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If you had asked me ten years ago if I preferred area rugs or carpet for the bedroom, I would have joyfully and unequivocally answered area rugs! Just the thought of carpet would send me into a frenzy of sweat, reminiscing about the shag carpet I had to rake as a product of the 1970s.

Yes, I said rake. You see it was so long and stringy, that to fluff the shag, you had to rake it. Flash forward to gaining a bit of wisdom and lots of therapy, I have since developed a newfound respect, or dare I say, love for carpets in the bedroom. Let me break it down for you.

As it goes for designers, we have always had an affinity for using area rugs in every room of the home. These are the facts and I’ll explain why. Area rugs offer versatility and create definitive and cohesive spaces throughout the home.

They are considered the ‘building block’ in a design and add a layer of depth and color to any room. “We call it ‘art you can walk on,’ ” says interior designer LIZA LASEROW, who founded Nordic Knots in 2016 with her husband and brother-in-law. I couldn’t agree more and I’ll go as far as to say a room looks naked without an area rug.

My love for area rugs, and the consistent nature in which I use them in a design, will never waver. However, more recently, I’ve had a change of heart when it comes to installing wall-to-wall carpet in a bedroom. Think of your bedroom as a sanctuary and wouldn’t you love the idea of a soft, plush carpet under the feet every morning? Yes, it’s true that an area rug can create the same effect.

However, when it comes to the bedroom, the carpet creates a more intimate, soft space and adds a layer of warmth. It is considered one of the most used floor coverings for a bedroom. Who would have guessed? Another great use is putting it in a kids’ bedroom or playroom because it acts like a sound barrier for noisy children and makes the floor comfortable for them to sit on.

A fun and more versatile trend is carpet tiles from companies like Flor. They are great for high-traffic areas such as the bedroom or playroom. You can arrange them in any pattern or configuration to create your desired look.

For those that are environmentally conscious, it’s good to know that forty-percent of the tiles are made of recycled materials that leave a negative carbon footprint. What’s great about them is if you damage or dirty a part of the rug, you can pop out the damaged tiles and replace them with new squares. It’s that easy!

One of the most necessary reasons for installing carpet in a bedroom, which often gets overlooked, is the safety factor. According to Cheryl Simmons, writer for The Spruce, “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, the carpet is much softer on the knees and much more forgiving during crash landings.”

If you’re still not convinced that carpet is for bedrooms, or you are having trouble deciding between the two, maybe the best path forward is to use both. This option works best if you already, or are considering installing a low-pile or Berber-style carpet on the floor.

The flat, non-plush surface will allow you to layer a pile-sized area rug over the carpet, to give you the desired designer look. Because my love for area rugs runs deep, as a designer, I often marry the two by layering a shag or sheepskin rug over the bedroom carpet.

Hopefully, after reading this article, your anxiety level towards carpet has diminished, and you are embracing the idea of installing it in your bedroom. I know I am. Think of a softer, quieter and safer bedroom, and you will begin to envision a sanctuary of relaxation.

Remember, hardwood floors are more expensive to install, so you can save a little money by putting it in the bedroom. There is nothing better than safety and comfort while you save a buck.