How to choose the right flooring for a children's room? Which is better - cork, parquet or laminate? Or maybe it’s worth putting practical linoleum or soft and comfortable carpet? We will answer these and many other questions.
Flooring for a children's playroom: what should the material be?
When choosing flooring for a nursery, parents should forget about such evaluation criteria as price and ease of installation. You need to focus on other characteristics, namely the following:
- Environmental friendliness. The material must be natural or, at least, not release toxins and carcinogens.
- Safety. The coating should not be too hard or slippery, have uneven surfaces, or protruding metal elements (corners, screws, nails).
- Hypoallergenic.
- High wear-resistant qualities. Children not only crawl and run on the floor, but also roll cars with metal wheels on it and scratch with various toys.
- Moisture resistance. Flooring for children's game room should not have absolute protection from water, as is required, for example, in the bathroom, but still children constantly spill something, which means it is necessary to make sure that a child’s mistake does not become a disaster.
- Resistance to fading in the sun. As a rule, they try to make a children's room as light as possible, which means that the floors will also be exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
- Easy to care for and resistant to stains. These characteristics are more important for parents, since children often draw on the floor with paints and markers, and mothers have to clean the room several times a day.
Laminate
Although it contains synthetic components, it is considered an environmentally friendly and safe coating. It is resistant to damage, easy to clean and retains heat well. Another plus is that recently the price of quality laminate has decreased somewhat due to high competition, but it also looks quite modern.
This flooring for a children's room is an ideal option for those who want to install a “warm floor” system.
There are also some disadvantages: laminate can be very “noisy” if it is placed incorrectly or if the backing is too thin; in addition, plasticine is difficult to clean off, it is quite slippery and often fades in the sun. And low-quality laminate emits formaldehyde and harmful resins, so you should definitely ask for a quality certificate in the store.
PVC tiles
The flooring for a children's room should not be made of PVC tiles. This simple rule was previously based on the characteristics of the material: the floor was slippery, cold, and, in addition, synthetics raised concerns about the safety and health of children.
Today everything has changed. Modern PVC tiles are high-quality, comfortable, warm, wear-resistant material with shock-absorbing properties, resistant to high humidity and temperature changes. Despite the fact that the coating is 100% synthetic, it has a special hygienic certificate. It does not deform under the weight of heavy furniture, is easy to wash and clean, and any damaged tiles are easy to replace.
Initially, PVC tiles were intended exclusively for the kitchen and corridor, but in some houses they began to be laid in children's rooms.
Linoleum
This flooring for an economy class children's room is inexpensive and practical. This material is not afraid of water, it has good wear resistance, especially semi-commercial or commercial, and when good situation it will last for decades. It is very easy to wash linoleum; you can do wet cleaning in the nursery several times a day.
However, many parents do not even consider this option, since such material is considered not environmentally friendly. In addition, wet linoleum can lead to falls, injuries and bruises. Another unpleasant moment is the smell. Cheap, low-quality linoleum smells very strongly even in a huge sales area, and if you lay it in small room, then the smell becomes simply unbearable. But this drawback can also be found in other coatings, the manufacturers of which neglected quality standards. For example, carpet or PVC tiles can also have specific aroma. It is better to refuse such a purchase immediately.
Today in the markets you can find marmoleum or environmentally friendly linoleum. It consists of 95-97% natural substances, is more difficult to care for, and is not as durable as other materials. But this coating is safe, and manufacturers are increasing its wear resistance from year to year.
Carpet
Many parents choose soft flooring for their children's room, namely carpet. It makes the room seem cozy and comfortable, and given that babies spend most of their time on the floor, this option seems quite logical. But carpet has many disadvantages: it accumulates electricity, since it is made of synthetics; it collects a lot of dust, which makes it unsafe for children, even if it is made from hypoallergenic materials. I also don’t like this coating high humidity in the room, and for babies, on the contrary, doctors recommend breathing moist, cool air. Carpet is very easy to spoil or stain; plasticine and other substances leave stains on it, so there is a chance that it will quickly lose its original appearance.
