Best Kid-Friendly Tile Flooring Options

As a parent, you know how rough children can be on carpet and hardwood floors. Between spills, accidents, and constant activity, kids can put any flooring surface to the test from the time they start crawling until their teenage years. Due to its stain resistance and durability, tile flooring is a great option when you have a full house.

Tile is naturally resistant to the potential damage children can cause, from sources including:

• Food and drink spills
• Dirt or mud tracked in from outdoors
• Potty training accidents
• Damage from toys

A few types of tile—ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone—are especially great options for parents looking to protect the floors in their home.

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile

Ceramic tile flooring is a functional and low-cost option for homeowners with young children. Easy to clean and exceptionally versatile, ceramic is perfect for kitchen and bathroom spaces, but can also be used elsewhere in the home.

Porcelain tile is engineered specifically for toughness, so it’s a great option for high-traffic areas or families with multiple children. Especially resistant to scratches and spills, porcelain’s hard surface will continue looking great year after year.

In addition to their durability, porcelain and ceramic tiles are also very versatile. For a stylish look in any room, choose wood-look porcelain that’s virtually indistinguishable from hardwood flooring yet vastly more durable. Porcelain tile can also be made to look like natural stone if you prefer an organic aesthetic.

Stone Tile

Stone tile floors are also naturally resistant to wear and spills—especially harder materials such as granite. Natural stone is a stylish choice for almost anywhere in the home, and many varieties will keep their finish despite plenty of activity. Some softer stones, such as travertine or slate, do require more maintenance to prevent wear and tear, so natural stone tile isn’t for everyone.

While carpet is a popular choice for homeowners, it attracts dirt and stains, and hardwood is easily scratched and damaged. Tile’s durability, stain resistance, and versatile design qualities make it an excellent choice for parents looking to increase the longevity of their floors.