Carpet or Hardwood: An Age-Old Question
What makes the decision so difficult, however, is that there is hardly ever a clear cut answer. Both hardwood flooring and carpeting have tremendous pros and legitimate cons. In fact, the answer often changes from room to room.
This guide is designed to help you make the right choice for your space and your family by highlighting the pros and cons of each.
Hardwood Flooring
Pros: Authentic hardwood floors are praised for their versatility and timeless look. Hardwood floors tend to be much easier to match with different styles of furniture and colors. Combine that with the fact that hardwood floors can easily be restored if damaged, and you can see why people say hardwood floor is so long-lasting.
Cons: One of the biggest disadvantages of hardwood flooring is how susceptible they are to moisture and humidity. It only takes a small amount of water to deteriorate wood. They are also noisier than carpet, so light sleepers might want to consider an alternative for their bedrooms.
Carpet
Pros: One of the best features of quality carpets is the level of comfort they provide. They are warm and comfortable, which makes them ideal for cozy areas like bedrooms and living rooms.
Carpet installation is also much easier, which means you can easily update the room should you need to make a change. That allows you to choose bold patterns and make your carpet a design element.
Finally, contrary to popular belief, carpets actually help to reduce allergens in the air. A Swedish study showed that a 70% decrease in carpet usage corresponded with a 30% increase in allergic reactions among the populace.
Cons: The largest issue with carpets is their tendency to stain. That means your whole carpet could become damaged as the result of one careless act. Additionally, carpet is less durable, although its lifespan is expanded by frequent cleaning.
The war being waged between carpet and hardwood has a long history. Understanding the pros and cons of both carpet and hardwood flooring can give you a better idea of when one or the other suits the needs of a particular space.