Currently, more and more families are abandoning carpet in favor of other materials or making a combined floor (laminate + carpet) with separate functional areas. In addition, it is useful for buyers to know that, in addition to hypoallergenic, there are also antistatic synthetics.
Cork floor
Cork is the best flooring for a child's room. The photo below shows how good this material looks, but it is valued for more than just its attractive appearance. Cork flooring is warm, elastic, with high shock-absorbing properties, which means that children will have less stress on the spine. It is 100% natural and therefore safe. The disadvantages of this material include intolerance to high humidity.
However, there is a lot about this flooring negative reviews. The thing is that, under the guise of a full-fledged material, unscrupulous sellers (manufacturers) hand over to the buyer a regular screed for laminate flooring, the so-called technical plug. Such a floor will not last even a year, since it has low wear resistance and quickly deforms.
Parquet
Which flooring is best for a children's room? Of course, one that is made from natural materials. Parquet in this regard has only advantages - it is safe, environmentally friendly, warm, and not noisy (compared to laminate). The disadvantages include the fact that parquet is easily damaged (scratches and small irregularities can be easily eliminated). In addition, this material does not like changes in humidity and temperature. And, of course, the cost of finishing is important for parents, and good parquet it costs expensive.
Warm floors and soft puzzle rugs
The flooring in a children's room is often supplemented with a “warm floor” system. But it cannot be mounted under every material, and in some cases this is simply impossible. In addition, it is not recommended to install electric heated floors in children's rooms. This is due to the fact that the child will be affected electromagnetic radiation. Therefore, in rooms where children spend a lot of time, it is better to install a water-heated floor.
Recently, more and more often in rooms you can see light colored tiles made of foamed polymer, assembled like a puzzle into a large canvas. This can hardly be called a full-fledged floor covering, rather an alternative to carpet and rug. This material is good in all respects - it is soft, safe, easy to clean, and children enjoy playing with it. In addition, any damaged piece of this puzzle can be removed or replaced.
The floor is a place where the child spends a lot of free time. Games mostly take place on it; many children like to draw, comfortably stretched out on a comfortable surface.
Choosing good ones finishing materials For the floors in the nursery, special attention must be paid. They should not only be warm and comfortable, but also made from environmentally friendly materials. pure materials. It is important for all mothers that the floor in the children's room is easy to wash and vacuum so that the kids cannot scratch it.
What can you recommend choosing for the floor when designing the interior of a children's room? We offer short review the most common types of coverings for the rooms of your daughters and sons.
Parquet - a durable option
Is it possible to lay this natural material in children's rooms? Without a doubt, if you can afford to allocate a significant amount from the family budget, then durable parquet will fit perfectly into your home. children's interior.
Listen to the advice of professionals: dark types of parquet are only suitable for an academic atmosphere; they will look good in an office business man, but not in the bedroom of, for example, an eight-year-old boy.
To the saturated dark shades Parquet is used when they are afraid that small children will damage it. The fact is that scratches, if they occur, will be equally visible on both dark and light parquet fragments.
There is no need to worry too much: for you, choosing such a covering is a wonderful educational chance to teach your child to appreciate things. If damage is done, then believe me that it is very easy to repair.
Caring for parquet is also quite easy if you know how. Important point: it is afraid of moisture, so ordinary wet cleaning is in no way possible. If you are in doubt, then think about purchasing parquet board. This good alternative parquet, since all its properties are preserved at a lower price.
Laminate is an economically viable option
Which floor will look better in a nursery? A correctly chosen laminate will be the ideal coating, as in appearance it will look just as elegant as the coating described above. Until recently, laminate floors were unknown to us.
Today they are becoming more and more popular among Russians, so such a floor for a nursery will be beneficial both from an aesthetic point of view and from an economic point of view, when compared with expensive parquet.
Laminate is impact-resistant, environmentally friendly, and easy to clean. The most difficult stains even with a small amount detergent are carefully removed and leave no traces. The known problem with sticking plasticine is not a reason to worry in our case.
