When replacing the flooring in your children’s room, you may naturally consider carpet as a first choice. This is because carpet is one of the most common choices for bedrooms. It has a soft, comforting texture that you may love to feel underneath your feet. These qualities buffer sounds and promote the ideal ambiance for rest and relaxation. However, carpet for kids room also has drawbacks that you may understandably be concerned about.
When you are deciding between kids carpet floors and other floor materials, be aware that this is ultimately a personal decision. Carpeting has pros and cons, so your understanding of these factors and your personal preferences and concerns will guide you into making a well-informed decision that is best for your home and family.
Longevity Concerns for Kids Room Carpet
The cost of carpet varies dramatically, but you want to maximize the life of any new flooring material that you install in your children’s rooms. The pile of carpeting directly impacts its ability to withstand damage from foot traffic. For example, Berber has a closed loop design that is not easily impacted by foot traffic. However, these loops can snag as children play with their toys on their bedroom floor.
The matter of stain protection and resistance also requires close consideration. Carpeting will not warp when liquids are spilled on it as wood does, but it can develop mold if it remains moist for a lengthy period of time. Kids room carpet can be treated with stain protection products. This makes concerns about damage caused by stains less concerning. Some materials are naturally more resistant to staining, such as branded nylon carpeting. You can see that the longevity of carpeting depends on several factors, so your selection of a specific product will determine the longevity of your new floor.
The Environmental and Health Concerns Related to Carpet
When searching for the best carpet for kids room, several health concerns require your attention. First, all types of carpeting have thick fibers. These fibers provide comfort and softness that may have drawn you to this type of flooring, but they also are responsible for diminished indoor air quality. This is because they can trap dust mites, pet dander and many other allergens. Superficial debris is removed through regular vacuuming, but carpet has a tendency to become increasingly dirty even when you clean it regularly. Carpeting is associated with increased indoor allergy symptoms and other respiratory concerns. Deep cleaning carpet regularly is an important step in maintenance for this type of floor.
The other primary health concern related to the carpet for kids room is VOCs. Many synthetic carpets are manufactured with harsh chemicals. After carpet is installed, volatile organic compounds negatively impact indoor air quality. However, not all carpet products release VOCs into your home. For example, wool is an all-natural material, and it may be processed without harsh chemicals in many cases. Because each carpet product is unique, you should carefully review and compare the options before installing new flooring in your children’s rooms.
The Affordability of Kids Room Carpet Choices
The cost of carpet for kids room can range between a few dollars per square foot to more than $10 per square foot. The type of padding used as well as the labor costs vary and will inflate flooring costs. Generally, synthetic materials may have improved stain protection properties, but they also may be more likely to have a negative impact on indoor air quality. Nonetheless, if your children will be hard on their flooring and if you intend to replace it within a few years, the affordability of lower-end carpeting may be difficult to overlook. On the other hand, if you intend to keep the carpeting in place for many years, investing in a thicker pad and a product with stain protection may be worth the cost.
The Extensive Range of Carpeting Styles Available
Carpet for kids room is available in an extensive range of styles and materials. Some of the many materials that carpet is made out of are wool, acrylic, olefin, nylon, polyester and others. In many cases, products are comprised of a blend of materials, which enables you to take advantage of a combination of benefits. These various materials may be available in different styles, which makes it easy to find a look that is ideal for your home. These styles are divided into cut pile, cut loop and loop options. Cut pile includes styles like frieze, shag, cable, velvet and others.
Cut loop generally has patterns cut into it and is comprised of a combination of short loops and cut tufts. If you opt for loop styles, you can choose between Berber and other similar styles. These various styles and their materials impact softness, maintenance, longevity and other factors. Regardless of the style that you select, you can generally find a wide range of colors. These may be dyed a solid color, or they may feature a blend of colors.
Is carpeting the best type of flooring for your children’s rooms? You can see that carpeting has many general pros and cons compared to other types of flooring. More than that, each specific type of carpet has specific benefits and drawbacks. With these factors in mind and with your needs and preferences to consider, a closer look at the specific types of carpet products is in order.
