KIDS FLOORING COVERINGS – A MAGIC CARPET RIDE

Choosing a floor covering where kids and pets are involved is very different to choosing an adults-only one.  For the younger generation, floors are more than something to sit on or walk across – they’re battlegrounds, wrestling mats, race tracks, football fields, fairy gardens or sometimes even a blank canvas for budding artists! .  The only limit is their imagination.  That’s why ensuring that the floor covering in a family home can stand up to the tough ‘imagination’ test of the children is a priority when shopping for new ones.

A poor decision will cost both time and money.  Taking the time to tick a few boxes will save a lot of tears and hassle (not to mention money) further down the line.  The following points are worth thinking about when looking for family friendly flooring:

Put safety first

Kids’ health and well-being is paramount, so it’s best to look for floor coverings that provide a safe and stable platform for busy kids.  Slip resistance and shock absorption are also key attributes.  A non-slip carpet is probably the safest option, but other avenues could be rubber flooring, bamboo, cheap carpet tiles and wooden flooring with a rug over the top.  Carpets do provide a soft landing – especially when energetic or accident-prone kids are involved.  Tiles are probably not the best choice as they are extremely hard underfoot and can be treacherous when wet – so, although spills are easy to clean up, they can also cause problems.

And if your children use the floor to slide and ride on – then vinyl, laminate or carpet tiles are a good option.  Because these can be replaced in small sections, they offer a cost-alternative option where wear and tear is an issue.

A healthy choice

Where kids with allergies are involved, you should avoid anything that gives off large amounts of fluff or lint or which has a thick pile where dust accumulates.  The surface shouldn’t allow for growth of any mould, fungus or bacteria.

Colour their world

A dark carpet is a good foil for spills and stains, muddy paws and footprints and other general marks and spills, but it will show up dust, crumbs, light coloured pet hair etc.  Middle tone carpets (such as neutral browns, earthy colours) give a good balance of form and function.  Neutrals always provide a versatile and practical decorating platform – add a colourful rug or funky playmat to add interest (which can be cleaned or changed with ease).   .

Two-tone, patterned or textured carpets are also a good option as they disguise life’s little accidents !.

A soft or hard landing?

It’s probably best to wait for families to grow up before putting down thick, plush carpets.  However tempting the luxurious elegance of a thick pile carpet may be – it’s probably not worth the hassle down the line.  With a  growing family, durability comes ahead of luxury, but there are many great flooring choices on the market today.

Nylon is the best choice for carpets in high-traffic areas, as it is stain-resistant, durable, hardwearing, colour-fast and maintains its good looks even under tough conditions. Choose a tightly woven carpet as it won’t snag on toys, pet claws etc. 

Protecting your assets

For an added layer of protection, put down a teflon coated carpet or have it Scotchguarded. 

Cleanability

Always check with the supplier as to the maintenance requirements and cleanability of your intended floor covering.  A Perth carpets supplier recommends weekly vacuuming for carpets and floors in high traffic areas, with deep steam cleaning done annually in order to preserve the flooring’s looks and performance.  It’s also worth asking your supplier to only show you carpets that have an “extra heavy duty’ rating as these will provide the very best defence against vigorous family use!.

This entry was posted on 09/09/2010 at 05:25 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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