Are Luxury Vinyl Planks Or Carpet Better For A Bedroom?

Each room in your house presents unique challenges when it comes to choosing a floor covering. For the kitchen and bathroom, it’s all about withstanding moisture and stains. In your living room, family room, and hallways, the biggest concern is a floor covering that stands up to heavy traffic. The bedroom, however, has a different set of desired features and options. Two of the top contenders are carpet and wood-look luxury vinyl planks. If you’re in the process of making this difficult decision, consider this list of pros and cons for both options.

Budget

Carpet is typically less expensive than luxury vinyl planks. The average cost for carpeting is $3-5 per square foot, including installation. Also, since there is less traffic in the bedroom as compared to other rooms in your home, you have the option to select an economical type of carpeting. 

On the other hand, cheap carpeting has a less-than-pleasant feel underfoot. Even expensive carpeting has a much shorter lifespan than luxury vinyl tile, so you will need to replace it much more often. The average lifespan of a carpet is five to seven years, while LVT’s longevity ranges from 15 to 25 years, or even longer. Some of MSI’s luxury vinyl planks include a limited lifetime residential warranty.

Burnished Acacia Luxury Vinyl Planks

Care and Maintenance

Carpet, of course, requires frequent vacuuming. Also, residential carpet should be deep cleaned – either by a professional service or a home carpet cleaner – every 12 to 18 months. However, since they are absorbent materials, they are highly prone to staining and hold onto odors and allergens. 

In contrast, vinyl flooring care and maintenance is quick and easy. No vacuum is needed – just sweep with a broom or dust mop. They are 100% waterproof so they will not absorb spills or pet accidents. Also, they never need sealing to stay clean and beautiful.

Another consideration is what you can do if the flooring is damaged. Torn, burnt, or permanently stained carpet needs to replaced or professionally repaired. With vinyl plank flooring, you just replace the damaged piece.

Installation Requirements

Installing carpeting is a job best left to the professionals, because it requires specialty equipment – tack strips, carpet stretchers, carpet staplers, carpet seamers, and more. These can be rented at many hardware stores, but it’s still hard work to install a carpet. Depending on where you purchase the carpet, professional installation may be included with the retail price per square foot. 

If you’re a DIY person, you’ll love how easy it is to install luxury vinyl planks. Very little prep of existing floors is needed. Depending on the type of LVT you install, it either locks in place or attaches with an easy-to-use adhesive. 

Ashton Colston Park Luxury Vinyl Planks

Appearance

Preference for carpet vs. luxury vinyl tile is a matter of personal taste. However, many homeowners would choose hardwood flooring over carpet if the wood floor wasn’t so much trouble to maintain and protect – and today’s luxury vinyl planks have an authentic wood look to suit everyone’s taste. It’s available in many different shades, light to dark, and even unusual types of wood such as reclaimed lumber. 

The most popular color choice for bedroom carpeting is beige, since it’s easy to match with any color of décor. But, lighter-colored wood flooring has more character and naturally complements every color and every style, from traditional to contemporary.

Warmth and Comfort

Homeowners who choose carpet over other types of flooring often cite comfort as their number one priority. There’s the soft feeling of carpet on bare feet. If you have young children, you might prefer the cushiony warmth of carpet on their bedroom floor, which often serves as a play area. And, of course, there’s the sound-dampening quality of carpeting, keeping bedrooms quieter. 

When you choose LVT flooring, you can still enjoy all these things. Today’s LVT flooring has a cushioned feel; it’s not yesterday’s old-fashioned laminate or linoleum tile. Most luxury vinyl planks install over a padded underlayment, which absorbs sounds much like carpeting. Also, with LVT, you can install underfloor heating – an extremely efficient and comfortable way to warm up a room. 

If you truly want a soft surface under your bare feet, use rugs. Unlike wall-to-wall carpeting, they can easily be removed, washed, and replaced.

Lime Washed Oak Luxury Vinyl Planks

Indoor Air Quality

If you or a family member suffers from allergies, carpet in the bedroom can be your worst enemy. No matter how frequently carpet is vacuumed or professionally cleaned, it will always harbor dust mites and other irritants. 

Since luxury vinyl planks are 100% waterproof, they resist mold, mildew, and bacteria. Just sweep or damp-mop your flooring to remove dust, dirt, pet dander, and other allergens.

Return on Investment 

Luxury vinyl planks cost more, on average, than carpeting. So why are they a better investment? For one thing, they last a long time – 15 to 25 years, or even more, compared to carpet’s lifespan of five to seven years. But that’s not the only reason to choose LVT over carpeting!

Prospective home buyers appreciate certain home updates and improvements more than others. For example, granite kitchen countertops are well-known for increasing a home’s resale value. Many homeowners love the look of hardwood flooring, especially when it’s worry- and maintenance-free. Beautiful, wood-look luxury vinyl planks can help your home sell for a higher price – and help sell it more quickly, too.

Carpeting continues to be a popular choice in bedrooms, as well as other rooms. There’s no question that it has several benefits, and it’s a personal decision homeowners need to make. However, if you’re looking for an easy-care, durable, gorgeous flooring option that’s also comfortable underfoot, there are many luxury vinyl tile benefits for you to consider.

Check out today’s LVT options while you’re shopping for your new floor, and contact us for more expert designer tips! We're available through our online chat feature, you can visit an MSI showroom near you, or contact an authorized MSI dealer.

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