Kitchen ideas: Flooring options you’ll love

You’ve got a new house, and you’re wondering what to do to make it a home. Or you’ve lived in a home for a while, and you’re looking to freshen things up. You want to change something because, well, you’re tired of staring at the same old space.

Whatever your reason, you’re considering remodelling an important part of your household.

The kitchen.

After all, that’s where all the food is, so it might be the most important part. We know it is for us.

You want flooring that says “You.” Something that’s good but also represents your personality.

You want to feel happy when you walk in, and you want others to feel the same way.

You’ve searched online for ideas, but you’re spoilt for choice. There are so many options, meaning so much you’d have to read about before making a choice.

Here, we look at some popular flooring options you’ll love and their key features. These will give you an idea of what you’re looking for.

Linoleum for the Environment

The thing about Linoleum is that it has many positive features.

Linoleum is:

• Renewable and good for the environment, requiring minimal maintenance
• Flexible
• Durable and can last decades
• Water-resistant
• Soft and feels gentle beneath your feet
• Available in different patterns and colours

It’s a material that was popular in Europe not too long ago, and it’s now making a comeback. And in an era where we’re more concerned with the environment, it’s easy to see why.

If you choose to use Linoleum in your kitchen, you should first consider a few other aspects.

Avoid exposure to sunlight for long periods of time. The surface can turn yellow or darken. Another solution would be to order it with a protective coating.

Remain patient for the first few weeks, as it will give off a harmless linseed smell when installed. But that will go away soon enough, and you’ll forget all about it.

Water-resistant doesn’t mean waterproof. It can get damaged because of moisture.

Watch your step in the beginning. If the linoleum is new or waxed, it could be a bit slippery.

Linoleum can also get scratched. Avoid wearing sharp shoes and carrying any sharp objects.

Versatile Wooden Floors

Hardwood floors are ideal in a few ways.

You might choose wooden floors because they have:

• Versatility and can fit in your kitchen in different styles
• Warmth and that natural, organic appearance
• Durability, lasting for decades
• The ability to look better with time

Hardwood floors also come in a wide range of woods. These include:

• Walnut
• Bamboo
• Cherry
• Oak
• Pine
• Mahogany

They are more expensive than other materials, and it’s easy to scratch them. But they’re a worthwhile investment, and you can refinish wooden floors.

Moisture is another factor to consider. Try as much as possible to avoid excessive water landing and staying on the floor. Make sure you dry it.

Hardwood floors are perfect if you want to create that inviting feel in your kitchen.

Tiles, Tiles, Tiles

There are different types of tiles available for your kitchen flooring. Let’s look at three of them: ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone tiles.

Many kitchens have porcelain and ceramic tiles, and it’s not always easy to tell the two apart. They both share similar characteristics and a couple of differences.

The key difference is in the manufacturing of both materials. They’re both made from clay, but porcelain’s clay is more refined. It’s also fired at temperatures higher than ceramic clay.

You could choose porcelain tiles because of their qualities:

• Durable
• Water-resistant and holds up moisture well
• Stain-resistant, meaning stains won’t set in as they would on other materials like wood
• Easy to clean
• Dense, harder to break and can withstand heavy furniture

Because of its density and the way it’s made, porcelain is more expensive than most tiles.

Porcelain is also harder to install than other tiles.

You could decide to use ceramic instead because of its qualities:

• Water-resistant and ideal for areas like kitchens and bathrooms
• More affordable compared to other tiles and materials
• It can come unglazed, giving it a natural feel, unlike other tiles
• Diverse in designs (colours and patterns)
• Easy to clean and won’t keep any harmful allergens

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are heavier materials than other flooring options. And porcelain is even heavier than ceramic.

Grout is the material used as filler in between porcelain and ceramic tiles. You should make sure the quality of the grout is good, and you’ll need to maintain it over time.

If you want your kitchen floor to look refined and elegant, you might want to choose natural stone tiles.

Natural stone tiles are:

• Durable, able to handle heavy foot traffic
• Diverse with a variety of textures and colour
• Versatile in-style options
• Available in a wide range of finishes
• Easy to clean
• Luxurious in how they look and feel

Natural stone tiles are also available in a wide range of types, including:

• Marble
• Limestone
• Granite
• Travertine
• Slate

Each type of natural stone has a unique look.

Before you choose natural stone or decide which type, consider that most types are porous, applying a sealing agent to stones from time to time helps protect their surfaces.

Natural stone tiles are also more expensive than other options. And different types need different treatments. So, you need to do your research when selecting the type of stone you want.

Affordable Laminate Wood

Many people choose laminate wood because it’s more affordable. But that isn’t the only benefit of laminate wood.

This type of flooring is also:

• Easy to install, so it won’t take long or leave a mess
• Spill-resistant
• Resistant to scratches, which is ideal if you have pets
• Easy to clean
• Durable
• Available in various wood-looking colours
• Diverse in shapes, textures, and finish

Unlike hardwood floors, you can’t refinish laminate wood. It may also last long, but not as long as real wood.

This flooring type can create static electricity. You can avoid this by keeping the surface clean.

Laminate is also slippery. Manufacturers are solving this issue by coming up with slip-resistant layers.

Resilient Concrete

Concrete can make an excellent choice for the kitchen because of how resilient it is. It’s an easy choice for some.

Concrete is also:

• Easy to maintain, needing care only twice or thrice a year
• A good base for other flooring options if you want to change at any point
• Long-lasting for an indefinite time with the right care
• Water-resistant
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• Easy to clean with detergent and warm water (add baking soda if you need something stronger)

When maintaining concrete, you’ll need to seal any cracks. This helps it remain resistant to moisture.

Concrete is one of the hardest and most uncomfortable surfaces. Take care not to injure yourself by falling on it.

Another factor to consider is that the surface does get cold depending on the weather. You should think about this during cold periods like the winter season.

Start Flooring

At this point, you might have a good idea of what type of flooring you’d like in your kitchen.

It’s now time to think about how you’re going to get the flooring done and who’s going to do it for you.

It’s important that you choose quality professionals for quality results. This is your kitchen, after all. Your space. In your home.

It deserves nothing less than perfection.

You’ll find the best professionals for the job right now on the Service Seeking website. Find companies listing their flooring services. Read reviews to learn about others’ experiences. Get quotes to know how much it would cost. Save by using Service Seeking today.