Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to use a carpeted room as the dining room?

90 replies

Booktote · 07/08/2026 14:09

Would it be unreasonable to have a dining room with wall to wall carpet?

We are renting and we have a really awkward room which we haven’t found a reasonable use for since living here for seven years. It’s currently a sitting room which no one uses as it only fits one sofa which makes it look like a doctor’s waiting room. When we viewed the property the agent called this room ‘the dining room’ which is what I think would work best as we only have an eat in kitchen with a smallish table at the moment.

Husband thinks it’s entirely unreasonable to have a dining table on top of a carpet. Rug yes but not wall to wall carpet.

What do you think? dining room with carpet, unreasonable or not?

OP posts:
5foot5 · 07/08/2026 14:51

Longtimelurker1980 · 07/08/2026 14:27

gosh I wouldn’t have carpet in a dining area, food definitely gets dropped in our house even by the adults and anyone with preschoolers/primary age children would need a wipe clean surface while they learn the skill of eating like a normal human. Also wine bottles or water jugs/drink spills are a regular event in our house as people lean over animatedly or lean across other people or just fail to be able to hold a glass without accidentally slamming it into their dinner plate. Maybe we are unusually clumsy but somehow doubt it? We can be super relaxed as wood floor is wipe clean, otherwise imagine it would be pretty stressful when weaning a baby or having people round for dinner.

Maybe we are unusually clumsy but somehow doubt it?

Um, sorry, but I think you might be. A little bit!

We have always had carpet in the dining room, even when DC was growing up. We eat every meal at the table and often these involve lively conversations and wine. I am sure we have had the occasional spill but this is definitely not a regular occurrence.

Besidemyselfwithworry · 07/08/2026 14:51

Yes we have carpet in the dining room too!

Original poster
Booktote · 07/08/2026 15:02

purplecorkheart · 07/08/2026 14:17

I don't understand what his issue is to be honest. Has he explained?

He just says it’s unhygienic if food falls in the carpet but it’s obviously the same with a rug so I can’t say i understand. That’s why I’m asking here, I wanted to see if I’ve missed something!

OP posts:
BranClaps · 07/08/2026 15:04

Carpet downstairs is weird.

Original poster
Booktote · 07/08/2026 15:05

Moveoverdarlin · 07/08/2026 14:23

Are you in the UK? I would say the majority of British homes do have carpet in dining rooms.

Yes in the uk but all our previous homes have had wood flooring in the dining room with a rug beneath the table and chairs. I think everyone we know has a similar set up

OP posts:
Original poster
Booktote · 07/08/2026 15:06

BranClaps · 07/08/2026 15:04

Carpet downstairs is weird.

It’s definitely unusual where we are.

OP posts:
PDAalltheway · 07/08/2026 15:07

I don't now as I don't like carpet but I'd say most dining rooms have carpet.

We managed to drop a box of freshly defrosted raspberries on a family members' new cream dining room carpet once!

persisted · 07/08/2026 15:08

I've never lived in a house with a separate dining room. Table has always been at one end of the living room and its all carpeted. Its always been fine, including when I was a child and there were 5 of us we still managed to not ruin it or catch some weird carpet related disease.

dinoderry · 07/08/2026 15:09

Until I had young children I always had carpet in the dining room!

roshi42 · 07/08/2026 15:10

You could put a rug under the table on top of the carpet so as not to risk stains and having to pay when you leave!

YouSawBrigadoon · 07/08/2026 15:11

Years ago, all dining rooms were carpeted.

If you’re stuck with it, I’d put down a rug.

Didimum · 07/08/2026 15:15

Are you worried about young kids and spillages? If so, I get it because my kids (currently 8yrs old) would have wrecked a carpet (probably still would a bit).

How about a washable rug under on top under the table?

Didimum · 07/08/2026 15:17

5foot5 · 07/08/2026 14:51

Maybe we are unusually clumsy but somehow doubt it?

Um, sorry, but I think you might be. A little bit!

We have always had carpet in the dining room, even when DC was growing up. We eat every meal at the table and often these involve lively conversations and wine. I am sure we have had the occasional spill but this is definitely not a regular occurrence.

Show quote history

Many many child are clumsy with food and drink. Not unusual at all.

godmum56 · 07/08/2026 15:23

Booktote · 07/08/2026 15:02

He just says it’s unhygienic if food falls in the carpet but it’s obviously the same with a rug so I can’t say i understand. That’s why I’m asking here, I wanted to see if I’ve missed something!

Show quote history

have you asked him why?

godmum56 · 07/08/2026 15:23

BranClaps · 07/08/2026 15:04

Carpet downstairs is weird.

why?

user293948849167 · 07/08/2026 15:27

We had our dining table on carpet in a rented house when DDs were little! We got a big wipe clean vinyl floor covering to go underneath the table and it was fine. You wouldn’t need that with older DC and adults though

Lorrymum · 07/08/2026 15:35

If you are worried about spillages buy one of those Dr Beckmann carpet stain removers. They are brilliant for about £3.99, carpet shampoo with brush attachment.

Differentforgirls · 07/08/2026 15:45

Booktote · 07/08/2026 14:09

Would it be unreasonable to have a dining room with wall to wall carpet?

We are renting and we have a really awkward room which we haven’t found a reasonable use for since living here for seven years. It’s currently a sitting room which no one uses as it only fits one sofa which makes it look like a doctor’s waiting room. When we viewed the property the agent called this room ‘the dining room’ which is what I think would work best as we only have an eat in kitchen with a smallish table at the moment.

Husband thinks it’s entirely unreasonable to have a dining table on top of a carpet. Rug yes but not wall to wall carpet.

What do you think? dining room with carpet, unreasonable or not?

I do.

Differentforgirls · 07/08/2026 15:48

BranClaps · 07/08/2026 15:04

Carpet downstairs is weird.

Why?

OneNewEagle · 07/08/2026 15:49

My dining room is carpeted, the house was sold to me as that’s the dining room. I’ve since turned it into a snug with a small sofa etc works better like that.

OneNewEagle · 07/08/2026 15:51

BranClaps · 07/08/2026 15:04

Carpet downstairs is weird.

The house I bought is carpet everywhere…including the bathrooms 😱

Swiftie1878 · 07/08/2026 15:55

It’s personal, I think.
Never had a carpet in any of my dining rooms.

Takes all sorts!

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 07/08/2026 15:55

It might be a practical solution to only have a rug if your huband is a particularly messy eater.

simplesighmon · 07/08/2026 15:55

I’d change the carpet to wood or laminate flooring. Carpet will be hard to clean when food or drink drops on it. It’s gross.
Until recently, a lot of Brits had carpet in their bathrooms — I’d take their opinions with a grain of salt.

minipie · 07/08/2026 15:56

Large washable rug and get to any big spills quickly before they soak through the rug to the carpet. You could consider a waterproof backed rug.