Kitchen Floor Buying Guide
The floor lays the groundwork for style and function in your kitchen. Think about your lifestyle and cost when choosing the right surface for you.
- By Kim Hildenbrand
Designer, Suzanne Furst
These wood floors with inlayed slate tile provide durability along with an air of sophistication.
The kitchen is the hub of your home, where you cook family meals and gather for parties. The floors in this busy spot must withstand heavy foot traffic, dropped dishes, and spills galore. But they also must indulge your craving for style. How to choose? Get started with these considerations.
Lifestyle. At home, you're the star of your own cooking show—and chances are, sauce gets spilled, silverware gets dropped, and spouses, kids, and pets check in often. It's important to choose floors that stand up to this type of wear and tear. And if you have young children or plan to stick around for years, nonslip floors are important for safety.
Your Style Sense. Choose floors that complement your kitchen, whether it's rustic and country-style or cutting-edge contemporary. Consider the kitchen's size, as well as existing colors, textures, and patterns. Should the large surface underfoot serve as a neutral backdrop or a vivid focal point?
View Images of Gorgeous Kitchen Floors
Comfort. If you spend hours on your feet slicing, dicing, and stirring consider floors with a bit of softness and resilience. Tile floors, for instance, can be uncomfortable to stand on for long periods. Wood is better for reducing leg fatigue. And resilient floors, with their elasticity, are the most comfortable for feet. Whatever you choose, a soft mat or rug can add comfort as well.
Ease of Cleaning. Between food spills and tracked-in dirt, kitchen floors can get pretty grimy. To minimize time spent on maintenance, choose a material that's easy to clean, water resistant, and not prone to staining.
Cost. If you're planning a remodel, your budget is probably divvied among countertops, cabinetry, lighting fixtures, and more. Where does flooring fit in the plan? Once you've determined your flooring budget, measure the kitchen to get an idea of square footage. Remember that additional costs may apply, including underlayment, delivery, installation, and removal and disposal of your previous floor.
Next Up
Hardwood Flooring in the Kitchen
Considered by many to be the ultimate floor choice, hardwood never goes out of style. Find out if hardwood is the perfect choice for your new kitchen floor.
More From Kitchen Flooring Buying Guide
Alternative Kitchen Floor Ideas
Break away from traditional flooring materials and consider floor ideas like carpet tiles or rubber.
Tile Flooring in the Kitchen
Tile comes in many styles and can stand up to the heaviest use your family can dish out
Linoleum Flooring in the Kitchen
Linoleum is affordable, durable, easy to clean and comes in a rainbow of colors
See Also
- Kitchen Cabinet Buying Guide
- Bamboo Kitchen Floors (4 photos)
- Cork Kitchen Floors (5 photos)
From our Sister Sites
- Developing a Functional Kitchen Floor Plan (from HGTV)
- Floors from Kitchen Impossible (from DIY Network)
- Kitchen Design: 11 Great Floor Plans (from DIY Network)