Do you want to create the most favorable environment in your child's room?
Children's color - important element interior, thanks to which a certain mood is created. Choosing a specific color for a floor made of laminate is not problematic, since it comes in various colors, patterns, and designs.
What other flooring should I make in the nursery to make it safe?
All finishing materials must be natural. All synthetic varieties can cause allergies and other serious diseases in a child, so you should not skimp on this. What else can I recommend:
- Carpet and carpets– soft heated floors, but daily high-quality cleaning will be required, as they are capable of accumulating dust and dirt in huge quantities. Color solutions There can be a wide variety, but you need to choose only soft pile.
- Linoleum is a democratic covering. Those samples that are specially designed for children look very colorful. It must be selected especially carefully so that it is completely safe for the child. Many manufacturers claim that their linoleum is made only from natural ingredients. You don’t need to take our word for it, but you should carefully study the certificates attached to the products so that it is not processed synthetic resins and did not have PVC.
- Cork flooring for a nursery - this is how it should ideally be. Cork is natural, soft, warm, easy to clean. No injuries will be too serious if the baby is on a cork floor. But, alas, the price is not for all wallets.
Don’t get too carried away with projects from glossy magazines, where design trends are driven by fashion, not expediency. We wish you to lay the most comfortable and safe floor in your children's room for a comfortable stay for little owners.
The desire of loving parents to make the nursery as comfortable and safe as possible for the child is unlikely to surprise anyone. The child spends almost all the time in the nursery while he is at home. And no matter how many upholstered furniture No matter how you furnish the room, the floor will still attract the baby. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the flooring Special attention. Not only appearance is important, but also material.
Types of flooring
The modern market for finishing materials is represented by many various types coverings for any interior. The main thing is not to get lost among this diversity and...
1. Laminate
A practical and aesthetic material that is often used to cover the floor in a nursery. This surface is made of natural wood and is quite easy to install. This is an environmentally friendly material, and therefore is perfect for a nursery.
Difference color range(natural wood shades) and wood-like textures allows you to choose the right option for the design of any children's room. Suitable for use by children of different ages. If the child is in the room wearing socks, then it is best to purchase socks with anti-slip footprints. The noise characteristics of laminate flooring are low, so it is recommended to use a soundproofing underlay when laying it.
But in front of everyone positive qualities Well, laminate also has its disadvantages. The main one is interaction with liquids. Frequent wet cleaning and spills of various drinks and other liquids on the floor can lead to a short time render the material unusable.
The cost varies depending on the quality of the laminate flooring wood and the exterior covering. Acrylic resins in the manufacture of laminate are the safest for human health.
2. Linoleum
More universal material, which can imitate absolutely any texture and be of any color. Suitable for children's rooms that are designed for children of different ages. Has poor sound insulation.
The flooring for children's playrooms is often made of linoleum, as it has a number of advantages:
- wear-resistant under the influence of a number of factors (wet cleaning, scratches, etc.);
- excellent noise and heat insulator;
- safe for use (if you choose quality material).
The cost can vary both from the thickness of the linoleum and from the quality of its execution. Low-quality material may have foreign odors that are toxic to both children and adults.
3. Parquet and parquet boards
Naturalness, environmental friendliness, appearance - these are the undeniable advantages that are necessary for covering children's floors. Suitable for children of all ages, even the youngest. who spend most of their time on the floor. With the right choice of wood treatment, it can last for a long time even with frequent wet cleaning.
The cost of such a coating is usually higher than other materials, since parquet consists of natural wood and has special ways processing. Laying the covering, although it takes longer, is considered suitable for a child’s room the best option. Also, this coating absorbs steps well and has high noise insulation.
When choosing parquet flooring for a children's room, safety is ensured against allergic reactions to various components of other floorings. Parquet also has good thermal insulation properties. A non-glossy varnish coating will make it safer and prevent slipping.
Paint has both pros and cons. Among the positive qualities, we can note the practicality of use, the choice of any color, degree of gloss or matte.
