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There’s many things we need to take into consideration when choosing our dream floor. We have to like the look of it of course as well as making sure it’s practical and that it will stand whatever test our household might throw at. For those of us who have little ones running about the place, it can narrow down the search considerably. Sometimes you just need to be told what the best options are, so you don’t waste your time looking at possibilities that are simply not suitable. Don’t worry, we’ve done the work for you…
Pets and children are great…well at least some of the time! Safety and practicality is something all parents and pet owners usually put as top priority, with style generally having to take the back seat. But actually there’s no reason you can’t have both! In the modern age, there’s plenty of flooring options available that are both stylish, practical and safe, and if you do your research then you don’t have to sacrifice any of these things.
The first thing to consider is safety. The last thing we want is for our kids and pets to be playing on the floor and for us to be worrying about anything unsafe. With this in mind, stay away from tiles and stone. The reason is simple; both have a very harsh and hard surface and if your child or pet were to fall, the damage would be much more significant. As well as this, tiles also become very slippery when wet and as we’re sure you’re aware, spillages are very common in a busy family household! A hard and slippery surface does not bode well when you have little ones charging about the place. With this being said, laminate, Luxury Vinyl Tiles, carpet and real wood are more sensible options, all of which would be more suitable from a safety point of view. Most especially LVT - cushioned and soft under foot, you won’t need to worry about your little ones stumbling about at playtime!
The second factor that comes into play is practicality and maintenance. The last thing you want is for you to blow a load of cash on gorgeous new floors for your home to then find it stains or scratches after a week, and this is certainly more likely with kids and pets around! Although hard wood is famous for its impressive durability, it’s not necessarily the best options from a practicality point of view, with it being susceptible to scratches and stains, which means your pet’s paws and kids toys could cause damage. Wood also needs slightly more attention to keep it clean than alternatives like laminate and LVT, so just be aware of this when making your decision.
However, if you already have wood flooring, it’s not the end of the world. If anything does stain or scratch it, there is a way to eradicate any damage. This can be done by sanding it down and refinishing it – however this should not normally need to be done for the first 15-20 years, so you can only imagine how long your wood floor is going to last for! So, if you’ve got your heart set on real wood, or you already have it, then we’re not going to tell you that it’s going to be a total disaster, but perhaps be mindful of which room you lay it in and be prepared for a little more maintenance.
Carpet is a big no too, with it being a haven for dust mites, no good if someone in your household has any allergies. Carpet also stains very easily, you’ll spend most your life worrying about what your kids might drop on it! So, we’ve covered which flooring types aren’t the best, so which are?
First place is definitely LVT. It is extremely durable and will last for many years after installation without showing wear. Also, LVT is very easy to keep clean, with only a sweep and a mop a few times a week necessary to keep it hygienic. However, perhaps its best feature is how practical and care-free it is. LVT is water, scratch, slip and stain proof along with being soft underfoot– heaven in a family home! Laminate is also another worthy contender to mention, however it is only resistant to scratches, stains and water, but will offer good durability too. Both of these options are also able to cope with the fluctuating temperatures of under-floor heating, so even if you don’t have this installed in your home, it’s definitely worth giving yourself the option of having it!
Many people enjoy the beautiful and authentic look of real wood and often it’s hard to say no to its charm – but it’s just not ideal in a busy family household. The good news is that LVT and laminate present very convincing imitations of real wood, that often it’s impossible to tell them apart! So, you can get that authentic look you’ve been after along with all the practical benefits too.
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