As the one room in the house which is meant to be your personal sanctuary, the ambience of a bedroom is vitally important.
One of the chief ways to influence this is through the choice of flooring, as this covers one of the largest surface areas in the room.
Ease of maintenance is slightly less important here as the bedroom does not usually suffer from too much wear and tear or heavy foot traffic (children’s bedrooms excluded!) – what is most important is comfort and noise insulation.
In cold climates, warmth can be another key factor as there is nothing worse than getting out of bed on a chilly winter’s morning and having to walk on an icy-cold surface.
Carpet
The most common choice for bedrooms is Carpet as it is hard to replicate the same feeling of cosiness and luxury with any other kind of flooring material. Thick, plush carpet is the ideal.
Don’t be shy – make sure you test with your bare feet before making a purchase. The range of colours, patterns, textures and styles available means that there will be a carpet to match any budget and taste.
Carpet tiles can be more expensive than wall-to-wall carpeting but will last longer. Note however that carpets harbour dust, mites, pet dander and other allergens and so may not be the best choice if you or your partner suffer badly from allergies.
Even if you have hard flooring in the bedroom, the use of a Rug or Mat can make a huge difference.
These soften the room and increase the feeling of comfort and luxury (as well as being nicer underfoot!). They come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes and can really enhance your décor scheme.
Hardwood
Solid wood floors are another beautiful choice and can approximate some of the luxury and cosiness provided by carpet. In some types of houses and interior décor schemes, they are almost essential to maintain the overall look of the bedroom.
They are generally warm underfoot and can be softened by the strategic use of rugs.
Laminate
While this may not be such a popular choice, laminate has a lot to recommend it. For those who cannot afford real hardwood, it can give the same effect at a fraction of the cost. It is also very easy to maintain and clean, as well as lasting for years. Installation is simple and the range of styles and colours can be staggering.
Cork
For an environmentally-friendly alternative, go for cork flooring. This is soft and warm and a great sound insulator.
It is also stain-resistant and very hygienic through its naturally anti-microbial properties, and resistance to mould and mildew. This makes it an ideal choice if anybody is likely to suffer from allergies.
Floors not to Choose
While it is wrong to say that any type of flooring is completely unsuitable as there may always be exceptions depending on design, lifestyle and particular situations – nevertheless, there are certain flooring types that are not recommended for bedrooms.
Rubber is one of these as it can give a clinical or industrial feel to a room that is supposed to be a peaceful sanctuary. Similarly, vinyl can give too artificial and “cheap” a feel to the room (although note, vinyl now comes in very good simulation designs).
Very hard floors, such as stone and tile, may also not be suitable although this can depend a lot on the type of stone and your interior décor scheme.
Natural stone, for example, if used right, can actually give your bedroom an expensive, spa-like quality.
They are certainly not recommended for cold climates but in warmer weathers, may actually provide a pleasant cool surface for feet in humid, hot conditions.
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