The disadvantage is the difficulty of creating a floor, since it is necessary to perfectly Smooth surface, which must be carefully prepared in advance. Quality is also often an issue. paint and varnish material. More budget options may release toxins long after the paint is applied.
Painted floors do not have soundproofing qualities. Walking on a slippery floor is unsafe if you are wearing regular, non-marking socks. At the same time, this is a cold and uncomfortable surface that will definitely not please the child. Usually, in rooms with painted floors, carpets are used, which add coziness and comfort.
5. Other types
Other, more exotic types of flooring are also becoming popular. This is a cork covering, a solid board,
Choosing flooring in a children's room is quite a task! An incorrect approach in this matter may in the future result in problems such as asthma and allergic reactions in a child, spoiled in the first year expensive coating, rotted floorboards under the laminate and noticeable scratches. That’s why you need to approach this choice with special responsibility if you are not eager to make new repairs every summer.
Children's room: a thousand and one requirements
So, what makes a children's room so different from any other? And why is so much attention always paid to the choice of flooring? The fact is that in this room there is always:
- High dynamic load (children running, jumping, and sometimes with friends).
- Risk of moisture getting on the coating (children draw and drink juice).
- Scratches, chips and abrasions in the most unexpected places (children always play outdoor games).
- “Marble” stains from felt-tip pens (a favorite activity for kids).
This is us talking about how resistant to abrasion and stains the coating in a children's room should be. But it also has its own specific requirements:
- Environmental friendliness. The child should not begin to choke on dust or allergens after a few months.
- Step cushioning. For young children, too hard a surface is even dangerous to health: it puts a serious load on the spine and risks developing flat feet.
- The coating should not be slippery to avoid accidental injuries.
But, if you put all these requirements together, then, perhaps, there is no such floor covering in the whole world. Each of the species existing today has one or another advantage, and for the right choice you need to focus more not on the positives, but on what negatives you can put up with. In addition, each age has its own requirements.
Overview of suitable traditional floor coverings
Therefore, let's take a closer look at what popular floor coverings for children's rooms are today, what is their composition and installation process, what substances are used during the installation process ( important question) and much more. Let's hit the road!
Cork – warmth and cushioning
This is by far the most popular covering for children's rooms. Soft, environmentally friendly and quiet - what could be better? It’s just not uncommon for a situation where in one family the cork has only been in use for two years and already looks worn out, while in another it has been serving faithfully for ten years, and the children in both families are equally active. So where, in fact, do so many negative reviews about this coating come from, when along with there are no less laudatory ones?
It's simple: traffic jams are different. Those. You can buy really high-quality material, or you can simply stumble upon a fake. Let's understand all this a little.
So, there is such a thing as a technical traffic jam. It is made from leftovers and used as a backing for laminate flooring. It performs its functions of sound insulation and ride softening well, and it is this material that can be purchased cheaply from unscrupulous sellers under the guise of a full-fledged coating. But in the conditions of an ordinary children's room, such a plug will not last long.
The second type of cork flooring is adhesive. They can be found on sale in the form of tiles, which are attached with glue joint to joint. There are no visible cracks, such a floor is not afraid of moisture, but the very presence of glue confuses many parents.
Cork parquet (cork laminate)- This is a cork floor made of individual panels. It is already afraid of moisture, and the seams become deformed over time due to the slightest dampness, and therefore is only suitable for the bedroom and living room. If you remember Dr. Komarovsky with his calls to make the air in children's rooms humid and even control it with a hygrometer, you will understand that you will have to forget about cork flooring.
Also, cork comes in different installation methods: locking and adhesive, and in the first case, environmentally friendly glue is not needed. But in the second, there is very little cork in the coating composition, pay attention to this fact. Here is one installation option:
Real cork flooring has wonderful advantages:
- Soundproofing. The result is grateful neighbors below.
- Warm. Fewer typical childhood illnesses.
- Step cushioning. A healthier spine for a child.
- Environmental friendliness. There is no fear for all sorts of volatile and dangerous substances.
- Elasticity. Any dents will be smoothed out fairly quickly.
