When it comes to home flooring, there are tons of options. Wood flooring vs carpet is one of the first questions you might have when choosing your new flooring.
Both come with pros and cons, as well as cost and maintenance considerations.
If you’re wondering which type of flooring is best for you, in this post we’re going to cover the main differences between hardwood flooring and carpet, so that you can decide which type of flooring might suit you and your family best.
What's the Difference Between Carpet and Wood Flooring?
Both carpet and wood flooring are popular choices for interior spaces like living rooms, bedrooms, and even stairs, and really it just comes down to the kind of lifestyle you have, and your own preferences.
If you’re on the fence with either type of flooring for your home - especially if you have young children at home, you might find it a little more difficult to choose between the two.
Both carpet and hardwood flooring have their advantages but they’re quite dissimilar materials, so they each have different qualities and characteristics.
Carpet is a woven fabric made from synthetic or natural fibres that are woven together to create a thick, soft, and plush surface.
Carpet is typically more common in colder countries like the UK as it feels warmer underfoot, which can be a welcome feeling during the winter months.
It’s also popular with families with young children who might be crawling or learning to walk.
Wood flooring comes in a wide variety of diverse types, such as laminate flooring, engineered wood flooring, and parquet flooring, and is the most popular type of flooring for homes due to it being durable, versatile, modern, and easy to keep clean.
Due to the wide variety of wood flooring, it’s now becoming more popular with families because of how easy it is to maintain, and although it was once considered to be cold and unwelcoming underfoot, this is no longer the case, and wood flooring can feel incredibly nice to walk on.
Pros of Wood Flooring
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Stronger and Sturdier
Wood floors are the most durable type of flooring available. They are stronger and can withstand more wear and tear than other types of flooring. This is especially helpful if you have kids or pets in your home.
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Easy to Clean
Wood flooring is easy to clean and can be vacuumed or mopped regularly. You can even add sealants to your wood floor to make it more resistant to stains and scuff marks.
A wide variety of wood types and finishes are available for your wood floors, including warm walnut effect laminate, herringbone parquet, and solid oak hardwood flooring.
This means you can choose an attractive and long-lasting flooring that’s also versatile and will fit effortlessly with whatever decor you have.
Cons of Wood Flooring
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Can Be More Expensive
While wood flooring is durable and long-lasting, it is also one of the most expensive types of flooring.
Depending on things like the type of hardwood flooring you want to install, as well as the size of your room, you can expect prices to be higher than carpet.
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Can Scratch Easily
Some types of wood flooring can scratch quite easily. This can be a problem if you have young children playing on the floor, or pets who run around.
Of course, there are measures you can take to protect your hardwood flooring from being scratched, so it doesn’t need to be a problem if you look after the floor.
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Can Get Dusty
Wood is always something that will attract dust, and hardwood flooring is no exception. Depending on the amount of cleaning you’re willing to do, if you have allergies, then you should look for a wood floor that attracts less dust.
Cons of Carpet Flooring
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Harbours Dirt Easier Than Wood Flooring
Most people think of hardwood flooring as being cleaner than carpet, which is since wood is less porous than carpet.
It’s a bit of a misconception that all carpet is dirty purely because of their material, but it’s true that some types of carpet are more difficult to clean than others, and carpet, in general, is a bit of a dirt magnet, so keeping it clean is important.
Some types of carpet can be very dense and heavy, which makes them difficult to clean properly, especially in high traffic areas.
You might need to clean your carpets often or replace them sooner than you would like if you had them in higher traffic areas like stairs or hallways, especially if wearing outdoor shoes inside the house.
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Requires Regular Cleaning
While hardwood flooring can be mopped or vacuumed regularly, some types of carpet can’t be cleaned effectively at all without the use of heavy machinery like shampooers that are expensive to hire or buy.
Vacuum cleaners have mostly been designed for carpets, and while they’re good at removing surface level dirt, they can’t get right into the fibres the way carpet cleaners and shampoo can give it a deep clean.
It’s also difficult to remove stains from carpets without the use of chemical-based cleaning agents, which isn’t ideal with children and pets in the house.
Pros of Carpet Flooring
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Soft and Comfortable
Some types of carpet are soft and comfortable. This is great for kids and adults who spend time playing on the floor. Whether you have kids or pets, some types of carpet are much softer than wood flooring.
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Affordable
The most common types of carpet are moderately priced and are a fantastic way to makeover a room on a budget.
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Easy to Maintain
Most types of carpet are easy to maintain and don’t require much work. You can vacuum and steam clean most types of carpet, but for deeper cleaning you’ll need something like a carpet shampooer which can be expensive to hire.
Which is Better: Carpet or Wood Floors for Homes with Kids?
This is a tough question to answer. The best flooring choice for you and your family depends on the type of flooring and what you want out of it.
If you have pets or kids at home, you’ll want a flooring type that is easy to clean and durable.
Carpet and wood flooring each have their pros and cons. If you have allergies, for example, you might want to go with wood flooring.
Wood is less porous than carpet, which means that it’s not as likely to trap dirt and dust, though some types of hardwood flooring can attract more dust than others, so this will require cleaning.
Hardwood flooring is also easier to clean than carpet, especially for things like spills, which is ideal if you have young kids or pets.
If you are on a tight budget and don’t have a lot of money to put toward new flooring, or need a less permanent solution, carpet might be a good option for you since carpet tends to be less expensive overall.
Let Us Help
We understand how overwhelming it can sometimes be to pick the right flooring for any room in your home, but especially if you’re new to hardwood flooring or solid flooring.
So, whether you prefer to shop online and browse our extensive range of Quick Step laminate flooring solutions, or you’d like to visit our fully stocked Warrington showroom, our team of friendly experts at Floor Land are here to help with any questions you have.
From help with design and planning, to choosing the right type of materials, we’re here to ensure you find the right type of flooring for you, at the best possible price.