How to choose flooring for kids’ rooms and the latest block room reveals

• The age of your children is a consideration; however, it’s also good to think long-term, too. You want your new flooring to stand the test of time and be loved for years to come.
• Younger children tend to play on the floor, so comfort and durability might be key factors.
• Fibres such as solution dyed nylon (SDN) and polypropylene are easy to maintain and live with, while wool carpet is a great option for asthma sufferers.
• Laminate flooring and vinyl are considered easy to clean and laminate has a strong wear layer resistant to scratches, dents and water.
• Timber flooring is an investment in the future and with care, can last for a long time. The authentic colours and markings of real timber are truly wonderful!
• Rugs act as a fun layer in a kids’ room to inject pattern, colour or texture while protecting the flooring underneath.
• Budget can also impact decision-making. Within each category of flooring, there is a range of options across various budgets, and you can learn more about this on our Setting a Budget page.

The softness of carpet encourages children to play and rest on the floor, and it’s no surprise that four of the five Block houses utilised carpet in bedrooms. Board games, craft and everything else can happen within children’s spaces if the comfort is created for them. Carpet is excellent at doing this! Consider floor cushions or beanbags to elevate the comfort factor.

There are several types of carpets to choose from in terms of structure and fibre type. The structure refers to the pile type, and this can largely be broken down into loop pile, twist, plush and combinations of the styles. Loop carpets are tough (and very popular in modern interiors), while plush and twist are renowned for being soft underfoot. Loop piles are not always a great idea with pets, as their paws can catch on the individual loops and pull.

A bedroom wool carpet is a timeless choice that blends luxury with practicality. As a natural fibre, it feels wonderfully soft underfoot while offering excellent insulation to keep your home warm in winter. Wool is naturally flame-resistant, making it a safe and reliable option for family living (and kids’ spaces!). It’s also an environmentally responsible choice, as it is renewable, sustainably sourced, and fully biodegradable. Several of The Block rooms selected beautiful wool carpets for the children’s bedrooms.

Synthetic carpets, such as solution dyed nylon (SDN) and polypropylene, are designed for durability and everyday living- perfect for children-centric spaces. SDN carpets are known for their exceptional stain resistance, impressive fade protection, and long-lasting appearance. They’re also anti-static and feature yarn memory, helping fibres maintain their twist and shape over time.

Polypropylene, another popular synthetic fibre, is budget-friendly, soft, highly stain-resistant, and widely used in Australian homes thanks to its practicality and comfort. There are several other styles too, that you can read about in our Carpet Guide.

Carpet adds a sense of warmth, softness, and comfort to any space, creating a welcoming place to relax and unwind. With the right care, your carpet will stay looking and feeling its best for years to come. Just like hard flooring, regular upkeep and preventative measures are the key to protecting your investment and extending its life. In kids’ bedrooms, this might mean more frequent care as they can be… well, a little messy!

Cleaning Wool Carpet & Care Guide

Looking after wool carpet is simple, and comes down to three essentials:

• Vacuum regularly and thoroughly
• Clean up spills as soon as they happen
• Arrange periodic professional deep cleaning

The synthetic carpet care guide is similar to the above, and most importantly, maintenance is key. A big part of keeping your carpet looking like new, including in kids’ bedrooms, is to encourage no shoes to be worn inside. This minimises the risk of dirt and grit being trampled inside (yep, even gumboots kids!).

While hard flooring isn’t as soft as carpet for children’s bedrooms, it can still be a very good option, and comfort can be brought into the space with the layering of a rug. What hard flooring does offer in these spaces:

• An easy-to-clean surface
• The possibility of continuing the same material from other adjoining spaces through
• Adding the visual warmth and interest of timber grains

-Timber flooring

We loved how Han and Can incorporated timber herringbone flooring through the kids’ room, creating a unique space that will grow as the child does. Engineered timber floors celebrate the authenticity of real timber. In a kids’ space, the layering of a rug on timber flooring will add protection as well as a cosy spot to sit and read or play.

-Laminate flooring in the bedroom and vinyl and hybrid flooring options

Timber-look hard flooring options offer the look of timber with the added benefits they offer. If durability is important to you, chat with your local Flooring Xtra store about your unique needs so they can recommend suitable products.

Rugs for kids’ bedrooms are a popular choice- for good reason. They are often brightly coloured or patterned, adding a fun element to spaces that deserve it. They encourage kids to play and sit on the floor, and with the cheerful designs on offer, you can see why. They also add protection to the floors underneath, which is a positive attribute for some families!

Choosing your rug for this space is personal, with options spanning materials, colours and styles. Synthetic fibres are easy to care for, and there are even washable rug options! We have rounded up some of our favourite kids’ room rugs so you can take the guesswork out of your selection.

When it comes to flooring for kids’ rooms, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, it really depends on your family’s lifestyle, budget, and style preferences. Carpet offers softness, warmth, and comfort, making it a popular choice for play and rest, while hard flooring delivers durability, easy cleaning, and the option to add character with rugs. Both wool and synthetic carpets bring their own benefits, and timber, laminate, vinyl, or hybrid floors can all be enhanced with layered textures. Whether you prefer cosy carpet or practical hard flooring, the key is choosing a solution that will grow with your child and continue to look and perform beautifully over time.

What is a hybrid flooring?

Hybrid flooring combines the attributes of vinyl and laminate flooring. It features the rigidity of laminate flooring (meaning it can be installed in a floating system) and the wear layer performance characteristics of vinyl planks (very resilient!). It’s a great option for busy family homes.

Is laminate flooring professionally installed?

Flooring is best installed by professionals who are highly skilled and experienced. They have all the necessary equipment and are there to troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

Are timber floors high maintenance?

Timber floors sit higher on the maintenance scale in the hard flooring world. But while laminate flooring, vinyl and hybrid flooring might require less maintenance, all flooring requires some level of care to keep it looking like new for longer. The look and feel of real timber is also aspirational, authentic and full of genuine character which can last for years if cared for. It also has the ability to be repaired in many cases, that is why we see beautiful old homes with original (restored, often) flooring.