Cork

An exceptional type of flooring that hasn’t yet found its place within common interior design, cork is at present, an option for those with bigger budgets than most.

Cork looks absolutely stunning and is environmentally friendly because the tree it is taken from does not suffer any damage from losing its bark. It also has amazing properties that you don’t get from other flooring, such as it’s ability to repel insects and the fact it doesn’t absorb dust or other allergens like pollen.

Stone

It may not be the first surface that springs to mind, but it’s certainly one to consider long term. Investing in natural stone floor tiles is a great way to provide a beautiful surface for your child’s playroom, leaving you with a long lasting floor to use long after they have grown up. The surface is extremely durable and easy clean (when the correct sealants are used) and very cosy when used in combination with underfloor heating. If the idea of a stone floor seems a little too hard for play, consider colourful rugs for extra cushioning which will look fantastic on top of natural stone.

Carpeting

The most obvious flooring for a child’s playroom but also the least practical. Carpets will last a long time if they are kept well and maintained, but your child’s playroom is not likely to be an area of care. If you do consider carpeting, think about using a highly durable, easy clean type that is easily replaced such as carpet tiles.

Wood

There are three different types of wooden flooring – real, engineered and laminate. Laminate is the cheapest option but poorly laid laminate can attract dirt, look bad and be potentially dangerous for your child. Engineered wood is essentially pieces of wood glued together to make a plank, it is more expensive than laminate but cheaper than real wood. Real wood can look absolutely stunning although generally the most expensive option of the three. You can achieve similar looks with both engineered wooden floors and real wooden floors, both containing different properties that can be affected by the temperatures and humidity in your house. When considering wood for your child’s playroom you’ll want to consider the hardness level of the wood to check it is durable enough to withstand knocks and items dropping on it but it’s soft enough to be comfortable for your child to play on.

Porcelain floor tiles

Porcelain floor tiles look stunning, are easy to clean and tend to be extremely durable. They are hard but could provide a long lasting floor surface that could be used long after your child has grown up. Much like stone floor tiles you could install underfloor heating and lay down some rugs to make the surface cosy and safe, enabling your child to play freely while you can clean the surface easily without worry of stains or dirt build up.