Carpet or Hard Flooring?
How was your October? I had a busy one! One of the most interesting things I did this month was having a hot air balloon ride! It was a birthday present for my mum and it was incredibly surreal being up in the air, floating in a basket! Definitely an experience.
The amazing hot air balloon!
I attended Decorex, an interior design show, where I met up with some of the lovely ladies who I studied with. We had a lovely day exploring different brands with their products of furniture, lighting, fabric and craft and attending expert design talks. I had a long chat with Coat Paints, if you follow me a lot you will know I love their paint, the quality and the colours! We then had a gorgeous dinner at Jacuzzi which I would highly recommend!
Coat Paints stand at Decorex
My gorgeous study buddies
I also went to Spain during the half term, so lovely to have some sunshine and have some family time where we weren’t rushing to school or clubs and could just relax and be together. The weather was gorgeous and we were able to enjoy the beach and pool and have a wander around some markets.
When I got back I started bringing those Autumn colours into my home and made sure my Autumn door wreath was up to display those gorgeous oranges and browns. It’s definitely started to feel colder, I like Autumn but only when the sun is shining! I do embrace those chilly evenings though, I enjoy snuggling up on the sofa with a blanket in the lounge, a few candles flickering and the fire on.
What is the flooring like in your lounge? I have carpet in my lounge but hard flooring in the remaining downstairs rooms. Do you have a particular preference between carpet and hard flooring? Personally, I prefer carpet in certain rooms of my house but in others, hard flooring is far more practical. When we first moved into our house there was carpet in the kitchen and dining area and believe me it was not practical or hygienic to wean a baby with that type of flooring!
There are benefits to both and when making your selection it will depend on your preference and, of course, your budget but you should also consider your lifestyle and the purpose of the room. Other things to think about is whether you have pets or if anyone in your household has allergies.
Hard flooring
Hard flooring has a much greater durability and is easier to maintain than carpet. It is less soft so doesn’t provide that warmth and comfort that carpet does however, it can still be aesthetically pleasing. There are a lot of options with hard flooring which helps with varying budgets and designs. Options are solid wood, laminate, vinyl, engineered wood, ceramic and porcelain with laminate, vinyl and ceramic tile being the most budget friendly options.
Hard flooring is easier to clean up after pets but you can also hear those little paws a lot more when they run about which a previous client mentioned to me so we incorporated a rug into her design. If you have cats or dogs it is best to opt for laminate or luxury vinyl tile (LVT) which are scratch resistant and waterproof and best for your furry friends!
Hard flooring is practical for high traffic rooms, for example, in your entry way and hallway, shoes will be removed here and lots of walking back and forth so a high durability flooring which is easy to clean is a sensible option. It is typically much more expensive upfront but does provide a longer life span.
Carpet
Carpet comes in a range of colours and styles so it is easy to fit with any décor, it looks cosy and does provide warmth and sound insulation. However, it is more difficult to clean and isn’t ideal for kitchens where food and drinks can spill. It is a less costly option initially, but the life span isn’t as long as hard flooring. I prefer carpet in bedrooms and living rooms, these are rooms I like to feel cosy in and I like how they feel underfoot when I’m relaxing. Carpet is highly recommended in bedrooms, not only for comfort but for added health benefits as it is thought to improve the air quality of the rooms it is used in. It’s also a safe option for non walking babies. I know my sister is nervous to leave my niece on their hard wood floor in case she falls and hits her head when she’s sitting playing with her toys, a carpet would be a much softer landing for her.
Carpet comes in a range of different materials; polypropylene, a budget friendly option, polyester, man made but looks and feels like wool, sisal, very durable but can feel rough and wool. If people in your household have allergies that would be affected by carpet it is imperative to select a hypoallergenic one in which wool is the best option however wool carpet is more expensive than synthetic.
If you’ve kept an eye on my social media you will know that I have a robot hoover and mop, my favourite household appliance! He works a treat on my flooring; both hard flooring and carpet. All this talk of flooring is reminding me to set him off on my app and get him cleaning my floors!
If you would like help selecting flooring for your home, pop me a message and I can help guide you on what would suit your family needs best and which colour and design would work well with the style of your home. My email address is sophielawsinteriors@outlook.com or you can visit my website www.sophielawsinteriors.co.uk. I can help you make your space a happy place!