Basement finish - question
 

I am finally having my basement finished after using it for my sewing area for five years. I have always had an area rug under my sewing table, but now I am having a vinyl floor put down. I don't know whether to get rid of the area rug or keep it to put back under my table. My chair is on rollers, so it does "hug" the rug and not roll around while I sew, but I do have to vacuum often because of the threads and lint. What would you do? I am trying to get rid of things that I won't be using since I have to clear the area for the workmen to start. Thanks for your thoughts.

I have hardwood floors in my sewing studio....no rug....and can roll around to my hearts content....use a swifter to keep control of the dust and threads and such......like the smooth floor better than carpet which I used to have.....vacuum used to really inhale the threads badly on the rollers, with the swifter don't have that problem.....with a smooth floor is easier to see "lost pins" and such also.....

I also had hard wood floors and I love how my chair rolls around. I roll over to my pressing area and I roll to the phone etc.

I hate rugs and carpets, so my choice would be do without. However, I do see some benefit in keeping your chair from rolling around. Maybe just a 4' x 4' piece of closely woven carpet------like an industrial carpet------for under your chair? Might relieve strain on your vinyl flooring, too.

I have carpet in my basement sewing room to help keep the room warmer.


Pat in MN

My sewing room is in the basement which is completely finished. My floor is 12" porcelain tiles over the original cement floor. I love being able to roll wherever my chair takes me - no rugs - If it gets cool down there, I plug in my Eden Pure quartz heater and I'm 'oh-so-cozy" in the wintertime.

I have hardwood in my sewing area, but I did find that the floor was showing some wear in front of my machines so I got a rubber type floor mat (like you might see in front of a shop workbench) to put in that area to help save the finish on the floor. I find that it vaccuums almost as easily as the hardwood and it would work as an insulator on a concrete floor too.

I too have a basement sewing room. I took out my carpeting(I'm a diabetic and am terrified of stepping on a pin) and had vinyl floor put down and I love it. I've never looked back. So easy for the chair to roll from machine to ironing board.

I don't think rolling around on hardwood floors would be good for them. Redoing them would not be very much fun. Just sayin.

I have an office chair to use for sewing. I also have the plastic floor mat under it that they use in offices. Keeps the chair moving easier and doesn't leave marks in the carpet in my sewing room, living room., or traveltrailer. I really like it.

My sewing area had carpet, now has tile, so glad I made the change! My rolling chair does not seam to move as I use the machine. but a gental push and I'm away from the machine or can adjust the angel I'm at in front of it. Tryed an area rug for warmth, but missed the easy movement of my chair. It was, In my opion, more trouble than it was worth. If I were you I would hang on to the rug untill the remodel was finished, try it with and without rug than you will know for sure.

I have a carpet under my sewing area for warmth, the cement floors in the basement can get chilly in the winter here.

i also have the carpet for warmth in the basement. But then, nothing is within "rolling" distance anywho.....sigh

I have vinyl in my sewing room and love it. I don't even use swiffers - I use batting scraps instead (cheaper!). I give it a quick run over each time I finish sewing for the day and it is wonderful!

How about one of those big clear mats you see in offices, under chairs. I have seen them at Walmart. They protect your floor or carpeting from wear, easy to roll around on but not slick.

I have laminate in my sewing room. I love that I can easily roll wherever I want to go BUT if I am free motion quilting the chair rolls back so I am constantly having to roll back to my machine. Don't like that much. I'm going to put down an area rug to stop that problem.

I have carpeting with a vinyl mat in front of my sewing area. I would love to get rid of the carpet for all the reasons above plus I don't like vacuuming in there. All the pins, little pieces of fabric and thread cause so much problems to my vacuum cleaner.

I have laminate flooring in my sewing room, had carpet in old room and would never go back to that.

In my basement room, I have a painted concrete floor. That would be similar to your vinyl one.
I use a "portable" sewing table, which I found moved some when I speed sew. So I put a small rug under the legs/wheels to stop that.
Yes, my chair has wheels and it does move some so I am thinking about putting a small rug or carpet remnant under that to keep me from rolling backwards as I quilt!
Oh for heaven's sake, don't put a big rug down! I use minky quite a bit and that stuff gets all over the place, not to mention threads! Just leave the vinyl; it will help in keeping the floor clean or fabric dander.

