Before talking about what to choose for an apartment, linoleum or carpet, you need to understand the manufacturing technology of these two types of floor coverings, their structure, quality and technical characteristics.
Linoleum is a dense and moisture-resistant material made from polymers, often imitating the pattern and texture of natural coatings. It is an elastic, wear-resistant roll coating. It is characterized by its low cost, which makes it popular among the population. This is the most optimal option for finishing floors for people who are not ready for large financial expenses.
Carpet is an imitation of woolen carpets, made from natural and artificial raw materials. The type of material is determined by the length and stiffness of the pile as household and commercial.
For home use, it is recommended to use a coating with soft, medium-length pile.
Pros and cons of carpet
The undoubted advantages of carpet include its comfort - it can add coziness to any living space. In addition, carpet has the following properties:
- absorbs sounds well;
- has high thermal insulation rates;
- does not require a completely flat floor;
- much more pleasant to walk barefoot.
Speaking about the disadvantages of carpet, we can highlight the following:
- after wet cleaning, the carpet needs several hours to dry;
- quickly loses its presentable new appearance;
- the cost of carpet is significantly higher than linoleum;
- not subject to restoration work;
- is afraid of moisture - if it gets in, it can even delaminate.
The ideal flooring option for a bedroom is carpet
Popular materials
Carpet and linoleum are not inferior to each other in popularity, as they have main advantages over other representatives of floor coverings, such as:
- Wide range of colors and designs.
We can safely say that for every dozen carpet colors there are a dozen different linoleum models
- Relatively affordable price.
- Ease of installation, further operation and maintenance. Anyone can easily arrange both coverings with their own hands.
These three aspects allow modern materials to gain demand, which is growing almost every day. Floor coverings are used not only for finishing residential premises, but also for budget options for furnishing administrative and office buildings.
Note! You will find articles on the topic of how to lay flooring on our website.
Pros and cons of linoleum
When considering linoleum as a flooring option, you need to take into account its certain advantages:
- easy to clean and wash;
- after cleaning, even wet, you can walk on the floor within half an hour;
- linoleum wins in terms of total maintenance cost - it costs much less;
- it is favorably distinguished by its greater resistance to mechanical damage that is inevitable on the floor: marks from heels, furniture legs, sand, which often gets into the room with shoes;
- lends itself perfectly to restoration and repair (the top layer is removed using a sanding machine, and then a special compound is applied - this procedure can give the linoleum a new look);
- resistance to moisture, regardless of the type and quality of the coating.
The disadvantages of linoleum are the following:
- before laying it requires leveling the floor surface, otherwise after a few days all the bumps and depressions will become clearly noticeable, and soon the linoleum itself in these places will look shabby and worn out;
- low thermal insulation and sound absorption.
Linoleum is more appropriate in rooms that require frequent wet cleaning
Natural
As experts note, it is better to use natural linoleum for your home. It is absolutely harmless and environmentally friendly. At the same time, it is resistant to wear and deformation. This linoleum consists of the following components:
- cork flour;
- resins;
- linseed oil;
- jute fabric;
- natural dyes.
Additionally, it can be coated with polymer, but there are models on sale without the latter. Thanks to linseed oil, the coating has bactericidal properties that are not lost over time. Also, natural linoleum is fire resistant and does not spread flames in the event of a fire. Can be cleaned with either a dry or damp cloth.
How to make the right choice
You can decide which is better: carpet or linoleum in an apartment without any problems if you know about the functional purpose of a particular room. For example, if we are talking about rooms where frequent wet cleaning is expected, where the floor covering is often at risk of being damaged and will require repair, then the choice is obvious - only linoleum.
Comment! The most actively used place in the apartment is the kitchen and dining room - it is necessary to choose more durable material there.
Carpet will give more comfort to the bedroom, children's room and living room. In the bedroom it will absorb unnecessary noise, in the nursery it will retain heat well, and it will be much more pleasant to simply walk or sit on it. Therefore, it doesn’t take long to choose whether linoleum or carpet is needed in the bedroom: carpet has a clear advantage here.
