Including the Pros and Cons of Each Material
The flooring in your bedroom is a particularly intimate surface.
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One of the biggest questions you may ask iswhich flooring is better.
The answer depends on your use.
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Is it for you, a child, or an older adult?
Are you concerned about environmental issues?
Do you plan on selling your home sooner rather than later?
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Here are 11 flooring materials, including their advantages and disadvantages.
Most notably, the price of carpet for a bedroom can vary widely.
There are ways to buy medium- to high-pile carpet for your bedroom whilesticking to a budget.
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For example, choose aninexpensive synthetic fiberrather than wool.
Or look for closeouts and in-stock styles at a carpet warehouse.
Carpet comes in two major categories: cut pile and loop pile.
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The fiber loops are cut for cut pile carpets, and they are left uncut in loop pile carpets.
Textured cut-pile carpeting is the most popular throw in for bedroom use.
It’s soft, has a casual look, and resists dirt reasonably well.
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Note that carpets are notoriously hard to keep clean, especially the ones with a higher pile.
Genuine hardwood is also regarded as one of the best flooring materials among real estate professionals.
It’s relatively durable and biodegradable, making it an environmentally friendlier surface.
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Hardwood flooring is one of the most expensive bedroom flooring materials.
However, it is the best option for home resale, with the greatest return on investment.
For bedroom use, strip and plank are by far the most popular.
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Thetwo basic types of wood flooring are solid and engineered wood.
But in a low-traffic bedroom, that should mean it lasts long.
Also, as with natural hardwood flooring, engineered hardwood can creak and pop.
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So consider that if you’re looking for a quiet bedroom floor.
However, the bamboo plant is a form of grass, not wood.
At this price, it is comparable to mid-range hardwood flooring.
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The look is unique.
It’s worth checking into bamboo flooring if you are already considering hardwood.
Bamboo flooring comes in strips and planks that fit tightly together, like wood and laminate flooring.
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There are many grain and color options available.
However, it is still a relatively unusual material;natural cork flooringis used in bedrooms.
Over time, heavy furniture can leave permanent indentations.
Cork flooring is eco-friendly, available in many colors, and exceptionally durable.
It’s expensive, though.
The options are endless.
Vinyl flooring options include sheet vinyl, tiles, or newerluxury vinyl flooring (LVF)tongue-and-groove planks.
If you usesheet or tile vinyl, the flooring will be hard and thin if placed directly over plywood.
A cork or foam-padded underlayment in a bedroom can soften the feel beneath your feet.
However, underlayment can significantly add to the cost of the installation.
It snaps together for a snug fit, much like plastic laminate flooring planks.
VOCs can temporarily compromise the air quality of your room.
In the 1970s,vinyl replaced linoleumin popularity, primarily because of its cheaper price.
It is the original resilient flooring.
Linoleum has most of the same virtues as vinyl but is a more environmentally sound choice.
Homeowners concerned about the environmental impact of vinyl flooring are starting to return to linoleum.
It does not use non-renewable resources like vinyl in its manufacturing process.
You also don’t have to worry about the off-gassing of VOCs.
Linoleum is worth looking into if you are considering a resilient flooring material that is 100% biodegradable.
It’s a durable choice that can last for up to 40 years.
Linoleum in tile or sheet form can be a comfortable choice for bedroom flooring.
Linoleum needs a padded backing layer to make it comfortable for a bedroom.
It is also slightly less durable than vinyl and doesn’t have the same impervious resistance to water penetration.
Be mindful that when wet, this surface is extremely slippery.
It doesn’t offer any thermal or sound insulation, although good-quality underlayment may help dampen the sound somewhat.
If choosing between carpet or laminate and sound dampening is your main concern, carpet wins every time.
It’s also a low-cost alternative, much less expensive than hardwood, and still offers an attractive appearance.
It is almost impossible to repair.
The material will be exposed and quickly deteriorate when the wear layer breaks down.
However, laminate flooring can last longer than usual in a low-traffic bedroom.
You also have to watch out for dampness seeping up if the room is on the basement level.
Concrete also will last and is extremely durable and resilient.
However, it is prone to cracks with repeated impacts.
They can help keep a bedroom free from noise.
It can withstand dropped weights and is less likely to scuff, dent, wear, or tear.
Besides its durability, its also easy to clean and maintain.
It comes in various colors and styles, including tile and sheet versions and flat or patterned looks.
Rubber is resistant to fire and burns and is non-toxic when burned.
Rubber is manufactured from renewable rubber sap harvested from rubber trees without harming the tree or the environment.
Recycled rubber floors are made from rubber car tires, saving them from going to landfills.
Linoleum, laminate, carpet, and concrete also can be economical bedroom flooring options.
Hardwood adds more value than carpet, and many like its look better.
But carpet is softer, quieter, and cozierall ideal qualities for the bedroom.
A good compromise could be a large area rug over hardwood.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
