Carpet or not?

If you don’t have carpets and / or under floor heating, can I suggest a good pair of warm slippers. I have a pair that stays at my daughters house as they have wooden floors with just a rug in the lounge.

I just thought I’d mention that we were surprised when we got rid of our carpets to find the downstairs rooms were warmer. We have cellars and the hot water pipes run along its ceiling, meaning we have free underfloor heating.

Thanks Norah.

Calendargirl

OP here again, after a few months from last post.

Just to update. We decided to go for felt backed vinyl (cushion floor) in the end.

It’s a bit of a drawn out process, as DH decided to decorate all of the bedrooms as well. Moving beds, dismantling wardrobes, bedside cupboards meant that we can only do one room at a time, DS and GS required to help with all that. And the fitter has to screed then fit the flooring next day.

One bedroom done, only two to go. Stuff scattered all around the rest of the bungalow, but hopefully all will be completed by end of this month.

The one room that’s finished looks so much better. Don’t find the flooring cold to walk on. Having the same wood effect finish in all 3 rooms, so will look to coordinate.

Glad to see the back of the manky carpets as we took them to the tip.

Glad you found a solution that makes you happy.

Thanks karmalady.

I have just read this thread while my hall floor is being prepared for the laying of French oak wood effect Karndean to replace the frankly dingy beige carpet which was there, so I have been interested to share the experiences. This will mean that the only carpet downstairs is in the sitting room which needs a good clean, so that will be the next job. No pets and only one old lady to cater for now so, and another part of future proofing my house.

It was good to readyour update calendargirl and I am glad that you are happy with your decision

Witzend

The downside of hard floors upstairs (assuming bedrooms are upstairs) is said to be the noise of people clomping about. Even though we’ve got carpets upstairs I am very aware of dh clomping about, so goodness knows what’d it’d be like with hard floors.

A dd replaced horrible, worn old carpets (laid by former owners) in the children’s bedrooms, and chose polyester, which I was frankly 😱 about, but they’re actually very soft and comfortable, and of course (unlike wool or part-wool) any stains can be removed.

Some of these synthetic carpets are wonderful. We have a house we let for holidays and we chose that for everywhere except conservatory (tiled) and kitchen and bathroom (vinyl wood effect).

It can be bleached with dilute bleach and has hundreds of people tramping over it and still looks good. It’s a neutral shade.

But the advantage of a bungalow is no clomping about upstairs of course.

The downside of hard floors upstairs (assuming bedrooms are upstairs) is said to be the noise of people clomping about. Even though we’ve got carpets upstairs I am very aware of dh clomping about, so goodness knows what’d it’d be like with hard floors.

A dd replaced horrible, worn old carpets (laid by former owners) in the children’s bedrooms, and chose polyester, which I was frankly 😱 about, but they’re actually very soft and comfortable, and of course (unlike wool or part-wool) any stains can be removed.

OP here again, after a few months from last post.

Just to update. We decided to go for felt backed vinyl (cushion floor) in the end.

It’s a bit of a drawn out process, as DH decided to decorate all of the bedrooms as well. Moving beds, dismantling wardrobes, bedside cupboards meant that we can only do one room at a time, DS and GS required to help with all that. And the fitter has to screed then fit the flooring next day.

One bedroom done, only two to go. Stuff scattered all around the rest of the bungalow, but hopefully all will be completed by end of this month.

The one room that’s finished looks so much better. Don’t find the flooring cold to walk on. Having the same wood effect finish in all 3 rooms, so will look to coordinate.

Glad to see the back of the manky carpets as we took them to the tip.

As the OP to this thread, I still haven’t decided quite what I want in the bedrooms.

However, something gave me food for thought. Walking with a friend who jointly cares for her 93 year old father, she mentioned he had had an ‘accident’ in his bedroom, not wee, and she said she felt she would struggle to get the carpet clean.

Made me think. We are not that age group yet, but an easy to clean floor in the bedroom is a good idea as we get older.

We are in our fourth house, and it is the first one with absolutely no carpeting. We have wood or tile floors only. Tiled areas have radiant heat under them. I find that there is less dust, and it is so much easier to keep clean.

hallgreenmiss

OP, you hate hoovering? Do you imagine hard floors don’t get dusty and dirty? They still need vacuuming.

This is true, and dust etc settles on hard floors and shows up immediately. I hoover hard floors more often than carpets, and have mixed feelings about that - on one hand carpets are easier as they need less work (I don't have plain white ones, obviously) but on the other they are clearly harbouring the muck that doesn't show. I shampoo mine fairly regularly, and this has reminded me that it's time to do it again.

Think it's because of our climate. So often rather cool and damp.
Prefer wall to wall carpets and softer when one falls.
But then my DH is a carpet salesman.

I've lived in Singapore, Germany, Sweden and Portugal, and travelled widely abroad. The UK seems to be the exception as regards wall to wall fitted carpets. It's a personal choice, but I quite like them from the point of view of both warmth and comfort under the feet, plus the insulation which can be achieved via thick, thermal underlay. No carpet in bathroom, toilet, kitchen or conservatory room, though, for practical reasons.

OP, you hate hoovering? Do you imagine hard floors don’t get dusty and dirty? They still need vacuuming.

Carpets are best for bedrooms but need to be professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months! If they are still in good condition then get them cleaned rather than replace.

I am all for wooden floors. People think your feet would be cold getting out of bed but they aren’t because my slippers are ready just where I left them before getting into bed. I can’t believe how much fluff/ dust accumulates in one week and I live alone. They aren’t noisy because I wear indoor shoes/ sandals or slippers.

Laminate on all bedrooms here. I don’t find them noisy. Originally we got them to suit family members who have asthma, as they could be damp mopped. We have tiles and wood downstairs, with carpeted stairs, landing and small tv room.

We live in a one storey, and have hard flooring throughout, apart from the guest bedrooms. We have a runner in the hallway, and a square rug in the living room. I wouldn’t have it any other way as we have two dogs, and hard floors are so much easier to keep clean.

I am pleased that I have carpet everywhere apart from kitchen and bathroom. I have walking difficulties because of arthritis and have a fear of falling. Have to use a trolley all the time.
When I see the make overs of houses on TV I think they look very cold and uncomfortable.

Ref Karma lady Quick step and insulation is great. Had put down in last house after carpet moths got busy.
Now moved but same set up here. Quickstep( or similar) downstairs and carpet upstairs except bathrooms.

No pet. Crumbs et al?
The downside in having no pets is that dogs are good hoover uppers of crumbs.

Carpet, but were I to move into a place with the described insulated flooring laid downstairs would be very happy.

No pet. Crumbs et al? What I can't see....Hoovered fortnightly.