Kitchen Floor Options
The kitchen is one of the most high-traffic areas in the house--if not the most.
It needs to be able to handle everything from hordes of hungry children to
spilled juice to whoops-my-spaghetti-fell-off-the-plate. Any floor you install should be easy to keep clean, and it should be durable. Warmth and comfort may also be factors if you like to pad out to the kitchen barefoot in the middle of the night to raid the refrigerator.
Popular Flooring Choices
- Vinyl and linoleum are easy to clean and come in a variety of styles and designs to match any decor.
- Ceramic tiles are handsome and easy to maintain. They are cold
underfoot, however, and hard, so if you drop a dish on the floor, say good-bye
dish.
- Terra-cotta is slightly warmer than ceramic and can accommodate
a rustic or southwestern look. It's also tough on dropped dishes though.
Less Suitable Choices
- Cork is environmentally friendly and easy to maintain, but it only has a lifetime of 5-10 years when used in high traffic rooms.
- Hardwood
and laminate flooring can be used in kitchens but need to be
protected from moisture, lest they warp.
Poor Kitchen Floor Choices
- Carpet stains and is difficult to clean well.
- Natural-fiber floors are likewise hard to keep clean.
Home Improvement Ideas Blog | Flooring Articles