Choosing the right flooring type for your home can be a nightmare! Even before you get to the choices within the individual categories you have to think about whether you want carpeted or hard floors! This in itself is a tricky choice as these two flooring types both have their pros and cons.
In this guide, I want to make that choice a little easier and settle the carpet vs laminate debate. Read on to find out which wins in areas like durability, comfort, maintenance, and cost, so you can get the perfect flooring for your home.
Carpet Comfort vs. Laminate Durability
When investing money in new flooring you want to know how long your investment will last before it needs replacing. Ultimately, this depends on the quality and how much you are willing to spend. This is a recurring theme in the carpet vs laminate debate and as a result, I will work with averages.
FlooringHut carpets are undoubtedly more comfortable than laminate flooring to walk on. I love how deep carpets feel underfoot and the same can’t be said for laminate. However, laminate is generally considered more durable and where an average quality carpet could last 5-10 years, an average quality laminate could last 10-15 years.
Soundproofing: Quieter Carpets or Laminate’s Acoustic Benefits?
If you want a quiet home then carpet is the way forward. Due to the pile and depth of carpets, and the soft material, they have excellent soundproofing.
In comparison, the thinner, more unforgiving laminate flooring makes more noise and echoes when you walk on it. There are variants with improved acoustic underlay but these are much more expensive.
Carpet’s Warmth vs. Laminate’s Elegance
Another contrasting area that you must consider in the carpet vs laminate debate is warmth vs elegance. There is something pleasant about walking on a carpet with your bare feet and the same can’t be said about comparably colder laminare.
In contrast, I wouldn’t necessarily call a carpet elegant – it’s more functional, whereas some laminate designs look superb.
Maintenance and Cleaning
You have to look at how easy the flooring is to clean and maintain – particularly if you have children or pets. Generally, carpet is seen as more difficult to maintain and repair compared to laminate however, they are both relatively easy to clean.
Carpets are easy to hoover and today we have many stain removal products if things like drinks are knocked over. Laminate flooring is similarly easy to clean and mop and it has the edge when it comes to spill and stain removal.
Design Flexibility
You want flooring that matches your decor and fits with the theme of the room which is why you must consider design flexibility.
Carpets have a slight edge here as they are available in a far wider range of colours, patterns, and designs. Not only that, but you have different piles, depths, and fabrics to choose from. Laminate does have variety too, but you are more limited, particularly in colours.
Budget and Cost Comparison
As with any type of flooring, there is a huge variance in the cost depending on the quality, type, pattern, and installation of both carpet and laminate. Generally speaking, for similar quality products, there isn’t much difference in the price. Factors that can affect cost include:
- Installation or DIY installation.
- Carpet and laminate thickness.
- Design, patterns, and colours.
- Difficulty of installation i.e. room shape and irregular floor space.
Installation and DIY Potential
We can’t overlook the installation either and this is an area I have to give the edge to laminate flooring. Unless you are a skilled tradesperson or have fitted a carpet before, it’s difficult.
You have to fit the underlay and the runners and it can be tricky to get the carpet taught and have a smooth finish. In most instances, it has to be professionally installed.
In contrast, depending on the type of laminate flooring, this is a product that can be self-installed. Many laminate types or LVT flooring use a locking mechanism where the individual planks simply click together. Additionally, some laminate flooring doesn’t require adhesive and works as a “floating floor”.
The potential downside to laminate flooring is the quality and suitability of your subfloor and it has to be level. Therefore, a DIY installation could involve levelling your subfloor.
Making the Right Choice
I hope I have shed some light on the carpet vs laminate argument and made your choice easier. Generally, carpet is more flexible and gives you more opportunity to match your decor and room theme. Carpets are also more comfortable, warmer, and have better soundproofing.
However, laminate has the potential to be self-installed, and can last longer than carpet depending on the quality. That is a main takeaway too – these factors all vary wildly depending on how much you are willing to spend, regardless of whether you choose carpet or laminate.
