Carpet vs laminate: pros and cons

Carpet is one of those great traditional choices for living rooms, and we love it for so many reasons. We also have a soft spot for laminate flooring, which is becoming ever more popular and is available in a growing range of finishes and styles. When it comes to making the choice about carpet or laminate, you’ll be able to find the perfect solution for your home if you think carefully about your needs and wants.

Your choice may vary from room to room and will be dictated by your lifestyle, family size, pets, design scheme and day to day needs. Do you want a hard-wearing, low maintenance option or is comfort and style your most important criteria? We’ll take you through the pros and cons, with lots of expert advice to help you make your decision – as flooring is our thing!

In this guide:

Carpet vs laminate: the facts
Is laminate or carpet cheaper?
Laminate vs carpet: a room-by-room guide

Carpet or laminate flooring - the facts

First of all, you might be thinking to yourself: I’m not even sure I know enough about either carpet or laminate flooring? Luckily for you, we’ve got a really handy carpet guide and laminate guide to explain all! If you feel like you’ve got a good grasp on the ins and outs of carpet and laminate flooring, we can get stuck into the juicy facts:

Durability: An average grade carpet will last about five years, while a luxury design could last up to 15. Laminate will probably need to be replaced within 10 to 15 years, or less for cheaper styles.
Maintenance: Laminate is durable and easy to maintain, while carpet can be prone to stains in high traffic areas. However, there are many stain resistant and extremely durable carpets that are fabulous for living rooms, hallways and stairs.
Installation: Carpet is suitable for almost any floor but looks truly magnificent when professionally laid; laminate is quick and easy to lay yourself and suitable for use on most floor surfaces.
Style: Carpet is warm and comfortable underfoot and an ideal way to create a luxurious feel in your living room or bedroom. Laminate comes in a wide range of effects including tiles, hardwood and even marble, so you can make an impact in any room.

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Is laminate or carpet cheaper?

There are a number of factors that will influence the cost of your new floor, including the size of your space and the quality of the materials. Both carpet and laminate are generally cheaper than real hardwood, stone or tiled flooring and represent very good value for money in a wide range of choices.

In general, a luxury high-pile carpet will cost more per square metre than laminate flooring. There are great value options available for carpets, and it will be much cheaper to fit out a small room than a larger space.

Fitting charges should also be factored in, although DIY enthusiasts could have a go at installing easy-lay laminate that snaps into place. Why not take a look at our carpet cost guide and laminate cost guide to compare?

Laminate vs carpet: a room-by-room guide

Living rooms: Traditional and cosy or bright and modern? Carpet is the traditional choice for living rooms, but laminate would create a contemporary look; with parquet, marble, or wood effect designs. If you're still not convinced, check out our guide on styling wooden flooring in your living room.

Bedrooms: Carpet vs laminate in your bedroom needn't be a tricky decision! You can’t beat the feel of a plush carpet pile on bare feet when you step out of bed, so you can opt for a whole floor of carpet, or give your bedroom a modern twist with laminate and add a rug for comfort!

Kitchens: Carpet works best in low traffic areas where spills and moisture are less likely, and does a great job of cosying up a sectioned-off, chill-out area for reading or watching TV. Laminate is a hard-wearing option and a great way to create a variety of effects, from traditional tiling to contemporary stone.

Hallway: Easy-clean laminate is a practical option, and you can match it to any design scheme to create a great first impression. Carpets are soft and welcoming, for sure, but it’s better to add easy-clean rugs at the front doorway, so everyone can wipe their feet.

Dining rooms: We recommend laminate over carpet in dining areas, as laminate is very laid back when it comes to maintenance, and you won’t have to worry about stains or spills! Quick-Step laminate is a fantastic choice for dining rooms as it's slip and water resistant, and comes in gorgeous wooden plank or stone tile designs.

As a rule of thumb; choose laminate for practicality and affordability and carpet for comfort and luxury.

By now, hopefully, you will have a good idea of whether laminate or carpet is the right choice for you, but if you’re still a little unsure, you can get the expert help of one of our fabulous Floorologists by booking a free home visit today. Alternatively, if you’re ready to purchase your new carpet or laminate, pop into your local Tapi store to see our inspiring range of gorgeous flooring today.

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Post author

Jeremy Garrish Buyer Jeremy has 35 years of carpet industry knowledge

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Published: 17-06-2025