If you are searching for kitchen remodeling ideas, do not get carried away by the beautiful pictures you see in home design magazines. Your considerations in choosing materials, especially for your kitchen floor, should not be limited to how they look. It is best to select a few of what you like and test them first. For this you may want to visit a home center or retailer of flooring materials.
Go with a Comfortable Kitchen Flooring Material
Choose a kitchen flooring material that is comfortable underfoot since you may be standing for long periods preparing meals or cleaning up. During your visit to the store, lay on the floor a few samples of flooring material you like. Then, stand on them without your shoes to check how hard the floor surface feels under your feet and if it is comfortable enough for you.
Next, test the flooring material for noise. With your shoes on, take a few steps and listen to the sound you make. Modern kitchens follow an open design and are usually attached to the family room. The noise from shoes can bother the other members who are conversing or watching television.
Remember to check for wear ability also since the kitchen is the most used portion of the house. Select a floor that is durable and can withstand the wear and tear from high traffic, food spills, and abuses from children and pets. Of course, get the floor that is easy to maintain and clean.
Options for Kitchen Flooring
While there are many options for kitchen flooring, the more popular choices are wood, laminate, ceramic tiles, vinyl tiles and linoleum. Wood makes beautiful kitchen flooring and harmonizes with most styles. Wood is warm, won’t strain your legs much and it muffles the noise of shoes. Wood is generally durable although how long it will last depends on the type of wood and finishing used. Many are reluctant to use wood in the kitchen because it scratches easily. If it happens, you can always resort to sanding and refinishing.
An alternative to wood is laminate. Because of the high pressure used in its manufacturing process, laminate is very durable. It is also easy to install and maintain. Laminate floors don’t fade and are stain resistant. It may look like real hard wood but laminate lacks the charm and warmth of natural wood. The clicking of heels tends to be very audible with laminate floors.
A great choice if you are after a decorative kitchen flooring is ceramic tiles. There is such a wide range of sizes, colors and patterns you can be sure to find the perfect match to your kitchen design. All you will need is a damp mop to clean the tiles but you will need to pay special attention to the filling in-between the tiles.
A disadvantage to ceramic tiles is their hardness. You may need to step on a rug if you have to stand for long and avoid dropping dishes. Moreover, ceramic tiles are cold and amplify the sound made by shoes.
If cost is a factor, you may want to check out vinyl sheets or tiles. They come in a variety of colors and pattern, and are easy to install. They are easy to clean and provide cushion to the feet. However, vinyl is susceptible to curling and peeling on the edges.
Linoleum flooring is regaining its popularity primarily because it is environmentally friendly. Not to be confused with the PVC type, the natural linoleum is made from solidified linseed oil combined with cork dust or wood flour, tree resins, ground limestone and natural pigments.
While there are other options for natural kitchen flooring, bear in mind that there are always upsides and downsides to whatever kind of kitchen flooring you choose. Select which flooring you like most and can live with. In time, your choice of floor will be reflective of your personal taste and suitable to your daily activities.