ᐅ Flooring Options for Children’s Rooms: Pros and Cons

Hello,

we are renovating an old building from 1900 with an extension from 1958. Ceiling height is just under 3m (10 feet). No underfloor heating. We have now fallen for a solid wood parquet floor – rustic oak, not smooth but textured, treated with an oil-varnish mixture (?). Originally, we planned to use classic tiles in the kitchen, bathroom, and entrance, and lay the same flooring throughout the rest of the house. However, we have five small children and are now wondering if we should install something more durable and affordable at least in the children’s rooms. What would you recommend? How concerning is vinyl regarding plasticizers? Or should we go with the beautiful parquet and accept the signs of wear over time?

Carpet? Especially in children's rooms without underfloor heating, it is definitely worth considering. Children often lie flat on the floor while playing, and carpet is warm and soft...

You have five children and really want to install hardwood flooring in the house? I would rather recommend concrete in that case.

Seriously: we currently live in a rented apartment with hardwood floors, and just one child has already caused significant wear. All the toys that fall leave marks, and they drag a box across the floor, creating new scratches.

If I were you, I would use a quality luxury vinyl plank (LVP) or engineered vinyl flooring like those from Meister or Parador in the living areas. They don’t contain plasticizers like vinyl. For the kids’ rooms, I would choose a high-quality laminate floor and consider installing hardwood only when the children are older.

Friends of ours moved into their new build with their 2-year-old and already had numerous dents and scratches after just two weeks.

It's just unfortunate when the children play more in the open living area than in their own rooms. That's the case with us.

We have hardwood flooring everywhere regardless, and we've accepted that we might need to refinish it in ten to fifteen years.

There’s nothing better than nice, warm hardwood flooring. I don’t want to let my kids play on a grimy carpet – children always make messes. Otherwise, just get a nice play rug.

I personally find laminate or vinyl acceptable in a rental, but I don’t like having it in my own house or apartment. Hardwood is natural and always gives a lively feel, even with signs of wear.

P.S. My three children have lived on hardwood floors since birth, and the floors have held up very well.

I am a fan of carpet.
However, if it is indeed considered to be dirty or unhygienic, as described above, then I would advocate for linoleum.