But one of the minuses worth noting is that it is impossible to install a warm floor under the cork flooring. Moreover, cork laminate can be placed on a heated floor system, but cork sheets cannot. It’s just that this material will allow no more than 20% of thermal energy to pass out, that’s just its property. And the price, of course, is high, considering that the cork is also wear-resistant. And also p The surface of the cork is quite rough, the child will not slip again, but indoor shoes and socks will be washed quickly.
A cork floor lasts for about ten years, and partial repair is possible - today a special varnish for it is sold. Modern cork floors are no longer just a loose surface terracotta color– they are produced today with beautiful photo printing and in a variety of colors.
Laminate - practicality and impact resistance
This is by far the most popular choice for children's rooms. Easy to clean, looks beautiful, you can put some rugs on top. The laminate is maximally suitable for, it easily tolerates temperature fluctuations and can be installed without any particular difficulties even with the most complex planned designs. Only laminate of the cheap series - from 8 mm - cannot be placed on a warm floor.
And now - about the cons. Let's just say that not everyone puts laminate flooring in bedrooms or children's rooms - more out of fear that this material emits formaldehyde, acrylic and melamine resins. Although the manufacturers themselves do not confirm this information. Therefore, if you are going to lay laminate flooring, buy it only from a well-known brand and ask the seller to look at the relevant quality certificates.
Laminate is also a rather noisy flooring. It likes to creak, fades in the sun and requires a perfectly flat base. Even a cat that just walked around the room can make a sound no worse than heels. And, if you don’t think of high-quality sound insulation for your neighbors below, they will be angry with you. Laminate is also slippery, which is not very good for a child's room.
But there is also a “but”: laminate is compressed cardboard, soaked in glue and coated with melamine resin. Those. For all its appeal, it is not the most environmentally friendly product. But practical and able to withstand the pranks of more than one child.
Today there are so many laminate brands that it’s difficult even for a specialist to understand them. Therefore, if you purchase this coverage, be sure to first go to the brand's website (not the seller's) and look at the information about it. As a rule, counterfeits and low-quality products do not have their own website. In the meantime, experts recommend brands such as Quick Step, Kronotex and Egger. Here is the installation of the first one listed:
Parquet board - style and solidity
What is important is that the noise from a parquet board is much less than from a laminate, on which there is a rumble even from a falling pencil. In addition, you can easily, unlike parquet. By the way, any scratches on a parquet board can be restored using a special varnish and sanding.
Due to its more natural base, parquet boards are susceptible to scratches and dents. You need to handle it with care, and you can only use this type of flooring in a child’s room if you have a very neat child. Moreover, environmentally friendly parquet boards are intended more for bedrooms where there is little traffic. Also, parquet boards do not tolerate fluctuations in humidity and air temperature - they quickly shrink and swell.
Bottom line: parquet board is a finicky floor, but beautiful and quite environmentally friendly. For children's rooms - for quiet and neat children who spend almost the whole day in school clubs, and active games prefer outdoors. So, there are also specially created collections of parquet boards for children's rooms - for example, Barlinek Young and some others. Typically, such a floor consists of almost 100% wood, has an antibacterial system and antifungal properties.
Here's what the installation process looks like:
Carpet - comfort and safety
It is not convenient for a child to play on a hard floor - after all, usually during all active activities you have to crawl or lean on your knees. For such children, a warm one is more suitable.
But many modern parents, taught by many programs and the Internet, actively throw out all the “dust collectors” from their children’s rooms, leaving only a sterile, clean space made of plastic and wood. They just forget that children's rooms should not look like research laboratories or operating rooms - comfort is important here. And designers all over the world will agree that the first steps in this direction are textiles and soft materials.
So, modern carpet manufacturers offer many options for color and design, thickness, quality and finish. Choose what you like! After all, literally in a few years, when a grown-up child wants to radically change the interior of his room, this flooring will be quite easy to dismantle.
Eat expensive types carpets that are designed specifically for children and can be safely laid on a heated floor system. And the process of installing this coating is extremely simple:
New products on the market that claim to be environmentally friendly
And now - all about new items for children's rooms, and not only.
