Kitchen Flooring Material Options

Appearance

• Stone flooring materials such as granite and slate give a kitchen an old-fashioned, formal feel when combined with natural wood cabinets and traditionally styled fixtures. These materials also work well in more-contemporary settings. A lighter, more-modern look is achieved with light wood flooring made of maple, beech or birch. Manufactured floorings such as laminate and linoleum lend a retro feel to a kitchen, referring back to the 1950s and '60s, when these materials were popular. Wide pine boards look great in country kitchens, and can sometimes be found hidden under existing flooring materials.

Durability

• The more you use your kitchen, the more important the durability of your flooring materials should be to you. If you live alone and rarely cook, your kitchen floor may last forever. If you have a large family and all of you are constantly moving around in the kitchen, you want a material that can stand the abuse. Stone flooring made of slate, granite or marble lasts virtually forever but is quite expensive. Wood floors are quite durable, although they need to be periodically refinished. Hardwoods are much more resistant to wear than softwoods. When finishing a floor, a high-gloss finish will show wear and scratches much more than semi-gloss or satin alternatives will, so should be avoided in a busy household.

Cost

• When choosing kitchen flooring, remember that more-expensive materials tend to be of better quality and longer lasting. Spending more money up front might save you money in the long run. Granite and marble are at the top of the list when it comes to cost, but will last far longer than inexpensive materials such as wood-veneered manufactured flooring. Whichever material you choose, you can greatly reduce the cost by learning how to install it yourself rather than hiring a professional. If you go the DIY route, start in a closet or a less-visible place, so any mistakes you make can be more-easily hidden.

Practicality

• The perfect kitchen floors that you see in style magazines often don't make sense in the real world. If you tend to drop things frequently, you probably don't want stone or slate floors. Cork flooring is much more forgiving to dropped glass, and also easier on the feet if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Laminate and linoleum flooring are easily cleaned, and are resistant to water and dampness. Patterned floors will hide stains and dust more effectively than shiny floors, something that may be a benefit if you're always behind in your house cleaning.