The floor of your home plays a very important role in the daily lives of young children. They are likely to spend a great deal of time on it, so warmth, softness, and comfort are important considerations in flooring for children. Children of any age are often messy and are less likely to take care to protect flooring surfaces, so investing in flooring that is both durable and easy to clean is a wise investment.
Best Flooring For Children
Homeowners have a variety of flooring options to choose from. It is however wise to choose a flooring option that is more kid-friendly when you have little ones running around. In addition, many types of flooring for children offer a number of benefits. There are some flooring options that are more suitable for protecting children from hard falls and allergies, while there are others that are simply easier to maintain for parents. Furthermore, it will simplify your life and improve the safety of your family.
So, what is the best flooring for children? Following are the types of flooring that are safe and hygienic for children and your family.
1. Flooring For Children: Hardwood Flooring
The natural beauty of hardwood flooring (and engineered hardwood floors) not only provides excellent looks but makes it a wonderful flooring for children. You can ensure better indoor air quality with solid hardwood flooring in your home since it is non-toxic and relatively easy to clean and maintain. You can also expect an increase in the value of your home when you install hardwood flooring.
Furthermore, hardwood is much less porous, thus inhibiting the growth of bacteria. Hardwoods will last for many years unless they are severely damaged by water, which can cause cupping and buckling. The only drawback of hardwood is that it is more susceptible to scratches caused by toys. It is important too note that hardwood will dent, and kids likely are hard on the surface. But hardwood is nature, and nature adapts to the environment. If you are nervous about scratches and dents, do not use hardwood (or engineered hardwood). If you like a floor that wears over time and looks 'lived in', then hardwood and engineered hardwood floors are perfect for homes with children.
2. Flooring For Children: Laminate Flooring
This type of flooring is excellent for families with children and offers a number of advantages. In the first place, laminate flooring is quite affordable for parents who are seeking a high-end flooring look without the expensive price tag. In fact, laminate flooring closely resembles genuine hardwood flooring in order to achieve a similar aesthetic effect.
Laminate flooring becomes a great choice of flooring for children because it is scratch-resistant, indentation-resistant, and has a high-density fiberboard (HDF) or medium-density fiberboard (MDF) core, which makes it an ideal material for protection against dropped objects. Additionally, it's stain-resistant and exceptionally easy to clean in case of spilled drinks or messy little hands.
Although laminate flooring offers a number of advantages, it also has a few disadvantages. The downside is that it can become quite slippery when wet, which could pose a hazard to young children. So it’s best to keep your floor dry by wiping any spills or water on your floor. It is also important to choose laminate products that emit no more than safe levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). For the best indoor air quality (IAQ) for hard surface flooring materials, you can choose laminate flooring that is certified by FloorScore. This is the most widely recognized IAQ certification standard for hard surface flooring materials.
3. Flooring For Children: Vinyl Flooring
Similar to laminate flooring, vinyl is easy to install and maintain. You can clean it with a simple vacuum and a damp cloth. Moreover, vinyl flooring is excellent flooring for children because it is extremely water-resistant and spill-resistant. So if your children spill cereal, water, or any liquid across the floor in the kitchen or splash in the bathtub, this flooring will be able to stand up to the damage as long as you clean it as soon as possible. Additionally, it offers a non-porous material that is mold-resistant and prevents bacteria from growing. In addition, vinyl flooring is an excellent choice for toddlers who are still learning how to balance, as it provides a soft surface when they fall.
If you are considering vinyl flooring, be sure to choose a phthalate-free version. Discover more about this and other environmental certifications for the flooring to ensure your household is clean and eco-friendly for your children.
4. Rubber Flooring
A great choice of flooring for children is rubber flooring, such as Puzzle Tile Rubber Flooring. This vulcanized rubber composite is ideal for a child's playroom, providing a durable, shock-absorbing material that can withstand tumbling toddlers and rowdy children. In addition, they are manufactured in the shape of tiles, which makes them easy to install, and they can easily be cleaned by simply using warm water and a soft cloth. Furthermore, rubber flooring is highly dense, which provides acoustical benefits by reducing noise levels.
5. Area Rugs
There are times when homeowners need to work with existing flooring, such as hard ceramic tiles. While for some, it is sufficient just to provide some softness underfoot. No matter what the case may be, area rugs provide a great flooring option for children. Area rugs can protect children’s little knees and hands while they are crawling.
Parents often prefer wall-to-wall carpeting to bare floors as it provides a more comfortable atmosphere. However, it also has disadvantages, including allergens, dirt, and grime. They are also difficult to clean. Alternatively, you can use one of the above options of flooring for children and lay an area rug over it.
You can also easily change the style of a room with an area rug. It's possible to choose pastel colours for your nursery, but as your child grows older, they may request something more vibrant and fun.
Other flooring blog articles you may want to read:
WORD OF MOUTH FLOORS: LEADING PROVIDERS OF VINYL FLOORING IN VANCOUVER
LUXURY VINYL FLOORING: WHY CHOOSE THEM?
HOME’S PRO BUILDING MATERIALS: BEAUTIFUL FLOORING THAT’S GREAT FOR YOUR HOME
TIPS ON CHOOSING FLOORING ON A BUDGET