If you’re taking on a kitchen renovation or starting new, deciding on the right cabinets, appliances, and countertops is probably at the top of your list. But you’ll also need to know how to pick kitchen flooring to make your kitchen design work as a whole.
The options for kitchen flooring are vast. Do you go with tile? If so, what kind? What about wood? You’ve seen it in more kitchens lately, but can it withstand stains? Stone tile is always an option, but how do you choose the right one?
Your kitchen flooring choice should depend on your lifestyle, sense of style, and budget. Flooring that might look great may not function well for your family and your home. Go beyond just looks when doing your research.
If don’t know where to start in the search for the perfect kitchen flooring for you and your family, don’t worry. We’ve got four things you should consider when picking out flooring for your kitchen.
1. Material and durability
A family with young children and pets probably isn’t going to make the same kitchen flooring choice that an empty nest couple would make. Think about what kinds of things your floor will have to withstand over the years (kid and pet messes, heavy traffic, etc.) and choose your kitchen flooring accordingly.
Things to consider when choosing kitchen flooring:
- If you have young children, or elders, at home, nonslip floors are an important safety feature.
- If your kitchen is a heavy-traffic area, consider stone and tile, which are durable.
- If you anticipate a lot of dropped pots and pans, or other heavy abuse, ceramic tile could be a good choice as it resists dents and scratches.
- Heavy traffic and potential water stains don’t mean you shouldn’t go with wood. Prefinished wood floors can withstand both.
- If your kitchen is off the garage or pool, choose a flooring type that can withstand muddy boots and shoes and wet towels and feet.
When making your choice, remember that durability is an important factor. You don’t want to deal with cracked tiles, stained wood, or slippery floors.
2. Your sense of style
While durability is an important aspect of choosing kitchen flooring, your sense of style also deserves input. Choose a flooring option that complements the rest of your kitchen design.
When picking out the design, color scheme, look, and feel of your kitchen, don’t leave flooring out of the equation. Does your flooring choice match the colors you’re using for your walls, cabinets, and counters? Does it look good with the various textures and patterns in your kitchen design?
Decide whether your kitchen floor will be a focal point (think black and white checkered tile) or a neutral backdrop (a soft beige, off white, or gray) for the rest of your kitchen. If you’re making a bold kitchen flooring choice, make sure it’s something you won’t get sick of in a few months or even years.
3. Maintenance
You don’t want to spend all of your time in your new kitchen cleaning, scrubbing, or worrying about stains on your kitchen flooring. Pick a flooring option that fits your lifestyle. Is it important for you to have flooring that is water- and stain-resistant, and easy to clean?
Consider what kind of upkeep you’ll have to do on different flooring:
- Limestone is porous, and needs to be sealed when installed, and twice yearly.
- Factory-pretreated wood flooring is a durable choice, though wood floors need to be resealed every five to six years.
- Concrete flooring (a trendy option these days) requires little to no maintenance.
- If you choose tiles, the grout will need periodic special cleaning to fight stains and sealing.
Of course, we can’t tell you exactly how to pick your kitchen flooring because it all depends on your lifestyle and your wants and needs. But upkeep and maintenance should be an important factor in your decision.
4. Budget
For some, finding affordable kitchen flooring is the most important aspect of the search. Don’t fall in love with a floor you can’t afford, and if you do look for a less-costly alternative. Flooring options can run the gamut, from $2 to $75 per square foot, before installation.
Consider some alternatives if your budget doesn’t allow the material you really want. Instead of wood, high-pressured plastic laminates provide a similar look. Vinyl or resilient flooring comes in a variety of styles and colors, and you can pick from tiles or sheets.
While it’s best not to break the bank when choosing your kitchen flooring, don’t necessarily choose the cheapest option out there. Flooring that costs a lot less may not hold up over time, and you could end up needing a new floor a lot sooner than a flooring choice that is a little more expensive. Consider your options carefully.
Many feet will pass through your kitchen in the years to come. Consider your kitchen flooring options carefully, then enjoy your new kitchen!
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