Hardwood, vinyl, laminate flooring, floating over tile, etc?

[jeromedawg]

Hey guys,

We are anticipating entering escrow soon on a place. I'm curious about preferences for flooring in a 2-story home where the entire second floor and stairs have older carpet that needs to be replaced. The current owners have dogs I believe and the carpet didn't seem to be in the greatest shape. Otherwise, I'd be inclined just to hire carpet cleaners. Probably better to rip it all out for the sake of our allergies, etc. ?

I've heard laminate flooring is a good option for second floors because it tends to be quieter compared to hardwood. Perhaps a combination of carpet (in the bedrooms) and laminate everywhere else? I don't know if there's a good hypoallergenic option for carpeting too since both our kids and myself tend to be more sensitive to dust, pollen, etc.

Also, the entire downstairs of the place is tile flooring, which isn't our first preference but isn't a deal breaker either. At some point, maybe not right away, we'd probably want to replace the tile or perhaps float over it with wood/vinyl/laminate flooring?






Thoughts, advice or suggestions?

[uniwelder]

I have no input about the carpet replacement, but am glad you’re waiting to make a decision about the tile. I’m looking at low res photos on my phone, but it all looks beautiful. If it were my house, I wouldn’t tear out or cover that tile with a lower quality material.

[PMG]

@Dicey so she can recommend her favorite LVP and talk about flooring transitions etc. ;)

[TrMama]

What a lovely home. I actually really like the tile. It'll be durable and cool during the summer. Plus tile is very easy to look after. If you want to soften up the look, and help mitigate any echoing, I'd just add some area rugs.

As for the upstairs flooring, it the carpet is worn and you have allergies or asthma I'd replace it with any hard surface flooring. I suspect any floating floor will sound more "hollow" than a flooring that glued or nailed to the subfloor. My preference is engineered hardwood, but for allergies all the hard surfaces are basically the same. There's no such thing as hypoallergenic carpeting, but if you really want some softness underfoot you can also always get area rugs. Just be sure to get them cleaned regularly.

[lthenderson]

All flooring I think has it's pros and cons and it really comes down to the person and how they see themselves using it.

Hardwood - I think the cons are higher price to purchase and install. Another con is that you need to be concerned with expansion and contraction with the seasons but with proper installation, this can be addressed. The pros are you have a solid feeling floor that can be refinished as styles or need arises. If you have a perpetually wet area such as a bathroom (with no rugs) or leaky roof, you can get some warping. If caught in time that can be sanded out again and refinished but if severe enough, you have to replace that section. The disguise damage really well since there is no difference in coloration through the thickness. Dents can be filled in with clear epoxy and nearly impossible to find later. If you move walls around, it is easy to find the correct size to patch in areas.

Vinyl - It handles moisture (though can cause mold if moisture gets underneath and is trapped) very well without movement or warping. It is cheap and easy to install. The cons are that it fades with sunlight, the sheen disappears with traffic, it can permanently dent underneath a heavy object set on it for a long period of time and can't be refinished. They make coating products to rejuvenate the loss of sheen but it wears off and must be reapplied periodically. If you move walls around or damage pieces, you need to store extra to fix these areas as production runs are generally limited to just a few years. It feels like walking on a slightly spongy surface to some and doesn't have that solid feeling.

Laminate - It is cheap and easy to install but unlike vinyl, doesn't withstand moisture well at all. It can withstand less moisture than hardwood and will pucker around the edges of the board creating a slight ridge that is noticeable to the eye and feet. If something damages the veneer layer, the inner particle board layers are very visible and impossible to repair. Like vinyl you need to have bought extra if future repairs are ever needed and it too doesn't feel as solid as a hardwood floor if installed as a floating floor as most are.

I'm sure there are many other pros and cons that others will add. These are just some I have seen and come to mind.

