The choice of material for the kitchen floor is extremely difficult due to the difficult conditions that prevail in the cooking room. Splashes, spilled food, bumps or dirt are very common problems that affect the quality of surfaces. You cannot avoid these problems, but you can make it easier to care for your kitchen by choosing the right finishing materials.
Floor tiles in the kitchen
It is best to finish the floor in the kitchen with a material that has good abrasion resistance, durability and is easy to clean. For example, ceramic tiles have the following features. Among them, you can single out porcelain and glazed ceramic products. The tile has low absorption, is quickly cleaned, and does not need to be painted. Tiles are a durable method of finishing an aesthetic and durable floor. However, such a choice is not cheap. Use dark or light tiles in combination with light modern furniture.
Kitchen floor design: natural stone
You can also make the floor in the kitchen from stone, for example:
- wear-resistant granite;
- slate specially developed for modern interiors;
- limestone or sandstone;
- very fashionable in recent years travertine.
If the stone is securely fixed, it will not lose its aesthetic value for many years. A granite-quartz finish would also be good. It is strong and stable, and has interesting colors. The stone floor is easy to care for.
The material can have a larger format than ceramic tiles and thin connecting seams, which gives the effect of a uniform surface. However, remember that stone floors are cold and usually more expensive than ceramics.
Wooden floor in the kitchen
The wooden floor is warm and safe, it is also perfect for the kitchen. Combines with almost any style:
- modern;
- minimalist;
- industrial;
- rural
Wooden floors are made either from hard local species or from exotic wood. Large boards or parquet will be best. Good quality wood without knots and discoloration, so the floor is always strong and easy to care for.
What type of wood to choose for the kitchen floor?
Among the available types of wooden floors in the kitchen, it is better to use parquet or hard wooden boards, but they must be fixed with a sealing putty that will not allow water to seep in. On the floor in the kitchen, local types of wood will be an excellent choice: oak, beech, maple, sycamore, walnut, etc. Choose breeds of the highest grade with uniform color, even grain, without knots that can fall out under the influence of exploitation and moisture.
Remember also that dust, scratches and traces of dirt are visible on dark wood, which is especially relevant in the kitchen.
Cork wood kitchen floor
Cork was used as a finishing material relatively recently, but it has already gained many supporters. This is not surprising, because such a coating has practically no defects. By choosing cork, you will not only have an impressive floor, but also excellent acoustics and thermal insulation. As a flooring material, cork is produced in the form of tiles of various sizes. The range of colors, patterns and shields allows you to create interesting compositions that do not look like traditional solutions, but rather like a modern mosaic. An additional advantage is the extraordinary durability of this material.
The poured self-leveling floor in the kitchen
Self-leveling floors provide a smooth and very durable aesthetic surface finish. It can be self-leveling epoxy resins or a more economical option made of cement mass covered with a specific layer. Both options are very durable, scratch and abrasion-resistant, and easy to clean. An additional advantage is a modern look. Such a floor will always shine.
Linoleum (PVC) in the kitchen
PVC is a plastic from which elastic linoleum is made. Products of this type are relatively cheap, but they need to be replaced by kitchen remodeling contractors more often than more durable coverings, for example, tile, stone or poured floor. Dents often appear on the surface of linoleum, it can burn out and discolor from the sun. However, installation is simple. It is enough to cut the floor covering exactly according to the size of the room and lay it evenly on the floor. You can also perform thermal or acoustic insulation of the surface, although the material itself is a good insulator. In the end, you can finish the installation with plinths. Choosing a thicker and more high-quality type of linoleum, give the kitchen a more elegant look.
Advantages of linoleum
Vinyl floor coverings are the cheapest and at the same time the lightest materials that are laid on the floor of the kitchen, in the living room or even in the bathroom. A wide range of textures, colors and patterns attracts with its diversity. Linoleum can imitate wood, tiles, stone, as well as carpet or a homogeneous material, for example, concrete. Floor covering can be laid on almost any surface, so this solution is good if you need to hide an old and damaged floor. This type of floor covering is very convenient because it is easy to keep clean. It is waterproof and can be washed with detergents. Another advantage is the ability to self-stack. It is very simple and does not require too much time.
Laminate flooring for the kitchen
Laminate is an ideal alternative to a real wooden floor. Laminate floors are distinguished by a variety of colors and patterns, perfectly reproducing the color of natural wood, but are much cheaper than the natural material. It gives a warm and cozy atmosphere to the kitchen, corresponding to many styles of interior design. Its main advantage is durability.
Kitchen floor with carpet
Carpets should harmonize with the style of kitchen furniture and appliances that you deal with in the interior. Choose patterned products and melange floor textiles, as any crumbs and dirt in the kitchen are inevitable, but they will not be as noticeable as on a plain carpet. The advantage of small carpets is that they can be rolled up and shaken at any time.
Now there is a huge variety of kitchen floor coverings. Choose the most suitable option for yourself, based on the appearance, price and functionality of the finishing material.
