flooring
. Vinyl flooring. If you’re renovating your home, and you don’t want to see your new hardwood flooring get destroyed by furniture being dragged across it, you may want to consider a good-quality vinyl floor. Vinyl floors are virtually impossible to destroy and look incredibly realistic these days. They’re almost guaranteed to last through the better part of your child’s stay at your house without your having to replace them.
. Carpet tiles. We all know that children and carpet don’t go well together. But if you really want carpet, you should consider using carpet tiles instead of broadloom. If something spills on a carpet tile, it’s easy to lift up the 18-by-18-inch square and bring it to the dry cleaner for a proper cleaning. If the stain doesn’t come out, then you need to replace only that one little square.
You’ll also want to opt for a hard finish, like an oil-based polyurethane. The finish will act as a sacrificial wear layer. The benefit of plywood as a floor material is that as sheets wear out, they can be replaced. The number of seams on a floor will depend on how large the sheets are. Fewer seams are obviously better on a floor, but they will still become part of the overall look of the space and are something to think about from a design perspective.
5. Area rugs. Generally speaking, I would recommend not using carpet under the dining table if you have children. But if you really want a rug under your table, then use carpet tiles to create an area rug.
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