[former player]

That looks like a lovely home, congratulations (hoping that's not premature and the purchase goes smoothly).  The tile downstairs looks good quality and well-installed, as far as I can tell.  It is quite a busy pattern, so I would be looking to furnish in simple lines with no patterns - a big cream rug and a tan sofa in the sitting room area would be currently fashionable and look great.  The current owner's furniture has too much extra detail when set against those tiles for my taste.

The carpet upstairs looks dirty but not particularly worn - although there may be worn patches not visible on the picture.  I would start with getting it cleaned and see how it comes up.  On allergies, how bad are these and what are they to?  Dust and dirt falls into the same quantities onto hard flooring as it does onto carpet: whatever the surface the important thing is to clean regularly and to ensure that there is no clutter on the floor so that it can be cleaned easily, including underneath furniture - it's regular thorough cleaning that keeps away the causes of allergies.

I wouldn't put laminate, wood or carpet in a bathroom, especially one used by kids.  Tile all the way.  You can put anything in a bedroom but laminate doesn't usually stand up well to damage or even general wear and tear, because it's just a printed layer under a protective top coat.  Hardwood or engineered wood would be a better long term solution.

[Dicey]

I'd keep the tile downstairs. Everywhere else I'd use a light to medium toned cork-backed LVP. It's great in bathrooms and much easier to Install than tile. The cork backing will dampen sound and is softer underfoot.

Not a huge fan of the heavily textured ceilings, but that's a job for another day, I suppose.

[jeromedawg]

I'd keep the tile downstairs. Everywhere else I'd use a light to medium toned cork-backed LVP. It's great in bathrooms and much easier to Install than tile. The cork backing will dampen sound and is softer underfoot.

Not a huge fan of the heavily textured ceilings, but that's a job for another day, I suppose.

Yea the ceilings were a bit of a turn-off. Not sure why they did that... so the LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) you would have installed on the stairs and upstairs hallways and all rooms? Is that something you'd highly recommend just getting professionally done? Never have installed flooring before so not sure how comfortable I'd be attempting a DIY

Something like this though?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pergo-Defense-7-5-in-W-Banfield-Bridge-Oak-Antimicrobial-Click-Lock-Luxury-Vinyl-Plank-Flooring-17-43-sq-ft-case-PDP01-854/316401894

[former player]

I'd worry that the colour doesn't work with the tile - the tile looks as though it has orange undertones but that LVP is pink/purple undertones.

It would be OK if you never see the two together.

[Dicey]

I'd keep the tile downstairs. Everywhere else I'd use a light to medium toned cork-backed LVP. It's great in bathrooms and much easier to Install than tile. The cork backing will dampen sound and is softer underfoot.

Not a huge fan of the heavily textured ceilings, but that's a job for another day, I suppose.

Yea the ceilings were a bit of a turn-off. Not sure why they did that... so the LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) you would have installed on the stairs and upstairs hallways and all rooms? Is that something you'd highly recommend just getting professionally done? Never have installed flooring before so not sure how comfortable I'd be attempting a DIY

Something like this though?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pergo-Defense-7-5-in-W-Banfield-Bridge-Oak-Antimicrobial-Click-Lock-Luxury-Vinyl-Plank-Flooring-17-43-sq-ft-case-PDP01-854/316401894

No. Look for a CORK back. It's made by COREtec and sold under many different names. The comments and photos in this thread are especially helpful.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/85252/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-dow

[lthenderson]

LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) you would have installed on the stairs and upstairs hallways and all rooms? Is that something you'd highly recommend just getting professionally done? Never have installed flooring before so not sure how comfortable I'd be attempting a DIY

Flooring can easily fall in the range of DIY as long as you can follow directions and heed them. By far the most common errors I see go against the installation directions that the person evidently didn't read or just ignored. There are a plethora of youtube videos and most manufacturers have professional made videos showing how to install their product. I would watch those and it should be quite clear if it is something you want to tackle or not.

