If you’re looking to decorate a room for your little one, you might be wondering what nursery or playroom flooring is best. The simple answer is that each option has its pros and cons. The perfect playroom flooring for you will depend entirely on what aspect you find most important. With that in mind, we’ve broken down some of the most popular types of nursery flooring into sections to help you determine the best flooring for you.
What’s the best nursery or playroom flooring for you?
Carpet
Carpet is probably best for warmth and cushioning, but there are a few things to keep in mind before you purchase. There’s a huge degree of difference in cushioning across different carpet types. Those designed to be hardwearing tend to offer little more padding than hard floors but might stand up to your child’s constant running around a little better.
On the flip side, more luxuriously cushioned carpets often have long fiber strands. Curious babies and tots can easily pull and ingest these, so try not to get anything too fluffy. As with most things, the sensible choice is somewhere in the middle ground.
The downside to carpet is how messy and worn it can quickly become. Kids are on their feet and moving a lot more than adults, and you’ll soon notice the wear in a standard carpet over a year or two. They also spill a lot too. Even if you don’t allow eating or drinking in the playroom, kids have a habit of having concealed melted chocolate on their clothes ready to transfer to your furnishings. Chalk, colouring pens, and almost everything else a toddler loves also have the potential to ruin a posh new carpet.
Tiles
Just a big no for playroom flooring.
With any child, you’re only ever a couple of days away from a tumble. Falling onto your knees on tiles is bad enough, but falling onto your head has the potential for serious injury. If you really must have tiles, then invest in some foam play mats. They jigsaw together to fit whatever size you need, are dirt cheap, and can be packed up at the end of the day. Just watch out for those unprotected edges.
Wood flooring
Probably the best choice for durability. What it lacks in cushioning can easily be remedied by a rug or the aforementioned play mats. It’s warmer and not as unforgiving for the odd tumble as tiles are, and it’s far easier to maintain than carpet. Any messes or spills are easily swept away or mopped up.
The downside of wood flooring can be the cost, though engineered wood flooring can be a great option for those stretching their budget due to a new arrival. It’s constructed from compressed timber with a decorative layer of solid wood. It may accrue a couple of scuffs and scratches over the years, but can usually be sanded and refinished just like normal wood floors.
Laminate flooring
Relatively cheap when compared to wood, but not necessarily a great choice for playroom flooring. It’s easy enough to keep clean, and better for falls than tiles, but durability can be a major problem.
Laminate flooring tends to have a very thin veneer that’s quick to chip and wear at the edges. This can make for sharpness between panels that can snag bare feet, or even a choking hazard if a large enough piece comes off. Of course, that’s a worst-case scenario, but if you can plump for something slightly more expensive, it’ll serve you much better in the long run. All the same scuffs and scratches that wood can encounter are issues for laminate too, but crucially, it can’t be sanded and refinished as wood can. Any spills can also cause bubbling to occur underneath the veneer.
“Remember to go for a sturdy laminate to avoid future problems,” comments Ruban Selvanayagam of home buyer survey specialists Property Solvers.
Vinyl/Linoleum
The cheapest option here, and while it offers very little in terms of cushioning (it’s a very thin layer between this and the often concrete floor beneath), it can be made to work short term.
Again, you’ll almost certainly need a rug or foam play mats, but it is easy to clean, and is also available in lots of colourful and funky designs that your child might enjoy.
Durability is pretty terrible though, and after a year or two of toddler action, it’ll likely need replacing. It’s only really an option if you need something cheap and quick, or are trying to work with what you already have.
Best playroom flooring – verdict
As mentioned, it depends on what factor is most important for you. In general though, if cushioning is key, then carpet provides a little bit of protection from trips and falls. Beware the stains, spills and stickiness that kids will bring to a carpet though.
On the other hand, if durability and easy maintenance matter, then you’ll be hard pushed to find anything better than wood flooring. A rug or foam play mats strategically placed in the areas receiving most foot traffic will help to provide some reassuring cushioning where your child is most likely to need it.