out much more expensive than just getting a carpet.

[PonderingLikeAPond]

We have sanded the floors throughout our flat and the bedroom isnt noisy or cold at all because of it.

Those boards look great and full of character.