Flooring

I got rid of carpets eberywhere a few years ago and I have nevwer regretted ikt. You can see if there is dust on the floor, never with a carpet. So easy to clean.

I have tiles in kitchen, hall, downstairs loo and bathroom. Laminate everywhere else except one bedroom where I tried upmarket lino and I can't tell the difference. A tradesman can but he isn't living here.

I have one rug at the side of my bed.

I'm planning to get rid of my remaining carpets and replace with wood-effect luxury vinyl tiles. The ones in the kitchen have a warm feel to bare feet even in the depths of winter whereas I always feel laminate is cold underfoot.
Laminate is also quite noisy if you have dogs as their claws "click" against it as they walk.

We have stripped floor boards most of downstairs which are sealed. I would prefer we took up the old carpet in the sitting room and had the boards stripped and sealed. Upstairs mostly floor boards,, but some carpet.

I am hoping...if I stay long term in the house, to paint them and just have rugs.

You do see the dust on floorboards so I suppose it would be the same on any hard floor. Carpet does absorb the dust!

If we didnt have the floorboards and had a solid floor I would tile or laminate such as Karndean which looks good innthe pictures. I would personally get rid of carpet and have matching laminate or tiles throughout.

Oh I agree now reading Scribbles post. Luxury vinyl would be good. We hsve just had a good quality vinyl in the bathroom and I do like it. Quiet and easy to clean.
However take a while to choose and look at whatever in lots of different lights. The pattern on the bathroom floor catches the light and in patches looks as though it is not completely flat...but it is. It is the light on the shaded pattern. In a bsthroom it doesnt matter, but it would on a bigger floor space.

We've got LVT in the bathroom and have just had it fitted in the new kitchen - brilliant stuff

I'd probably do away with my laminate and go for a really good quality vinyl flooring, if I could.
Some are so realistic you can't tall they're vinyl at all.

Laminate is quite loud - its a bit offputting feeling like an extra in Riverdance each time you walk on it.

I have a good quality laminate throughout the downstairs and it doesn’t make any noise, even when people wear shoes in the house. We had a special underlay put down that is supposed to stop that.

If you can afford it, go for Karndeen. It’s absolutely bombproof and always looks beautiful.

LVT for me too next time.

We have a kitchen/bathroom quality laminate throughout the house but do have to be careful to mop up any water spillages quickly, otherwise the joints can swell.

We have luxury vinyl tiles in the hall and cloakroom, glued to the concrete floor, and they are much harder wearing.

Both are easy to vacuum or sweep.

We have floor-length full-width lined curtains at each end of the open-plan room, so we don't get any adverse noise/echo issues.

We have engineered oak throughout downstairs. It’s so easy to clean and doesn’t have that repeat pattern that some laminates have.
DSs have Karndeenin their open plan areas and it wears and looks very good.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202606/medium-daovnv-1000025268.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202606/medium-e78dqc-1000025269.jpg

A word of warning about Karndean.
Be aware of the likelihood of it fading in areas that have high exposure to direct sunlight.
Also, it scratches horribly if you have large, boisterous dogs.
Mine is Karndean White Painted Oak, and has been down about 5 years.
I'll be replacing it shortly with ceramic tiles, which won't fade or scratch.

You might want to consider that a quality carpet+underlay offers heat and sound insulation. For older people , a smooth/hard surface can be a slip hazard ( especially if wet).

Pee on the carpet or spill your gin, and at least you won't fall over in it....

I like the look and feel of a carpet in the lounge, which we currently have. It does need a good hoover though.

The bathroom has Karndean, the hall has wood flooring and the kitchen has oak laminate strips which we like.

I had engineered oak over the whole house when I moved in bar all the bathrooms which are tiled floors and the landings and stairs. Flat rugs in a couple of rooms but the flooring is so easy to clean this way just a quick hoovsr and occasional wash with a flat mop more often in Winter but honestly it never even looks dirty I love it, so much less work than carpets.

butterandjam

You might want to consider that a quality carpet+underlay offers heat and sound insulation. For older people , a smooth/hard surface can be a slip hazard ( especially if wet).

Pee on the carpet or spill your gin, and at least you won't fall over in it....

😆
Did you do both those things?

I like all the types of flooring mentioned, but carpets are quiet and cosy to walk on and keep the rooms warmer in Winter.
I think I like the idea of hard floors more than the reality.

Karndean is not great compared with Amtico.
It's worth paying more.

We have LVT flooring too……..so easy to maintain but on no account should it be cleaned with a steam mop!