My odd, random pet peeve post of the day: Hardwood floors in bedrooms.

[HeiressofBickworth]

33. I really dislike hardwood floors

Perhaps it's due to some bad experiences (brief, but memorable).

I visited my aunt in Indiana one winter. She had an old house built in the 40's or so. It had cheap pine flooring and she had no carpets. So, 1) cold, and 2) got a huge splinter I had to have removed by a doctor because it was large and deep. I limped for a week. Put me right off hardwood floors.

Secondly, I went to dinner at the home of my then-husband's co-worker. They had hardwood floors. So, 1) noisy -- sounded hollow and cold, not at all homey, and 2) no entryway to the house -- you walked right in from the outside to the living room. The floor was gritty with dirt particles and felt crunchy to walk on (ewwwwwww). They had several pets -- and to think I actually ate dinner there.

Third, a friend of a friend in California has a lovely condo -- all done by a professional decorator. It's right out of a magazine and perfectly maintained. BUT hardwood floors. The place sounds empty and unwelcoming. Couple that with a sofa full of decorative pillows there was nowhere to sit -- I wound up just standing around. But it looked beautiful.

I have carpeting throughout the house (not kitchen or bathrooms). Yup, lots of pets (3 cats, 1 dog) and a teenager (who moved out on her own 2 weeks ago) and we have the carpet steam cleaned at least once a year. With no decorative pillows anywhere, one can come over and pick a comfortable seat anywhere in the living room or family room. And getting out of bed on a winter morning with your feet on carpeting all the way to the bathroom. I may get new carpeting sometime, but it will be wall-to-wall throughout the house. Wouldn't have it any other way.