IS THE FLOORING RIGHT?

FLOORING FOR A CHILD’S ROOM

I have given us clues on how best to arrange, design and make choices as regards to that little ones rooms so this time we talk about the floors which is an essential part of the whole process.

The type of flooring that you choose for a child’s bedroom is going to have an effect on the entire environment. This means that you have to focus on a variety of characteristics when weighing your options. The quality of the floor, as well as its look, feel, and texture will all affect how the child is able to interact with the room. You also have to be concerned about the possibility of certain floors causing an odor, or harming the air quality of the space with various emissions.

There are several options but whichever you choose make sure safety is the first thing you think of. You can either choose a carpet, rubber, rug bamboo, vinyl, cork. Floors take a lot of abuse, especially when under the domain of your average toddling disaster zone. Of course, you want your little rug roller to be safe and comfortable while playing on the floor, but as any mother of the typical 1 to 2-year-old like myself will tell you, their feet takes its toll - and if your flooring isn’t strong enough to stand up to rowdy selves and leaky Sippy Cups, that toll could end up costing you a small fortune.

Before purchasing new flooring for your nursery or kid’s room, take a minute to consider your needs and weigh all your options. Dreaming on a budget? Get the look you love for a fraction of the cost with laminate or linoleum. Concerned about the environment? Bamboo or cork may be the best choice for you. Not sure yet? Don’t worry! Learn the benefits and drawbacks of the most popular nursery flooring options right here.

RUG

Soft, comfortable and forgiving, rugs can protect your wobbly baby from bumps and bruises, making it seem like the obvious choice for your new nursery. But before you buy, beware. Wall-to-wall rugging is difficult to clean and can quickly become a haven for dust mites, mold and mildew - less than ideal for those suffering from allergies or asthma. What’s more, new rugs, especially those made of synthetic fibers like nylon or polyester, often contain volatile organic compounds and other toxic chemicals that could make your little one sick.

If you can’t imagine your nursery without cushy, comfy rugging, you're not alone. Many people prefer rugs, and there’s nothing wrong with that. To ensure a healthy start for your little one, look for rugs made from natural, volatile organic compounds -free materials such a wool, cotton, sisal or jute, which will prevent your child from exposure to most if not all of the chemicals found in cheaper, synthetic carpeting. If natural-fibre rugs are a little out of your reach, opt for others which costs less than natural fiber alternatives. Whatever you choose, be sure to install your carpet well ahead of baby’s arrival, giving it plenty of time to air out.

With children’s design products, everything, including rugs for kids, are designed as an opportunity for a game or activity. Temporarily convert the floor-space in the playroom into a game arena. You can take the idea of an activity rug one step further with educational rugs. Playfully and seamlessly they introduce learning into your kids bedroom or playroom through puzzles, maps, and vocabulary. A kids rug can also just be a great way to introduce fun and whimsical colors and patterns into a bedroom or nursery. It is always a wise idea to invest in sensible and classic furniture pieces that you plan on having in the kids room for many years to come. Use rugs as an opportunity to really express your children’s ages and interests — whether it’s through a neon floral rug or bold superhero print rug. For nurseries, bold colors and shapes can provide comfort for the baby. Picking out a bedroom or playroom rug pattern is an activity that kids can get excited about and involved with in the process of decorating their rooms.

WOOD

Long lasting and easy to keep clean, hardwood floors have a classic look that never goes out of style. Although fairly durable, all wood floors are subject to wear and tear, especially under the abuse of rambunctious kiddos, and some may scratch or dent easily depending on the finish - something to think about given their expense. Depending on the type of wood and selected finish, cost per sqm of flooring can be expensive. You should also plan on purchasing a large area rug to protect your investment and provide a more comfortable playing surface to soften your baby’s falls.

You can find them in most of the condos in certain part of ikoyi and Lekki.

BAMBOO

Popular with the eco-friendly crowd, Bamboo provides a strong, durable and considerably less-expensive alternative to hardwood. In fact, bamboo may be one of the cheapest green flooring options available.

Bamboo is the ideal renewable resource, taking only 5-7 years to reach maturity. Naturally pest resistant, it requires no dangerous pesticides, ensuring a completely organic product. It is also remarkably versatile. Bamboo fibers can be spun into the softest of cloth, yet as a flooring material, it is harder, more scratch resistant and less prone to warping than hardwood - In other words, it can take anything your toddler can dish out. What’s more, bamboo flooring can range dramatically in look and color depending on how the material is processed, making it a good fit for any room.

CORK

Naturally anti-allergenic and antimicrobial, cork is another excellent choice for kids’ rooms. Warmer and softer than wood flooring, cork provides a comfortable, safe play surface for your little one, cushioning their falls and eventually their footsteps - a feature you’ll appreciate more and more as your little one grows.

Like bamboo, cork is a great choice for parents looking for eco-friendly flooring solutions. Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree. The bark, which is harvested without harming the tree, takes only 3 to 4 years to grow back, making the practice highly sustainable.

If you’ve never seen a cork floor before, you may be wondering how this soft, spongy material could ever take on a toddler, but cork is a great deal more durable than you’d think. While cork is more susceptible to scuffing than harder materials like bamboo, it is actually quite resilient, lasting as long as 15 years. Many house builders use them in Nigeria recently especially in Lekki and Ikoyi areas.

LAMINATED FLOORS

Laminates offer an inexpensive, easy-to-install alternative to hardwood flooring or tile. Fairly durable, scratch-resistant and easy to clean, laminates are not a bad choice for a nursery or playroom, provided parents opt for newly available low or zero-emission laminate products.

Made from pressed fiber or wood particles and typically treated with formaldehyde and other chemical toxins, most laminate products produce dangerous fumes and should be avoided. If you can’t find low or zero emission laminate products, you might consider natural linoleum flooring instead. Organic, sustainable and biodegradable, the components of natural linoleum are both eco-friendly and volatile organic compounds free.

If you find it difficult to decide which to use, just call Meggie and Angels to help you make the right decision for that little ones room.

But first, make sure you follow this blog, visit our website - www.meggieandangels.com, like our facebook page - www.facebook.com/MeggieandAngels, or call 08082834865 because one lucky fan will soon win a room makeover for his/her child.