Luxury Vinyl vs. Carpet: Choosing the Right Option for Your Needs
It’s almost the end of the year when you may be thinking of celebrating the Holidays, then ringing in the New Year with a plan to freshen your space. When it comes to choosing new flooring, there are so many options that it can be overwhelming. Due to a number of factors, two of the most popular are Carpet and Luxury Vinyl Flooring.
What makes carpet and luxury vinyl rise to the top of many peoples’ lists, and how do they choose one over the other? Let’s explore those answers together.
How are Carpet and Luxury Vinyl Alike?
Carpet and luxury vinyl, which are both available in a literal myriad of colors, patterns, styles and finishes, make them versatile options to consider. If you are concerned about an easy and relatively mess-free install, you are in luck. Neither carpet nor luxury vinyl have an installation process that creates a lot of muss, fuss, or dust, involves smelly glue, or requires a long wait to displace your space. You don’t have to avoid the area while adhesive dries or cures; as soon as the installer vacates the premises, your rooms are ready for light foot traffic.
Both carpet and luxury vinyl are great for using throughout your home, with the exception of using carpet in rooms that are prone or known to see moisture. Luxury vinyl is an outstanding option to use in any area, including those that could be damp or wet, which brings us to other ways that it differs from carpet…
How are Carpet and LVF Different?
If it’s coziness you crave, it’s hard to look any further than carpet! No other flooring materials can compete with the way a nice plush carpet feels under your feet, and the warmth it brings to your home. Carpets make spaces feel warm and cozy; they are even nice for lounging while watching family movies or having an epic video game battle. Carpets are fairly easy to maintain as well. They only need to be vacuumed (at least) weekly, have any stains treated promptly, and be professionally cleaned according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
However, carpet can show wear from foot (and paw) traffic, and cannot be used in kitchens or bathrooms, due to aforementioned moisture concerns. Also, once you commit to a particular carpet, it’s tougher to drastically refresh your decor or color scheme. Any future changes you make will have to agree with your carpet color, which is something to keep in mind if you like to follow decorating or color trends.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring is available in an expanding variety of different options, including those that mimic hardwood flooring, natural stone, and ceramic tile. Since it is made from inorganic materials and will not swell or become damaged from moisture, luxury vinyl is suitable to use anywhere from the family room to the mudroom, including kitchens and baths. If you are looking to streamline your decor by using just one type of flooring throughout, luxury vinyl is an exceptional choice.
While it may not have the coziness of carpet, luxury vinyl is warmer underfoot than many other hard surface options, such as tile. To create soft spaces within a larger area, consider using area rugs over your luxury vinyl floors, which you can position in any way that suits you. Use area rugs to frame a conversation area in the living room, protect your hallway from foot traffic, or warm the space under your dining table, without having to commit to an entire room of wall-to-wall carpet.
When it comes down to it, choosing between carpet and luxury vinyl flooring is a matter of personal choice. You should consider your lifestyle. Are you part of a busy household, or are at work most of the day, while the house sits empty? Do you prefer vacuuming to mopping? Do you get bored and like to rearrange your space and decor with the seasons, or does the idea or seasonal redecorating cause you anxiety?
Take each of these questions into consideration, then take any unanswered questions to our helpful staff at Roberts Carpet. We will help you run through the options and make a great choice that fits your lifestyle, budget and renovation time frame. You can begin the New Year with a fresh new look to your space!
