It seems many people nowadays are switching to hard wood floors, or at least the fake equivalent. THIS is just one article on this but I have read another where Realtors are saying homebuyers are wanting hard wood over carpet.
Now for me, I like the comfort and warmth of carpet yet I know they can get nasty.
So what do you all think? Incidentally I see this as increasing the market for large area rugs and the services that clean those. One rug cleaner we went to said she was backed up for about 2 months.
I agree that there’s a warmness to carpet that I appreciate (if the carpet is in good condition). Particularly in the bedroom. However, maintaining carpet cleanliness (particularly with two cats) is a pain in the ass, and the look and feel over it can change fairly quickly with time.
Hardwood is just so much simpler, and it can be incredibly attractive. Even though the carpet in our house was brand new when we bought it two years ago, we’re still looking forward to tearing it out and replacing it with hardwood as soon as we’re able to afford doing so.
I would have put carpet’s exit at 10-15 years ago.
If someone likes the feel of carpet, they can always put rugs on specific places. That simplifies cleaning (does anyone miss carpet vacuuming?) and affords a good amount of flexibility versus carpet.
Or wear slippers to carry the comfort and warmth with you.
When we bought this house 15 yrs ago, no one wanted carpet. My MIL ragged us non stop over why we were ripping out the broadloom. But the hardwood underneath was wonderful, two rooms had beautifully inlaid patterns in cherry!
The OP is way behind the times on this one, I’m afraid!
We haven’t had carpet anywhere in our house for more than 15 years. We ripped it out of the common areas 20 years ago. We have area rugs in several rooms. We wear slippers if we want “warmth”.
Carpet is disgusting. You can never get it fully clean. We were good about vacuuming and had a really good vacuum. When we were ripping out the carpet it was so gross to see the stains on the back side as well as all the dirt and dander underneath. I never want carpet again.
I’ve got socks and slippers if my feet get cold, and both can be washed by quickly tossing them in the washing machine. Carpets aren’t horrible, but they’re a lot harder to clean and get stained or faded relatively quickly. I ripped a bunch of ugly lime-green carpet when I moved in to my house and the house is so much brighter and cleaner feeling.
We have three large dogs who chase each other through the house. I think their nails would do a number on hardwood flooring.
We replaced all of our carpet last year. My gf paid for the carpet. I paid for and operate a commercial grade carpet cleaner. Even with three dogs and the hair, mud, and occasional vomit, the carpet looks great.
I wouldn’t take hardwood, even if you gave it to me for free. We’ve got a dog and 2 cats and a good vacuum cleaner and a good steam cleaner. Our carpet is 13 years old and we’re getting ready to shop for replacement - at least in the non-bedroom areas.
Well, except for tile in the kitchen and bathrooms.
That’s the real problem with carpeting though, “It looks great!” And it often does!
But they actually are both magnet and colonies of pet dander, dust etc, that can never really be clean. That’s why if anyone in your household has the slightest compromise to their breathing THE number one thing on the must do list is : remove all the carpets!
I love hardwood or laminate floors because they look gorgeous and they’re very easy to clean. I put a nice area rug down in front of the sofa where we rest our feet, and when it’s cold we wear slippers, so the “coldness” isn’t an issue.
I’d have it upstairs in the bedrooms, too, but Mr. brown really wanted carpeting there. I do admit that a wood floor on the second story is noisy. Anyone walking around up there sounds like a draft horse.
I agree on the dirtiness of carpeting. It’s impossible to keep the stuff really clean, and vacuuming and shampooing top the list of my most-hated housekeeping jobs.
I have carpet and am eagerly planning the removal and replacement with hard floors. My yard is the county reservoir for goat heads should they be in danger of running out.
I love carpet, hate too much hardwood. The current carpet in this house was installed in 1973, and is in great shape except for two small spots. My mom used to get the urge to shampoo the carpet every year on Halloween, for some strange reason. Even with the dog who lived here for a year couldn’t do anything to mess this carpet up, thought the cats who live upstairs have started to attack the carpet that goes up the steps, so that will have to go, but I’ll miss it. My daughter’s house is all hardwood and the noise level with two small boys is deafening, even with area rugs . Plus she HAS to clean it every day because every little speck of dust and dirt shows. I’m not bothered by thinking about what is deep in my carpet…I vacuum, shampoo as needed, and though I absolutely hate the color, I love the warmth and noise reduction. I wish we hadn’t pulled the carpet out of the master bedroom. The second bedroom had linoleum for years and then vinyl tile when I was a teen, which is fine for the grandson’s bedroom, but it echoes a bit. I have my eye on some lovely soft gray carpeting for when I get enough money and energy together to redo things.
Household carpeting has been on the way out for a long time but it will never be fully eradicated. It boogles the mind that many people once believed that kitchen and bathroom carpeting was a good idea (even on the toilet seats). I am not that sanitary in general and even I know that is disgusting.
I am still working on my seemingly perpetual fight with Lowes over removing my existing carpeting and replacing it with high quality laminate flooring but we are close to a resolution so my carpet should be gone for good in a few weeks. I didn’t want true hardwood. Laminates have come a long way especially in terms of durability, maintainability and general attractiveness.
I can understand commercial carpeting like you find in hotels, airports and businesses but not common household carpeting. There is no reason anyone needs to walk across something that looks like an oddly colored, freshly shorn sheep. The commercial grades are much more durable, come in many interesting patterns and are easier to keep clean. I have no idea why more people don’t use it in their homes. I have to vacuum every day just to keep my household grade carpet from looking like shit and it still does an hour later.
I like the look of hardwood. Visually, I like clean lines and a lack of clutter. Alas, for actually living in, I like plush soft couches and a carpeted floor to lie/sit on. Still don’t like decorative for decorative’s sake unless it’s hanging on the wall, out of the way. No pretty lamps or knickknacks or candles that never get used for me. So for furniture and flooring, what I think is pretty isn’t what I think is comfy. And comfy wins.