Marmoleum - environmentally friendly linoleum
Just five to ten years ago, linoleum in a children's room was considered blasphemy. Not environmentally friendly, sometimes with a noticeable chemical smell, cheap. Although, for the sake of economy, such coverings are still laid in children’s rooms.
But today, thanks to the emergence of its new variety, you can reconsider this option again. This is the covering which consists of 97% natural raw materials. Its main advantages: environmental friendliness, naturalness, antibacterial properties and improving strength characteristics every year. It can consist of the following materials: linseed oil, jute or wood flour, chalk, natural dyes. Styling should be professional, but caring for it is a little more difficult.
Ordinary cheap linoleum It lasts about 5 years, is not durable and cannot be restored in any way. Many who tried to lay it in their hallway or kitchen noted that it was even difficult to breathe in such a room. So linoleum began to be used more in offices and corridors government agencies and rented apartments.
Another good thing about marmoleum for a children's room is that you can put a thick backing underneath it, and it will be soft and comfortable for a one-year-old baby to walk on. Here's how it happens standard installation of this natural linoleum:
PVC tiles - will take anything!
You will be surprised, but this material is becoming increasingly popular for children's rooms as well. After all, it's new:
- Feels warm.
- Not afraid of any humidity, dryness, or heat.
- Easily repaired by sticking a new element in place of the damaged old one.
- Withstands heavy furniture well.
This is an ideal option for the noisiest and most active children, who also like to have company. These tiles are easy to repair without having to do anything to the entire floor. Easy to wash even by automatic means, and after a year or two it wouldn’t be a shame to re-glue it to a new one with a new design.
Oddly enough, PVC tiles were originally developed for the kitchen, but today those who understand well what it’s like to raise two or three children in one room prefer this option. Speaking of environmental friendliness: PVC tiles are not a natural material, but no harmful substances it does not release into the air. And therefore it can be called environmentally friendly to some extent. Moreover, PVC coatings even have a special hygienic certificate, which allows them to be used in educational and medical institutions, and this already says a lot.
If you buy vinyl tiles that are not the cheapest for your child’s room, they will last you much longer than laminate. By the way, it is called “flexible laminate”. You will be surprised, but tear or pierce PVC tiles much more difficult than linoleum. Such tiles are also resistant to the formation of fungus, mold, rotting processes and fireproof (remember childhood games with matches). Moreover, vinyl floor tiles, oddly enough, have good anti-slip properties, which is a definite plus for a child’s room.
Regarding environmental friendliness, any PVC coatings, then the manufacturers themselves call them as such until they are heated to 30°C. For example, the same warm floor heats up much less.
If you look at the substrate for PVC tiles, then only two options are suitable for it: screed or tightly laid and puttied plywood. Laying such tiles is easy: we simply glue them “joint to joint”, and the finished floor looks like a seamless monolithic parquet or laminate. You will see this in this photo instruction:
And, most importantly, vinyl tiles are superior to cork in soundproofing characteristics!
Soft floor - a new word in technology
Also note the modern soft flooring. It is manufactured according to new technology EVA, and consists of soft granules, colored desired color. Typically, manufacturers produce it in the form of individual puzzles with inserts, and you can assemble and lay the floor according to your own design ideas in a matter of minutes. At the same time, it is easy to clean, soft, warm in feel and is always very popular with children.
But sometimes you can also find exotic floors among the offers - made of rare wood or an interesting composition. Here you need to approach it individually, but usually such floors are also not compatible with infrared, electric or water, unfortunately.
That's all the pros and cons of modern flooring for children's rooms. We wish you a good choice!
When choosing flooring for a children's room, you should take into account the specifics of this room and special requirements, which are presented for finishing. main feature is that children, especially younger age, they play while sitting on the floor, so they choose a material that is not only aesthetically attractive, but also warm, hygienic and safe.
The surfaces in the playroom are subject to quite serious loads:
- First of all, the floor covering is exposed to high dynamic impacts due to outdoor games, running and jumping.
