Which Flooring Option Is Better: Luxury Vinyl or Carpet?

November 18, 2024

Christmas is almost here! Did you ask Santa Claus for new flooring in your home? If you are thinking about shopping for new floors to ring in the New Year, there are many important factors to consider. When shopping for the easiest flooring options to install, you will be amazed at how popular both Carpet and Luxury Vinyl Flooring have become!

Why are carpet and luxury vinyl so high on the list of many homeowners and builders, and how should you go about choosing one attractive material over the other? We think that these considerations will help you find a great decision either way you choose:

A Comparison of Carpet and Luxury Vinyl

Both carpet and luxury vinyl give you incredible design capability with a wide range of colors, patterns, styles and finishes to consider. If you prize versatility and want an easy, efficient, and relatively mess-free install, you will love these two choices. Neither carpet nor luxury vinyl have complicated installation processes that involve messy rooms, dust in the air, smelly glues or adhesives, or long periods of displacement. You will not have to wait for days for adhesive to dry or cure; your rooms can receive light foot traffic the same day that you new installation is complete.

You can easily use luxury vinyl and carpet to complete rooms throughout the home, from common rooms and transitional spaces to bedrooms and offices. Luxury vinyl will be exceptionally well suited for rooms that can experience moisture such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements. This leads us to other ways that luxury vinyl and carpet are different…

When to Install Carpet & When to Install Luxury Vinyl

If it’s coziness you crave, it’s hard to look any further than carpet! No other flooring materials can compete with the way a nice plush carpet feels under your feet, and the warmth it brings to your home. Carpets make spaces feel warm and cozy; they are even nice for lounging while watching family movies or having an epic video game battle. Carpets are fairly easy to maintain as well. They only need to be vacuumed (at least) weekly, have any stains treated promptly, and be professionally cleaned according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

However, carpet can show wear from foot (and paw) traffic, and cannot be used in kitchens or bathrooms, due to aforementioned moisture concerns. Also, once you commit to a particular carpet, it’s tougher to drastically refresh your decor or color scheme. Any future changes you make will have to agree with your carpet color, which is something to keep in mind if you like to follow decorating or color trends.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring is available in an expanding variety of different options, including those that mimic hardwood flooring, natural stone, and ceramic tile. Since it is made from inorganic materials and will not swell or become damaged from moisture, luxury vinyl is suitable to use anywhere from the family room to the mudroom, including kitchens and baths. If you are looking to streamline your decor by using just one type of flooring throughout, luxury vinyl is an exceptional choice.

Area Rugs Add Softness to Luxury Vinyl Floors

Although luxury vinyl may not add the level of coziness that carpet does, this resilient material is warmer underfoot than many other hard surface options. For added warmth and softness inside a larger area, you can use area rugs to add softness over luxury vinyl floors! Find the position of the rug that suits you such as framing a conversation area in a family room or living room. You can also use area rugs to protect your hallways and entranceways from foot traffic, as well as go under your dining room table or coffee table, without having to commit long-term to wall-to-wall carpeting.

Ultimately, your choice between carpet and luxury vinyl flooring will come to personal preference and a combination of household factors! Here are some great questions to ask in order to assess your lifestyle: Is your household always busy, or is it relatively quiet throughout the day? Do you prefer cleaning your floors by vacuuming to mopping? How often do you like to refresh your rooms or your floors?

Once you have answered these questions, bring any other ideas or concerns you may have to our helpful Family Flooring staff. We can help you explore all of our options and make an outstanding selection that matches your household, lifestyle, budget and project timeline. We can help you kick off the New Year with exciting new floors!