Should I install laminate flooring in a children's room? The issue of choosing finishing materials for the floor, where the child spends a lot of time, is especially acute. When making a purchase decision, you should rely not only on the appearance and cost of the coatings, but also on their special characteristics, because children spend a lot of time on the floor. Laminate is one of the best options for finishing the floor in a nursery. It is easy to install, safe for health, resistant to mechanical damage and has a huge number of colors and textures. For a children's room, you can choose a laminate with a pattern. You need to understand what to look for first before purchasing. Let's figure out which laminate to choose for renovating a child's room.
A little theory
We will not go into all the intricacies of the question “What is laminate?”, but will simply list what this sandwich consists of. Most products have the following design:
- Protective layer.
- A decorative layer of special paper with high-resolution photo printing, which is responsible for the naturalness of the design of wood, stone, leather, etc.
- The base is in the form of high-density fiberboard (HDF-board) with a lock cut into the “body”.
- Stabilizing layer made of kraft paper.
Environmental requirements
Modern materials contain harmful synthetic resins, formaldehyde and other dangerous compounds. During the operation of poor-quality coating, fumes are released that can harm the health of the child. He begins to experience discomfort, headaches, and fatigue. Allergic reactions and chronic diseases may appear.
Laminate should be chosen from well-known manufacturers who guarantee quality and environmental safety. These are Pergo and Arteo. The materials are manufactured according to European sanitary standards and have certificates. Ecological cleanliness is indicated by a sign in the form of a green rectangle with 12 white stars in the shape of a leaf.
Tip 2. Choose a laminate of strength class 32
The European Association of Laminate Manufacturers has developed a test standard, based on the results of which products are marked in accordance with their strength class. The strength class shows what operating conditions the floor covering can withstand. Today, products of class 21-24, designed for only 2-5 years of use, are no longer relevant and are not for sale. Only class 31-34 laminate is available on the Russian market.
- Which laminate flooring is better to choose for a nursery? We recommend giving preference to class 32 coating, which best matches the load in this room and can last 15 years.
- Laminate flooring class 31 has a service life of 10 years, which is also not bad, but low-quality products are most often found in this category. A coating of class 33 will last about 20 years, but it will also cost more, but a product of class 34 can last up to 40 years, however, the choice of designs in this category is smaller, and the price will be significantly higher.
- The strength class is usually indicated on the packaging and on price tags/cards for the product.
Floor color in a room with gray walls - practical interior solutions
Let’s identify the advantages and note the nuances of gray in the room:
a dark gray floor in the interior usually visually reduces the area of the room, making it narrower, while a light gray floor, on the contrary, can increase it; calm shades of gray dilute the interior, loaded with furniture, with their lightness and laconicism; such a floor promotes a surge of strength, calmness, and immerses you in a cozy atmosphere; rather unusual color of the floor covering – gray or ash laminate. This material will allow you to find an interesting interior solution and change the perception of the situation in the room. Also suitable for the ultra-fashionable design of a modern apartment; Gray finish is ideal for a living room or bedroom. In the kitchen, this color creates a cold atmosphere, although this can be corrected with bright colors or warm shades in the details of the room.
Tip 6. The thicker the laminate, the warmer and more reliable it is.
The thickness of the laminate is another important indicator of its quality, strength and compatibility with doors. The thicker the coating, the better it can withstand long-term loads from heavy furniture and constant movements of household members. In addition, a thin laminate will be colder, which means it is definitely not suitable for decorating a nursery.
- The optimal thickness of laminated floors is 7–8 mm.
- A laminate with a thickness of less than 6 mm is only relevant if you want to install a heating system underneath it, and/or the room already has “low-set” doors.
Primary requirements
The choice of flooring for a children's room must be approached responsibly. There are requirements that must be taken into account. The health and well-being of the child depends on the correctness of the decision.
First of all, all components must be safe. The surface should not be slippery, otherwise the child may fall and be injured.
Children often play or sit on the floor, so the surface is smooth and warm. Cold stone or tiles are not suitable. Laminate is the most preferable option, as it is always warm.
The combination with the main style is important. The texture of natural wood creates a peaceful atmosphere. Substances harmful to the growing organism that cause an allergic reaction are not released. The floor is not electrified and does not attract dust. Antistatic properties are important.
