Home Design & Decorating Room Design Bedrooms

Why Carpet Is Better Than Hardwood for Bedrooms

By
Cheryl Simmons
Cheryl Simmons
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.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 03/07/24
Fact checked by
Emily Estep
Emily Estep
Fact checked by Emily 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.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
In This Article

The debate between carpet and hardwood is alive and well, with hardwood increasing in popularity in recent years. However, some rooms are simply better suited to a soft floor covering than a hard one, such as the bedroom. The bedroom is a cozy sanctuary away from the bustle and activity in the rest of the home and carpet can help maintain that quiet zone. The softness and warmth of the carpet also contribute, making it the best flooring option for this private oasis. Learn more about why carpet in bedrooms is the preferred floor covering.

Bedroom carpet

The Spruce / Margot Cavin 

Carpet detail
The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Quieter Space

Carpet is quieter to walk on than hard flooring, and it helps 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 speech and other activities.

Carpet is also soft and quiet because it has padding underneath. The type and quality of padding affect the carpet's feel, sound absorbency, and insulation properties. Choose a carpet padding option that is durable and appropriate for the carpet you are considering.

Softer Step

Most people don’t enjoy waking up and stepping onto a cold, hard floor. Carpet provides that necessary warm cushion first thing in the morning. At night, carpet underfoot lets us have a soft ending to the day.

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 back to the fifth century B.C. and was excavated from a tomb in Siberia.

The Safer Choice

Slips can happen easily, particularly if you’re half asleep and walking on a hard, hazardous, and slippery floor. For kids’ rooms and nurseries, carpet is the logical choice. Young children prone to falling out of bed will benefit from a softer landing place. For babies who are crawling or learning to walk, carpet is softer on the knees and more forgiving during crash landings on hard flooring.

A Possible Compromise

If you're having trouble deciding if carpet is right for your bedroom, the best solution may be the compromise of using an area rug for warmth and comfort. A bedroom area rug looks best when it's large enough to fit the entire bed, with enough carpet extending on the sides to fit bedside tables. If you prefer smaller rugs, create cozy spaces by placing a rug at each side of the bed for stepping onto when getting in and out of bed. Put another one in front of a bench at the end of the bed or another seating or dressing area in the room.

FAQ
  • What's in style for bedrooms—carpet or hardwood flooring?

    Both carpeting and hardwood flooring with large area rugs are in style for bedrooms.

  • Does having carpet in the bedroom add value to a home?

    Hardwood flooring typically adds more value to a home, providing the highest ROI. However, new, high-quality carpet in a neutral color in the bedroom may add value to a home. Some home buyers, however, may not appreciate carpet in the bedroom that's tough to vacuum, traps allergens, and wears out faster than hardwood.

  • What type of carpet is best for a bedroom?

    The best type of carpet for a bedroom depends on the bedroom. A dense, plush carpet may be best for primary bedrooms but a less dense but high-pile carpet is easy to clean and comfortable in a child's bedroom. Berber carpet may be one of the best options for a bedroom. It is durable and hides dirt, and the tight weave and low pile may resist snags from your pet's sharp claws.

  • Is carpet or hardwood flooring more expensive?

    There are cost differences between carpet and hardwood. Hardwood flooring is substantially more expensive than carpet to install. However, remember you'll likely need to replace carpet due to wear and tear but you won't necessarily need to replace hardwood flooring, though there are potential refinishing costs.

The 20 Best Area Rugs of 2024
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. The 2500 Year History of the Pazyryk Capret. The Carpet and Rug Institute.

  2. Remodeling Impact. National Association of Realtors.