We are a little split over here at House of Earnest over the decision of whether to carpet or not to carpet. While knowing that we are planning to replace the flooring in our bedroom, I am opting for restaining the wood floors that exist under our current (30 year old) carpet, while Matty really wants to get new carpet. He does have a point that carpet is soft and warm in a bedroom, but I just am not on the same page!
I feel that wood floors with an amazing rug could still be warm enough for a bedroom, while still being stylish and fitting in with the esthetic of an old home.
What are your thoughts? To carpet or not to carpet?
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Definitely hardwoods with an area rug!
Carpets hold so much dust and dander and can be really bad for you! Plus, with an area rug you can always switch it up in a few years when you change your color scheme/get sick of it!
Oooh. I’m all about carpet in the bedroom, but I recognize that, from a design perspective, that’s not always the most popular choice. I chalk it up to growing up with carpet in my bedroom.
Mandy- That’s funny, because we both are leaning toward what we also grew up with. I grew up in an old farmhouse with hard floors and he grew up in a new home with carpet… It’s interesting that a place of comfort should reflect what we grew up knowing!
I debated the exact same thing when we moved into our house! We had ugly carpeting in all the bedrooms. Even though I was afraid it would make the rooms cold, we decided to redo the wood floors, and I’m so glad we did! I feel like it adds so much character and beauty to the house. I bought nice, comfy rugs for every bedroom (and quality rug pads), and so when you get out of bed your feet still hit something soft and warm. I also bought myself an amazing pair of slippers
Yes! I love that idea! I feel like carpet in older homes effects the character!
We’re doing hardwoods everywhere BUT the bedrooms. I’m with Matty on this one. I’m cold 365 days a year, and I like my feet to hit carpet in the mornings.
I’m with Amy – I love putting my feet on plush carpet when I step out of my cozy bed into a cool room. We are doing hardwoods on the entire first floor, but had new carpet put in all the bedrooms, which was something I had to argue with my husband over.
However, I don’t live in an older house with lots of character and existing hardwood. That would probably sway me toward refinishing the hardwood and putting large, super cushy rugs/pads under the beds.
If I had my way, I would do hardwood but this is one battle I will never win with my husband. Yes, carpet is much warmer under the feet on a cold day but nothing beats the look and feel of hardwood.
I actually think it could look good either way. I’ve seen some surprisingly chic carpeted bedrooms (hello, Pinterest), but my preference is still hardwood floors with an awesome rug. If you go that route, you can always get a super thick rug with rug pad and it would still be quite cozy! Plus, I like the option of changing things up every once in a while and not being completely SOL if something spills on it.
My vote is always for wood floors. plus, refinished wood floors add more value to your home than carpet, so maybe that would convince him?
I think wood floors! I wish we owned the home we are in now, cause if we did I would rip out the ugly carpet and refinish the wood floors. I just like how it looks better! And you have a point, you can always cover them with a rug! Plus like Maury says, it will add value to your home if you ever choose to sell it.
Ew, carpets are gross. We have carpet in the bedroom and I would NEVER put down carpet if there were wooden floors already. So much easier to keep the wood clean too.
I vote hardwoods with an area rug! Carpets are kinda gross.
Wood floors all the way! It’s just less maintenance, and healthier. You can put a huge rug down if you want.
TEAM RUG!
I agree with hardwoods with a comfy rug and quality rug pad. Carpets are gross and full of stuff your vacuum can’t grab (HAIR). <—Does this show my current pet-peeve?
Let's be real…while you DID have hardwoods in your bedroom growing up, you also had a really awesome…I don't even know what it's called…linoleum area rug? Man, that thing was awesome.
Regardless, it wasn't soft and comfy in the morning and we survived.
haha! I almost wrote about our handpainted linoleum area ‘rug’ that we had, but it was too difficult to describe! In hindsight it was really cool and I wish I had a picture. I’m sure mom and dad do somewhere!
I would have to go with you and say wood floors and a rug, but if you can’t convince him otherwise…why not both? You could always put in a less plush, low shag carpet that would be easy to vacuum, then layer on a rug for added depth, texture, color, softness, etc!
haha – that’s exactly what I’m thinking!
I would normally say hardwoods + rug every single time but last month we stayed in a vacation rental with an amazingly warm & textured berber in the bedroom and I kind of fell in love with it.
I say hardwoods. You can always change a rug out if your styles change and it’s a lot more affordable than getting tired of your carpet and wanting to replace that. I say this b/c after much debate, my mother chose carpeting for the bedrooms in her 1800s home. She regretted the decision almost immediately after they were installed! That was maybe 8 years ago and she’s now working on convincing my step-dad that the carpet is tired and they should really refinish the hardwoods underneath. Good luck!
Emily
I would say hardwoods, and going on the ‘growing up with’ theme I did grow up with hardwoods. That said, our current home has carpet (new, very neutral) in the bedrooms and I surprisingly like it! Our house is a 100-year old character, and the main floor does have hardwoods. When we moved in a year and a half ago we envisioned ripping up the carpets one day, but they have definitely grown on me.
I vote hardwoods….. I want to change our carpet out for hardwoods.. but my husband is the cold natured one and doesn’t want “cold” floors.
I have to go with hardwoods! With carpet, you may get bored and could easily change your mind on the color, texture, etc. within a short amount of time. With hardwoods, you can always add a comfy rug and change it out if you get tired of it. I have hardwoods all throughout my house, no carpet, and I have never wanted to change that. Good luck with your decision!
Jessica