If we talk about choosing coverings for public places, then it is also worth understanding their functional orientation. Premises that will be visited by a large number of people at the same time, where wet cleaning will often need to be carried out for the purpose of disinfection, are definitely better to cover with linoleum.
Important! Rooms that require the creation of a cozy atmosphere where you plan to spend a lot of time will benefit from being lined with carpet.
Synthetic
The main feature of synthetic linoleum is that it has high moisture resistance and sound insulation. The coating is easy to care for. But this material also has its disadvantages.
Thus, in their reviews, experts say that synthetic linoleum cannot be used in residential premises, since it contains toxic resins - toluene and xylene. When released into the atmosphere, these components cause skin diseases, nervous system problems and eye irritation. And the most dangerous thing is that toxic components decompose already at room temperature. Cheap models even contain phenol formaldehyde, which can cause the formation of cancer cells.
Therefore, when deciding which is better - carpet or linoleum, the choice should definitely not be made in favor of synthetic models.
Advice from professionals
It is impossible to make the right choice based on any one criterion. When determining whether to lay linoleum or carpet, you need to remember that they both come in different thicknesses and differ in quality. The thicker and denser the carpet, the longer it can last. The same advice can be given when choosing linoleum.
Advice! When choosing a carpet, it is important to remember that, like any carpet, with prolonged mechanical exposure it can form bald spots, which will negatively affect its appearance as a whole.
Carpet in the bedroom makes the room warmer and more comfortable
When choosing carpet, for example, for an office space, you should give preference to specimens that are not too thick and fleecy.
So what is better – carpet or linoleum in an apartment or office?
Both coatings have similar functionality and a long service life. Therefore, the choice largely depends on personal preferences and the characteristics of the room. It is advisable to buy carpet to fill the room with warmth, linoleum - so as not to worry about cleanliness. On the other hand, you need to be prepared that carpet gets dirty faster, and linoleum does not look expensive and leaves a feeling of cold.
In any case, it is important to find a reliable supplier, buy a quality product and install it correctly. Then even a budget floor will not cause annoyance.
Specifications
Carpet and linoleum are two completely different materials. These are rather antipodes among floor coverings. To understand their advantages and disadvantages, you need to have minimal knowledge of their production and technical characteristics.
Carpet
Since time immemorial, man has strived to make his home warm and cozy. Various natural and artificial materials were used (woven mats, felted rugs, etc.). Among them, carpet products stood out, which were laid on the floor and hung on the walls. And all this time, the carpet was considered a luxury item, until in the 50s of the last century there was a technical revolution in the manufacture of carpets: a fundamentally new material appeared on the market - carpet.
Carpet is a soft rolled floor covering of unlimited length and a repeating pattern. Designed for installation indoors without seams, entirely. Made from natural and synthetic threads. However, it is a mistake to think that the use of artificial fiber means a cheap analogue of carpeting. Some types of woven carpeting made of nylon (polyamide) are quite expensive and differ little in quality from carpeting made from natural wool.
Depending on the length of the pile and the type of threads used, carpet is classified as a household or commercial type of floor covering. For example, in an office with high traffic, you need material with strong, twisted threads and long pile (in all hotels, on the contrary, the pile is as short as possible to make cleaning easier). For home use, a coating with soft, medium-length pile is more suitable.
Linoleum
Linoleum is a moisture-resistant polymer floor covering that imitates the texture and texture of natural materials. Available in the form of a flexible, fairly elastic material rolled into a roll.
Has a rich history. Back in the second half of the 19th century, the material was made from sawdust, linseed oil, natural coloring pigments and jute fabric, which served as a backing. Only very rich people could afford such a floor.
Today, PVC is mainly used for the production of linoleum, which makes the material one of the cheapest floor coverings. For those who, due to their financial capabilities, cannot afford more expensive flooring materials, linoleum will be the best alternative.