FWIW - I have torn of vinyl plank in bathrooms where there was a healthy mold colony underneath. Just because water doesn't hurt it, water can and will seep under it and become trapped between it and the subfloor where it is slow to evaporate since it is protected by essentially a vapor barrier. If you go that route, treat it like a wood floor and use rugs and try to keep the water splashes to a minimum.

[jeromedawg]

Any suggestions on color schemes (particularly paint) if we were to stick with the tile? Would an off-white work best? And perhaps consider painting the bannisters/railing a black/white scheme? Would painting all the cabinetry white look OK too?

[uniwelder]

Any suggestions on color schemes (particularly paint) if we were to stick with the tile? Would an off-white work best? And perhaps consider painting the bannisters/railing a black/white scheme? Would painting all the cabinetry white look OK too?

My personal preference— the house is beautiful as is and believe painting over nice wood cheapens it’s appearance.

Edited to add— what is your wife’s opinion? That’s much more valuable than ours.

[jeromedawg]

Any suggestions on color schemes (particularly paint) if we were to stick with the tile? Would an off-white work best? And perhaps consider painting the bannisters/railing a black/white scheme? Would painting all the cabinetry white look OK too?

My personal preference— the house is beautiful as is and believe painting over nice wood cheapens it’s appearance.

Edited to add— what is your wife’s opinion? That’s much more valuable than ours.

I do think it looks nice but she mentioned "it felt really brown and orange" walking in, and she doesn't like or prefer that color scheme. So she's deliberating over what would need to happen to make it more aesthetically pleasing (at least to her haha). I don't really care either way - more important to me is just having a place that *works* for us.

I think maybe part of her observation comes from some of the furniture which shares those same brown/orange/tan tones like the kitchen cabinets, small dining table, wood finished bannisters, etc.

[Metalcat]

Any suggestions on color schemes (particularly paint) if we were to stick with the tile? Would an off-white work best? And perhaps consider painting the bannisters/railing a black/white scheme? Would painting all the cabinetry white look OK too?

I'm a BIG fan of professional colour consultations. Benjamin Moore stores often offer them for free if you buy a certain amount of paint.

There's a difference between knowing the colour want, and knowing which paint to buy to achieve that colour in your space.

In my last place I knew *exactly* what tone I wanted to achieve, but I would never have picked the specific colours that my consultant recommended, but they worked perfectly. I wanted a certain type of grey and the one she picked looked purple to me on the swatch, but on my walls turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. She said that colour I was leaning towards would have looked greenish.

I find a lot of people kind of miss the mark a bit when it comes to choosing paint colours. They don't quite coordinate with their flooring, or pick a colour that gives off a weird cast in their particular space.

Getting the colour right can make such a massive difference that it's worth getting help getting it right.

[TrMama]

Any suggestions on color schemes (particularly paint) if we were to stick with the tile? Would an off-white work best? And perhaps consider painting the bannisters/railing a black/white scheme? Would painting all the cabinetry white look OK too?

My personal preference— the house is beautiful as is and believe painting over nice wood cheapens it’s appearance.

Edited to add— what is your wife’s opinion? That’s much more valuable than ours.

I also think it's beautiful as is and that it will look different when the current owners remove their furniture and art. If it were my home I'd put down some area rugs in the living room and dining room so the furniture there doesn't look so much like it's floating. Pick very plain rugs (cream, sisal or maybe a fairly dark solid color) to break up the busy tile pattern. Blue can also be added somewhere to help tone down warm orangey colors. However, with a young family that tile looks fantastic for hiding dirt. You could get a big, floofy dog and not have to worry about the floors at all ;-)

If you have to buy new furniture, or feel like replacing your existing furniture, I'd look for pieces with very simple lines and probably in wood tones similar to the existing woodwork.

This home is decorated in warm tones. Although the trend for the past 10+ years has been for cool gray tones, warm tones are coming back in to fashion. You've probably also looked at a lot of homes decorated in cool grays and that's why this one feels different. I'm not a fan of grays and haven't used them in my own home. I don't give a crap about what's trendy I just know it rains all winter here and gray is depressing.

