6 Best Flooring Options For Kitchens

Choosing the right flooring for your kitchen can make all the difference in the space’s appearance and functionality. Hardwood floors give you a classic, rich look, while laminate offers a modern feel and an easy-to-install process. Natural stone provides luxury-appeal and polished concrete creates an urban, utilitarian vibe. If you’re not sure what look you want for your space, explore the six best flooring options for kitchens to help you make your decision.

1. Porcelain Ceramic Tiles

Porcelain ceramic tile is a classic choice for a kitchen for its stain and water resistance. They are available as pre-cut sheets, single small format tiles, or as a large format tile. Large format tiles are often preferable for kitchens as less grout is needed, which means easier cleaning and fewer places where mold or bacteria can develop. Porcelain ceramic tiles are made from clay that is shaped, glazed, and fired under intense heat. This means that they are available in a huge range of colors, shapes, and styles, giving you more freedom to experiment with different aesthetics in your kitchen.

Try classic white subway tiles or a stunning herringbone configuration for a minimalist look. Or, make a statement with accent tiles in contrasting colors like mint and gray or cream and navy. You could also opt for an iconic retro black-and-white check pattern for a mid-century modern kitchen.

2. Natural Stone Tiles

Natural stone tiles are a modern option and offer higher impact tolerance and resistance to wear and tear than porcelain tiles. Natural stone tiles give your home a luxurious upscale look and blend well with various kitchen decor styles, from contemporary farmhouse to French country to industrial. Natural stone is a more expensive flooring choice for your kitchen, costing on average between $8 and $47 per square foot; however, it also increases the resale value of your home so you can get a high ROI.

There are several natural stone options to choose from, which offer varying levels of hardness, scratch resistance, and long-term durability. Granite and marble are luxe options that feature attractive veining and unique patterns. Limestone is a beautiful neutral stone but is softer than other options and only suitable for low-traffic areas in the kitchen. Though slightly less versatile stylistically than other stones, slate is one of the longest-lasting types of stone flooring if it is properly sealed.

Natural stone tiles can be more challenging to work with than porcelain if you are planning to tile the kitchen yourself. Invest in high-quality tile tools like tile nips, tile spacers, and a leveling system. You’ll also need a diamond tile saw; natural stone tiles are significantly harder than ceramic and can wear down saw blades quickly.

3. Hardwood

Hardwood floors are one of the most traditional options for kitchen flooring. While they aren’t waterproof or scratch-resistant, with the right sealant, such as oil-based polyurethane, you can create moisture-resistant floors that add a ton of style to your home. However, any spills will still need to be cleaned up immediately to avoid serious damage.

Hardwood kitchen floors cost between $6 and $12 per square foot to install. However, recycled and reclaimed hardwood floors are becoming increasingly popular, which you can install for a fraction of the cost. Solid hardwood kitchen floors made from species like walnut, oak, maple, or hickory are easy to repair or refinish if they sustain damage over time. They are slightly more challenging to maintain than tile or laminate.

Dust shows up easily, so you’ll need to sweep daily to keep your kitchen looking good. You’ll also need to use furniture pads for bar stools at kitchen islands and underneath dining tables and chairs to avoid scratches.

4. Bamboo

Bamboo flooring provides the same visual and functionality as hardwood; however, this material is slightly harder and more durable than oak, maple, or walnut options. Kitchen bamboo flooring is typically made of strand woven bamboo, which is made by placing bamboo under intense heat and pressure to compress the fibers. This type of bamboo provides an orderly appearance and works well in kitchens.

Opt for carbonized bamboo flooring, which goes through a smoking process to achieve a dark caramel hue, if you want a darker-colored bamboo. If you prefer a lighter visual, go for natural bamboo, which has a straw-like color. You can also choose between bamboo with knuckles or without to create a seamless or jointed look. Bamboo flooring can cost between $1.50 to $11 per square foot.

5. Laminate

Laminate is one of the most popular modern options for homeowners or contractors putting in kitchen flooring. Laminate is a floor covering that offers an alternative to hardwood while still providing the same look as the classic kitchen floor choice. Laminate is created by placing an image layer, which can resemble wood, stone, or ceramic, atop a wood-based particleboard and covering the piece in a transparent sealant or wear layer that protects the laminate.

Laminate is one of the easiest kitchen flooring options to install. As long as your kitchen floor is level, you can simply click the laminate planks into place to create a stylish, clean look. You can use professional quality tools like a table saw or circular saw to get the perfect cut on your laminate pieces for tricky angles in the kitchen. Laminate flooring costs between $1 and $5 per square foot, depending on the thickness of the planks.

6. Polished Concrete

Although concrete flooring might seem too utilitarian for a residential kitchen, this option can provide multiple aesthetic and functional benefits. Concrete is a durable material and, when professionally sealed, it becomes almost waterproof, perfect for a room like a kitchen where moisture and humidity are common.

Concrete can also withstand most sources of damage to kitchen flooring, such as pet claws, chair legs, dropped kitchen utensils or cookware, and last several decades when maintained. You can also create a unique look with polished concrete. Sealing the concrete with its natural gray hue can help you create an urban feel. Those who want a different look can have the concrete designed and treated to resemble hardwood or tile patterns. Concrete flooring ranges from about $2 per square foot to around $30 for specially designed or treated options.

Create A Unique Look With The Right Kitchen Flooring Option

If you are remodeling your kitchen or designing a kitchen space from https://kitchensbyrupp.com/, choosing the right flooring can elevate the room’s look. Whether you opt for a classic choice like hardwood or laminate or a modern aesthetic with natural stone or concrete, you can create a stunning and highly functional kitchen with the right kitchen flooring material.