When planning a new kitchen design there are many decisions to make. These range from finding your ideal layout and storage solutions to choosing kitchen cabinets, backsplash materials, countertops, and accessories. Each element of your kitchen design must work together to create a space that balances style and functionality.
What about choosing a flooring material? If your kitchen remodeling plans include new flooring, or perhaps even installing new flooring throughout your first floor, then it makes sense to carefully consider the options to find the perfect one for your home. With so many options available, how can you find the ideal one for your needs? Let’s explore some of the key flooring options for kitchens to find out.
Importance of Flooring in Kitchen Design
Why is flooring so important to a kitchen design?
First of all, it covers a large, highly visible surface area, so it plays a key role in your room’s style. Your flooring may not be the first thing you think of when planning your design, but the material, pattern, color, and finish you select must be factored in when choosing other design elements. Flooring must complement the surrounding materials and help to tie together other elements of your design.
Your flooring choice must also be able to withstand a constant onslaught of foot traffic, pets’ claws, dropping heavy or sharp items, and spills and moisture. Of course, this depends largely on your household, who lives there, how you use your kitchen, and your willingness to maintain your flooring surface. Choose a flooring material that fits your needs for both style and functionality and you will thank yourself in years to come!
Key Considerations When Choosing Kitchen Flooring
So what are the key elements you need to consider to find this perfect flooring material for your kitchen design? Start by asking yourself the following questions:
- What is the layout of my kitchen design? If you have an open plan first floor you may decide to replace flooring throughout this space, and therefore need to choose a flooring surface that fits your multi-functional needs for kitchen, dining, and living areas. Or you need to choose a flooring option that fits with your floor material in the spaces adjacent to your kitchen. If your kitchen is enclosed then you have a wider range of options.
- What is my home’s style? Floor materials influence your style and must work together with your cabinetry, walls, and other design elements. Is your home traditional with more ornate design details? Or do you prefer a more contemporary style with clean lines and a simple color palette? Decide what works for you and find a floor material that enhances your design aesthetic.
- Who is part of my household? The users of your kitchen are a key factor in finding the right flooring material for your design. If you have young kids and pets traipsing through your kitchen daily, then hardwood flooring may not be the right choice for you. Equally, a glossy tile is a safety risk for everyone in a kitchen prone to spills and moisture, particularly if you have kids running through or elderly family members in the home.
- How do I use my kitchen? Consider what you do in your kitchen when choosing a flooring surface. If you cook daily in a busy family home, make sure your flooring can stand up to moisture, grease splatters, and constant use. If your kitchen is part of an open plan space where you entertain regularly, think about both durability and how it links into your home’s style to create a space where you will enjoy welcoming guests.
- What are my maintenance preferences? The bottom line is that some flooring surfaces are high maintenance, while others require very little ongoing, specialized care. Hardwood is more susceptible to scratches, dents, and warping due to moisture, and must be cleaned very carefully and regularly resealed to maintain it. Likewise, natural stone must be resealed, while luxury vinyl and most tiled surfaces are nonporous and easy to keep clean. The other side of this coin is that hardwood can be sanded and refinished over and over again, extending its lifespan and allowing you to change up your style with a new wood finish.
- What is my budget? Flooring comes in a wide range of price points, depending on the material you choose and the installation requirements. Make sure your flooring selection is part of your kitchen design planning, discuss it with your design expert, and consider it as a key component of your budget planning.
Once you better understand your requirements for a kitchen flooring material, you can start to look at which product best fits your needs, Let’s explore some of the top options to help inspire your choice.
Hardwood Flooring
This classic choice can be customized to fit almost any style of kitchen design. You can choose from a range of wood species and finish your wood flooring in anything from a more natural shade to dark stained floors. If you choose wood flooring for a kitchen design, you must understand the impact moisture can have on this surface and therefore the need to clean up spills right away. However, wood is also a durable surface when properly cared for, and, best of all, it can be refinished almost indefinitely extending its lifespan for decades.
Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl comes in luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and is designed to imitate natural stone or wood flooring. This material is synonymous with durability and easy maintenance. It is non-porous, completely water-resistant, and can be easily wiped clean, swept, and mopped. It is also simple to install, which helps LVT/LVP to be a more affordable luxury flooring option. The latest development in luxury vinyl flooring means that it is better able to closely mimic your favorite natural materials than ever before. While it can’t exactly match the look and feel of its natural counterparts, it comes pretty close!
Tile Flooring
This versatile material has been around for thousands of years and is still a popular choice for kitchens and bathroom designs. As one of the oldest flooring materials in existence, tile brings versatility to your room’s style as well as a highly durable, easy-to-maintain surface that is very water-resistant. The array of ceramic and porcelain tiles available have their own unique traits and introduce color, texture, and patterns to your kitchen design with a flooring material that enhances your room’s style and functionality.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate is a more budget-friendly flooring option that uses a core of compressed wood byproducts with a photographic layer that closely imitates natural wood. It also includes a top wear layer to make it more durable. Since it is composed of wood by-products it is not completely water-resistant, so be cautious about excess moisture coming into contact with this surface. While it is not as durable as vinyl, it is a bit softer and warmer underfoot due to its core layer from wood byproducts. It won’t exactly mimic hardwood flooring, but laminate can give you the look of hardwood in an easy-to-install and budget-friendly alternative.
How to Choose the Best Flooring for Your Kitchen Remodel
Flooring is a key element of any kitchen design, so it pays to carefully consider your options. Whether you are embarking on a full kitchen remodel or just looking to replace your first-floor flooring, choose a material that gives you the style you want with the durability you need. There are many options available to fit any home. Finding the right option for you means you will enjoy your kitchen flooring for longer with a surface that enhances your room’s style and can stand up to daily use.
Did you know we have a full-service flooring store at our Pleasant View, TN showroom? Visit our store to find all the flooring samples and the design expertise you need to make the perfect choice for your home.