Be forewarned that when your kids get a little older they will jump from the 2nd floor balcony onto the couch below. I grew up in similar house and my mom could never figure out why the love seat under the loft was always so much more worn than the other couches.

[jeromedawg]

Any suggestions on color schemes (particularly paint) if we were to stick with the tile? Would an off-white work best? And perhaps consider painting the bannisters/railing a black/white scheme? Would painting all the cabinetry white look OK too?

My personal preference— the house is beautiful as is and believe painting over nice wood cheapens it’s appearance.

Edited to add— what is your wife’s opinion? That’s much more valuable than ours.

I also think it's beautiful as is and that it will look different when the current owners remove their furniture and art. If it were my home I'd put down some area rugs in the living room and dining room so the furniture there doesn't look so much like it's floating. Pick very plain rugs (cream, sisal or maybe a fairly dark solid color) to break up the busy tile pattern. Blue can also be added somewhere to help tone down warm orangey colors. However, with a young family that tile looks fantastic for hiding dirt. You could get a big, floofy dog and not have to worry about the floors at all ;-)

If you have to buy new furniture, or feel like replacing your existing furniture, I'd look for pieces with very simple lines and probably in wood tones similar to the existing woodwork.

This home is decorated in warm tones. Although the trend for the past 10+ years has been for cool gray tones, warm tones are coming back in to fashion. You've probably also looked at a lot of homes decorated in cool grays and that's why this one feels different. I'm not a fan of grays and haven't used them in my own home. I don't give a crap about what's trendy I just know it rains all winter here and gray is depressing.

Be forewarned that when your kids get a little older they will jump from the 2nd floor balcony onto the couch below. I grew up in similar house and my mom could never figure out why the love seat under the loft was always so much more worn than the other couches.

Thanks! Would you recommend a long runner at the front entrance too? Or is that overkill? For the dining table, are there specific types of rugs best suited to go under the dining table (especially with kids prone to spilling and knocking stuff over)?

We probably would lay something down in the family room as well.

I'm thinking we may want to start off with just getting the carpet cleaned per @former player's suggestion. Definitely would be cheaper than installing new flooring. I guess we'll take a look again tomorrow and Thursday - I think the inspector should will be able to provide some feedback and I'm thinking we can also find out when it was replaced or if the owners allowed their pets all over it etc.

As far as furniture choice, would black tables/couches/etc just stick out like a sore-thumb in this place? Do we want to stick with neutral colors and tones (i.e. cream)? I have no clue what to do when it comes to interior design. My wife seems to be picky but doesn't quite know how to decide either.

[Cassie]

Even new carpet is terrible for allergies/asthma. However, I now always carpet the steps or put a runner down the middle to prevent falls. I also like the tile on the first floor.

[former player]

As far as furniture choice, would black tables/couches/etc just stick out like a sore-thumb in this place? Do we want to stick with neutral colors and tones (i.e. cream)? I have no clue what to do when it comes to interior design. My wife seems to be picky but doesn't quite know how to decide either.

Malcat's suggestion of a colour consult for paint is a very good one (although I think the current paint colour works well and might just need a wash and touch up).

You could also look at hiring an interior designer just to get you started with the basics- compared to the cost of the house, and compared to the cost of making mistakes that you are both unhappy to live with, it could be a good investment.

Otherwise, I would say that a good general rule for choosing furniture for this house would be to look at what is already present and make sure at least one element of the furniture relates to that.  For instance, the metalwork on the railings is straight and has a square profile, so furniture that is straight with legs that have a square profile will look better than something curved.  Similarly the wood on the railings is all straight lines too.

