Best kid-friendly flooring for kids rooms

picture of Can't wait to play on Tarkett Fiber Floor

Installing Tarkett Fiber Floor

This is the second time we have installed Tarkett Fiber Floor. I am convinced that it is the best kid-friendly flooring for kids roomsOur first experience was with our son’s bedroom. We were so pleased with the results that we decided to install Fiber Floor into Elizabeth’s room as well. For her flooring, she chose the Square Dance Fiber Floor in the Salsa Chachacha colors from the Easy Fun Living Collection.

Before the floor arrived, we had already torn out the carpet, pounded and pulled out all the old carpet staples, and made the floor as smooth as possible.  Fiber Floor can be installed over an existing floor, a wood subfloor, an even flatter new plywood floor, or an existing vinyl floor. It does not have to be adhered so it can be taken back up when you move, when your kid decides they like something else, or when you redecorate.

My daughter loved it when we laid out the flooring downstairs in our living room. She immediately started playing hopscotch on the square pattern. She was so excited to get new flooring in her bedroom!

picture of Tarkett Fiber Floor is great for Hopscotch
Tarkett Fiber Floor is great for Hopscotch

Measuring and laying fiber floor

First step was to rough cut the size of the product to the right length of one of the dimensions of the room (plus closet door size, plus room door size), minus 1/4 “.  This 1/4″ is for stretching of the material during room temperature swings.

picture of Measuring & Rough Cutting Tarkett Fiber Floor
Measuring & Rough Cutting Tarkett Fiber Floor

We rolled it up and took it upstairs. Next, we unrolled the Fiber Floor in the bedroom. This is quite easy to do with just 2 people to adjust it in place. It could actually be done with just one person, if necessary.

picture of Laying Tarkett Fiber Floor
Laying Tarkett Fiber Floor

Elizabeth couldn’t wait. She started playing on her new floor even before it was completely installed. She was so excited to have a new fun floor.

picture of Can't wait to play on Tarkett Fiber Floor
Can't wait to play on Tarkett Fiber Floor

Trimming flooring around doors

Our next step was to leave enough space to allow the flooring to run into the closet and doorway into the hallway. It is important to figure that into your measurements and when you lay the flooring. You don’t want to see a seam from the bedroom when you close the closet door nor do you want to see the seam between the hallway and bedroom.

picture of Cutting flooring into closet space
Cutting flooring into closet space
picture of Cutting flooring for door opening
Cutting flooring for door opening

Notice the excess along the wall after you leave enough space for the flooring to go into the closet and into the hallway? That needs to be trimmed away. We used a long level to cut a clean line. Be sure to use a sharp exacto knife. Since we don’t have the floor trim board in place yet, we had some measure of error to work with. We purposely planned to install the new trim after the floor is installed.

picture of Cutting a straight line on flooring
Cutting a straight line on flooring

Large Pattern Match and Seam

Elizabeth’s bedroom is big in this house. It’s 14 x 15′.  That means for product that is 12′ wide, we had to have one seam on the floor.  If you room is about 12′ or smaller in the smallest dimension you will get away with the seaming part. First, we found a piece that would match the pattern on her floor, then we double cut the seam for a perfect match and cut.

The pattern is set for 3 rows of squares and then it repeats.  That means that you could have to throw away up to 3′ of material to make the seams work to match the squares together.  But, that was not the case in our room- we cut off about 21″ which wasn’t too bad. Consider this when you order your floors.

How to Double cut flooring

We added the second piece of material that was cut to OVERLAP the already installed portion by 2″ or more, with patterns matching.  Then, my husband took a sharp utility knife and cut a deep straight line right through both pieces of material.  What happens here is kind of a neat trick of the trade- when you cut through BOTH pieces of material, and pull out BOTH excess strips of material- you are left with a perfectly matched seam.  The only trick is to cut the material DEEP and STRAIGHT DOWN.  If you cut at an angle, the seam will show the exposed white vinyl underneath and it will look bad.

picture of Double cut the seam
Double cut the seam

Next the double sided seam tape was placed first sticky side down onto the floor.  The two flooring pieces were realigned (just one more time to be sure) and placed over the tape.  The top of the tape had a paper release liner that we pulled up through the seam as per below, and the two materials laid flat right over the tape.  We have done this already once before with my son’s bedroom flooring and this seems to be the best way.

