Whether or not you want laminate or carpet in your living room is a big decision. You might prefer your floors to be carpeted for padding or laminate for the sake of easy cleaning. There are many sides to this. We are here to help you as we have researched the pros and cons of laminate and carpet flooring in the living room.
Carpet used to be the most popular flooring choice for living rooms, but things have changed. Hardwood is now the top contender for living room flooring. Laminate is a substitute for hardwood flooring and is easier to maintain than carpet.
We have more information to help you sort out your decision. Keep reading to find out if it is less expensive to install laminate than carpet, which is better and more specifically for your living room, the most popular flooring for living rooms, and more.
Laminate Flooring Versus Carpet in Your Living Room
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Laminate flooring is easier to clean than carpet. It is also more stain-resistant. One reason is that liquids spilled on carpet soak in pretty much immediately.
The backing on laminate is a moisture barrier. Laminate also has a clear protective layer on its top, which helps protect laminate from damage such as scratches or fading. If you have pets or children, laminate might be a better choice than carpet for you.
One good thing about laminate flooring is that you can put a rug over it for a new look which allows you to remove the rug any time you want to. On the other hand, removing carpet is quite a tedious process. Installing laminate might take longer than installing carpet but seems to be worth it in the long run.
Another good thing about laminate flooring is that it is timeless. Carpet can potentially make the age of your home more obvious because some styles of carpet are outdated.
More About Laminate Flooring Versus Carpet
Laminate flooring can get scratched, it is susceptible to damage from moisture which will cause it to warp or rot, and laminate tends to stay colder under your feet than carpet.
Scratches on your laminate can be avoided for the most part as long as it has been treated with a protective layer of coating. Your laminate flooring should be rated on the Abrasion Criteria scale as AC3 or AC4 because living rooms are high-traffic areas.
If you decide to install carpet in your living room instead of laminate, this decision is most likely based on a personal choice. Some people like the look and feel of carpet over laminate, especially plush carpet. Living rooms are supposed to be cozy, so carpet seems like a good choice for living rooms flooring in that regard.
In most cases, whatever flooring you buy comes with a warranty, whether carpet or laminate. Typically, laminate lasts longer than carpet. If comfort is your main priority, carpet is better for your living room.
These are all things to consider when choosing between laminate flooring or carpet for your living room. Are you going for style or convenience? The price is something else to consider if that is a factor for you.
Is it cheaper to install laminate or carpet?
Laminate flooring costs more than carpet when it comes to the materials and costs more to install since installing laminate flooring takes more time. The labor to complete the job will cost you a little more than paying someone to install carpet would.
Overall, installing laminate flooring in a 200 square foot room costs between one thousand and four thousand dollars. The size of a living room, on average, is sixteen by twenty feet or three hundred and forty square feet. This means you can expect to pay closer to three thousand dollars to install laminate flooring if your living room is average size.
As for the cost to install carpet in a 200 square foot room is between seven hundred and two thousand dollars. Carpet varies in price based on a few things such as type of carpet and backing. When it comes to the most expensive type of carpet, it is high-quality and the price increases based on the length of the pile. The longer the pile, the more expensive the carpet.
The installation process for laminate flooring is more time-consuming. Therefore it costs more. A snap and lock process takes longer than attaching carpet to your sub-floor.
Usually, people choose laminate flooring for the way it looks. It is a less expensive alternative to hardwood flooring. As long as you install good quality laminate and it is laid down correctly, it can be difficult to tell the difference between it and hardwood.
If you look closely at laminate, you will notice the wood grain is too perfect to be hardwood, but you would never know the difference at a glance. Laminate flooring is sold six to twelve millimeters thick, and the thicker it is, the more it will be like hardwood.
The underlayment used for carpet is not necessary for laminate. Underlayment laminate is only one to three millimeters thick. Carpet underlayment is quite a bit thicker at an average of eight to ten millimeters thick.
Which is healthier, carpet or laminate?
The living room is a high-traffic area. The health aspect is important to consider when comparing carpet to laminate before making your final decision.
Laminate can be cleaned more efficiently, which leads to it usually getting cleaned more often than carpet. Carpet can easily be vacuumed, but doing so does not remove nearly as much dirt and hair as sweeping or vacuuming laminate. Having the ability to mop laminate flooring makes it so that you can clean it with products made specifically for laminate.
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Overall, laminate flooring is healthier because it is more hypoallergenic and hygienic than carpet. This is because dirt and dust particles build up in carpet. Hair, dust, dirt, pollen, and other allergens can be cleaned off of laminate more easily than carpet.
Using a carpet cleaner or shampooer is the best way to remove allergens from carpet. Natural wool is ideal for choosing the right carpet for you if you have allergies or asthma. Natural wool is soft and is challenging for dust mites to survive in.
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What is the most popular flooring for a living room?
Carpet used to be the most popular choice of flooring for living rooms. This is no longer the case. When buying a home, people these days tend to prefer hardwood or laminate over carpet in the living room.
The most popular flooring for a living room is hardwood. Carpet is next in line. Laminate is used as a substitute for hardwood because it is less expensive but still looks nice.
Laminate flooring is enough like hardwood or engineered hardwood to feel similar when you are walking on it. It also appears to have wood grain throughout the pieces.
Does laminate flooring look cheap?
Laminate flooring does not look cheap. It is an exceptional alternative for hardwood flooring because it is much less expensive. If your living room floor is damaged, replacing it with laminate flooring will add value to your home.
It is crucial to choose high-quality laminate flooring if you do not want it to look cheap. You also need to make sure whoever installs it knows what they are doing. Often when people have hardwood in their living room, they lay down a rug as an accent piece.
An area rug can tie the living room together. Curtains and the rug you choose should match or complement each other. Placing a rug over top of the laminate will also cover any imperfections in your laminate flooring.
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Conclusion
Whether or not you choose laminate or carpet for your living room is likely based on a personal preference. Laminate flooring is easier to clean and stain-resistant but is more expensive than carpet concerning materials and labor. On the other hand, lay carpet in your living room if you want or need to save money or prefer the look and feel of carpet.
Before you go, here are some topics you might be interested in:
I am interested in laminated water proof Kitchen flooring that goes well with maple cabinets.
I’ve read about the pros and cons of laminate flooring and carpet in the living room, but I’m still unsure about which option would be best. Can you provide some insights on the specific factors to consider when making this decision and how they can help determine the most suitable choice for a living room?