How to Choose the Right Kitchen Floor for Your Home

You spend a ton of time in your kitchen. Even if you don’t realize it, the kitchen is probably the space where your family congregates the most. From your morning cup of coffee or tea to your late night snack, the kitchen is the epicenter of most homes. You might even help your kids with homework or tackle last minute work projects at your kitchen counter or table.

Of course, all of that activity means that your kitchen takes a ton of abuse too. Between high foot traffic, water from sinks and ice makers and high heat from stoves, the best kitchen floors must be durable to stand the test of time. Luckily you’ve got a wide range of choices from light wood to elegant ceramic and modern bamboo when it comes to kitchen flooring.

Use this guide to learn more about the most popular flooring materials for kitchens on the market today. You’ll also learn about a few top kitchen flooring styles you can utilize to make sure your kitchen is on-trend today and into the future.

The Best Choices for Kitchen Flooring

The best flooring for kitchens depends greatly on your home’s style, your budget and your specific needs. Still, there are a few go-to materials that can work in almost any home environment. Below you can learn more about our most popular kitchen flooring options and the pros and cons of installing each one in your home.

Ceramic Tile Flooring

A popular choice for traditional and more modern homes, ceramic tile flooring can work well in busy kitchens. Here are some of the pros and cons:

Pros:

•   Cost-effective

•   Simple installation; DIY possible

•   Easy to maintain

•   Comes in lots of looks, including those that mimic hardwood and stone

Cons:

•   Variable size and color between dye lots can make ceramic hard to work with in extra-large kitchens

•   Resistant to water damage, but not completely impervious like porcelain tile or some types of natural stone

Hardwood Flooring

A go-to choice for installation in every room, hardwood flooring has long been a mainstay when it comes to high-end home design. Here are some of the pros and cons of installing hardwood in a kitchen:

Pros:

•   Tons of looks, from light wood to dark ensure there’s a style for every home

•   Natural hardwood will last for many years if properly cared for

 •  Can be refinished

•   Great for your home’s resale value

Cons:

•   Water can quickly damage hardwood if spills aren’t cleaned unless you install engineered waterproof hardwood flooring

•   Scratches can mar the beauty of natural hardwood in high-traffic kitchens

•   Can be loud in busy kitchens

•   Can be expensive to install

Bamboo Flooring

Modern and versatile, bamboo flooring is becoming more and more popular each day. Many homeowners looking for ultra-sustainable products also turn to bamboo. Here are some of the pros and cons:

Pros:

•   Bamboo is often harvested from sustainable sources

•   Bamboo is very strong and won’t wear down easily

•   Not likely to be damaged by water if you use engineered bamboo flooring

Cons:

•   Can be scratched by foot traffic and pets

•   Can be somewhat expensive

•   Limited looks can hamper your design goals

Vinyl Plank Flooring

Vinyl plank flooring, sometimes referred to as luxury vinyl flooring, is a designer-inspired material that’s still affordable. Here are some of the pros and cons you should be aware of:

Pros:

•   Quite cost-effective compared to many other common flooring materials

•   Easy to install

•   Often made to mimic more expensive materials like ceramic, stone or hardwood

•   Designed to be waterproof

Cons:

•   Vinyl plank flooring can dent or warp if heavy objects are placed on top

•   Can discolor over time if used in sunny areas

•   Generally not biodegradable

•   Can be difficult to remove once put in place

Laminate Flooring

One of the most cost-effective kitchen flooring options available, laminate is also quick and easy to install. Here are some of the pros and cons of laminate flooring:

Pros:

•   Inexpensive to install

 •  Resistant to stains

•   Ideal for a DIY installation

 •  Great for people with allergies

Cons:

•   Susceptible to water damage

•   Can be louder than some homeowners want

•   May not have the ideal appearance compared to natural materials

Natural Stone

A classic choice for high-end homes, natural stone is durable and designed to last. It’s elegant look comes with a high price tag though. Here are some of the pros and cons of using natural stone in your kitchen:

Pros:

•   Beautiful look that’s truly timeless

•   Unlikely to be damaged by water

•   Requires minimal maintenance and doesn’t attract or trap dust and dirt

•   Adds value to your home

Cons:

•   Natural stone can be very expensive to buy

•   Installation is difficult and requires professionals

•   Can feel cold under your feet in the fall and winter

•   Is often difficult to replace if damaged

Kitchen Flooring Trends for 2021 and Beyond

Cost, durability and design are important factors you need to consider when choosing new kitchen flooring for your home. You’ll also want to think about what’s in fashion today, particularly if you think you may be putting your home on the market soon. For homeowners updating their home in order to sell, today’s kitchen flooring trends are even more important.

Here are some of the trends you should be aware of when tackling your kitchen flooring remodel:

•   Large format tile and wide plank kitchen flooring designs are very hot right now. These larger tiles and wide planks are ideal for opening up a room and showcasing the beauty of the material you chose.

•   Light colors are very much in fashion. Blonde wood, whitewashed wood and white tile are all great picks if you’re trying to make your home fashionable today.

•   Gray is a good choice if you don’t want such light flooring. Gray is a modern mainstay that never goes out of fashion. It’s also a neutral choice that will give you more flexibility when it comes to the rest of your kitchen design.

•   High color variation and checkered flooring styles are a popular way to give your flooring a design and dimension that single-colored styles can’t. Checkered designs are often used to make smaller kitchens a little more visually exciting as well.

•   Distressed kitchen flooring is particularly popular. Handscraped and wire-brushed designs give your kitchen texture and an ultra-modern look. Shopping around to update your kitchen flooring? Reach out to our trained representatives at BuildDirect today. We can help you find the right flooring for your kitchen no matter what your budget is. We’ve also got a range of free samples we can ship to you so you can see materials you like in your own home.