Floor coverings in children's rooms should be chosen especially carefully. In this room, the child spends most of the day, which means that all objects and materials in it must be safe.
Completely meets this criterion soft flooring. Products of this type appeared on the Russian market not so long ago, but have already managed to prove themselves from the best side. Consider all the options available to us soft coatings.
Types of soft floor coverings
There are quite a lot of materials for creating soft flooring on the market, which complicates the choice of the buyer. If you appreciate the hygiene of the finish, you should pay attention to the soft types of linoleum or laminate. For those who put softness in the first place, carpet will be the best choice. And if you want to combine both properties, consider cork floors and soft tiles.
When choosing any soft flooring, do not forget about a number ofcriteria that the decoration for the children's room must meet. Namely:
- security;
- abrasion resistance;
- no harmful substances;
- practicality;
- moisture resistant.
You should also pay attention to the texture of the surface. It is better if the flooring is smooth, but not slippery. The presence of a large number of seams and corners can lead to frequent falls.
Carpet and its properties
Carpet has been used in residential buildings for several decades, so its characteristics are known to everyone. First of all, floorings made of such materials are valued for their softness. Today, the market offers a huge variety of carpet with different thicknesses, which allows you to choose the most suitable option.
Medium pile should be chosen as a soft floor covering for a child's room, as a small child can get tangled in a thick carpet.
Another advantage of this material is the rich color range. It will not be difficult for parents to choose a carpet for any room design. However, keep in mind that as your child grows, it may be necessary to replace the child's printed covers.
If we talk about the shortcomings, then there are two of them:
- complexity of cleaning;
- presence of synthetic fibers.
Carpeting is not recommended for use in the rooms of those children who are prone to allergies. Ensure perfect cleanlinesssuch coatings are impossible, dust quickly settles and accumulates in the pile.
Rubber covers
Rubber soft flooring for the home is presented in the form of roll materials of various thicknesses. In appearance, the product resembles soft rubber. The products are presented on the market in different colors, and a variety of inclusions are used as a pattern.
There is also a bulk type of rubber coating. The liquid material is poured over the floor and forms a monolithic surface. The result is a seamless, soft and smooth surface.
The main advantages of the material include:
- elasticity and durability of the flooring;
- easy care;
- moisture resistant;
- no toxic substances in the composition;
- resistance to mechanical damage;
- mountable on any base.
The springy effect of the rubber floor reliably protects the child from injury. The impact when the baby falls is softened to the maximum extent, which prevents bruising.
Cork flooring
Special attention deserves a soft cork flooring. Its main advantage is absolute environmental friendliness. Using such flooring, you can be sure that it will definitely not have a negative impact on the he alth of all family members.
Among the advantages are the following positive propertiessimilar content:
- naturalness;
- easy care (the floor can be washed and cleaned of plasticine and paints);
- low thermal conductivity for comfortable playing on the floor;
- The porous structure of the material helps to reduce the load on the spine while walking;
- coating is smooth but non-slip.
Cork flooring is able to absorb sounds, which allows it to be used as sound insulation. The cover is soft and durable. However, it also has some disadvantages:
- cork materials are not cheap;
- they are afraid of prolonged exposure to moisture;
- dislike contact with sharp objects.
Soft cork flooring can be easily pierced or cut through. But if you choose modular types of flooring, a failed element can be quickly and easily replaced.
EVA soft puzzles
Most recently, a new type of soft coatings appeared on the domestic market - puzzles (EVA). They are a kind of carpet of different sizes, which is assembled from numerous squares. Such elements are made of ethylene vinyl acetate, which is very similar in characteristics to rubber coatings.
Soft flooring (EVA) is very flexible and lightweight. It can be placed on any base. Diverse design and rich colors allow you to transform and fill any room with brightness. The cost of puzzles fluctuates byminimum level, which makes them available to anyone.
The main advantages of coatings include:
- ease of care;
- possibility of assembly at any time needed;
- low thermal conductivity;
- high wear resistance;
- easy installation;
- resistance to frequent wet cleaning.
Soft puzzles can be moved to another room at any time, without the need for complex repairs.
Vinyl & Carpet Soft Tiles
When you need to provide a high level of noise and heat insulation in the room, you should pay attention to the modular soft flooring in the form of tiles. Their bottom layer is made of polymeric materials and can be supplemented with reinforcing elements.
The front part of the tile is made of polypropylene or vinyl coating. There are nylon pile options that form a solid carpet.
All elements of the coating have the same parameters, which allows them to be quickly and easily laid on the base. Installation of tiles can be carried out on an adhesive composition or in a floating way. There are products with adhesive back.
Installation of soft floor
All types of soft flooring are extremely easy to install. The most difficult installation of rubber self-leveling floors. Their arrangement requires the participation of specialists and the availability of appropriate equipment.
Products in a roll can be laid independently. In this case, care should be takensecurely fixing the edges so that they do not cause frequent falls of the baby.
Cork, polypropylene and nylon flooring elements are joined using special grooves. Some coatings require the use of adhesive to mount.
Soft puzzles (EVA) are the easiest to fit. For this, special locks are located along their perimeter, with the help of which the elements are securely fixed to each other. The flooring is not attached to the base, which allows you to move it to different parts of the room.
Soft puzzles can completely cover the floor or decorate a small corner for games. However, it is not at all necessary to use them only for arranging horizontal surfaces. Bright elements look great on the walls, where they also act as a sound and heat insulator.
Soft floor reviews
Traditional carpet has recently been abandoned, as most parents consider it a real dust collector. The cleaning of carpet surfaces is also complicated: it is quite difficult to clean the carpet from watercolors, plasticine and food stains on your own, so from time to time you have to contact cleaning companies.
Rubber underlayment outperforms carpet in terms of hygiene, but the artificial origin of the material worries some parents.
Cork wood surfaces have earned only positive reviews. Their owners note softness, warmth andnaturalness of the product. However, not everyone can afford such a floor.
Vinyl and nylon tiles are also well received. The only drawbacks are that the flooring elements should be laid on a flat base, and this leads to additional expenses.
A huge amount of positive feedback can be heard about soft puzzles (EVA). Parents prefer them for a number of reasons:
- democratic cost;
- availability;
- beautiful appearance;
- easy installation;
- presence of developing elements.
The only drawback is dust, which quickly gets into the seams between the elements. However, this disadvantage is eliminated by frequent wet cleaning.
Conclusion
Soft flooring for the room is designed to minimize the risk of injury to the child. The listed varieties do an excellent job with the task, so the choice should be made only on the basis of your preferences and financial capabilities.
