Each summer, I like to do a different home improvement project. This season was no different. I decided to do a cork flooring bedroom project. I decided to remove the carpet in the smallest room in our house. It's our daughter's room.
Benefits of doing cork flooring in the bedroom (the reasons why we went with cork):
- Softer on the feet than hardwood.
- If you get the floating floor interlocking boards, you can easily install it.
- Floating floor can easily be removed in the future if a new buyer wants to carpet.
- Don't have to worry too much if the wall is not straight.
Here is the before picture of the room.
As you can see, the carpet was getting shabby as it should be, since it was 20 years old. The padding was going too. It was also stained from several art projects my daughter loved to do in her room. Trust me it, it is there.
Clear out the room and remove the carpet.
My son and I cleared out of the room and started removing the carpet. Cut and rolled up the carpet in three feet strips and taped it together with duck tape worked great and was easy to carry.
Inspect the floor and Vacuum it.
Then, we moved on to cleaning the floor and inspecting it. Was it level? Where the areas of the baseboard we needed to repair? Was the plywood loose? Did it need more screws? We added the nails to reduce squeaking. And, we made sure that the floor did not have any major unevenness. It looked pretty good to us. Vacuuming the floor a few times to pick up all the backing dust from the carpet was essential.
Add the underlayment and attach the strips together to make one large underlayment flooring.
We used this underlayment from Lumber Liquidators. It is supposed to reduce noise. You see, our daughter is a dancer, and she dances in her room. With the carpet, it sounded like an earthquake was happening right above our heads in the kitchen. And, after we did this project, we asked her to dance around while we were cooking dinner and we heard very little. Boy, were we pleased.
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We made sure to add the underlayment to the closet as well. We took out the closet customized unit and cut the bottom to make room for the flooring. This helped so we did need to make more holes in the wall when reattaching the closet shelves.
This image shows the underlayment. It was easy to use, and we were able to go around the door open quickly.
Wait 3 days for the flooring to acclimate in the room.
After we had picked up the flooring, we had to wait three days for the wood to acclimate to the room. This task helps with reducing the expansion of the wood. At this point, we decided to paint the walls to a gray taupe color. It looks nice with the flooring.
Add the quarter round was installed and painted.
We then installed the corner round with a nail gun and finishing nails. After, we added caulk around the cracks of the molding and then touched it up with white glossy paint.
This product is a floating floor that is interlocked and not glued down. It was super light and easy to manage. To cut the boards, we needed to use a table saw. The cuts were super easy to do on a table saw.
Add the threshold to the door opening to cover the other flooring between the rooms.
We needed to buy a threshold that was in the same texture as the flooring. It gave it a complete look instead of getting a threshold in metal.
Feel free to check out different ways to use Peel and Stick Wallpaper.
Drum roll, please! Here is the finished room. After two weeks of work, we were able to finish the project.
Here is the video of the transformation. I hope you enjoy it. Feel free to visit our YouTube Channel and follow us today for new updated To Do DIY videos!!!!
Feel free to visit these posts to get more tips about cork flooring installations.
How to Lay a Cork Floor from This Old House
How to Install Cork Tile Flooring from Family Handyman
We did other things in the room too. First, we painted it and decluttered it to make it easier to manage.
Then, we created a headboard out of the peel and stick flowers.
My daughter and I used removable stickers to make a headboard for her bed and to decorate her desk area for now.
Please share if you liked it. Leave a comment below on what you liked about the project. Did you do something similar? Let me know by leaving a comment below.
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Autumn Leopold
Sabrina this looks great! Her room looks more grown up now too! Was the cork board hard to cut? That's also great it is already sealed.
Jill Robson
I looks great Sabrina, well done. Friends of mine put cork flooring in their master bedroom and they love it.
Jeri
I've heard of cork flooring but have never seen it in person. It's safe to say I like it a lot. My living room carpet needs replaced and I've been looking at various flooring possibilties and a floating floor type of installation definitely seems to be the way to go.
Seana Turner
We have cork flooring in our mudroom and I love it. So quiet and easily washable. I think it would be great in a kitchen!
Sabrina
I think so. I wanted it in my kitchen but my husband was concern about it getting wet. By back is regretting that decision every day.
Christina Hidek
Looks great! We have cork flooring in our dining room. I love the look and feel! Two things that have been drawbacks... 1- when my husband was transitioning to working at home instead of going into his office, he used the dining room for an office. Even though we have felt pads on the chairs, they began to slide off and the pad adhesive pulled up some of the finish on the floors. Not a huge issue, but just something I thought I'd mention since there's a desk in your daughter' room (but the chair looks like it's wheeled). Second thing is to make sure to wipe up and liquids that fall on the floor. The cork will open up and the finish will be rougher (we had 2 elderly dogs and one didn't make it through the night once). Pets! :/
Sabrina
Yes, Thanks for mentioning that, Christina. We put felt under the cabinets and desk.
Margarita Ibbott
Love the floor very impressed you did it yourself. BTW is the bedspread from West Elm? I love it.
Sabrina
Hi Margarita, Actually, we got the bedspread at Target.
Sarah Soboleski
Your daughter must love it! The room looks amazing! The paint color looks nice with the cork and I really like the bedding too. You have a great eye for design, Sabrina.
Sabrina
Thanks Sarah! She loves it. Hopefully, she will get out of the habit of throwing stuff on the floor now. Only time will tell.
Nancy Collins
Your room looks fantastic!! Could you tell my the name and where you purchased your cork flooring? And also, in the photo, it appears to have a slight shine to it? Did it come that way or was it something you might have put on it. Thank You so much...just love the floor and the room.
Sabrina
Yes, it came with a finishing coat. We didn't have to seal it. We contacted the manufacturer to confirm. We purchased it from Floors USA. The brand is not on their website though. They do have it in the store if you are in the area. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Kareema
Very nice job. I also like the decals by the bed & desk. What is the name , and where did you purchase?
Sabrina
Thanks. It was dandelions and we found it at Target. Here is the link. http://www.target.com/p/dandelion-wall-decal-medium/-/A-14623196
Janet Barclay
This is quite nice! I've never seen a cork floor. Am I correct in thinking it might not be a good idea for people with cats?
Sabrina
Thank you. I'm glad you like it. I think it would be good for anyone that has animals that are hairy. It cleans up nicely with a Swiffer wet pad.
Janet
I was thinking more about claw damage than cleaning.
Sabrina
Understood. I have a small dog and she is rarely in the room so I am not sure.