Fixer Upper's Joanna Gaines Makes A Case For Choosing Carpet Over Hardwood Flooring

Floors are the literal foundation of any room, influencing how spacious, cozy, or luxe a space feels. But when Joanna Gaines, one of our favorite interior designers and home renovators, decided to forego her usual hardwood floor choice in favor of carpet, we were suddenly rethinking all our life choices. As a mom to three boys and two girls, Gaines' intentional choice to use carpet is meant to cut down on the racket her kids cause on the second-floor game room inside her Waco, Texas farmhouse.

According to the Carpet Institute of Australia, "Carpet softens harsh sounds and creates a quieter, more peaceful indoor environment." It's one of the only ways to help keep noise down to an acceptable level. Even though hardwood flooring has been a staple in many of her home renovation projects, Gaines keeps the homeowners' practical needs in mind by finding cost-effective solutions to freshen up their homes—including inside her own home.

With a need to bring an inviting, family-friendly atmosphere to her upstairs space while also controlling the sound levels of her kids, Gaines is showing, in classic fashion, of course, how carpet is a practical choice, especially for households with children and pets. Take a tour of the "Fixer Upper" host's gorgeous farmhouse and discover how she makes a case for the warmth and comfort carpet can bring to a home by challenging the idea that hardwood is the only option for a stylish home.

Recently, Joanna Gaines did a quick renovation she called a "mini reni," which she describes as "a way to show how you can transform a space in less than a week." It's a quick and affordable approach to making over an outdated space. Gaines has shared her biggest tips for tying a room together, and now she's showing us how to create a cozy, sound-controlled vibe by laying down carpet instead of hardwood floors. Keeping with her signature modern farmhouse style, Gaines brings a mini reni to a large space inside her farmhouse.

To create a moodier vibe in the upstairs area, Gaines painted the white walls a blueish-grey shade called Texas Storm. To create contrast with the darker walls, she grabbed some modern furniture from Magnolia, including a creamy oversized sectional (Magnolia), two almond-colored swivel chairs (Magnolia), a yukas wood coffee table (Magnolia), and twin-size platform beds. The whole space is pulled together with the wall-to-wall low-pile carpet, featuring a plaid pattern in neutral tones. The carpet enhances the room's warm and inviting atmosphere and helps control the sounds of her rambunctious boys. When the time comes for those kid sleepovers, the rest of the occupants in the home won't be as bothered by their shenanigans and the noise they generate. For family movie nights, the area offers plenty of space for all seven members of the Gaines family to spread out and enjoy their time together.

Like everything else in life, carpets and hardwood floors come with their own set of pros and cons. Hardwood floors are classic, durable, and an easy-to-maintain option, while carpet offers safety, warmth, and affordability. Either way, picking between carpet and hardwood floors comes down to your personal preferences, lifestyle, and the specific needs of each area in your home.

In spaces where sound insulation is important, like in kids' bedrooms and family rooms, carpet is a much quieter option to hardwood floors, especially in two-story homes. The average cost of carpet is roughly $3 per square foot, and hardwood floors are $8 per square foot. Although carpet is cheaper, it's not as durable. Low-grade carpets usually need replacing within five years, while higher-quality types can last up to 15 years. Although carpet tends to hold onto stains and allergens, like dust and mold, you can find low-maintenance carpets that are easy to keep clean.

Hardwood floors offer versatility and are really pretty as long as they stay clean and scratch- and dent-free. However, they can be a high-maintenance nightmare because hardwood demands regular care and maintenance to retain its beauty. But one of the great things about hardwood floors is that you can put an area rug over them to provide sound control or to cover up imperfections. If you plan to sell your house in the future, hardwood floors can increase the value of your home.