6 Best Kid-Friendly Flooring Options That Can Withstand Any Mess

Everyone knows kids can be messy. 

If you’re a parent, your floors are probably going to fall victim to food and drink spills, arts and crafts mishaps, and plenty of wear and tear. Fortunately, there are plenty of great flooring products that can stand up to a household with kids. 

When choosing the best flooring for your kids and your home, consider factors such as durability, ease of maintenance, safety, and price. Here are some of the best flooring types to consider for your kids.

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is a durable, resilient, and easy-to-clean option, making it a clear favorite for homes with children. Most vinyl is either water-resistant or waterproof, so spills won’t damage the floor and are easy to clean up. 

Protective wear layers help boost stain resistance, and manufacturing innovations have improved vinyl’s scratch and scuff resistance. Because of its resilience, it’s soft and warm underfoot, making it a comfortable floor for playing and a forgiving surface for little ones taking their first steps. 

However, be wary of some vinyl products that emit harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). If you have kids, be sure to opt for vinyl flooring that is FloorScore certified.

Laminate

Laminate: The Hardwood Look Without the Worry

If you love the look of hardwood but want to scream at the thought of your child’s walker or toy cars scraping across the floor, laminate is a great option. Laminate was designed to stand up to high traffic and wear and tear, with excellent scratch, scuff, and dent resistance. 

While excess moisture can damage laminate floors, more manufacturers are bringing water-resistant laminate products to market, making them more forgiving for small spills like a cup of juice.

Cork

Cork Flooring: Resilient, and Quiet

Cork floors are another resilient, forgiving hard surface option. They are comfortable for homes with children who might be spending a lot of time playing on the floor. Cork also has sound abatement properties, making it a great choice for keeping a quieter home. 

However, cork’s resilience means it can be scratched by dirt and other debris, and excess moisture can cause it to warp or curl. Consider cork for playrooms or bedrooms where food and drink spills won’t be as big of an issue.

Carpet

Carpet: Soft, Stain-Resistant, and Perfect for Play

Carpet might seem counterintuitive for a kid-friendly floor, but modern carpets are manufactured with stain-resistance in mind, making them very suitable for homes with children. 

Nylon is the most popular fiber option on the market today due to its durability and ease of maintenance. Berber carpet is also a great choice for active households with children, as loop pile carpet tends to stand up to traffic better than cut pile carpet. 

Look for solution-dyed fiber, which is more stain and fade-resistant. 

Carpet is also the softest option on the market, making it ideal for homes with little ones learning to walk or who spend a lot of time playing or watching TV on the floor.

Rubber

Rubber flooring is an excellent choice for homes with kids due to its extreme durability, slip resistance, and shock-absorbing properties. It’s soft underfoot, which is great for playing children, and it’s very easy to clean. 

Rubber flooring is often used in playrooms, home gyms, and basements, but it can be a great option for any room in the house. Additionally, it’s available in a variety of colors and patterns, making it easy to match your home’s decor.

Bamboo

Bamboo flooring is one of the most durable options available, with some varieties being twice as hard as oak. While bamboo can be scratched and damaged by excess moisture, it is less susceptible to scratching or water damage than traditional hardwood. Like hardwood, bamboo floors can be refinished if they’re scratched or scuffed, making them a long-lasting option for kid-friendly homes.