Should You Use Carpet Or Wood Flooring In Your Bedroom?
Hardwood has become much more popular in recent years, but the debate between hardwood and carpet isn’t going away any time soon. Most people agree, however, that there are some places in the house that are simply better suited to a soft flooring surface. Bedrooms are one of them. So why use carpets in the bedroom?
A Quiet Space To Relax
The bedroom isn’t where you spend your whole day, it’s where you retreat to relax when you need some peace and quiet. You also want quiet when you’re trying to sleep, especially if you share a bedroom with another person. Carpet deadens and absorbs sound, which will keep you from being woken by other sounds in the house, inside the room and out.
Warmth And Comfort
Getting out of a warm bed in the morning isn’t something any of us look forward to — and it’s not made any better when you have to put your bare feet down on a freezing, hard floor. Carpet provides a peaceful, easy transition from the comfort of a good night’s sleep to getting a jump on the day, and it provides the same transition at night when you’re settling in for the night. A high-quality carpet pad can enhance that effect, making your carpet even more luxurious.
The Safe Choice
Stumbling to the bathroom, half-asleep, in the middle of the night can be dangerous, even if there’s nothing in your way on the floor. Socks on a hardwood floor only compound that risk, and if you do fall, the impact will be worse.
Kids are also more likely to get out of bed in a less-than-graceful fashion, bonking knees and elbows on the way down, so they’ll benefit from a softer place to land. And if you have babies or toddlers who are crawling or learning to walk, their little hands and knees will benefit from a more forgiving surface.
A Breath Of Fresh Air
We spend eight hours a day in the bedroom (hopefully), so air quality is a priority. More than one in thirteen Americans suffers from asthma, and even more people have a sensitivity to dust mites. Several studies over the last several decades have indicated that carpet fibers trap dust and allergens, keeping them from circulating in the air until you vacuum them up. Carpeting your bedroom will keep irritants from interrupting your night’s sleep.
A Possible Alternative
If installing new carpet isn’t a good option for you, it’s possible that you can get most of the same benefits with an area rug. You’ll want a large rug — one that extends well past the edges of the bed on every exposed side. Ideally, your rug will extend to within a foot of the wall, so a custom rug might be the best option. If you don’t want to get a big rug, you can also go with a few smaller rugs — one on either side of the bed and one in front of the dresser or bench, where you get dressed.
In the end, carpet is simply a more comfortable choice for bedrooms. It makes for a warm, comforting presence, a quiet space, and a good night’s sleep, so you can start every day fresh and ready to go!