Applying 2-part epoxy to seam

A two part epoxy was also provided.  It is just a wet glue that you mix up with a slick little applicator.  This adhesive was applied to the top side of all the seams.  The application process took about 3 minutes.  Extremely easy, and not messy.We had to let the floor rest for 24 hours before putting the furniture back on, especially around the seam.

picture of Applying 2 part epoxy to seam
Applying 2 part epoxy to seam

Floor Installation Complete

After the seam was in place, the room is done! Tarkett Fiber Floor can be installed with no adhesive although you can use an adhesive if you wish. We chose the no adhesive method. I wasn’t sure how this would work in the beginning, I thought it might slip or move. It is solid and doesn’t move at all! I’m very happy about this. The installation was easy and if we ever want to change my daughter’s bedroom style, we can easily pick up the Fiber Floor in no time at all!

What makes Fiber Floor so soft?

It is the TechniCore structured foam technology. There is a TechniCore foam layer in the Fiber Floor that adds cushion and indentation protection. It really creates a comfortable, warm and inviting flooring. I have already had a few people check out Elijah’s and Elizabeth’s floors and they have commented on how surprised they are that it is so soft and comfortable. As a mom, I wanted to be sure that my kids had a clean, comfortable environment to play and sleep. Fiber Floor offers that and more!

If you are unsure if the floors are soft, listen to this. Fiber Floor is so soft that my daughter sleeps on them. She was so excited about her new floor that we had to sleep on them the first 3 nights in a row in her tent!

picture of Sleeping on Tarkett Fiber Floor
Sleeping on Tarkett Fiber Floor

Tarkett Fiber Floor is the best kids flooring

This is our second Tarkett Fiber Floor installation. My son loves his Funtastic Island Fiber Floor from their Easy Fun Living Collection. Read about his floor installation here. My daughter loves her Square Dance Fiber Floor in the Salsa Chachacha colors from the Easy Fun Living Collection. She has so much fun jumping on the squares and playing with her toys on the floor.

Initially, we started looking for a hard flooring because of my son’s allergies. We live in the woods and experience additional pollen coming in from the woods, plus our large dog sheds a lot. With a hard flooring surface, I know that my kids’ floors are clean. They are so easy to clean with a dust broom and mop. I never have to worry about grounded in dirt and germs on my kids floors.

My daughter’s room before picture

My daughter’s room smelled musty to the point that I was opening her bedroom window during the day, even in March to air the room out. This picture shows the matted down, thinned out shag carpet in my daughter’s room.

picture of Playing on nasty carpet BEFORE PICTURE
Playing on nasty carpet BEFORE PICTURE

I hated to see my daughter play on this dirty carpet but no amount of cleaning is helping! I am beyond thrilled to have installed Tarkett’s Fiber Floor in my daughter’s bedroom. She now has a clean, safe surface to play on that is fun.

This was not a paid post. My own opinions were used based on my perceptions and experience. Thank you to Tarkett who supplied the product for review and the ongoing relationship with AkronOhioMoms.com. Check out the great selection of products at http://www.tarkettna.com.

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Cindy
Founder and Lead Blogger at Akron Ohio Moms
Cindy is the top Akron Blogger with her own take on awesome brands for families, where to vacation for families, a beat on local activities and family fun, a knack for getting moms to share , and a house that is always 2 weeks away from a complete remodel!
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46 thoughts on “Best kid-friendly flooring for kids rooms

  1. reba huey says:

    I’ve never seen this before. Looks super easy and there’s a vendor in Twinsburg! I need to do something similar with my daughters room. Thanks for the good idea.

