Although kids and carpets seemingly go together like jam and glue, you don’t need to skimp on luxury. After all, children love the softness! We’ll walk you through the carpet that stands a chance against the offspring living rent-free in your home.
The answers you’re looking for:
* Not all carpets hold up to fluid spills and curious fingers
* Go for nylon or polypropylene carpets for the ultimate blend of durability and comfort
* Avoid wool, silk and other exotic flooring materials
* Always remember that polypropylene is your friend.
Let’s face it. Children are little adorable whirlwinds. Like arming a tiny, sticky tornado with apple juice and glitter. They’re mobile, invasive, and largely ruinous towards all of your furniture.
If you’re a parent, you’ll know your home isn’t just a home, it’s a testing ground for every stain-resistant promise ever made. And flooring is no exception – especially carpet. So, if you’re shopping for a carpet that can survive your toddler’s spaghetti-slinging phase and your teenager’s mysterious black sock lint trail, we’re here to help.
Don’t forget, carpet is just the beginning. Your children don’t limit their chaos to the lounge.If you're seeking unbreakable laminate or hose-clean decking, your local Flooring Superstore can assist, where you'll find Dream Decking and Direct Wood Flooring.
A guide to carpet types
Ah, Nylon. Tough as an East End bouncer and ideal for toddlers in their Jackson Pollock phase. It’ll take a beating and stand firm, without losing composure. Your little darling can spill a litre of Ribena, grind in a half-eaten biscuit, and also drop a “surprise” from the dog, without halving the value of your house. God bless, nylon carpets.
Fine carpets made from silk and bamboo on the other hand, remain perfect for parents in denial. Like Judas in shag pile form, these substances will betray you the moment oil touches it. Looks innocent, even dignified, with a soft and comfy exterior, but when your children eat spaghetti using a grenade, suddenly your epic carpet has a permanent rash. Forever.
But then, if you seriously believe that installing some artisan, hand-woven Peruvian wool or exotic silk when dealing with children is a good idea, then go lie down. Speaking of unrealistic, then there’s wool.
Looped, smug, and good at hiding dirt. A bit like your Aunt Maureen. Looks tidy even when it’s concealing the remains of snack time and something that might’ve once been cheese. But be warned, one loose loop, and your kid will unravel it like your last nerve. Not great if you own pets or children with a curiosity streak and fingernails.
Reality means Polypropylene, my sweet, sleep-deprived friend. That’s right. Sounds like a type of clingfilm or a rejected Transformer. But if you’ve got children, polypropylene is your mate. Your ride-or-die. The one who's still standing next to you after your toddler projectile-vomits a fluorescent orange slushie at 6am on a Tuesday.
What even is polypropylene?
Polypropylene isn’t just any material. It’s strong. Tough. Practically waterproof. And unlike your last three area rugs, it doesn’t hold grudges. When it comes to stain resistance, polypropylene carpet is better than you on your best day.
Polypropylene doesn’t absorb liquid. You hear that? It doesn’t absorb. That means when your children spill milk and cereal or orange juice, it doesn’t soak in. It just sits there, waiting to be cleaned up.It’s like having carpet crafted from apathy. Nothing fazes it.
Crayon? Meh. Yoghurt? Whatever. A banana mashed with raw egg mix? Polypropylene sighs, lets you mop things up, and then move on with your life.
The benefits of polypropylene
When raising children, durable polypropylene will prove to be the only thing in life that’s not a financial burden. In a world where seeing one child into adulthood costs roughly the same as a small yacht, this is a blessing – and is far more reliable than the babysitter.
Ok, so it won’t boast the bragging rights of having been woven by angels in the Scottish Highlands, but you know what it does look like? Cleanliness. And that’s heavenly. Even when you collapse on it after stepping on Lego, or that dreaded upturned plug. Those soft fibres will cushion your sobbing.
It’s also worth pointing out that polypropylene is anti-static. In essence, that means when your feral little darling skids across the carpet full of kinetic energy and rage, they’re unlikely to shock your pets into another dimension. Think of it as the Jason Statham of carpets. It’s going to look good despite the chaos, and won’t complain when someone throws up onto it.
Snug carpets – with you for the duration
Look, life raising children can get messy. It’s loud. It’s ultimately rewarding, sure, but it’s also unpredictable. One day you’re watching “Paw Patrol” and eating toast together, the next you are on your knees scrubbing out what you can only hope is strawberry jam.
You need a carpet that can handle the chaos, rather than judging you for it. That’s where Snug steps in. It’s the working-class hero that doesn’t follow the trends. It sets them, while catching your kid’s breakfast and your existential despair with the same stoic silence.
It’s not glamorous to mop up the mess, but then again, this won’t last forever. Before you know it, they become teenagers – having gone through all the most destructive stages of adolescence. And you what? The carpet will still remain, utterly unperturbed. Only now, it’s playing host to parties and boyfriends and girlfriends when you are out of the house.
The carpet won’t tell. It’s there as the foundation for your family, secrets and all.
