Guide to Child-Friendly Flooring
When your child is moving around, making sure corners are safe, locking cupboards in the kitchen and installing baby gates are all top priorities. But, when it comes down to making your home child-friendly, flooring should not be ignored. Although it may seem difficult to combine practicality, durability, cost-effectiveness, and style with function, there are many options in flooring design that can be tailored to meet the needs of all ages.
There are many things to think about, whether you’re looking to ensure that the bathroom floor is resistant to the bathwater gushing overboard or to prepare the playroom for toys being thrown around or ride-on or wheel-based toys. It’s a big investment in time, money and disruption. Parents should make sure that the flooring they choose is durable.
Real Wood Flooring
Although there is nothing like real wood’s look and feel, it can be more expensive than wood-effect options. You can sand out scratches and marks, and you can refinish the floor. However, wood is porous and can harbor dirt, water, spillages and food crumbs. This can make it unhygienic.
Wood-look Flooring Alternatives
Laminate and Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), are two of many wood-effect options. LVT’s are a popular choice for flooring because of their durability and hygienic qualities. It is easy to maintain your flooring in top condition with a few quick mopping, vacuuming, or sweep.
LVT’s can be made in wood or other textures, such as tile and stone. You can express your personal style and taste in flooring, while still ensuring safety.
Laminates and vinyl tiles are easy to install and resist scratches and fading. Laminates of the highest quality are durable and can withstand the rigors of time as well as the changing phases of family life. Laminate is not able to withstand moisture, but it can be used in the right place, like a living room, or playroom, and it can still be a great choice.
LVT has all the advantages of laminate, but the added benefit that it is water-resistant and waterproof. This means that it can withstand regular toddler and baby baths, kitchen spillages, and liquids that may end up on the floor during toilet training. They can be easily installed by DIYers thanks to the new click-installation planks.
Children are not gentle when they race on push-alongs, walk aids, and ride-on toys. Laminates and LVT of good quality are extremely scratch-resistant, but they should be used in areas that will see toddler play (and tantrums!) regularly. It’s a smart decision to invest in a rug and foam squares to protect your floor in high-use areas. A rug can easily be replaced or changed for a fresh look, regardless of whether you are changing the decor or if there has been an unfortunate accident.