The fewer chemicals used during cleaning, the better for the child. It is recommended to wipe the laminate with a damp cloth soaked in soapy water. You need to make sure that there is not a lot of water, otherwise the surface will deteriorate.
Important! Be sure to check the certificates for compliance with the stated characteristics. Such large and time-tested “Arteo” guarantee the quality of their products and you don’t have to worry about safety. But there are many fakes on the market that are quite difficult to distinguish from the original. In this case, the material may be hazardous to health.
Tip 7: Choose the right underlay
If you do not choose laminate flooring with an existing underlay, you will need to purchase it separately. It is better if it is from the same company as the selected laminate.
- For laminate flooring in a children's room, a noise-absorbing underlay is more suitable, which muffles the sounds of footsteps or sounds coming from the apartment below.
- You can also choose a special subfloor leveling underlay or a heated underlayment.
Moisture resistance
The next significant indicator is the resistance of the coating to water. Children use water while playing or simply spill a drink. Not every type of laminated panels can withstand such exposure.
A children's room requires special care for cleanliness, and not all panels can withstand frequent wet cleaning. Therefore, when we select a laminate, moisture resistance plays a key role. You can buy special moisture-resistant or water-resistant options.
Tip 8: To prevent the floor from being too slippery, choose a structural laminate
One of the disadvantages of laminate is its slipperiness. Since children love to run around the house in socks, it is important to purchase a covering with a structured surface to avoid injuries.
- It would also be a good idea to teach your child to wear slippers with rubber soles, lay down and fix the carpet, and wash the floors with a special cleaner for laminate floors, which has a slight anti-slip effect.
The photo below shows examples of laminate with a structure that imitates wood fibers.
How does gray laminate affect the interior?
The effect of a gray floor on the interior of a room depends on its shade. Dark gray tones help to visually reduce the space of the room; light gray tones produce the opposite effect.
We focus attention by partially painting the walls Source jetparket.ru
Spectacular installation of gray laminate Source pinimg.com
The airy, calming atmosphere is evident even in the photos. The room seems cooler and fresher. The owner feels the so-called balance of mental balance, strengthening of self-control.
Advice! The harmony of the gray floor is noted in combination with decorative elements of lavender, wine, green and pastel pink. They also add black accents, but this is not suitable for all styles.
Combination of gray laminate with different colors Source mirpola34.ru
And some more advice
- The chamfers make the floor a little more sensitive to moisture. But the wear of the floor, which in any case will appear and manifest itself primarily at the ends of the dies, will be made less noticeable by the beveled edges and grooves.
- Laminate flooring should be purchased with a 10-20% margin - not only taking into account possible errors during the installation process, but also in case it is necessary to repair/replace a fragment of the floor. At the same time, make sure that the store allows the return of unopened products, in case after installation of the covering you realize that there is a lot of excess material left.
- Laminate compatible with underfloor heating systems is indicated by a special symbol on the packaging. Keep in mind that in this case only a floating installation method is acceptable.
Games, drawing, car racing and even sleeping on the floor are common activities for children. Therefore, special requirements are imposed on the flooring for a children's room:
- Easy to clean, hypoallergenic and absolutely safe for health.
- Warmth and tactile comfort.
- Wear resistance and tolerance to periodic tests in the form of games with cars or toys falling from a height.
- The ability to reduce the sound of footsteps so you can silently enter/exit the room when your baby is sleeping.
And, of course, the standard requirements are important: beauty, durability, reasonable price, ease of installation.
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Laying laminate flooring in a nursery (video)
You can lay out and secure the laminated panels yourself by studying the technological features of installation on video. The work will require no more than 4 hours (for a room up to 18-20 sq.m.).
Laminate panels are attached to each other using locking technology. There are two types of locks: Click and Lock. The first option is the most common. Using this technology, boards are easier to install and dismantle if necessary.
The direction of installation depends on the room. In narrow rooms with high ceilings, you need to lay the laminate across to visually expand the space. In square children's rooms with low ceilings - along the light from the window. In games of irregular shape, it is better to lay out the panels diagonally, which will give the room additional visual space. But with this technology, more material will be required, and this will increase repair costs.
