Carpet Ideas for Recreation Rooms

Carpet Tiles

• Carpet tiles are quickly becoming a favorite floor choice for recreation rooms due to their easy installation and practicality. An alternative to wall-to-wall carpeting, carpet squares come in a variety of sizes, fibers and pile types and are usually either self-adhesive or interlocking. In the event of an unsightly stain, the damaged tile can be easily taken up and replaced as opposed to replacing the entire carpet. In addition, some carpet tiles are available in eco-friendly, stain-resistant material.

Carpet Foam Flooring

• For a recreation room that will be used primarily by small children, carpet foam flooring may be the answer. Although many people think of the bright yellow, green and orange colors used in daycare centers, this flooring is available in a variety of colors. It is made of synthetic polymers and is soft, stain resistant and water resistant. Carpet foam flooring is also a good choice if the recreation room includes activities that require a lot of movement.

Shag and Berber Carpeting

• If your recreation room is in the basement, you may want to select a thick carpet to add warmth. Shag carpet is lush and soft to the touch, which makes it conducive to small children and those who like to walk around in their bare feet. However, Berber is more durable and stain resistant and is also easier to vacuum, and a Berber loop carpet does not show footprints or vacuum marks.

Home Theater Considerations

• For a recreation room that includes a home theater, you need to choose a tight carpet that will not interfere with the acoustics of the theater sound system. The carpet should also be dark enough that the color does not compete with the images on the movie screen. An additional benefit of dark carpeting is that it will not show popcorn, drink and candy stains. Some home theater accessory companies sell carpet specifically designed for home theatres.

Alternative Flooring

• If your recreation room is in the basement and you don't have a home theater, you may want to put a concrete stain on the floor. Concrete flooring is standard in most basements, and, when stained, the porous nature of concrete can produce gorgeous earth tones that resemble stone, wood, marble and leather. Acid stains are resistant to peeling, chipping and fading and are a good alternative to carpeting.