Laminate Vs. Carpet In The Living Room: Which To Choose

It is important to make an informed choice when it comes to the flooring material in each part of your house. You have to consider its aesthetics, functionality, and durability. In this article, we'll help enlighten you in choosing between laminate and carpet flooring for your living room. We've done our research, and here's what we found out.

Both carpet and laminate flooring are great choices for your living room. They are affordable and come in different colors, styles, and designs to match your interior. However, laminate is a more practical choice since it's more durable and easier to install and maintain. But in the end, it's up to you!

Keep reading so we can explain to your further the right material that you should use for your living room as we discuss the pros and cons of laminate and carpet flooring. We'll also tell you which rooms in your house you shouldn't carpet. Let's begin!

Carpet Vs. Laminate: The Pros and Cons

Carpets and laminate floors are both popular choices for the living room flooring. Both are relatively inexpensive compared to other materials, and they come in various colors, designs, and styles that'll complement every living room's overall look.

But homeowners need to know more about the advantages and disadvantages of using these products before they should decide on which material to use for their flooring.

Carpet Flooring

A carpet can be made of olefin, nylon, polyester, or wool. The more twists in its fibers and the greater density volume of its tufts, the better is its quality and the longer it can last. Each material has different resistance levels against soiling, moisture, and stain.

Carpet flooring is favored because it adds beauty and softness to the room. It gives a warm ambiance, which is perfect for the living room where families and friends gather. Your feet will be kept warm by the carpet's fluffy texture, and you don't have to worry about slipping when it's wet.

The cushioned carpet flooring also absorbs sounds. This is ideal in an area such as the living room where different sounds can be heard coming from the television, radio, other appliances, and lively conversations.

On the downside, carpets are harder to clean and maintain. They require regular cleaning and vacuuming to prevent the buildup of unwanted particles. They are prone to stains and dust, dirt, and allergens can settle beneath. All of this can affect the carpet's appearance and quality.

Carpets are expected to last anywhere from 5 to 15 years. You would have to replace carpet flooring faster than laminate. Of course, it would depend on the quality of the floor material that you'll get, the number of people in the house, and if you have kids and pets.

More often than not, carpet needs to be installed by a professional unless you're getting the peel-and-stick type. You would need to have a good underlayment before you can roll out the carpet. This will affect the installation cost of your carpet flooring.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate floors have three layers. The core or base layer is made up of chipped wood particles that have been pressed together to form sheets. Next is the image layer, which has a very realistic photo of wood. It is then encased by a hard and clear plastic sheet called the wear layer.

Laminate flooring can last between 15 and 25 years. It can resist scratches, and its surface is very easy to clean. It is often recommended for homes with pets and children. You can just wipe off the stains and mop its surface to clean it. Just be careful not to use too much water and avoid abrasive products to prevent damaging the material.

It is easier to install laminate floors than carpet. They come with interlocking planks, and you don't need any special tools or materials to put them together.

They are categorized as floating floors because you can put them on top of any existing surface. Underlayment is optional, depending on the flooring's manufacturer.

However, whereas the topmost layer of laminate floors makes it water-resistant, the same cannot be said about its core as it is susceptible to water damage. Moisture can make its floor base swell and chip easily. These floors can also get slippery when wet.

What is the best flooring for a living room?

The living room is a very special place in the house. It is where everyone gathers together to talk, relax, entertain visitors, or have fun. Consequently, it is a place with high traffic.

Homeowners want their living rooms to be inviting, cozy, and stylish. The kind of flooring that you choose for your living room will impact the atmosphere you want to create for this place. But you would also want to invest in practical and durable flooring, too.

In the end, the choice is really up to you. It all boils down to your personal preference, look, and ambiance you want to create for your living room.

You also decide based on your needs, especially if you have children or pets in the house. There should be a healthy balance of all these aspects so that you can come up with a decision that you won't regret.

Or you can also enjoy the best of both worlds by putting an area rug over your laminate floors. You can just put it in a specific portion in your living room to enhance its look. This way, everything is easy to clean, and you can make the room look warm and cozy.

Check out this rug on Amazon.

In what rooms is carpeting a poor choice?

Carpets sure add comfort and style to your home. However, because of their materials, there are certain rooms in the house where it's not practical to use this for your flooring.

Bathrooms

A bathroom is one of the places inside a house that is usually wet. Yes, there's a designated area for the shower, but sometimes leaks can happen and water finds its way into the floor, right? This can make your carpet soggy, which can ruin its quality.

A wet carpet is very uncomfortable to walk on, and it doesn't exactly look nice either. The carpet will also absorb all the odors in the room, making your bathroom smell unpleasant over time.

Kitchens

Since you do all your food preparation in the kitchen, there's a high probability of having spills and messes on the floor. These can cause unsightly stains on the carpet floor, which would be very hard to remove.

They can also make your carpet look and feel grimy. Or even if you can get the stains out and have your carpet cleaned, it just requires so much effort and time to make your kitchen presentable.

Entry rooms

The entry points in your house are high traffic areas. Not only that, who knows what dirt and grime each footwear of family members and guests holds? Carpets will trap those unwanted particles. They can also leave hideous marks on the carpet's surface.

Again, you'll have an issue with the carpet's cleaning and maintenance and the truth is, it's just impossible to remove all of that accumulated dirt even if you shampoo and vacuum your carpet frequently. They'll keep coming back to haunt you.

Nursery Rooms

The carpet will soften the look of the room and potentially cushion the baby in the event that they fall. However, it is also the place where there's usually spilled milk, water, or juice. Babies can also vomit, or there could be an accident with their diaper, and the contents will find their way on the carpet floor.

It's best to choose flooring materials that can stand up to wetness and are easy to clean for children's rooms in your house. It is just a more practical choice.

Final Thoughts

The kind of flooring that you choose for your living room will have an impact on the atmosphere that you want to create for this place. It will add comfort and style to this area where family members and guests usually gather. Just choose the flooring material that'll make you happy. After all, it's your house, your rules.

You may also visit the following links for more related reading:

Carpet Vs. Laminate in a Basement: Which is Better?

Should You Change Direction Of Hardwood Flooring Between Rooms?