Attractive and Easy to Maintain Kitchen Flooring Options

The kitchen is typically one of the busiest areas of your home so you’ll want to choose flooring that is not only attractive, but durable. Here are the most common, easy to maintain types of kitchen floors that look great and are easy to maintain.

Tiles: Tiles are typically the first option in kitchen flooring for many homeowners. Tiles are available in hundreds of colors, materials and styles including:

Ceramic is a classic option for any kitchen design as seen in pictures (1) (2) and (3). For example, when tiles are alternating dark and light, it provides a classic, traditional look.
Vinyl kitchen tiles are inexpensive, durable and a great option for do-it-yourself homeowners who enjoy updating on a regular basis. Vinyl tiles are long lasting, but inexpensive to replace for new designs (4) (5).

Laminate: Laminate floors are a great alternative to expensive hardwoods. Laminate floors usually make the space appear larger and because of its durability, it is an excellent option for busy kitchens (6 – IKEA Pine Effect Laminate Flooring) (7).

Hardwood: This has been one of the more favored kitchen flooring options for centuries and continues to be a popular choice. There are several different types of woods to choose from, some of which are better suited for specific kitchen designs (8) (9 – with a herringbone layout pattern). Some of the most common wood options include:

Maple, which is typically a narrow plank floor, is used in kitchens with a rustic design. It can either be stained or left in the natural color. Maple is also easy to refinish.
Walnut is naturally dark in color, however, for an old-world charm, the wood can be stained darker. Walnut is a great option for kitchens with a modern as well as rustic look.
Pine is used often in kitchens with various designs. It is easy to maintain and can be stained or left in its natural color. Lighter pine floors can make a small kitchen look larger as well as give it a clean, crisp feeling.
Under Your Feet: Modern Flooring Ideas

Concrete: Quickly becoming one of the most popular options for kitchen flooring concrete is a great alternative to tile or stone and is very durable as well as versatile (10). Faux grout lines can be added to give the concrete the appearance of stone tiles (11). It can also be painted over or stained to give it some color (12), and polished for a more luxurious look.

Other Kitchen Flooring Ideas: Cork is another durable flooring option, one that is easy to maintain and can be stained in any color to match the design of the kitchen. For a more eco friendly kitchen floor, rubber is a great option. Rubber flooring is typically made from a variety of recycled items such as old tires – and is very durable.

An Added Layer: A carpet runner is a quick and easy way to add a splash of color to the kitchen as well as provide protection for soft wood floors (13) (14). These should be placed by cookers and sinks, places where you stand a lot, to avoid excessive wear on the flooring around those areas. It also helps prevents the floor from getting slippery. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14