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Original poster

Will I regret putting hard floors down throughout the downstairs?

62 replies

IHeartKingThistle · 06/08/2013 18:29

We put down wood-look Karndean in the hallway and kitchen last year. We absolutely love it and it looks fab. The carpet in the lounge/diner (quite a large area) however is KNACKERED and it was new 3 years ago when we moved in. I'm so sick of trying to get raisins, play-doh and felt tip out of it and it never looks clean. We're thinking of continuing the Karndean throughout and putting a big squishy rug in the sofa area.

But I've never lived in a house with hard floors in the living room. Will I really regret it? Will it be freezing? DD is concerned she won't be able to do cartwheels . DC are 6 and nearly 4, so no toddlers learning to walk or anything.

Anyone got rid of carpet and regretted it?

OP posts:

Original poster

IHeartKingThistle · 06/08/2013 19:09

Does no-one have an opinion on this earth-shattering issue?

OP posts:

HormonalHousewife · 06/08/2013 19:11

We have had hard floors downstairs in 3 houses since 2000.

I think it looks nicer. Yes it's a bit cold on the feet but a nice rug and slippers does the job in winter.

I don't think I'd ever choose carpet downstairs over wood again.

BrianButterfield · 06/08/2013 19:14

We have hard floors throughout the downstairs and I'm very happy with them. They're practical and look better than carpet would with all the mess/pushchairs/bits that are in our house.

We have rugs for messing about on the floor or crawling-baby spaces. We have engineered wood and it's very forgiving - it does scratch but not so you'd really notice.

silasramsbottom · 06/08/2013 19:27

I only have carpet in one room downstairs and it's the room I'm itching to change 3 years later.

Hard floors are far better wearing and rugs are cheaper to replace if you change colour scheme (like I have).

Spottedbag · 06/08/2013 19:34

We ya hard wood oak floor throughout the house ( bar the loo and bathroom). We absolutely love it and have two small DC. I don't like carpets, rugs are fine. Easy to keep clean and looks stylish and neat.

Mrsrobertduvall · 06/08/2013 19:38

We have original parquet flooring here and tiles in kitchen(with underfloor heating)
We have a couple of big rugs too.
Prefer to carpet.

nemno · 06/08/2013 19:38

Hard floors every time for me. You can add rugs and wear slippers!

Original poster

IHeartKingThistle · 06/08/2013 19:41

Ooh this is encouraging!

OP posts:

NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 06/08/2013 19:43

Same here, never go back to carpets now, not downstairs. And my house is very chilly in winter!

superbagpuss · 06/08/2013 19:44

we have hard floors downstairs
ideal for DC and pets as easy to clean
also DC can play better on hard floor - cars work better, puzzles stay flat etc
we all wear slippers in winter

Dirtymistress · 06/08/2013 19:47

The only carpet we have is on the stairs. Everything else is tile or wood. Carpets are the devils work. When I wash my floors and see the filth that two tiny people generate, I can't help but that the carpets must be utterly disgusting.

Littlefish · 06/08/2013 19:50

Hard floors for us too, with a lovely soft rug in the sitting room. I wouldn't have anything else. This is the 2nd house where we've had the same arrangement.

wonkylegs · 06/08/2013 22:27

We had oak floors throughout our old house and I'm itching to put it down in this house(got to wait til the messy refurbishment bits are done).
Takes a little getting used to I had sore feet for a bit (but soon got used to it) but slippers solve that and any issues with cold.
Rugs can be used to make rooms cosy, add colour and to play on.
Ours had been down for 10yrs, coping with bikes, buggies and a completely non precious attitude to shoes, toys etc and when we put it on the Market everybody asked if it was new down . To me that just shows how good it was.
I want it back now! (eying the grubby cream carpet)

blueshoes · 06/08/2013 23:13

Don't most people, if they had a choice, use hard floors in the living room? I associate carpet with older folk.

rockybalboa · 06/08/2013 23:26

We have hard floors throughout downstairs (stripped floorboards) and with 3 small children, 3 cats and a DH who never takes his fecking shoes off, I wouldn't go back to carpet for all the tea in China. Even the rug pisses me off. Slippers are the way forward when it's cold.

poocatcherchampion · 07/08/2013 07:32

I am the lone voice of disagreement. wood is fine in hallways, something cleanable in kitchen but def a nice warm carpet in the sitting room. I don't do cold and draughty!

Mutley77 · 07/08/2013 07:39

I like to have one living area carpeted for the cosy, sitting on the floor factor. However in a living/dining I would definitely have hard floor - much more convenient and, like you say, you can put a rug down for sitting playing on the floor if that's what your kids want to do.

I have never noticed it being particularly cold but we do like our central heating turned up in winter! Slippers are a good idea though.

PoppyAmex · 07/08/2013 07:40

I have never lived in a house with carpets and neither have my parents.

I imagine it could potentially be warmer but can't think of any other benefits.

I've seen people washing carpets (in very clean, well maintained houses) and they were filthy. That alone would be enough to put me off.

PassTheTwiglets · 07/08/2013 07:47

I would never, ever, ever, ever, EVER have carpet again anywhere except a bedroom. Hard floors are the way to go, absolutely. Wood/laminate floors (and, I think, vinyl) are the same temperature as carpet, it's only tiles that might feel cold. We have tiles in the kitchen and parquet/laminate elsewhere and it's not in the slightest bit cold or draughty. Real floorboards might leave a draught but the rest absolutely don't.

NorksAreMessy · 07/08/2013 07:50

Old farmhouse here and we only have carpet in the sitting room we don't use much. Four dogs, a studio, the world and his wife traipsing through means that when I mop, the colour of the water is SHOCKING. What it would be like with carpet, I cringe to think.

Stone floor in studio also means that everything can be swept up easily, bits of threads, beads, fabric, dog hair etc, that would be a real pain going up the hoover.

It is slightly chillier compared to the one carpeted room, but only if you don't have slippers on.
We do have carpet in the bedrooms and hall-stairs-landing, but dogs and wellies don't go upstairs

Herhonesty · 07/08/2013 07:50

newpup · 07/08/2013 07:51

We have oak floorboards too. Love them! They are a little cold in the winter but slippers solves that problem. I have a big rug in the lounge in front of the fire. Would never go back to carpet.

lostblonde86 · 07/08/2013 07:53

Also agree hard floors are great! Love a rug in the living room, but can easily then clean/replace as needed, while rest of floor can be swept and disinfected

SanityClause · 07/08/2013 07:58

We have lovely walnut floorboards throughout our house, apart from the kitchen and bathrooms, which are various kinds of stone and ceramic tiles.

It's lovely, and not at all cold. If your feet are a bit chilly, you can wear slippers.

(BTW, I am the kind of person who always has cold hands and feet, so if I'm not complaining about it being cold, then it really isn't!)

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 07/08/2013 08:00

Yes but be careful. .I have slipped and fallen every time we get new hard floor..including last night..ouch

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