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Making sure your home is kid-friendly is an important part of being a parent. After all, you are responsible for the safety and well-being of these tiny human beings who look up to you for everything. Besides keeping your kids safe, the right flooring will also protect your property from going through too much wear and tear. Many people make the mistake of picking out the wrong flooring and ending up having to get it redone once their kids grow up or in case they are trying to sell the property.
It is essential to understand that, certain flooring options do not work well if you have kids, there are plenty of other options that work out perfectly. According to the experts in the industry, here are a few things you need to look for while looking for a flooring option:
- Durability
- Safety
- Stain-resistant
- Scratch-resistant
- Wear-resistant
- Water-resistant
- Easy to clean
- Comfortable on your feet
Top Flooring Options for a Child Friendly Home
Here are a couple of the best options available in the market to ensure that your house is kid-friendly:
Carpets
The best advantage that carpets offer over any other flooring option is the softness. It keeps your feet comfortable and also acts as a soft landing for unexpected falls and accidents, which is quite normal when you have kids at home. It will also keep your family’s feet warm throughout the year. If your kids have a penchant for roughhousing, it is a good idea to consider carpets for staircases, since it is often an accident-prone area in most homes. Carpets are also extremely easy to clean. You can use a vacuum cleaner to suck all the dirt and keep it clean and fresh at all times.
However, remember to pick out dark-toned carpets or ones with patterns since dirt does not show up that easily as in lighter-toned carpets. In case your kids are prone to allergies or asthma, you might be better off looking at one of the other flooring options mentioned here. Carpets tend to harbor more dust, which can trigger an allergy or asthma attack easily, so regular vacuuming is essential.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is quite popular among families with kids and pets these days. They are incredibly easy to clean and very durable as well. You need not worry anymore about the various spills, accidents or dents caused by kids and pets at home. Vinyl tiles are water and stain-resistant, making it the best option for the kitchen. This can be a godsend if your kids are still learning how to eat without making a mess. Vinyl floors come in a wide range of shades and designs, offering you infinite possibilities. Vinyl tiles do not harbor dust like carpets, making it a great option if any one of your loved ones suffers from allergies or asthma.
Cork Floors
Cork flooring is a sustainable flooring option since it is made from the bark of cork trees. Since the stripping of the bark does not kill the tree, it is an environmentally friendly flooring option as well. In fact, this flooring type has been given an honorable mention in the Kid-Friendly Flooring Options – What Works, and What Doesn’t article as a safe and comfortable playing surface. Cork flooring is soft on tiny feet and has a warm and organic feel that fits right in with any décor. Cork flooring is also well known for its anti-microbial properties and its ability to keep mold growth at bay. Some of the other benefits offered by cork flooring include anti-static, allergy-friendly, and so on. It also does not allow dirt or grime to settle, making it an optimal solution in the home of asthma or allergy dwellers.
Rubber Flooring
Rubber flooring is a great option if you have a toddler or a young baby at home. It is easy to clean and is considerably soft underfoot. Some homeowners use rubber flooring in the playroom and other flooring options in the remaining areas of the house. This helps reduce the wear and tear in the areas frequented used by kids without disturbing the ambiance of the rest of the home. However, you need to get rubber flooring from reliable manufacturers since low-quality ones may emit a foul smell after a while.
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring is non-toxic since it is made from natural wood. It is easy to maintain and clean. In fact, a vacuum cleaner and damp mop are more than enough to keep your hardwood floor clear of dust, grime, and germs. The low porosity property of wood makes it less susceptible to bacteria growth. Another advantage of installing hardwood flooring is that they are easy to repair. However, if you have young kids who are just learning to walk, it is a good idea to lay out some area rugs since it will hurt if they fall on hardwood floors. These rugs are also great sound absorber and will muffle loud sounds created by your kids while walking, playing or running about.
Young kids like to explore and might have a hand in causing a bit of damage while they do so. This includes using crayons to draw on the floors or walls, trying to rub food into the floors and so on. But exploring is the way they learn about the world. Since you cannot put a stop to this curiosity, it is up to you to create a safe space to investigate the world around them.
Toddlers and young kids have a penchant for keeping their parents on their toes. By installing kid-friendly flooring, you get to offer your beloved home a layer of protection. It also protects your investment in case you are planning on selling your home and moving into another one at a later date. Some parents even redo their floors once the kids grow up and become more responsible. With so many options available, you are free to choose any kid-friendly flooring option that you deem fit.