Tan is currently more fashionable than black for sofas so would give you a better choice. https://www.perchandparrow.com/sofas-sofa-beds/sofas/citadel-leather-sofa-vintage-brown?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIz4PijMqo8gIVzsLtCh2vRQMVEAQYBiABEgLjc_D_BwE

I think you could probably get away with black if you chose the right style - straight lines, and not heavy in appearance.
https://www.pamono.co.uk/visii-uk?v_source=pdp-similar&selected=KO-919211

TrMama suggested blue, which could work, I think.
https://www.sofology.co.uk/sofas/massimo?category=leather&code=SKU000573329&soshp=true&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIssTW686o8gIVke7tCh1xZQPAEAsYAiABEgKcq_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

(Pictures just for ideas, not as recommendations as to availability, quality or cost.)

A washable rug for under the dining room table is a good idea.  This one won't be big enough (you need a good three feet past the table top on all sides) but is the sort of thing that would look good -
https://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-luna-washable-shag/White/200HJWT01A-P.html

I'd probably try to swap out the glass shades in the chandelier for plainer ones - white globes might be good -
rather than replacing the whole thing.

If you want colour, I'd suggest putting artwork on the walls.  There's room for some big pieces.  If you want to go cheaper you can buy blank canvases from an art supply shop and have the kids help you make something colourful.

[Metalcat]

^ it also doesn't need to be expensive to get a bit of professional advice on decorating. You can hire a student, or use an online virtual service. Or chances are you know someone who is a home decor hobbyist with great taste who would love to pitch in their ideas.

I'm all for saving money on home renos and decorating by doing DIY, buying used appliances and furniture, etc. But I think a little bit of professional level advice on style is a great investment for people who don't have an eye for it.

I've seen a lot of people spend a lot of money to end up with a not very nice looking home because their design elements don't work together.

For people who aren't concerned about this, it doesn't matter. But for people like your wife who do, it can make a huge difference how comfortable and happy she feels in her home, and getting it right can dramatically lower her drive in the future to renovate or redecorate.

[cchrissyy]

many furniture stores will do a free consultation on one of your rooms.

i've done this a couple times as video calls. you set up an appointment and email them photos of the room and its measurements. then you get like, 1 hour of talking to somebody where they make a computer model of the room and how it would look with different items in place. this is a great way to find out, for example, what size dining table and what size rug will suit your needs without making the room too crowded, and then some design ideas you hadn't considered like, this spot really needs a mirror or that spot would be ideal for a large potted plant. i also received some tips on what fabrics were better for kids/spills, and what colors are "in style" these days. I sure would not have known otherwise!

i found it very helpful to come up with ideas i would not have had, and while they will surely fill your cart with ideas, i did not feel pressure to buy. go to the websites of any brands you already like and find the link for "free design service". idk where you normally shop but for example you could have room & board help with your dining room, then pottery barn with your master bedroom, then west elm for the living room. or whatever.


but if you want help on the whole house i agree, paying for a little professional time is worth it if it helps make you guys happier with the end result.

[TrMama]

Regardless of whether you get a design consult or not, I'd go slow with actually buying "things" for the house. You're going to be here for a long time and since your kids are little, your family's needs will change over time. Although I suggested area rugs, I don't have many in my own house because when the kids were little, just keeping up with vacuuming was a challenge and area rugs mean you have to change the vacuum head between the rug and the hard flooring. I still don't have a rug under my dining room table.

I also agree with adding color via bright artwork. I wouldn't paint over that cream unless it's in poor condition. However, I may be biased because my own home is painted a similar shade of cream. I added color and interest by signing my kids up for art classes at a nicer studio. After a couple rounds of classes we have a collection of lovely canvases that now hang all over the house. Turns out if you give kids proper painting materials and a little professional direction they can churn out some pretty nice art. It probably wasn't cheaper than buying prints, but  the end result is very personal.

[cchrissyy]

Regardless of whether you get a design consult or not, I'd go slow with actually buying "things" for the house. You're going to be here for a long time and since your kids are little, your family's needs will change over time.

