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If you've decided to start a family, a lot of things in your life are about to change. Full night's sleep? Good-bye! Sleeping in? So long! Peaceful meals? Not for a while! Having kids means giving up a lot of things; luckily, having beautiful floors doesn't have to be one of them. Thanks to modern materials and skilled craftspeople, it is possible to have a home that is both functional and beautiful at the same time. Whether you like wood, stone, laminate, or tile flooring in Austin, you can find exactly what you're looking for and exactly what your growing family will need. Know Your High Traffic Areas When you're deciding on what type of floor to put in, the first thing to consider is whether the area will take a lot of abuse. High-traffic areas include the kitchen, the living room, the bathrooms, and the bedrooms. If you have an office or a formal dining room that rarely gets used, you can get away with just about anything you want. In general, high-traffic areas need a durable flooring material. Some of the best materials for areas like this include hardwoods, stone, and certain types of tile. Of course, another thing you're going to have to consider is the pitter-patter of wobbly toddlers. Protect That Baby! While your baby is still a baby, the type of flooring you choose will have very little effect on him or her since they won't be walking yet. However, in not too long, you can expect those feet to be trying out their first steps. The fact is, no matter how amazing your baby is, the first few months of walking are going to be mostly falling, so you want to be sure that the surface your baby is practicing on won't result in their being injured or too afraid to keep trying. Patience Is a Virtue! For most parents, nothing beats the comfort of carpet when a baby is first learning to walk. It provides grip and a soft landing pad for those many tumbles. Carpet is always a great choice for living rooms and bedrooms and, if you get the right kind, you can count on it to last for a long time. If carpet isn't your flooring of choice but you're worried about your baby falling onto wood or tile, you can always go with a cheaper carpet you can pull out once your little one is more confident on their feet. Beware the Rugs! While carpet is definitely the softest flooring to land on, it is by no means your only choice. Certain types of stone and tile are great choices because they offer a level surface for your baby to practice on. Of course, if you opt for stone or tile, it is usually a good idea to get some that is textured so your baby's tiny feet can find some grip. While buying rugs may be a tempting way to help decrease the amount of hard floor your baby can fall on, there is also a chance that they cause more trips and falls than they prevent. A Couple of Alternatives Another choice you may want to consider is laminate flooring. These floors look and feel like hardwoods but aren't nearly as difficult to maintain. Top of the line laminates are as durable as they are beautiful and will stand up to anything your child can throw at them. Vinyl is also a great alternative to hardwood and, since it comes in just about any color imaginable, you can always find the perfect complement to any room! While your local store certainly can't help you with the sleepless nights and chaotic meals, you'll find they can help you find the perfect wood, laminate, or tile flooring in Austin.
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