Choosing The Right Flooring For Your Family

When deciding to do some remodeling around your house, one factor tends to get left out of the picture: the kids. And while your kids certainly are not a minor detail, we understand that when investing in your home you want something that primarily looks incredible.

 

You want the ladies in the neighborhood to stop by and say,“Wow! Your new flooring looks awesome! I love what you’ve done” not,  “Wow Amy, your new flooring looks so, ummm…kid friendly.”

 

Look, we get it. So functionality, or in this case the kid-friendliness of the flooring can occasionally get tossed to the side. But choosing the right flooring for a family with kids doesn’t have to be total a ‘give and take’. You can get kid friendly, functional flooring that looks great as well.

 

Depending on what room(s) you are looking at redoing along with how much traffic each area gets, we can help you decide what type of flooring would not only be a great fit for the area, but also makes sure it looks great! Without further ado, here is:

 

Jabara’s Guide To Family Friendly Flooring

 

Carpet:

Carpet is comfortable, cozy, and practical. As well, carpet is a great value because of the floorings’ ability to hold heat and thus, reduce energy bills.

 

Carpet is many a homeowners go-to flooring choice because of the versatility the flooring brings. No matter the foot traffic an area gets, there is a carpet made with the durability to last even the heaviest walked areas of your home. As well, carpet comes in a variety of colors to match any interior decorating style.

 

Carpet is an ideal flooring choice for bedrooms, family rooms, and living rooms. Carpet also makes a great flooring choice for the family. Carpet is slip resistant and a great surface for the kids to roll around on while playing. Carpet also comes in many stain-resistant styles, making any spills a breeze to clean up.

 

 

Hardwood:

Hardwood is a classic flooring option. When done right, hardwood flooring can look spectacular. While hardwood is a favorite of ours here at Jabara’s, it important to take a look at both the pros and the cons of this flooring option.

 

One great thing about hardwood flooring is that the flooring can last you a lifetime. Hardwood flooring is quite durable and can gain ‘character’ with age. Hardwood is also a great way to add resale value to the house. Thus, making hardwood flooring the best option from an investment point of view.

 

On the flip side, hardwood flooring is easily scratched and can dent in certain areas. That being said the versatility of hardwood flooring more than makes up for the few flaws. Hardwood flooring works in any and every room of the house except for full bathrooms and laundry rooms.

 

From a family friendly perspective, hardwood flooring does not top our list. Hardwood is certainly not slip-resistant and not a great flooring option for kids to mess around on. While a ruffian child may enjoy wrestling around on hardwood, most children would prefer to play on a softer option like a carpet. Still in certain rooms of the household, hardwood could make a great option for your family. This is especially true with the potential increase in resale value hardwood provides!

 

 

Laminate:

Laminate flooring is known as the chameleon of the flooring world. Laminate flooring is a great flooring option for a number of reasons. First, laminate flooring is affordable. Laminate is one of the cheapest flooring options available to families. The flooring is also durable. So no matter how many scooters or tricycles have been driven on the flooring, it will hold up. Laminate flooring is also stain-resistant, so you’ll have no worries if you have little ones prone to a spill or three.

 

On the down side, laminate floor will not look better with age. Any damages done to laminate will not add ‘character’ to the flooring. Also, since laminate flooring is done in a pattern that pattern can become fairly repetitive.

 

Laminate flooring is easy to clean. Simply sweep the floor regularly and occasionally mop it down. As well, the flooring is budget friendly meaning you can spend your money doing other family activities.  Being a budget friendly option, laminate is a good choice for families whose kids may be a bit destructive of the house.

 

 

Vinyl:

Vinyl flooring is another great option for a family on a budget. That does not mean vinyl flooring is the hideous flooring option your grandmother used to have. No, vinyl has made strides in recent years to become more visually appealing. Many vinyl options are now producing a surface that looks more authentic than ever before.

 

Vinyl is also a great option for the Do-It-Yourself type of family as the flooring is easily installed. Vinyl is also a great option for rooms that get extremely high foot traffic, as the flooring is one of the most durable available. This makes vinyl a great option for bathrooms, laundry rooms, and entryways.

 

Another benefit vinyl flooring provides a family is the flooring is somewhat soft. While not as soft as most carpet options, vinyl flooring typically has a bit more give to it than hardwood and laminate flooring. Allowing your kids to roughhouse a bit more on the vinyl surface without fear of bumps and bruises.

 

 

Tile:

Tile is another durable flooring option.  Tile durability can vary and is classified by a rating system. Tile is a flooring option with a bit of elegance to it, and thus can increase the resale value of a home in the same manner hardwood flooring can. Tile is a flooring option that is stain, water, and mold resistant.

 

On the flip side, tile flooring can crack on occasion. And if you drop a dish on tile, it most likely will break. Tile flooring can also be really cold on your feet.

 

While tile can work for virtually any room in your home, traditionally tile is best used in kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways.

 

While tile is not the most family friendly flooring option from a comfort perspective, tile does provide a few benefits to the family. These benefits are mainly derived from tiles ability to withstand any scratching or spills.