Will I regret putting hard floors down throughout the downstairs?

[IHeartKingThistle]

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?

[valiumredhead]

Why go for kardean if it's knackered after only a couple of years?

Oak flooring is the way to go imo, it's fantastic,I would never have carpet downstairs. You need need rugs though imo, and slippers!

[Meglet]

My entire house has hard floors, except the stairs. I'd never go back to carpets.

Hard floors in the bedroom doesn't bother me either. It doesn't matter if the dc's are sick or I drop a tub of moisturiser everywhere.

[satsumagirl]

We have wood floors on whole of ground floor (open plan kitchen/ dining/ living area). Love it and so much easier to keep clean! We have a rug in the living area bit for cosiness. I chose a dark pattern for that to hide vom stains from my baby!

[stubbornstains]

But baby puke is white satsuma!

Tell me, is wood/ laminate actually more expensive than carpet? Is this why rental landlords will carpet the whole place as a matter of course? We have disgusting carpets in our downstairs- particularly the dining room. There has also just been some kind of complex leak that has left a big stain on part of the carpet, and the dining room now smells of damp. Nice. So, it's time to start working on the LL about new flooring, but I'm sure he won't shell out for hard flooring if it's more expensive....I'm also considering suggesting the old Changing Rooms option of varnished ply...

[hedwig2001]

Can you use a steam mop on any of these wood or laminate floors?

[valiumredhead]

I wouldn't use steam on real wood, you need to clean it very little actually, just a wrung out micro fibre cloth/mop after hoovering.

[Jaynebxl]

I guess it is all down to what you're used to really... when I go in a house with carpet everywhere it feels a bit wrong and kind of dated. Personal taste and all that.

[valiumredhead]

I don't like laminate,I agree feels a bit dated unless you get the really good stuff. Wood is a whole different ball game though imo.

[IHeartKingThistle]

The karndean isn't knackered - the carpet is!

[valiumredhead]

Oh sorry, that'll teach me to skim read

[cardoon]

TFFT! I've just ordered mine

[FranklymydearIdontgiveadamn]

We only have carpet in our bedroom. Most downstairs is tiled apart from 2 reception rooms and rest of bedrooms, landing etc is wooden floors. I have a big rug down in the room where the dc watch tv