  2. Shaunda Eppes says:

    I really love the carpet you chose. I will definately have to look into this company for my son’s room.

  3. Cindy says:

    That’s the best part of this product, Mary. It is a floating system so you don’t have to worry about adhering it. Of course, you can always hire a professional to install Tarkett products. Being that they are quick and easy to install, it should be too costly.

  4. Mary Knauf says:

    I just love the retro pattern of this floor. Not sure we could do this as my husband does not have house “skills” – LOL!

  5. jen m says:

    Wow that flooring is awesome! I’ve never even heard of it & it would be perfect to put over the old hardwood floor in my son’s room!

  6. Cindy says:

    We just love the flooring, Stephanie. There are many different designs to choose from too, to match with your decor, etc. Let us know what you choose!

  7. Stephanie Eagle says:

    I am looking for something like this for my 7 month old little girls room…..Thanks I will have to look into getting this for her

  8. Cindy says:

    Patti, this flooring is so perfect for girls. The colors are right on too with the popular color wheel choices in stores today. We had painted our daughter’s bedroom with the Disney color wheel choices and the flooring matched right on! Plus, they have other options for your daughter to choose from too.

  9. Cindy says:

    Anash, even if this isn’t exactly your kids style, they have many different themes, styles, and colors to choose from. For the adults and general living areas, they have an even larger selection of Fiber Floor that looks like wood and other traditional flooring.

  10. Cindy says:

    Rachel, I’ve never heard of FLOR. Tarkett’s Fiber Floor is actually quite affordable and really easy to lay since you don’t have to use adhesive. We like the Floor in a Flash that we used in the hallway too, that is the dark wood flooring you are referring to, it is like a sticker, you just lay it out, peel and stick. Tarkett really makes it easy to remodel your home with beautiful, affordable products.

  11. Rachel B. says:

    The floor looks great as well as the dark wood flooring you laid down. Cool that you didnt need to use adhesive. At first glance I thought you were using FLOR tiles. Ive read good reviews about FLOR, but the price tag scares me away.

  12. Cindy says:

    Marysa, if you are looking for something safe and kid-friendly, you really should check out Tarkett’s fiber floor products. They are made for kids! Durable, soft, easy-to-clean, and in fun patterns for kids or grown up designs for the rest of the house.

  13. Marysa N. says:

    I never knew about this product before, but I am definitely going to check this out. We have old carpets in our home, and we are waiting to install our hardwood floors (when we get to it, timewise.. the wood is stacked in the basement!). But in the meantime, the carpeting seems safer for our two little girls anyway, but this would be a fantastic alternative!

  14. Cindy says:

    Brittany, the floor is durable and fun for the kids at the same time. Plus, with no adhesive, you can change it once your boys grow up with no hassle.

  15. Steph A says:

    I have never heard of this flooring before. It looks like it is pretty and looks like it would be easy to keep clean.

  16. Cindy says:

    Yes, I really feel that this flooring is the best option for kids for creativity, safety, allergies, cleanliness, and so many more. I’m so glad we made this choice. Tarkett flooring comes with great instructions too, I’m sure you could do it, Marina!

  17. Marina at My Busy Children says:

    I love that it is easy to clean. Honestly, I am so tired of carpet. Plus all that dangerous Teflon that comes with the carpet. This floor is fun too. I have never put a floor myself, but with your step by step guide it might be possible 🙂

  18. Cindy says:

    Oh, it is SO fun! Without a doubt, this is a true do-it-yourself type project but what is best, you can’t even tell it wasn’t professionally done because it is that easy!

  19. Cindy says:

    Judy, this entire project turned out to be more simple than we thought! And the results are fabulous. My husband had never seamed a floor before and did an excellent job with Tarkett’s products.

  20. Judy B. says:

    This floor looks so pretty! And, I can see that your daughter is just thrilled with it. I would have thought that applying the epoxy to the top of the seams would have been much more complexo, but it sounded easy. Great job!

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