+1

[SunnyDays]

I'm allergic to dust and have carpeting and 3 shedding pets.  I actually have fewer symptoms at my house than my dad's, who has lots of hardwood, because the carpet holds onto the dust and pet hair, rather than it blowing into the air where it's breathed in.  I vacuum twice a week and have a Bissell steam cleaner, which I use twice a year.  If the carpeting is good quality, as mine is, it will hold up to this for many years. 

[Metalcat]

Regardless of whether you get a design consult or not, I'd go slow with actually buying "things" for the house. You're going to be here for a long time and since your kids are little, your family's needs will change over time. Although I suggested area rugs, I don't have many in my own house because when the kids were little, just keeping up with vacuuming was a challenge and area rugs mean you have to change the vacuum head between the rug and the hard flooring. I still don't have a rug under my dining room table.

I also agree with adding color via bright artwork. I wouldn't paint over that cream unless it's in poor condition. However, I may be biased because my own home is painted a similar shade of cream. I added color and interest by signing my kids up for art classes at a nicer studio. After a couple rounds of classes we have a collection of lovely canvases that now hang all over the house. Turns out if you give kids proper painting materials and a little professional direction they can churn out some pretty nice art. It probably wasn't cheaper than buying prints, but  the end result is very personal.

This is a great point too.

I lived in my place for 2 years before finally deciding on what design elements I wanted. I strongly recommend living in a space for awhile before developing an idea of what you want from it.

If the place works and you have furniture that works, stick with that for a good chunk of time. Living in a home is like having a relationship with that home, you need to get to know it first.

[Dicey]

I'm allergic to dust and have carpeting and 3 shedding pets.  I actually have fewer symptoms at my house than my dad's, who has lots of hardwood, because the carpet holds onto the dust and pet hair, rather than it blowing into the air where it's breathed in. I vacuum twice a week and have a Bissell steam cleaner, which I use twice a year.  If the carpeting is good quality, as mine is, it will hold up to this for many years.

This is 100% true, but nobody believes it. Just moving through a space with hard surface flooring kicks up dust, which rises and is more easily inhaled.

[TrMama]

I'm allergic to dust and have carpeting and 3 shedding pets.  I actually have fewer symptoms at my house than my dad's, who has lots of hardwood, because the carpet holds onto the dust and pet hair, rather than it blowing into the air where it's breathed in. I vacuum twice a week and have a Bissell steam cleaner, which I use twice a year.  If the carpeting is good quality, as mine is, it will hold up to this for many years.

This is 100% true, but nobody believes it. Just moving through a space with hard surface flooring kicks up dust, which rises and is more easily inhaled.

Interesting. I have asthma and mild seasonal allergies and I notice a big difference when I sleep in a room with hard floors vs carpet. I wake up much less congested when I sleep somewhere without carpet. OP may want to experiment (somehow) if they're on the fence about tearing out the upstairs carpet. My own experience has been that once the furniture gets moved in, changing out the floors becomes a bigger project. It's much simpler to redo the floors when that part of the house is empty.

Now I need to start my own thread about which flooring to pick for our upstairs bedrooms. I want to tear out the carpet and replace with engineered wood. However we already have 16 yr old maple floors in the rest of the common areas and I'll never be able to match it to something new. I hate the look of patchwork floors, but I don't want to replace the flooring in the open plan living room, dining room, kitchen and landing.

[Metalcat]

I'm allergic to dust and have carpeting and 3 shedding pets.  I actually have fewer symptoms at my house than my dad's, who has lots of hardwood, because the carpet holds onto the dust and pet hair, rather than it blowing into the air where it's breathed in. I vacuum twice a week and have a Bissell steam cleaner, which I use twice a year.  If the carpeting is good quality, as mine is, it will hold up to this for many years.

This is 100% true, but nobody believes it. Just moving through a space with hard surface flooring kicks up dust, which rises and is more easily inhaled.

