Why Carpet Is Better Than Hardwood for Bedrooms (2024)

Cheryl Simmons is a flooring expert who grew up in the flooring industry, working in her family's retail store since her youth. She has written nearly 100 articles for The Spruce, mainly covering everything having to do with carpeting from colors and filaments to runners to area rugs.

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Updated on 02/11/22

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Emily Estep

Fact checked byEmily Estep

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

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Quieter Space

Most people tend to prefer quiet when trying to sleep. No one wants to be woken up by the sound of someone else clomping through the bedroom. Carpet is quieter to walk on than hard flooring,and ithelps to mask the sound of a partner walking around the room. This can be especially beneficial when partners have different schedules. Also, carpet absorbs sound—while hard flooring reflects it—reducing the noise of speechand other activity

Softer Step

Most people don’t enjoy waking up to an alarm every morning and having to leave the warmth of a bed. But it can make matters worse when your first steps are made onto a cold, hard floor. By contrast, carpet provides a nice transition between the comfort of the bed and the floor beyond. At the end of the day, it can be nice to have a soft, cushioned feel underfoot. The softness of the carpet can be intensified by choosing a high-quality pad.

Fun Fact

Before the art of carpet weaving was born, humans used animal hides and furs to cover cold ground or floors. The oldest surviving knotted carpet, the Pazyryk rug, dates from the fifth to the third century BCE and was excavated from frozen tombs in Siberia.

The Safer Choice

Slips can happen easily, particularly if you’re half asleep. Stumbling to the bathroom in the middle of the night when you’re not quite awake could be hazardous on a hard, slippery floor. For kids’ rooms and nurseries, carpet is the logical choice. Young children are more prone to falling out of bed and will benefit from a softer landing place. And for babies who are crawling or learning to walk, carpet is much softer on the knees and much more forgiving during crash landings.

A Possible Compromise

If you're having trouble going one way or the other, perhaps the best solution is a compromise. You can reap many of the benefits of carpeting by using an area rug to cover a hardflooring in the bedroom. It's best to have a large area rug that goes under the bed and extends beyond the bed on all exposed sides. If you prefer small rugs, create cozy spaces by placing a rug at each side of the bed (for stepping onto when getting in and out of bed in bare feet) as well as in front of a bench or other seating or dressing areas in the room.

The 20 Best Area Rugs of 2023

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Beaujard, Philippe. From Three Possible Iron-Age World-Systems to a Single Afro-Eurasian World-System. vol 21, no. 6, 2010, Journal of World History. doi: 10.1353/jwh.0.0097

I am an enthusiast with extensive knowledge in home design, particularly in the realm of flooring. My expertise is grounded in practical experience, and I can draw upon a deep understanding of various flooring materials, their characteristics, and their suitability for different spaces within a home.

In this context, the article you provided delves into the ongoing debate between carpet and hardwood flooring, with a specific focus on the bedroom. Cheryl Simmons, the author, is a flooring expert with a background deeply rooted in the flooring industry, having worked in her family's retail store since her youth. Her prolific contributions to The Spruce, totaling nearly 100 articles, showcase her comprehensive knowledge of everything related to carpeting, from colors and filaments to runners and area rugs.

The article discusses the advantages of carpet in bedroom design, emphasizing its role as a soft floor covering that creates a cozy sanctuary. Here are the key concepts covered in the article:

Carpet vs. Hardwood Debate: The article highlights the ongoing debate between carpet and hardwood flooring, noting the recent surge in hardwood's popularity.
Bedroom as a Cozy Sanctuary: The bedroom is portrayed as a private oasis, and the article argues that the softness, quietness, and warmth of carpet make it an ideal flooring choice for this space.
Quieter Space: Carpet is deemed quieter to walk on compared to hard flooring, providing a more peaceful environment for sleep. It absorbs sound, reducing noise from speech and other activities.
Softer Step: Waking up to a soft, cushioned feel underfoot is presented as a benefit of carpet, especially when contrasted with the cold, hard feel of other flooring options.
Safety Considerations: Carpet is considered a safer choice, particularly in bedrooms and kids' rooms, as it reduces the risk of slips and provides a softer landing in case of falls.
Compromise Option: The article suggests a compromise for those torn between carpet and hard flooring by using an area rug. This allows individuals to enjoy the benefits of carpeting while maintaining a hard floor surface.

The fun fact about the history of carpet weaving, mentioning the use of animal hides and the oldest surviving knotted carpet, adds an interesting historical perspective to the article.

To further enhance credibility, the article references a peer-reviewed study by Beaujard, titled "From Three Possible Iron-Age World-Systems to a Single Afro-Eurasian World-System," showcasing a commitment to accurate, reliable, and trustworthy information.