Flooring for a playroom

[RooKangaroo]

What kind of flooring do people have in playrooms, or what would you recommend?

The room is 4x4m and will be a playroom for young children (3 and 1), gradually becoming a second reception room when they're teenagers and want their own space for TV and friends. It's an extension conservatory/orangerie thing.

I don't want to spend loads, but I do want something decent and hard wearing.

It leads off the kitchen which is tiled (like hallway), but I don't think tiles will be good - too hard for young children if they're playing and fall, and rugs can't cover the whole room. And I'm thinking carpet is out as food and drink would be spilt on it.

Well, it’s either carpet/rug or hard surfaces. I’d probably carry on with the same tiles as the kitchen if there’s direct access to the garden and kitchen. That way, the floor can withstand moisture/spillages. And then add on massive fluffy carpet(s) that can be changed as the children get older.

I would go wood flooring, or even just laminate - it's got so much better in recent years and looks much more like wood than it used to. Wipe-clean but not hard and cold - won't be so likely to break glasses when dropped etc.

And then rug on top.

But difficult to know without seeing - maybe send us a pic of the room and the join with the kitchen tiles?

We have wood and have one of those play rugs too.

I'd go for wood or for cheaper option something like Amtico. We have it, and it's really hardwearing. People coming to visit always think it's wood and it was cheaper too. Easy to clean and maintain, which is a bonus.
You can put a play rug on it, or for the moment while the two are little you can have areas with these jigsaw-type foam pieces, which ensure that little one falling off won't get hurt and are super easy to clean as well. Plenty of different designs and I bought these when my LO came along and they've been great!
Check it out:
www.amazon.co.uk/s?ref=nb_sb_noss_2&k=playroom+tiles&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

We have Karndean. It’s expensive but we love it.

We’re having Amtico installed in our newbuild entrance hallway, kitchen and adjoining dining room which for the time being will be a playroom for my 1 and 3 year olds. We’ve gone for a wood effect one.

Thanks all, this is really helpful!

Are Karndean and Amtico fancy laminate? Or something separate?

It sounds as if something like this is the way to go. Easy to clean and maintain, not as cold and hard as tile, but still looks smart.

Vinyl / Lino. With electric underfloor heating. Just takes the edge of enough so kids can play even in winter. Conservatories get cold!

I'd do LVT with those jigsaw piece on top so it can't be ruined lol.

Go for wood then get the play tiles that connect together to cover it.

Cork. Naturally warm underfoot & hard-wearing. If you get unsealed you can paint them and then seal. You can also get them with images on top already with various images such as a field of daisy's. Reclaimed floorboards or even OSB board which from a cost point of view would be good value. Again easy too paint or stain too suit. Flooring like Karndean can end up being very expensive and you have too have a perfect subfloor. Like sheet vinyl and tiles it's a cold & hard surface and it sounds like you want a practical surface with a bit of warmth to it. Flooring such as Cork and wood like OSB & reclaimed floors will also soak up sound. Don't forget too take into account cost of fitting though the latter could be easily done yourself. Products like Karndean that offer a guarentee will only be valid if installed by an approved fitter with the right adhesives etc

I'd look at carpet tiles too. Thought they would be too industrial (when DH suggested it) but it looks alright. This is a well used dog friendly room.

I'd go for a hard floor (laminate as it's cheap to replace when they're a little older) with a rug and some of those foam floor tiles. The foam interlocking tiles are surprisingly comfortable to play on, but are easy to clean and move about.

Really interesting about cork @Olive1972. I have no idea about this but will go and look into it, thank you!

Appreciate everyone's thoughts and I'm looking at all the options.