You’ve looked at the flooring in your house and have decided it’s a little worse for wear! It’s now decision time and you’ve weighed up a few options including carpet and parquet. But which one will get pride of place in your rooms? It’s a tough decision for sure and I want to help. Below, I look at carpet vs parquet, discuss their pros and cons, and try to decipher if there is a clear winner.
What is Parquet?
Parquet flooring has origins in the 1500s and 1600s in France and was incredibly popular in grand abodes like Versailles. It is also known as herringbone flooring due to the diagonal criss-cross pattern on which the planks are traditionally laid.
Originally, solid wood was used, but now parquet is manufactured either from engineered wood or even as an LVT alternative (luxury vinyl tile) to reduce costs. It is made from a series of interlocking planks that are installed in a herringbone pattern that looks simply fantastic. The look is attractive and it certainly stands out more than carpet.
Best Rooms for Parquet
Due to the harder nature of parquet flooring, it’s better suited to rooms where you aren’t sat for long periods compared to carpet that is warmer and softer to walk on. Parquet works great in the following rooms:
- Hallway
- Dining room
- Conservatory
- Study
- Kitchen
In these rooms, you aren’t as concerned with comfort, plus, you are more likely to have spills in these rooms which are easier to clean on the parquet.
Benefits
Parquet looks incredible and if you want a flooring solution to impress, it wins the carpet vs parquet battle. This type of flooring is also especially easy to clean including hoovering, mopping, and wiping spills. Parquet flooring also has great durability and it can last for decades providing you maintain it and clean it regularly.
Drawbacks
The main drawback of parquet flooring is the harder surface. This doesn’t give as good soundproofing, is less comfortable to walk on, and makes rooms colder. You also have the drawback of the limited array of colours and styles compared to the vast array of carpet types.
Is Carpet a Better Choice?
You can’t beat the trusty carpet right? Carpet is still one of the most popular flooring types in the UK and things like loop pile and Berber carpets look superb in any home. Carpet is dependable, and durable, offers great comfort, and is versatile in terms of design options.
It’s usually supplied in rolls and has to be installed by carpet fitters due to the need to add underlay and carpet runners. There are many different types of material used for carpets and different piles which are how the fabric is woven.
Best Rooms for Carpets
I favour carpets in the “homely” rooms in your house – rooms that you spend longer periods in to relax and unwind. These include:
- Living room
- Bedroom
- Dining room
- Home office
This is because of the improved soundproofing, warmth, and cushioning that carpets provide compared to harder parquet floors. Parquet flooring in a living room, for example, can make the space feel cold and more difficult to relax in.
Why Choose a Carpet?
Carpets are the safer option – we know what to expect and we know what we are getting. They are relatively easy to clean aside from spills, and can easily last for 10+ years depending on the quality.
I consider carpets to be the better option for households with children and pets too. Kids run around and play and I would rather them trip over on a cushioned carpet as opposed to a hard and unforgiving parquet floor.
Carpets are also easier to match with your existing colour scheme and theme as they are available in virtually any colour type and have a huge range of patterns and designs compared to the more limited parquet options.
Things to Know Before Buying a Carpet
Before deciding on the carpet vs parquet argument and settling for a carpet, there are some considerations to make. Firstly, you should check the underlay and runners of your existing carpet – if it’s in good condition it could be used again which can reduce installation costs.
Secondly, think of how you are going to dispose of the old flooring and any excess carpet that isn’t used during the new fitting. Today, oftentimes carpet fitters don’t dispose of their waste and you can be left with a heap of excess material!
Carpet vs Parquet – Find the Right Flooring for Your Home
Carpet could certainly be considered the more practical option in the carpet vs parquet argument as it’s more comfortable, warmer, and has better soundproofing. If you have toddlers or pets, carpet is the way forward although there are spills and stains to consider.
If you are looking for a more classy type of flooring in less-used rooms, parquet could be an excellent choice too – particularly LVT parquet flooring which is high-quality and offers more comfort and padding compared to traditional solid wood parquet.