- Very often children spill water or drinks.
- Essential mechanical influences are associated with the risk of scratches, chips and abrasions on the coating.
- There is no escape from drawings with felt-tip pens, crayons, pens and paint on the walls, furniture and floors.
- The floor must be warm. Ideally, it should accumulate and accumulate heat.
Therefore, the coating must withstand all these influences with dignity and maintain its appearance.
There are several important criteria, which are primarily taken into account when choosing flooring materials. You will need to pay attention to:
- Quality of coverage.
- Its soundproofing properties, since children love to play outdoor games, roll cars on the floor, and move children's furniture.
- Coating safety – preference is given to hypoallergenic, hygienic coatings that do not emit toxins, with a non-slip surface.
- Simple care - wet cleaning in the child’s room is carried out every day, in this regard, preference is given to moisture-resistant coatings that are not afraid of the effects of detergents.
Important! When choosing a flooring material, the age and activity of the child, as well as the cost of the coating, are taken into account. It is desirable that it be repairable.
Among the specific requirements, the following can be noted. The coating must be environmentally friendly - it should not provoke allergic reactions, to which young children are so vulnerable. In addition, the material should not accumulate dust and allergens in its structure, dirt and promote the growth of bacteria.
It is desirable that the coating have a shock-absorbing effect. This is important for children in the first years of life in order to prevent serious stress on the spine that occurs when walking on hard surfaces and the development of flat feet. In addition, it should be taken into account that children often fall - such a covering will avoid injuring the baby.
It is unlikely that you will be able to find a coating that will satisfy all of the above requirements. However, most modern coatings can be safely used in children's rooms; they all have their pros and cons, which you need to know about in advance.
Advice. When choosing a coating, it is recommended to take into account the disadvantages that are inherent to it and evaluate the possibility or impossibility of its use in each individual case, since the requirements for the coating depend, among other things, on age group child.
Choosing a floor material
The range of modern floor coverings, which to one degree or another meet the requirements for floors in children's rooms, is quite wide. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with their strengths and weaknesses, and make the right choice.
Cork
Cork, like no other, is capable of accumulating and retaining heat. It is this quality that has made cork floors so popular in residential areas, including children's rooms. The main advantages of the material include the following:
- The coating has excellent soundproofing qualities. The child's active games will not cause discomfort to the neighbors on the lower floor.
- Cork retains heat and the flooring always has a comfortable temperature.
- The coating has shock-absorbing properties, reducing the load on the baby's spine and protecting him from injury when falling.
- The material is environmentally friendly and safe for children of any age.
- The cork is elastic, so it immediately returns to its original position after removing the pressure loads.
Cork cannot be used in a heated floor system, except cork laminate. However, given that the material itself is warm, this cannot be called a significant disadvantage.
When choosing cork covering It is important to carefully familiarize yourself with its variety. An inexpensive stopper is called a technical stopper. It is used as a substrate for laminate flooring and cannot be used as a finishing floor, since it does not have the necessary wear resistance and strength.
The adhesive plug is sold in the form of tiles. It is laid end-to-end on the floor and fixed with special glue. The coating is moisture resistant and externally monolithic.
You can also find floor coverings in the form of cork parquet or laminate on sale. This material is more vulnerable to moisture and when water gets into the joint, it deforms. This flooring is best used in a bedroom or living room.
In terms of cost, this coverage does not belong to the budget category, but it is high price justified long term operation and unique properties.
Table 1. average cost corkcoatings
| Image | Fixation method | Average cost as of July 2018, rubles/m2 |
|---|---|---|
| Adhesive | 2800 |
| Adhesive | 2600 |
| Castle | 3350 |
| Castle (laminate) | 2200 |
| Castle (laminate) | 1950 |
Laminate
Laminate as a floor covering, including in children's rooms, has long earned recognition. In this regard, some manufacturers offer collections with children's drawings. Some types of laminate (thickness over 8 mm) can be used in a “warm floor” system, and they also have a sufficient level of moisture resistance. When purchasing, you must check the labeling on the package.