You still roll backwards. Trust me.

I have hardwood in my sewing room but I like a rug in front of my cutting table because it's easier on my poor old (accent on the "old" part... LOL!) legs to stand on that when I haver an extended cutting session.

Oh yes; I have anti-stress mats surrounding my cutting table. A must on the hard basement floor even if you have vinyl over it.

I sew barefoot. If you do, will your feet get cold? Guess I'd leave it without a rug and see how it works. If it doesn't work well, I'd add the rug.

I have laminate flooring in a light birch color in my basement studio. I also have an oval braided rug in an open area, just to soften the "echo" of a large room and make it feel homey. I can easily dust with a swiffer vacuum. I can hear pins drop and pick them up immediately. I love that the laminate has a thin layer of foam "insulation" under it, making it easy on the feet and not cold. I find that the room is much warmer in winter now. All exterior walls were well insulated before the dry wall went up I only have one heat vent, but it is enough to keep the area cozy in the winter and comfy in the summer with the A/C on. I also keep a dehumidifier going constantly so there is no dampness to make the fabric get smelly. I L O V E my basement sewing studio.

We just built a 12'x15' sewing room. I have vinyl plank with looks just like wood. It is wonderful and so much less noise. I am afraid of dropping pins and not finding them. My husband is diabetic so it is important not to have any on the floor.

I used to sew on a floor with no carpet, and the chair moved TOO much. When I would push back to get up, it would go flying. Even when I was just sewimg, sometimes the angle of my feet would push the chair back from the table. I was constantly chasing the foot pedal around. As much as I don't like pins getting caught in the carpet, on the uncarpeted floor, they would easily get whisked to another place on the floor, which made them much harder to find. So my input is - I would rather sew on a low pile carpet than no carpet.

it also depends on the rollers on your chair. there are rollers for carpet, rollers for hard floors too.

My sewing room has carpet. I can't wait for the day that I finally get to tear the carpet out and put in tile or vinyl...anything but the carpeting.

I personally like my chair to roll with ease, from my machine to my work table etc. I also would much prefer sweeping up my thread clippings rather than having to drag the vacuum in there after I have been working.

I have a basement sewing room. Ditch the carpet or rugs... they are a pain in the ... Smooth floors are so much easier. Yes they are cooler , a welcome feature this summer. In the winter , I wear wool socks .. it helps to keep my feet from getting cold.
A good old fashioned dust mop is the best tool for giving the floor the "once over".

I have carpet. I bought a child's lawn rake at Lowe's, which I use to rake up all of my "crumbs". It gets everything up that shouldn't go into the vacuum.

For those of you that worry about pins. My DH found the neatest extension type magnet while browsing for new notions for me. He is the bestest quilting buddy I ever had. He will spend hours with me in fabric shops, help rip out mistakes and always give me an honest opinion on my work. AND he is always looking for something new that I don't have or will me have an easier time with my bad back. This magnet is so strong, I sit in my rolling chair and pick up all dropped pins. Got it at Wal-Mart. It has a red and black handle on it, thick for hands that are not so flexible anymore. I keep it close to machines in case I drop scissors, needles, etc. It is wonderful. I have fear of pins in my feet as well.

In the winter it may be to cool not to have a rug on the floor where you live.

My sewing room is also in the basement. I don't have any carpet as it is easier to pick up pins, fabric and batting on the cement. I also use a heater in the winter and keeps the area warm.

I have a rug in my sewing room that I love, but it is a big pain in the neck. My chair runs into it, my little plastic cart with drawers won't open. Unless you love that rug like I love mine, get rid of it. I always had a little old broom and at the end of the day sewing, I swept that area clean.

I would keep the rug, it will make in warmer in the winter.

I have carpet tile in my basement sewing room and love the low pile and warmth it gives. Vacuuming is a pain but my chair moves nicely and stays where I need it.

I have laminate flooring that looks like hardwood, but is much easier to keep clean. Swiffer keeps the threads collected. My sewing chair rolls easily between machines.