Tiles in the kitchen
This option is suitable for those who want to decorate the kitchen area without resorting to textiles. Tiles laid on the floor in the form of a carpet create an interesting accent and fit perfectly into a classic style that is not overloaded with details. If the ceramic floor is supplemented with heating, the comfort of being in the kitchen increases several times. This option is being considered at the renovation stage.
Reviews about which is better - carpet or linoleum
Olga Pavlovna, 51 years old, Samara.
I was choosing a cover for the living room. At first I thought about linoleum, because I was afraid that I couldn’t cope with frequent cleaning and it would turn out sloppy. But the saleswoman in the store convinced me to take the carpet, which I never regretted. I took it of medium thickness, noble gray color. In the end, I clean it with a regular vacuum cleaner. If necessary, I use a soap solution - my living room is always clean. In addition, it became much more comfortable with carpet.
Svetlana Vasilyeva, 32 years old, Perm.
Last summer we started renovating the apartment. When it came time to choose a covering for the dining room, I convinced my husband to choose linoleum. I soon received confirmation that my choice was correct: we have two small children, so after every meal we have to clean the floor. In addition, something often spills. There are no problems in this regard with linoleum: 5 minutes of wet cleaning - and everything is clean. I chose the color to match the wallpaper, so it looks very nice.
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DIY rugs
Handmade products are especially valuable today. Any thing made with soul acquires its own history, thereby filling the interior with comfort and warmth. Instead of a traditional carpet, you can lay a patchwork rug, hand-sewn from old things, on the floor. To create it you will need old clothes, cut into even squares or other geometric shapes, and a backing. Patchwork style products are especially appreciated in Scandinavian and country style.
The rug can also be woven or hand-sewn from knitted yarn made from old T-shirts. Another option for replacing a traditional carpet is a thick-knit wool blanket. To work, you only need thick yarn and a few hours of free time.
Step-by-step instructions for making a carpet rug
Any home craftsman can cut and lay a carpet element on the floor without turning to professionals. However, to perform the job flawlessly and achieve optimal results, beginners should spend a little time and study the following recommendations:
- First of all, it is necessary to determine exactly where the carpet is planned to be laid and take the dimensions of this area. Write down these numbers or remember them.
- Next, in the store, it is better to choose a carpet with a roll width close to the measurements taken.
- Purchase a carpet element with a small margin (the ideal option would be an additional area of the product, not exceeding 5% - 10% of the dimensions of the installation area).
- After purchase, the product must be marked on the back side according to the cutting shape. It is better to do this with a piece of chalk, which can be easily removed later and will not stain the floor.
Rice. 13. Processing the edge of soft flooring before cutting
- After marking, you can begin cutting. The choice of tool for this procedure will depend on the density of the coating material. If the carpet is thin enough, then a high-quality construction knife can take it. In the case of a denser product, you will need to purchase or rent a professional cutter.
It is better to trim along a guide - a plastic or metal strip - so that the cutting is straight. For such purposes, some craftsmen use an element of hard plastic or wooden plinth.
- After cutting, the master checks the edges so that they do not peel off from the base, and in some cases they should be finished. Some owners who buy synthetic coverings try to melt the ends of the pile on the edges, but this will cause the product to lose its aesthetic appearance.
In some cases, you can purchase a special adhesive composition and treat the edges with it. When dry, the edges of the product will form an edging that resembles soft plastic in structure.
Rice. 14. Trimming the carpet before installation
At the final stage of the work, the resulting homemade carpet is simply laid in the space prepared for it, and pieces of furniture are placed on top of it, if they were provided for in the interior design.
Jute mats
Connoisseurs of Scandinavian minimalism and eco-style will love the lightweight and inexpensive coating made of durable jute twine. Jute mats are lint-free rugs made from a tropical plant similar to reeds. The products are environmentally friendly, durable and easy to clean. It is pleasant to walk on such a surface barefoot: it massages and exfoliates the feet. Another option for natural covering is a bamboo mat.
