Choosing between a sophisticated carpet and a voguish hard floor can be tricky for people looking to revamp their homes or shake up their decor.
Both have unique benefits that make them dream assets in many homes, but they also have their downsides depending on what your home and lifestyle require. So, how on earth do you narrow the choice down?
Throughout this article, our experienced flooring enthusiasts take a look at both carpets and flooring to help you make an informed decision!
Carpet – a luxurious option with much appeal
Trust us when we say that kicking off your shoes after a hard day’s work and stepping onto a luxury carpet is one of the finer feelings in life! But is carpet the ideal solution for your home?
Pros of carpet flooring
- Comfort underfoot
Soft to the touch and excellently plush, carpets provide unrivalled comfort and cushioning beneath your feet.
The pile of a carpet feels incredible and also offers a great level of comfort and support by helping to absorb shock, reducing the impact on your joints as you walk.
Plus, when paired with a premium-quality carpet underlay, the ground beneath your feet will feel even more spongey and pleasant to step or sit on!
- Warmth and insulation
Carpets are effective insulators as their fibres trap warm air for longer and prevent heat loss through your floor.
Your feet will be super grateful for this thermal insulation come winter, as will your wallet – by conserving heat, your energy usage won’t need to be as high.
- Noise reduction
Footsteps, pawsteps, TV sounds, and even talking more loudly than usual can disrupt the quietness of your home.
However, a new carpet can help reduce noise as it absorbs sound and muffles the impact of foot traffic, contributing to a more peaceful environment.
- Aesthetic appeal
One of the most attractive benefits of carpets is their often unmatched appearance. Carpets are available in many different styles and shades, meaning there’s something for everyone.
How about a luxurious wool carpet in cream or mocha, perfect for contemporary aesthetics? Or, if you’re craving a bolder look for your vibrant space, why not opt for an eye-catching design in green, blue or red?
Given the choice on offer, you won’t be short on options!
- Safety
Unlike hard floors, where spillages become instant slip hazards, carpets absorb liquids and reduce the likelihood of accidents.
Of course, while this is great for enhancing safety, it isn’t always great for the appearance of your house, which we’ll get to next.
Cons of carpets
- Difficulty cleaning
Compared to other flooring types, carpet is the trickiest to clean. In the event of spills, liquids can seep into the fibres and stain them, which often requires specialist cleaning to remove.
Also, a longer carpet pile can trap dirt, causing it to become embedded deep into the fibres and making it harder to remove.
However, most modern carpets are treated with stain prevention solutions that help to combat staining and make cleaning easier.
- Can trigger allergies
Carpet fibres can trap dust mites, pollen and pet dander, leading to allergic reactions when stirred up and breathed in. High-pile carpets are typically the worst for this as more space is created for any allergens to collect.
- Maintenance is harder
Although carpets can be highly durable, some show wear and tear faster than other flooring options. This is especially true in high-traffic areas, as constant impacts compress the fibres and cause matting.
You can help to maintain your carpet for longer by insisting that shoes are removed at your front door and cleaning your carpet frequently, ensuring it stays looking, feeling and smelling fresh.
Flooring – a popular choice with many benefits
Hard flooring comes with a host of practical and aesthetic pros that make it an outstanding candidate for your renovation!
Advantages of flooring
- Easy cleaning
Looking for a floor that is simple to keep clean? With types such as vinyl or laminate flooring, spills or dirt wipe and mop up easily.
Being effortless to maintain makes them perfect for hallways, kitchens and dining areas where muddy footprints or spills are likely to occur.
- Durability
Flooring is engineered to withstand heavy foot traffic and be water-resistant, ensuring it lasts for a long time in your home. So, you won’t have to worry about stains, water damage, scratches and wear, even in homes with pets and children.
- Allergy-friendly
If you suffer from allergies, you’ll be thrilled to know that tile, vinyl or laminate flooring doesn’t trap dust or allergens. There are no fibres for particles to become ingrained in, making vacuuming simple and easy over a flat surface.
- Super stylish and modern
Given the wide variety of styles, finishes and brands to choose from, a hard floor is guaranteed to look high-end and match your interior design vision.
Luxury vinyl tiles or laminate planks are a go-to choice for those who adore the beauty of natural ceramics, woods or stones but don’t want the hassle of upkeeping the real deal.
You can also select a layout that suits you, such as herringbone, mosaic or wood strip – whichever you decide, your hard flooring is sure to look exceptional, especially if bought from a reputable retailer like us!
The downside of flooring
- Colder underfoot
Unless you have underfloor heating, hard floors can feel chilly in the winter months. Vinyl or laminate floors are thinner than carpets, so naturally don’t hold heat as effectively.
However, you can allow your flooring to feel warmer and cosier by installing a higher tog-rated vinyl or laminate underlay beneath. Or, you can add a stylish rug to your living space to give your feet respite from the colder surface.
- Noisier
Unlike carpet, which absorbs impacts and sounds, noise echoes across hard floor surfaces like laminate or vinyl. Footsteps, chatter and dog barks are therefore louder across homes with hard floors in comparison to carpet.
- Less comfortable
Hard surfaces tend not to be as soft or forgiving as carpet floors. While this may be true, there are premium underlays available to make laminate and vinyl floors more comfortable underfoot.
The verdict – which option is best for your home?
So, you’ve heard all there is to know about the benefits and drawbacks of carpet and hard floors – but how do you work out which is right for you? Think about the following to help make your decision easier!
Consider your lifestyle
While you wouldn’t have carpeting in the kitchen for practical reasons, other areas are more open to preference – especially living or lounge rooms.
If you spend meal times in these spaces and are prone to spilling drinks or food, or you simply crave an easy-to-maintain floor, then a hard floor option is best for you.
However, if you desire a lush and soft finish and want to reduce noise transfer throughout your house, a carpet is a must.
Consider pets and children
While we adore our little ones and four-legged friends, they can’t help but be messy! So, in children’s spaces and downstairs where your pets live, we highly recommend vinyl or laminate flooring as it’s much more efficient to clean and won’t stain.
Whatever you decide is best for you, you’ll find your dream flooring here at Bespoke Flooring – proud retailers of top-grade carpets and floors! Explore our wide range of flooring in St Helens that homeowners trust for quality and durability.
Call us for tailored recommendations
Thinking about switching out your old floor for something fresh and new? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Here at Bespoke Flooring, we have over 30 years of experience in the trade, so you know you can rely on our top-class service and products!
We stock some of the world’s most prestigious brands in carpets and engineered flooring, including Karndean, Amtico and Cormar Carpets.
Discover the best selection of flooring and carpets St Helens has to offer, all under one roof. Visit our showroom in Rainford, and we’ll be happy to help you find your next dream floor. Or call us on 01744 885514 today if you want to speak to a team member over the phone.
