March 18, 2021
Designing your dream kitchen for a new home or home renovation is an exciting project, but it does come with a few challenges.
There are so many choices when it comes to different types of benchtops, appliances and kitchen flooring ideas that it can get quite overwhelming without the help of professionals.
As kitchen flooring is one of the most important features of a modern kitchen you want to choose the right option for you.
To make the decision easier we have broken down everything you need to know about flooring ideas for kitchens, including the latest flooring trends, pros and cons, safety and more.
What to look for on a kitchen floor
Kitchens are one of the most used spaces in your home, and over the years will be host to many Christmas lunches, messy baking endeavours and Sunday brunches.
Every homeowner’s idea of the perfect kitchen is different however and ultimately you want to choose the right flooring for you and your lifestyle. Durability, cleaning and look are important factors in making this decision, which we will be talking about a little later on, but first, let’s delve into the different types of kitchen flooring choices available:
Types of kitchen flooring
Wood flooring
Wood flooring is manufactured from solid timber, which means it is timeless, stylish, sustainable and comes in many different natural colours. Solid timber is easy to clean and maintain as it doesn’t absorb dust or debris and it rarely needs to be replaced.
Hardwood floors, such as maple and oak are the most durable, whilst softwood floors, such as pine dent easily. To go deeper, check this guide about different types of wood flooring.
Unfortunately, solid timber flooring is not without its disadvantages. As well as being prone to scratching and staining, beautiful wood flooring requires frequent polishing to maintain its shine.
Vinyl flooring
Luxury vinyl flooring in kitchens is a popular choice amongst Australian homeowners who prefer to save costs but still have a waterproof and hard-wearing flooring material. Not only is kitchen vinyl flooring budget-friendly it’s also DIY-friendly as it’s easy and cheap to install.
The good news is you don’t need to worry about spilling wine or soup on your luxury vinyl floor as it is completely waterproof, unlike solid timber floors. However because of their soft and smooth surface vinyl flooring tears and dents easily.
Vinyl flooring comes in three options: vinyl tile, vinyl plank and vinyl sheets. And there is a wide range of designs available.
Tile flooring
It’s not surprising that ceramic tiles are still one of the most popular choices when it comes to kitchen flooring. Tiles are extremely durable and stain-resistant and low maintenance. Also, you don’t need to worry about tearing or scratching the floor, or spilling and staining.
There is a wide variety of design options to choose from today and you can even get tiles that look like solid timber.
Unfortunately, tiles are more costly to purchase and install because their use of grout requires professional installation. And even though staining isn’t an issue for your tiles, grout can stain easily and does require more maintenance than vinyl flooring.
Engineered wood flooring
Engineered wood flooring is made up of various materials such as plywood layered together with a top layer of hardwood and protected by clear acrylic. This creates the beautiful look and durability of hardwood flooring but for half the price.
The good news for fans of hardwood floors: Any type of wood that you like will be available as engineered wood. One of the most popular options is engineered oak flooring which comes in many different colours such as whitewashed and dark grey.
Although you don’t need to worry about your engineered wood flooring warping over time like traditional hardwood, fading is an issue that engineered and traditional wood share. Too much contact with UV rays will cause the wood to fade and this isn’t easily fixed if left for too long.
Laminate flooring
If you prefer the warm look of floorboards in your kitchen than laminate flooring is another more affordable option to hardwood floors.
Laminate is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product made from melamine resin and fibre board material, and the top layer has a textured image printed on top that mimics real wood.
Laminate flooring is more durable and easier to clean, however, it is not waterproof. Laminate flooring also tends to look more artificial than other kitchen flooring options, so if you are after budget-friendly options and not fussed about the look, laminate flooring is right for you.
What to look for you choose your flooring?
Choosing which kitchen flooring is right for you depends on a few factors such as your lifestyle, whether this is your forever home or a rental property, and a few more we have listed below:
Durability
If your new kitchen floor is classed as extremely durable it means you don’t need to worry about wear and tear over the long term, even if you host a 30 person Christmas lunch at yours every year.
However, not everybody values extremely durable kitchen flooring, such as tiles, especially when you have to sacrifice your small budget to have it.
Cleaning
If you’re that person who loves to clean your floors every few days, leaving your kitchen floor sparkling clean every time, then a higher maintenance flooring material would be perfect for you.
However, if you don’t like to clean often then opt for a low-maintenance material that can withstand high traffic and many spills easily.
For example, dark or shiny kitchen flooring shows dirt and dust more easily than lighter and less shiny kitchen flooring options.
Look
Do you prefer natural-looking kitchen flooring such as beautiful hardwood or are elegant “marble look” tiles more your style?
The look of your kitchen flooring can add value and timeless function to your design, as well as complement the other materials and colours in your new kitchen.
We recommend figuring out the style of the rest of your house and the look you want to achieve with your new kitchen flooring before making a decision.
Kitchen Flooring Trends and Ideas
Here are a few kitchen flooring options that are trending in 2021
Looks
Natural and earthy looks such as stone or timber are trending in 2021 as well as concrete and decorative.
Styles
Timeless and beautiful coastal style is popular in Australian homes, as well as contemporary and farmhouse.
Colours
In 2021 more neutral soft colours are trending such as Gray, blonde, white and high variation.
Patterns
Homeowners are loving getting creative and making a bold statement with herringbone, large format, chevron and wide planks.
Textures
Lots of people like the natural look especially when buying the cheaper vinyl option, so hand-scraped, wide brushed and distressed are a great idea to achieve this.
Choosing the best kitchen flooring option for you
The best kitchen floor looks different for everybody. Whilst there are many great options available today, the right kitchen flooring for you will be determined by your lifestyle and preferences on comfort, durability, water resistance, wear and tear, maintenance and style.
If you are still trying to decide between laminate flooring, vinyl flooring, engineered wood or tiles we recommend filling out an enquiry form with Jupps floor coverings.
Our flooring specialists can help you choose the perfect kitchen flooring for your new kitchen today.
