Kitchen Flooring Advice

Getting advice on your kitchen flooring is important for a couple of reasons. First, it's a moderately expensive purchase. Even when selecting modest flooring it will cost quite a bit. Second, once it is installed you will have to live with it for a long time. So making the wrong choice can be costly and heartbreaking.
Ultimately, choosing the right flooring should be based on your lifestyle and how you use your kitchen. Here are some tips to help you pick the right kitchen flooring for your home.

Use and Style

• There are so many choices for kitchen flooring, so try to narrow them down based on how much you use your kitchen and to match your, or your family's, lifestyle. If you have a big family and your kitchen is the hub of the house, your kitchen floor will need to stand up to high traffic and spills. But if there are just two of you then the durability of the floor is a lot less important.
  You will also want to match the flooring with the look of the kitchen, particularly countertops and cabinets, because it can help pull the room together. If your kitchen has a country look to it, then wood may look best. From there you will have to choose between hardwood, engineered wood and laminate. Although there are many colors and types of wood it helps to rule out other materials.

Flooring Choices

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  In the past, wood flooring wasn't recommended for kitchens because of the danger of the floor soaking up spills and moisture, causing it to distort or rot. Today, though, there are many wood flooring products made with a finish that, when properly maintained, work well in kitchens.
  A laminate product is not the best option for a busy kitchen, because it requires immediate, diligent cleanup to protect it, so stick with hardwoods that have a urethane or similar finish on them.
  If you want the look of wood without the upkeep, then you may consider ceramic/ porcelain tile or vinyl planks. Ceramic tiles that look like wood planks come in several different colors so you can match it to any décor. Of course, ceramic tile is a wonderful choice for your kitchen no matter what style you pick, as it is easy to clean and maintain and will outlast most homeowners. Besides ceramic tile, you could consider Travertine, stone or slate tiles, as they all make durable and beautiful kitchen floors.
  Vinyl flooring is a popular choice for kitchens because it is impervious to water, can be laid in one piece or in tiles, and is easy to maintain. It is also one of the least expensive and easy-to-install flooring options for kitchens and is available in hundreds of designs and colors.
  Linoleum is also a common kitchen flooring material, and like vinyl comes in many designs and colors and is impervious to water, though it does stain. While it is a little expensive it is considered a green flooring and can be purchased in sheets or tiles.