Before starting work, it is necessary to take accurate measurements and prepare a drawing:
- Calculate how much material will be needed for the space where the renovation is being done. Measure the area of the room and the dimensions of one panel.
- After this, divide the first value by the second and round the result up to the full number.
- Check how many laminated panels are in one package. Divide the final figure of the previous calculations by the number of panels in the pack, and you will understand how many packages you will need to purchase.
- For extra supplies and emergencies, purchase a few extra panels of material.
It is important to know that after purchasing laminated panels, they need to rest for some time at room temperature. This usually takes no more than 3 days. After this, you can proceed to the main installation work.
The work order is as follows:
- Preparing the floor. The surface must be flat without protrusions or height differences. Before installing the panels, the floor must be cleared of dust and debris.
- Prime the cement screed, or cover the surface with plywood or boards (depending on the type of base floor).
- Installation of the substrate.
- Sizing and installation of laminated panels. A special sealant for locks is used for connections when there is a need to increase the moisture resistance of the material.
After cutting the panels, do not throw away the remaining small parts; they may be useful after completing the main work.
After installing the covering, check the surface for defects - the floor must be level. Any inaccuracy in the future can lead to unpleasant creaking, cracks and splits, causing injury or splinters.
Read more about laying laminate flooring in the article “Laying laminate flooring - professional advice”
Gray floor in the interior: what will the walls and doors be like?
The main disadvantage of a gray coating is its visual coldness. If warm shades are not planned in the design project, the room will turn into an unpleasant, lifeless area.
In any case, you should not allow monotony and it is important that the floor and doors have a suitable texture. Gray tiles can also be used in the bathroom. Which walls can go with a gray floor? For gray flooring, walls with dark wallpaper, without bright colors, are suitable. A good solution would be to introduce furniture in an increasingly popular metallic color into the interior. The main thing is not to overdo it with gray color and not turn the room into a chrome box.
Gray floors in the interior: a combination of textures
Gray color will indicate the advantages and hide the disadvantages of the interior. The ash shade perfectly softens the contrast of colors and helps to make the palette restrained when red and light walls are combined. Items with different dosages of gray pigment look very organic. Sunny and intense colors will help complement such a monotonous decoration.
Gray floors in the interior suggest an excellent combination with lilac, wine, green or pale red walls. The ideal complement to a gray floor is dark gold - this can be used to decorate surfaces or furniture.
Floor materials. Light and dark gray floor in the interior
The types of coating offered in stores are striking in their diversity. If desired, you can use economical and well-known materials: parquet flooring, boards, laminate, tiles.
Laminate - plates treated with resins with a cotton layer. The surface is laminated with a special varnish, which makes it more durable. Laminate flooring is easy to install and gives a pleasant aesthetic appearance to the room. But it also has disadvantages. This is minimal environmental friendliness, unsuitability for water, high price.
Linoleum is a coating made of polymer materials. Like laminate, it has low environmental friendliness and wear resistance. It features a rich assortment of patterns, is easy to clean, and is available in different textures and colors.
The most environmentally friendly and durable coating is floorboards and parquet. Disadvantages: high price and complex installation process, which can only be carried out by a specialist.
Only at first glance light and dark gray seem the same. Despite the similarity, they will look different in the room. Dark shades will visually make the room smaller, while light gray will add air and comfort. It is important to remember that dark floors immediately attract attention and therefore require constant care.
Types of coating
Bright, informative finishing elements have always been used for children's rooms. There are varieties of laminate that fully comply with the ideas and wishes of parents and meet the needs of children. We are not talking about performance qualities, environmental safety and other parameters; we are talking about purely decorative properties of the material.
There are various options for laminate patterns that differ from the usual imitation of wood or stone texture . They produce bright, festive colors with painted cartoon characters, various versions of educational drawings, letters of the alphabet, etc. Retail chains offer a wide selection of similar materials that can create a fascinating and interesting type of room interior.
Child psychologists have differing opinions on this matter. Some advise choosing calm tones, preferably light ones, which help reduce the child’s excitability and calm him down . Others, on the contrary, suggest using bright and cheerful motifs that help create a festive and positive atmosphere.
Most likely, they are also right. and others, since the character and psychotype of each child are individual and require an appropriate environment.
Photo of laminate for a children's room:
