Carpet vs hardwood plus rugs in high traffic rooms
Redoing our living room and hallway, the two rooms that get wrecked daily by two little kids and a big dog, and I can't decide between carpet or hardwood with area rugs on top. From what I've found, carpet is cheaper to install and way softer and warmer underfoot, but it soaks up every spill, smell, and stain and starts looking trashed in the walking paths after a few years, especially with a dog that isn't 100% accident proof. Hardwood costs more upfront but wipes clean in seconds, and if it's solid wood it can get refinished and basically lasts forever, while a cheap rug on top takes the actual abuse and gets swapped out when it's destroyed instead of you having to recarpet the whole room.
Right now I'm leaning hardwood plus rugs just because cleaning up after kids and a dog seems so much easier and the rug becomes the disposable part instead of the whole floor, but I know carpet still wins for warmth and noise. Anyone who's actually lived with either setup for 5+ years with kids or pets, did it hold up the way you expected, or do you regret your choice? Also curious if carpet tiles are worth it as a middle ground where you can just replace one section instead of the entire floor.