The advantages of this material include the following:
- High strength.
- Easy care.
- The coating has a transparent protective polymer layer into which contaminants are not absorbed.
- A wide range of shades and patterns, as well as imitations of the textures of other materials.
- Easy installation.
- Affordable price.
- Maintainability when laying prefabricated coverings.
- Long service life.
- Wear resistance.
- Mechanical stability.
Laminate flooring has one significant disadvantage - the coating is quite noisy, but high-quality sound insulation will eliminate this problem. At improper installation squeaking may occur. Some types of inexpensive laminate flooring are quite slippery. Therefore, when choosing a coating, it is recommended to carefully study the pictograms on the packaging. Considering that this is a multi-layer material, it cannot be called completely natural, but it is durable and will last for many years.
Laminate is an inexpensive type of material.
Table 2. Average cost of laminate
| Image | |
|---|---|
| 890 |
| 980 |
| 1250 |
| 1600 |
| 1490 |
What may be needed when laying laminate flooring? Look for the answer in There you will find everything: from tools to instructions for self-installation.
Parquet board
Parquet boards belong to the category of natural and environmentally friendly materials. Compared to laminate, this coating can absorb noise, and unlike parquet, it can be installed independently.
One of the advantages of parquet boards is the ability to restore scratched areas and update the front decorative layer by sanding and varnishing. It is worth noting that the coating is more vulnerable to shock and mechanical loads, so it needs more careful attitude. You can lay such a covering in the room of an older child.
Carpet
With the help of carpet you can get a soft and comfortable covering that will ideally complement a child's interior. The main advantages of the material include the following:
- The coating can be used in a “warm floor” system as a finishing coating.
- You can lay carpet on another surface.
- Carpet on the construction market is represented by a wide range of colors, patterns and pile sizes.
- Affordable cost and easy installation.
- Easy care - if you choose a carpet with medium or small pile, then there will be no problems with removing dirt.
- This coating can be easily dismantled.
The convenience of using carpet is that it can be used in combination with another covering, for example, laminate, by decorating the transition with a plastic threshold. This allows you to lay it in a sleeping or play area.
Linoleum (marmoleum)
Linoleum is a budget type of flooring and is rarely used in children's rooms, but today its improved analogue, marmoleum, has appeared on the construction market.
Marmoleum is almost 100% natural (linseed oil, jute or wood flour, chalk and natural dyes).
The positive qualities of this material include the following:
- The coating is environmentally friendly, natural and safe.
- Marmoleum has antibacterial properties.
- Has high strength.
- The coating does not require complex maintenance.
- Marmoleum is not afraid of temperature changes.
- The coating is pleasant to the touch and has a comfortable surface temperature.
- Wide range of colors.
A special technology is used to produce the coating. Marmoleum is very durable and at the same time, when using a thickened backing, it allows you to create a soft and comfortable coating. It is an ideal material for installing flooring in a nursery.
PVC tiles
Innovative materials include soft flooring. This coating has the following positive qualities:
- Practical and easy to maintain.
- Endurance - such a floor is not afraid of mechanical influences.
- Wear resistance.
- The ability to keep warm.
- Can be used in the system.
- It has sound and noise insulation.
- Maintainability.
- Simple installation.
Now there are several types of “warm floors” on the construction market. They differ in the type of coolant and operating efficiency. How to choose a heated floor? We'll tell you in
Soft floor
Modular soft flooring (EVA) has a foam structure in the form of small bubbles, thanks to which the coating is soft, elastic, and thermal insulation properties. The positive qualities of this material include the following:
- Environmental safety.
- Shock-absorbing surface.
- Antistatic.
- Ease.
- The coating protects against drafts.
- Easy care.
- The surface of such a floor does not absorb dirt and moisture.
The soft floor is not prone to deformation, it is hypoallergenic and flexible. Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of modular soft floors.
Table 3. Average cost of soft modular floors
| Illustration | Average cost as of July 2018, rubles |
|---|---|
| 970 |
Universal soft floor "Geometry" | 750 |
| 1380 |