Interesting. I have asthma and mild seasonal allergies and I notice a big difference when I sleep in a room with hard floors vs carpet. I wake up much less congested when I sleep somewhere without carpet. OP may want to experiment (somehow) if they're on the fence about tearing out the upstairs carpet. My own experience has been that once the furniture gets moved in, changing out the floors becomes a bigger project. It's much simpler to redo the floors when that part of the house is empty.

Now I need to start my own thread about which flooring to pick for our upstairs bedrooms. I want to tear out the carpet and replace with engineered wood. However we already have 16 yr old maple floors in the rest of the common areas and I'll never be able to match it to something new. I hate the look of patchwork floors, but I don't want to replace the flooring in the open plan living room, dining room, kitchen and landing.

Yeah, I have severe dust allergies and cannot have carpet in my house. However, I also have to run my robot vacuum daily to keep the dust from building up.

[Dicey]

I'm allergic to dust and have carpeting and 3 shedding pets.  I actually have fewer symptoms at my house than my dad's, who has lots of hardwood, because the carpet holds onto the dust and pet hair, rather than it blowing into the air where it's breathed in. I vacuum twice a week and have a Bissell steam cleaner, which I use twice a year.  If the carpeting is good quality, as mine is, it will hold up to this for many years.

This is 100% true, but nobody believes it. Just moving through a space with hard surface flooring kicks up dust, which rises and is more easily inhaled.

Interesting. I have asthma and mild seasonal allergies and I notice a big difference when I sleep in a room with hard floors vs carpet. I wake up much less congested when I sleep somewhere without carpet. OP may want to experiment (somehow) if they're on the fence about tearing out the upstairs carpet. My own experience has been that once the furniture gets moved in, changing out the floors becomes a bigger project. It's much simpler to redo the floors when that part of the house is empty.

Now I need to start my own thread about which flooring to pick for our upstairs bedrooms. I want to tear out the carpet and replace with engineered wood. However we already have 16 yr old maple floors in the rest of the common areas and I'll never be able to match it to something new. I hate the look of patchwork floors, but I don't want to replace the flooring in the open plan living room, dining room, kitchen and landing.

Yeah, I have severe dust allergies and cannot have carpet in my house. However, I also have to run my robot vacuum daily to keep the dust from building up.

I should have added that keeping them clean is essential. We don't have a robot vacuum, but we do have a whole house vac and a steam cleaner, so our carpet gets cleaned more frequently than most. Come to think of it, the hallways are tile and they develop dust bunnies pretty easily.

I think hard surfaces in the public spaces and carpet in the bedrooms is the best of both worlds. YMMV.

[jeromedawg]

Thanks all for the feedback. I have lived in carpet my entire life to this point, so I wouldn't know how it is sleeping in a room with hardwood flooring LOL. We do run air cleaners 24x7 pretty much so I think that has helped wherever we are - those things pick up a ton of lint and dirt. I do like the idea of carpet in bedrooms and flooring everywhere else. I think I'm just used to it but I like the feel of carpet before I get in bed and when I wake up and get out of bed - that "cushy" feel I suppose. We keep our shoes off in the house too, and I'd imagine hard flooring will turn our socks/feet dirty pretty quick unless we're a lot more meticulous about sweeping, swiffering, mopping, etc.

[cchrissyy]

the last few houses i've lived in were hardwood floors everywhere and we have rugs under beds, couches, dining table.

if you don't wear shoes in the house, and don't have small kids or pets making spills, all the above will stay clean! or at least i promise our feet and socks aren't dirty, and if i did move in somewhere that the wood floors made them dirty that would be super gross and we'd correct it ASAP.

anyway, enjoy your upstairs carpet and downstairs tile. I don't think it will be any trouble to keep clean.

[lthenderson]

One thing few talk about is if you go with a hard surface flooring versus carpet, there is a very noticeable sound difference. We replaced our carpet in the living areas with hardwood two years ago and I immediately noticed how much louder all the kitchen sounds are now in the living room, two rooms away. In your case with tile in the living area, I don't think hardwood would make much of a difference. But you might notice a difference if you tear up your bedroom carpet.